Hiya Yvette,
Welcome to planDisney! When I start planning a trip to
Walt Disney World Resort, the first thing I start thinking about is where I want to eat. I love trying new restaurants or snacks every time we go while repeating our favorite spots. Since dining is so important to my family's plans, getting the dining plan is an easy decision.
As you may know, dining plans have returned! There are two options which are the
Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan and Disney Dining Plan. Each plan has its meals and snacks that guests have to redeem before they end their stay at Walt Disney World Resort. You will be given for yourself and everyone in your party during your stay the same allotment of meals and each meal is defined. For example, a meal at a table-service restaurant includes 1 entrée, 1 dessert, and 1 beverage (an alcoholic option is included for people 21 and older). If an appetizer is desired it would have to be purchased separately as it is not included in the definition of a "meal". You most likely will not be allowed to order an appetizer using the entrée allotment and will have to work within your plan. You could use a snack credit potentially for an additional drink if you don't want to use a second meal. It would be at the discretion of the Cast Members at the restaurant to use the dining plan in this way but most likely it won't be allowed.
Something to note, you are allowed to redeem your meals and snacks at any time and in any order but if you choose to use one meal at a time you may find yourself in a situation where you won't have enough time to use them all up! For example, if you purchase the
Disney Dining Plan, that means that you and your daughter will each have for a 5-night stay a total allotment of 5 Table-Service Meals, 5 Quick-Service Meals, and 5 Snacks. When combined that's a lot of food to eat and not redeeming all of your meals or snacks is just a waste. The meals and snacks can carry over and accumulate each day but if not used by the end of your trip it is lost.
My advice for people who are not "big eaters" is to just purchase their meals without having a dining plan. It does help to have the convenience of having all the meals essentially "pre-paid" but sometimes it can be too much. My family can be big eaters and while it does feel like I may want to be rolled out of the restaurants from all the food I ate, it's something we enjoy doing. I should tell you about my buffet strategies one day. Yvette, I would take the time to figure out what food you would eat by
looking at the menus and deciding if during your trip it makes sense to have the dining plan or pay separately.
I hope this helps and if you have any questions please
let me know directly!
Happy Planning!
-Nimmy