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Mother, Son, Giraffe, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Animal Kingdom, Savannah
  • On Dec 26, 2010
    Ashley from LA Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hi my boyfriend are going to be celebrating our 2 year Anniversary. We are going to Disney January 3rd-7th. I was wondering if the Dining Plan was worth the extra money and are there any tips for saving money? It is also our first time going to Disney.

    Hi, Ashley!  Congratulations on your anniversary!  

    I think the Disney Dining Plan is a great way to budget for things like meals and snacks while you are on vacation.  It can be hard to guess how much money to plan to bring for food, even if you study menus and try to decide in advance what you think you might order.  But whether or not it is worth it can be up to you and your eating habits.  There is no way my family could eat all of the food on the dining plan, and my husband and I often prefer to order an appetizer and an entree and share them as opposed to ordering our own meals.  We actually just enjoyed a meal at Tutto Italia this past weekend and we never got past our appetizer!

    If you guys are big eaters, or really just want to know in advance what your food budget is, then the dining plan may be perfect.  If you are meal sharers or even meal skippers (which we sometimes are), you may not get your money's worth out of the plan.

    As for money saving tips, meal sharing is a big one for us.  We also often carry our own individual drink mixes to add to water bottles. You can bring your own snacks and drinks into the theme parks (nothing breakable), and you can plan to eat a quick breakfast in your hotel before you leave.  You may find that lunch is less expensive than dinner, although in many cases, the menu is very similar.  Take full advantage of Walt Disney World transportation to avoid rental car or taxi expenses.

    Have a wonderful vacation!
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Meet the Panelist: Anna, New Jersey

My name is Anna and I am a retired teacher with a J.D., a proud Navy wife with 30+ years of experience, mom to three daughters and a son-in-law, and grandmom to three tiny Disney fans. I have planned vacations for all sorts of special occasions and celebrations, but I really enjoy DVC vacations, helping military families, and assisting those with special dietary needs.    Learn More About Anna

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