Hiya Jan!
Welcome to planDisney and thank you for your kind words! I love talking about dining and dining plans. I plan my trips to Walt Disney World Resort on where I want to eat. I don't know if you are as crazed as I am, but I am glad to help you determine if dining plans are worth it.
Dining plans at Walt Disney World Resort let guests pre-pay for the meals they will eat on their vacation. It can be a great idea for guests who want the convenience of eating where they like without worrying about the bill (gratuity is not included) and want to eat a lot. There are currently two dining plan options which are the
Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan. I personally prefer the
Disney Dining Plan which allows for Table-Service Meals. Table-service meals usually require an
advanced dining reservation. They let you sit and be served a lovely meal or enjoy a delicious buffet. With this plan, for each night of your stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, you will get one Quick-Service Meal, 1 Table-Service Meal, and 1 Snack. This past year it has not been something I have purchased as my newly minted "Disney Adult" son who just turned 10 is a very picky eater. He does not like anything on the adult menu and still prefers food options from the kid's menu. If we had used the dining plan we would have not made a good value as his adult dining plan cost per meal is much greater than any item on the children's menu. I cannot buy the discounted kid's dining plan for my 10-year-old so while he has kid tastes I will be paying adult prices. At this time of my life, it is just easier to pay for the food he will eat without the dining plan. However, if you are visiting with a group of adults who like the foods on the regular menus and eat heartily, the dining plan is a great option. It's even better if the adults are 21 and older and like to enjoy an alcoholic beverage.
Now, does your party have people who have a palate beyond chicken tenders? Do they enjoy eating larger meals and are excited to try something different once in a while? Do you want to enjoy some character meals? If you can answer "yes" to these questions for yourself and your party then get that dining plan!
A great meal that gets overlooked is one from
Toledo-Tapas, Steak & Seafood at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. Located on the top floor of the Gran Destino Tower is a gorgeous restaurant with amazing views and delicious food. I consider this a great use for the dining plan Table-Service meal as it is a luxurious meal and only one Table-Service meal is needed. Some fancier meals require two!
I hope this helps and you have a delicious time!
Happy Planning!
-Nimmy