Hi Marlys! Welcome to planDisney! As a former New Yorker who grew up just a short train ride to the Big Apple, I hope your family gets a chance to visit NYC in the future. Between the museums, landmarks, and cuisine options from all around the world, there is so much to do and see while you are there! Much like the
Walt Disney World Resort!
The
Disney Dining Plan has always provided the benefit of having a worry-free vacation. You were able to decide on the type of plan that worked best for your family, and then pay for it ahead of your visit. This allowed you to have enjoyable dining experiences at some of the best restaurants without wondering how much the cost will come out to. Although there has not been a return date announced yet, I do have an idea that may help on your upcoming visit.
The best part of using the Disney Dining Plan is not to have a bill presented at the end of the meal. But technically you are still paying for the dining experience ahead of time. I recommend researching the menus of the restaurants you plan to dine at and then coming up with an approximate amount of what you believe each meal will cost. Then, purchase
Disney Gifts Cards for the amount you expect the dining will be and use these Gift Cards as payment at the end of each meal. This way you have already paid for the cost of the meal ahead of time and have decided on restaurants that will fit the budget of your trip.
With this said, Disney is constantly adding and bringing back some of the popular services and experiences that we have all dearly missed. Parades are returning to the
Magic Kingdom Park, while
Disney Genie+ has been introduced and replaced the previously popular FastPass system. Most dining experiences have returned, and others have re-opening dates. It is possible that we will see the Disney Dining Plan comeback in some form this year. I would follow the
Disney Parks Blog for all for the latest news and updates.
Marlys, I hope you find these recommendations helpful during the planning process! Come
find me again at planDisney with any questions you may have!
See ya real soon!
Greg