Hi Kara,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I am thrilled that you are considering one of the
Disney Dining Plans!
My family has used the
Disney Dining Plan and the
Disney Deluxe Dining Plan. Since prices could change, my best suggestion is to check prices on the
Walt Disney World homepage using your specific travel dates. To do so, you will need to go through the steps to price a vacation - enter the dates of your travel, choose a resort hotel, indicate the number of people in your party, select the number of park ticket days and then select a dining plan. When I am checking prices, I just note the price before I add a dining plan and compare that to the overall price after I add a dining plan. I prefer checking prices this way because it gives me a better estimate of how much each portion of our vacation package will cost.
Kara, the Disney Dining Plan worked well for us for several years. With one quick-service and one table-service meal per night along with two snacks and a resort refillable mug, we were able to eat lunch in the parks and then relaxed for dinner either at the parks or the resort. Once we started using the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan, we grew accustomed to the flexibility the plan offers - we can use our three meals per night for all table-service meals, all quick-service meals or some combination. To get the most value out of the Deluxe Plan, we generally eat at table-service meals. With the Deluxe Plan, we are also able to enjoy a few signature restaurants. Dining at California Grill has become a must-do for us while we watch the fireworks!
Magic, memories and Minnie Mouse hugs,
Donyell