Hey there, Angie! Welcome to planDisney! I love getting the chance to answer a fellow Alabamian’s Disney question!
Walt Disney World Resort is currently not offering the Disney Dining Plan, and we do not know when (or if) they will start offering it again. If you keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog you'll be one of the first to know if it returns! Like Olaf said, “things just keep on changing.” But with your trip being later this year, you can always take a wait-and-see approach to the Dining Plan. However, I have another option or “tip” that may work just as well for your vacation.
My fellow panelist Greg recently shared that in place of the Disney Dining Plan offer, his family purchases
Disney Gift Cards as part of their overall Vacation Planning. They will review the menus for their planned dining locations to get an estimate of their vacation Dining costs and begin setting aside funds through Disney Gift Cards. On vacation, they just whip out the Disney Gift Card when someone wants a Night Blossom from
Pongu Pongu in
Pandora - The World of Avatar or when the family has a fun character meal at
Hollywood & Vine in
Disney’s Hollywood Studios. By planning out their spending, they can enjoy their vacation while eating like Disney Princes and Princesses.
While I haven’t had the opportunity to personally try this planning hack, my wife and I love using Disney Gift Cards to manage our in-park spending and help us stay on budget. We even ask our family and friends to gift our kids Disney Gift Cards in place of presents for birthdays and other celebrations. This way, the kids have the chance to buy their snacks and merchandise during vacation, and our house has fewer toys to pick up! Sounds like a win-win to me!
I hope this helps, Angie! If you have more questions as you plan, come back by and ask me. You’ve got a friend in me!
To Infinity and Beyond,
PG