Bon appetit, Indira! Welcome to planDisney where my favorite topic is eating. I'm beyond thrilled about your first visit to
Walt Disney World Resort. I wish I could see your face when you spy Cinderella Castle for the first time. Or better yet, when you take your first bite of DOLE Whip!
Disney Dining plans were suspended a while back, and we haven't heard when they'll be back. But don't worry. Disney will make sure you're well-fed!
First, let's talk about keeping your meal costs down. Most resorts in the
Disney Resorts Collection have mini-fridges and coffee makers. My family likes to bring simple breakfast foods like bagels, peanut butter, and fruit that we can enjoy in our room before we head out for a fun-filled day. I'd also recommend planning to do one Quick Service meal and one Table Service meal each day of your visit. Quick Service meals are less expensive, but most Table Service meals have such amazing theming that they're part of the whole experience, in my opinion. My family also enjoys that longer meal as a time to recharge and touch base with how everyone's day is going.
Since Dining Plans are currently not offered, here's a tip for helping to budget your meal costs. Buy some
Disney Gift Cards online or at any large retail store and load each one with the amount you'd like to spend on meals each day. You don't have to buy them all at once, so it's almost like you're paying for dining on your own layaway plan!
Now, let's talk about reservations. Quick Service restaurants don't take reservations, but you can take advantage of
Mobile Ordering through the
My Disney Experience Mobile App. Just go to the Mobile Food Orders tab and follow the prompts to choose a restaurant, time of arrival, and your meal. You can even use those gift cards as your payment option. When you arrive at the restaurant, click the I'm Here button, and you'll be notified when your order is up. It's so convenient!
Even though Table Service dining is possible to do without making reservations, I highly recommend making them. If your plans change, you can cancel the reservation in the mobile app. I'd recommend putting a reminder on your calendar 60 days before the first day of your visit because that's when you can make all your
dining reservations for your entire visit if you're staying at any on-site resort. If you're staying off-site, you can make reservations 60 days out each day.
If you're not a planner and like to wing it, then I'd suggest joining a
restaurant's walk-up list. You can do this in the mobile app when you're relatively close to the restaurant. Some restaurants' lists fill up quickly, so even though this isn't always a sure thing, it's worth a try.
And we can't forget about the snacks! Disney is famous for its snacks, Mickey-shaped and otherwise. Snack carts are everywhere in the theme parks and offer such fare as popcorn, fruit, ice cream, and my personal favorite, churros. I've even been known to eat a couple of snacks and call it lunch!
So, Indira, you have lots of options to cure the rumbly in your tumbly during your upcoming trip. I'd love to help you with any other questions that might come up as you plan your first visit! Don't forget to grab a First Visit button from Guest Services. Everyone will want to welcome you home!
Magic awaits,
Elaine