Hei Hei there, Michael.
Welcome to planDisney! I'm so glad you followed the trail of pixie dust that led you here, and I am happy to help!
It sounds like you are a man after my own Disney food-loving heart. When I'm not "home," I find myself fantasizing about the next time I'll be nomming on my favorite theme park treats and eats. Home-cooked meals just don't do the trick for that rumbly in my tumbly like
'Ohana Noodles and a
50's Prime Time Café Peanut Butter & Jelly Milk Shake do, and microwave popcorn in a souvenir popcorn bucket at home just isn't the same as walking through
Magic Kingdom Park with one.
I understand that food is one of the bare necessities of a Walt Disney World Resort vacation, and the
Disney Dining Plans made it so easy to dine at
the plethora of restaurants on property. In the words of Emperor Palpatine, "Long have we waited for [the Disney Dining Plans] to come back home." I miss the convenience of being able to pay for my meals and snacks ahead of my trip as much as the next Guest, but, unfortunately, no announcement has been made at this time as to when the Disney Dining Plans will return. I know this isn't the answer you wished upon a star for, but I am hopeful they will return soon. Be sure to keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog and the
Walt Disney World Resort website, as I'm sure they'll be some of the first to report any news of their homecoming.
I wish Merlin or Fairy Godmother could whisper a magic spell to speed up their return, but I wanted to share a tip with you that will help streamline your dining experiences on your vacation in the interim. Did you know
you can use your MagicBand to pay for incidental expenses on your trip? It's true! All you have to do is save an active credit card to your
My Disney Experience account and set up a PIN code at the Front Desk when checking in for your
Disney Resorts Collection hotel reservation. You can then scan your
MagicBand and enter your PIN code to make purchases throughout your trip. It's really that simple! I know it's not the same exact convenience the Disney Dining Plans offered, but it does make paying for your meals a breeze!
Michael, I hope "at last we'll see the light" on the Disney Dining Plans returning soon. For now, follow that second star to the right and straight on to the magic and memories of your Walt Disney World Resort adventure!
You are the magic,
Alyssa