Hi Margaret,
This is one of the most popular questions we have on the Disney Parks Moms Panel. To dine on the dining plan or not. Really it is such an individual question there are no wrong answers but I can try and give you some guidelines about if the dining plan is for you.
The Disney Dining Plan I like the best is the basic with a quick serve, table serve and a snack. I think this fits most guests dining habits and there is always one meal you can split or eat something with a snack to get to a meal. I also like it because it requires you to take a break and relax for one meal. You can get out of the crowds and plan for the evening or the next day.
When I am trying to decide to purchase the plan or not, I look at the restaurants I want to dine at while on vacation. I then look at the menu and figure out what the price point would be for the meal. If I am consistently coming up above the price of the plan, I get the plan. If below, I pay per meal.
Some other factors to consider:
- Ages of the children you are traveling with this trip - under 9 is a lean towards it. A picky tween eater is a possible not as they would be ordering from the adult menu.
- Large appetite vs small appetite
- Signature restaurants vs standard restaurants
- Flexibility to dine when you want vs slight restriction on Advance Dining Reservations
I hope these tips help guide your decision.
Wishing you a magical vacation!
Beth