Hi Ashley, and welcome to planDisney. It always makes me smile when I get to answer a question from a fellow Ontarian!
I'm thrilled to hear you're planning a January visit to the Walt Disney World Resort. To me, there is no better way to ring in the new year than with a visit to Mickey and time spent at The Most Magical Place on Earth.
Like Princess Tiana, I am wishing on a star that the
Disney Dining Plans make a comeback soon. As you know, they are currently unavailable and we don't have news about when they might return. My advice is to read the
Disney Parks Blog, as they will surely make an announcement when they are ready to bring back those delicious plans! As for timing, we just don't know. Sometimes Disney makes announcements with lots of time to plan and prepare, and sometimes we have magical surprises that keep us on our toes!
My family has loved using the Disney Dining Plan in the past for its convenience and the way it makes a trip feel all-inclusive. One strategy that has worked for me to replicate that feeling is to use
Disney Gift Cards. Purchase gift cards in the amount of your dining budget, and then either use them to pay for your snacks, drinks, and meals in the theme parks, resorts, and Disney Springs, or, if you'll be staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel, charge to your
MagicBand and then pay off your balance at the front desk. I did this on my summer vacation and it really allowed me to stay on top of our dining budget and still get that all-inclusive feeling.
Ashley, I'm sending pixie-dusted wishes that we get dining plan news soon! Enjoy ALL the snacks, drinks, and meals during your new years' visit, and be sure to keep reading the Disney Parks Blog for news and planning tips. Their Foodie Guides are my favorite articles, and I love keeping a list of all the must-try eats and drinks around Walt Disney World. ChEARS to eating all the things!
Thanks for stopping by, and please come back and see us if you have any further questions as you plan and dream. Over on
Instagram, the planDisney panelists are sharing our favorite treats and meals from inside the Disney Parks, and I hope you'll join us over there! We'll see you real soon!
Wishing you a magical vacation,
Robyn