Hi there, Patricia! Welcome to planDisney! I'm so happy to be able to help a fellow New Yorker!
Isn't planning a
Walt Disney World Resort vacation so much fun? While it's usually a blast, I know sometimes it could seem like a lot to do, but just know that all your hard work will result in a magical vacation for your family! Plus, your friends here at planDisney are here to help you each step of the way!
So, let's get to your question, shall we? Unfortunately, the
Disney Dining Plans are temporarily unavailable, and there is currently no word on when they might return. While I know this may not be the news you were hoping for, I'd love to share a nifty trick my fellow planDisney Panelist, Greg,
shared on our Instagram recently. His family loved to use the dining plan to budget for meals and have everything paid for ahead of his visit, so he now utilizes Disney gift cards to purchase all food during his vacation. This way, you can know exactly how much you are comfortable spending on dining during your trip and have it all "paid for" by purchasing the gift cards ahead of your arrival. Isn't that so smart? I thought this was such a fantastic idea, so I can't wait to try it on my next visit.
If you're looking to figure out your budget and how much to load on your gift cards, I would recommend first putting together a list of your preferred restaurants. The menu for each restaurant will have the pricing listed, making it easy to put together an estimated total per meal. Once you know where you would like to dine, you will want to make sure you secure your
Advanced Dining Reservations. You can start making reservations through your
My Disney Experience account at 6 a.m. 60 days before your arrival date, and if you are staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel, you can book for the entire length of your stay. So, if you have a particularly popular restaurant in mind, I would recommend booking that later in your trip for the best chance of securing a time. Once you have all of your Advanced Dining Reservations locked in, you recalculate your estimated dining cost and purchase your gift cards.
If you get a chance to do so, I highly recommend the "out of this world" experience over at
Space 220 Restaurant. So, hop in the space elevator and head up to dinner with views 220 miles above EPCOT. You may even spot some lightsaber-wielding astronauts through the window!
If you ask me, Patricia, the food is the best part of any Walt Disney World Resort vacation, so I just know you are going to have a deliciously delightful time with your family!
Bon Appétit!
Diana