Dear Lisa,
Thank you so much for stopping by to visit us here at the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your great question about considering the Disney Dining Plan for your upcoming
Walt Disney World Resort vacation!
The
Disney Dining Plan is connected to your room reservation, so if you purchase the Disney Dining Plan, it must be for the entire length of your stay.
However, I am also someone who is conscientious about budgeting, and I have found that not purchasing the Disney Dining Plan and making some choices about where to eat or not to eat can really help me to stay in budget! For example, my family of five finds that sometimes three entrees are enough for us for lunch at a Quick-Service location, because portion sizes are larger than you might be used to at home. We also prefer to drink water with our meals, with the occasional soda as a treat, as opposed to a separate drink at each meal. We also don't eat as many desserts as you would get with the Disney Dining Plan, so that helps us too. I do understand that many people really like the idea of the "pre-paid" aspect of the Disney Dining Plan, so if that's you, I completely understand.
Hope that helps with your magical planning!
- Jan K.