Hi, Vito!
Welcome to
Disney Parks Moms Panel! I am so glad that you asked this great question!
When my family has visited
Walt Disney World over the last 12 years, we've been really happy with our use of a
Disney Dining Plan. Knowing that we already paid for the cost of our meals changed the way we toured the parks and, really, got my kids to open up their culinary horizons. We look for favorite entrees on each menu while on a Dining Plan, rather than looking at the price. Thus, we might order a steak or salmon when we would have otherwise been more conservative and stuck with chicken. Furthermore, we venture to more expensive restaurants than we would have otherwise, knowing that our Disney Dining Plan will cover the cost of these more exclusive options. Because of this, my kids have become foodies--and I love it!
Take a look at the Disney Dining Plan link above for costs of each plan, which will vary from year to year. To determine if a Disney Dining Plan is the right choice for your family, I suggest looking at the
menus of several restaurants where you think you'll dine, locating what you'll likely order. Calculate what meals will cost for your family each day if
not utilizing the Disney Dining Plan, then look at the cost of the plan itself. Add in the value of the resort-refillable mug per person as well as a snack per person per day, and you'll be able to see if a Disney Dining Plan will save you money. Depending on your eating habits, or what you'll likely order, you may find quite a bit of savings by adding a Disney Dining Plan to your stay.
Be sure to send more questions as you think of them, Vito; we love to help!
Andrea H