Hi Suzie!
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! Many Guests love the
Disney Dining Plan for the flexibility, savings, and the ability to pre-pay for their dining adventures at the Walt Disney World Resort. For my family, part of the fun of a Disney vacation is the food!
Special Character Dining experiences, birthday dinner celebrations, and even just enjoying popcorn while waiting for the
Festival of Fantasy Parade are all special Disney moments for us.
Currently, the Disney Dining Plan is available for purchase by Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel who purchase it as part of a package that includes theme park tickets. As you mentioned, there are exceptions for
Disney Vacation Club reservations,
Annual Passholders, and
special Military packages, but if you don’t fall into one of those categories, then you would need to purchase your theme park tickets through Disney either directly or through your Travel Agent if you wished to also purchase the Disney Dining Plan.
If you do decide to add the Disney Dining Plan, come back to see us if you’d like some of our expert recommendations on the best snacks, meals, and goodies to be had throughout the Walt Disney World Resort! One of my favorite snacks is the Mickey Red Velvet Whoopie Pie from
Sunshine Seasons in Epcot, and no trip is complete without one.
Happy Planning!
- Kate