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  • On Feb 21, 2018
    Macy from SC 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.

    First time to Disney going in October. Trying to go on a budget and wanting to know the better option for dining, should we, four adults and two children, add a dining plan to our vacation package or pay for each meal, snacks, and drinks out of pocket?

    Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Macy!

    I'm so glad you stopped by to bring us your question! As a budget-conscious mama, I totally understand wanting to crunch numbers to make sure you choose the best vacation options to fit your needs and wants. This is one of the many reasons I love vacationing at the Walt Disney World Resort with my family. Disney offers options for all budgets and needs.

    Macy, when I've had this same question, I ended up creating a wish list of restaurants and adding up the cost, then I compared the total to the cost of the Dining Plan. There are some handy Dining Plan calculators online you can find with a quick web search that might help you get those numbers too.

    I love the convenience of the Disney Dining Plans, knowing most of my meals are pre-paid so I can just enjoy dining during my vacation and not worry so much about my budget. There's also some freedom and flexibility of visiting without it and paying out of pocket for your meals. My family has done it both ways and we've enjoyed them both. Personally, during our shorter visits, I loved having the Dining Plan. It gave us an excuse to go to those favorite restaurants. And on our longer stays, packing some lunches and being more selective about our dining choices made it more economical and a little more special knowing we had a limited amount of special meals for that trip.

    I hope this helps you as you continue dreaming and planning your magical visit to the Walt Disney World Resort. If you need any additional planning tips, maybe some restaurant recommendations, don't hesitate to bring us your questions.

    See ya real soon,

    Emille
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Meet the Panelist: Emille, Florida

¡Hola! I’m Emille, your go-to mamá for all things Disney magic—especially in Español! As a proud mom of two, I’ve spent nearly a decade living in Orlando, where Walt Disney World is practically my backyard. When I’m not soaking in the magic of Main Street, U.S.A., I’m here to help fellow Disney fans craft their own unforgettable adventures—because the best Disney stories are the ones we write together. Let’s make some magic!
 Learn More About Emille

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Panelists have received/will receive a Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland® Resort or Disney Cruise Line® vacation for panelist and up to three family members and/or park tickets for their planDisney participation. The views expressed on plandisneypanel.com are those of the panelists, who are independent contractors. These views are not intended to reflect the opinions of Disney Destinations, its affiliates, its management, its agents or its employees and have not been reviewed or approved by Disney Destinations prior to posting.

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