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Mom and daughter on Expedition Everest; Animal Kingdom
  • On Feb 16, 2014
    Jan from IN 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.

    I am coming to the park with twin girls age 6 and a boy 8. The girls usually split a meal and don't eat much to begin with. Is the dining plan more cost effective when the kids don't eat very much? We will be there about 6 days. Thank you

    Hi Jan!

    Welcome to Walt Disney World!  Personally I love the ease of the dining plan and the ability to prepay for our meals.  I really enjoy not having to balance my food budget and simply enjoy my vacationing.  While the dining plan is a very good value overall (especially for children), it may not be the most cost effective choice for every family.

    If you plan to make several character dining reservations then the Disney Dining Plan is an excellent value.  Most character experiences are a fixed price buffet (ex: Crystal Palace) or set menu price (ex: Cinderella's Royal Table) no matter what your child's appetite.  So for those instances you wouldn't be able to order ala carte or do plate sharing and would be charged a set price for each child.  In many cases the price for one of these dining experiences is nearly equal to the whole day's cost for the dining plan.  However if you will be dining at primarily counter service locations then paying as you go may be the most cost effective choice for you. 

    My recommendation for you would be to figure out where you would like to dine first.  A great place to explore menus and pricing is at AllEars.net.  If you do a sample day of dining (don't forget the snacks and drinks!) and then calculate what your out of pocket cost would be compared to what the dining plan would be, that comparison should be helpful in making your decision.

    I hope this information is helpful to you in making your choice.  If you have any more questions, please write back and we would be happy to help!

    Have a Disney Day!
    Brenda ºOº


thumbnail image for Brenda

Meet the Panelist: Brenda, Missouri

I fell in love with Walt Disney World on my very first visit, which took place during my honeymoon. Since then we have added 4 "mouseketeers" to our family and have come to appreciate what a great value a Walt Disney World vacation can be on a budget. As a Physical Therapist and a mom of a large family, I would love to help you plan your next magical trip! Learn More About Brenda

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