Hi Jamie,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! While I love the
Disney Dining plan, it isn't always the most frugal way to dine at Walt Disney World. Now that my children are teenagers and have bigger appetites, we get more value out of the dining plan. We do always have credits left over which makes me feel like I've wasted part of my budget. I don't usually consider purchasing a dining plan unless it is a part of a Free Dining promotion. And to be honest, I always check to see if I can find a better deal with a room discount.
The Disney Dining plans are certainly convenient, and there are plenty of incredible places to dine at the parks and resorts. However, if budget is your top priority, I have another suggestion for you. You might want to look at the
restaurant menus to get an idea of how much your family would spend on meals. You could then purchase a
Disney Gift Card and put the amount of your personal dining budget on it. If you underestimate you could add to the Gift Card and if you overestimate you can use the balance to buy a souvenir. Or start saving for your next trip!
Please let me know if I can help with any other questions!
Wishing you a magical vacation,
Amy H.