Hey there, Danielle! I am so glad you stopped by planDisney to ask your questions.
To answer your question, no you cannot purchase a dining plan without having a resort reservation at a Walt Disney World property. In any case, the Disney Dining Plan has been temporarily suspended, with no release date, much to the dismay of many WDW guests.
I do have some suggestions, however. A few years ago, my family took our annual summer Walt Disney World trip. We had purchased the dining plan in the past, but with one picky eater and myself who can’t quite eat as much as most, I felt like we were often either wasting food or not eating our “worth”. So, we tried an experiment. I purchased Disney Gift Cards in the amount of what the Disney Dining Plan would cost for us. I then
combined the gift cards online, onto 3 separate cards (the maximum value on any Disney Gift Card is $1000).
Then, I used those gift cards for EVERYTHING that went into our mouths. From bottles of water to Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars to dinner at Be Our Guest. Anything edible was paid with the gift cards. And, we ate everything we wanted…no limits. At the end of the trip, the final gift card still had some money left on it. So, I decided that the Disney Dining Plan, while a good value for many, is not the right fit for our family.
Since reopening last summer, WDW has utilized mobile ordering for quick service locations on the
MyDisneyExperience mobile app. This is life-changing! I have absolutely loved this tool. I have been able to order my Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich from Sleepy Hollow while in line for Space Mountain. I have also been able to order my family’s entire lunch at 9am, to pick up at 12:30pm. It is seriously THE BEST. The first time you use it might feel a bit clunky, but I assure you, you will get the hang of it.
I hope this helps with planning for your November trip to The Most Magical Place on Earth!
Happy Traveling (& eating),
Tracy