Hello Caleb!
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel with a great question!
The answer to your question depends on the dining habits of your party. In my family’s case the
Disney Deluxe Dining Plan is a great option because we enjoy having our meals at Table-Service locations. This is very important for my husband and daughter, because it is the best opportunity for breaks during the day while park touring. We get away from the heat, and have time to relax and unwind. You can also use entitlements at Quick-Service locations, and we usually do so for breakfast at our Disney Resort hotel. Sometimes we use snack credits for breakfast, one meal entitlement for lunch and the remaining 2 credits we use at signature dining locations or dinner shows, since these require two entitlements. Another great advantage is that we enjoy character dining, so if you use a dining plan you get great value for your credit.
One thing you have to keep in mind is that you will have to plan your dining reservations more carefully, and really make them in advance. Of course you are allowed to live in the moment, decide not to make reservations, and just show up at restaurants or check availability for the day using the My Disney Experience mobile app. I must admit I am an über planner and don’t like living on the edge like that, but you know what is best for your family. I personally love going through the process of planning ahead, and always purchase admission tickets with Park Hopper Option to give me the flexibility I need to move between parks. We like to make lunch reservations at a Disney Resort hotel and then return to a theme park at night for dinner before the nighttime spectaculars.
I hope this helps you while planning! Thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
Best magical wishes,
Thiana