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Mom And Son Running through park; RunDisney; incredibles shirt
  • On Jan 17, 2012
    Charmaine from ON 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.

    Good Morning! We are going to WDW for 10 days. with my hubby, boys 7 & 5. Are the dining plans worth it. I heard that they are not but also that they are great from other people.. Any suggestion on how to save $ with food while there? thanks Charmai

    Hi, Charmaine!

    First know that I am a die-hard Disney Dining Plan fanatic.  Truly.  IF you are going to be eating in the parks anyway, then the Disney Dining Plan WILL save you money.  You will also get to sit down and relax at least once a day, getting yourselves off your feet, into a nice restaurant where you can revisit the day's fondest memories and plan what's next for the group.

    We like to use our Table Service Entitlement to order the most expensive thing that we like on the menu.   On the Disney Dining Plan, we can order something that we wouldn't normally have spent the additional money on; because it's included in our Dining Plan, we pay nothing extra for it. There are great Quick-Service restaurants, too, that feel more like Table Service locations either because of their setting or their great offerings on the menu. Check out the UNOFFICIAL menus at allearsnet.com in order to best estimate what you'd spend on each meal at the parks, then compare that total to what you'd spend to get the Dining Plan, and decide from there.

    In order to help spread your food $ a bit further, I always recommend that Guests pack some non-perishable food items in their luggage, purchase some breakfast items from the hotel gift shop or ship a box of such items to your own attention at your resort (at the time of this writing, WDW resorts will hold those boxes for $10 until you check-in). Boxed breakfast bars, donuts, Pop Tarts and other grab-n-go items always help us save some money while getting out to the parks a little more quickly as well.

    As you finalize your plans, please feel free to send me your additional questions!  I'd love to help you capture the most magic from your Disney Vacation Dollars!
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Meet the Panelist: Andrea, Pennsylvania

I am a teacher, wife and mom who has been a member of the Disney Vacation Club since 2003. I love discovering a new favorite DVC resort, fantastic restaurant or hidden gem onboard a Disney ship! I'm a micro-planner who can help you capture your own magic! Learn More About Andrea

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