Hi Melissa! Thank you for bringing your question to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
You are putting all the final details into place for your Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Can you believe it begins in just a few short days??
As with many things, it is hard to definitively state whether or not a
Disney Dining Plan is "worth it". Some families would never dream of vacationing at Walt Disney World Resort without it; others find they would rather just pay out of pocket for their meals and snacks. There is a lot to consider before deciding if having a Dining Plan will be worth it for your family.
If you have planned several
character meals or plan to dine at buffet restaurants where Guests are charged a fixed price no matter how much or little they eat, a Dining Plan might be a good fit. If you will primarily dine at a la carte locations where you will order from a menu, I would browse the menu options online to get an idea of the cost of what you would typically order. (After selecting a dining location from
this list, click on "View Menu" to the right of the photo.) Would you or your kids possibly share a meal? Also, think about beverages. Meals on the dining plan include a beverage, specialty beverage, or an alcoholic beverage for Guests over age 21. If you or your children would enjoy smoothies or milkshakes, for example, you may get more value out of the plan than another family that prefers to drink water with their meals. Table service meals also include dessert. Does your family usually order desserts? Would you order each person their own dessert, or would you share a dessert or two?
Another consideration is the ages of your children. Children ages 10 and up will be charged the same price as adults. If you have tweens who would prefer a simpler meal, the dining plan may not be a good value for your family.
One thing to know is that all meal and snack entitlements for your entire trip may be used in any combination from check-in until midnight on your check-out day, so if you would like to enjoy 3 meals on one day and nothing but snacks the next, you can do that!
One important benefit of using a Dining Plan is knowing that your meals are already pre-paid. You simply order what you like, without regard to the cost of entrees, drinks, or snacks. For some families, this carefree aspect of a Dining Plan is definitely "worth it".
I hope this helps you with your decision. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to stop by the Moms Panel again anytime. Have a wonderful vacation!
Anne Marie