It’s such a treat to be able to experience the magic of a first trip with a Disney newbie, Misty. I’m excited for you!
As it sounds like you know, the
Disney Dining Plan is not currently available. A lot of Guests are eagerly awaiting the return of this very popular package inclusion but no announcements have been made yet as to when it might return.
Did you know that menus for most (if not all) of Disney’s restaurants and eating establishments are available online? You can even see pricing. What that means is that once you finalize your plans for where you’ll be dining during your vacation, you can have a look at the menus and come up with some pretty good estimates of what you’ll be spending on food during your trip. Armed with that information, you do have the option to purchase a
gift card for an amount equal to what you anticipate spending on your Disney dining. You could then use that gift card to cover your meal costs. The balance of the gift card always prints at the bottom of the receipt so that you can make sure you stay about where you expected to be, budget-wise, throughout your vacation. This option is a great alternative for Guests who enjoy the convenience of pre-budgeted meal costs. It might be worth considering.
In any case, Misty, I’m wishing you and yours a delicious trip!