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Mother, Son, Giraffe, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Animal Kingdom, Savannah
  • On Jan 15, 2009
    Melea from WV 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.

    My family and I are coming to disney in June, i was not sure if the meal plan is worth it or not. there would be myself, my husband and 3 kids(15,5,2). I would also love some suggestions on how much spending money we might need. Thank you

    Melea:

    Thanks for coming to the Mom's Panel!

    Your question about the meal plan is a good one. There are several questions you need to ask yourself before deciding on whether to add it to your vacation package:

    * How much does your family eat?
    * Do you want to take your kids to a Character Meal?
    * Do you want to take time out of the park for a sit-down meal?
    * Are you willing to bring food into the parks and rent a locker or tote it?

    Disney says that you save anywhere from 20 to 30% on your meal costs with their plan, and I would say they are spot on. The real value is in the Basic Dining Plan, I feel, especially when looking at children's meals. For example, the dinner buffet at Crystal Palace with Pooh & Friends costs $13.99 plus tax for children and $28.99 plus tax for adults presently. The dining plan costs $10.99 a day for your children and $39.99 a day for your teenager and adults in your party (plus you'll need to add gratituity). You can do the math! (The greater value for adults is when they order from the menu, but either way, you are coming out ahead.)

    If you're considered that it may be too much food, consider using two table credits for the nicer dining experiences toward the end of the week!

    Best of all, buying the dining plan helps me budget. I know there will be very few unexpected expenditures for food and can even use leftover snack credits for breakfast items or "souvenir" candy! When you buy one of the Magic Your Way Vacation Packages with Dining, there's no guess work for spending money--it's just what you want to spend on souvenirs.

    Wishing you a magical vacation!
    Whitney
thumbnail image for Whitney

Meet the Panelist: Whitney, Mississippi

My family of 6 appreciates Disney's value! Although Ft. Wilderness is our second home, we've enjoyed the resorts for business, reunions and romantic getaways. For me, Disney also means dining: last count, I'd eaten at 55 restaurants around the World! Learn More About Whitney

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