Welcome to planDisney, Cathy! I am so glad you asked this!
The
Disney Dining Plan is my family's favorite way to dine around
Walt Disney World. I'm sure you'll love it, too!
When you purchase a Dining Plan, you have essentially pre-paid for the number of snacks and meals provided on that plan. All you'll need to pay for at mealtime is gratuity for your magical server and anything you may have opted to enjoy that isn't included in your meal.
Currently, there are two Dining Plan options:
Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, which is great for those who don't want to be tied down to dining reservations, or
Disney Dining Plan, which includes both Quick-Service Meals and Table-Service meals per night of stay. Both plans are available for all guests ages 3 and over, and both include snacks plus a wonderful Resort-Refillable Drink Mug. Consider how you envision spending your days while in Walt Disney World and you'll soon realize which plan is right for you.
For example, a 4 night stay with a Quick-Service Dining Plan includes, per person, 2 Quick-Service Meals per night of stay, 1 snack/non-alcoholic drink per night of stay, and that handy Refillable Mug. All of those snacks and meals are placed into your account for the duration of your trip, expiring at midnight on the day of checkout, so each guest will get 8 Quick-Service Meals to enjoy over the course of that 4 night stay.
For the same 4 night stay with a Disney Dining Plan, each guest will receive 1 Table-Service Meal per night, 1 Quick-Service Meal per night, 1 snack/non-alcoholic drink per night, and that great Refillable Mug. Here, each guest will get 4 Quick-Service Meals and 4 Table-Service Meals to use throughout that 4 night stay.
If you look through the links above, you'll see that all meals include a beverage and an entree. Guests 21 and older may substitute beer, wine, or a cocktail for that non-alcoholic beverage. At a Table-Service brunch, lunch, or dinner, your meal will also include a dessert.
On our Magic Kingdom day, my family may opt for an early morning Character Breakfast at
The Crystal Palace, using one of our Table-Service Meals. After a full day of park fun, I know we'll need a break, so I'll book a second Table-Service Meal for an early dinner at
Tony's Town Square Restaurant. That leaves two Table-Service Meals and all four Quick-Service Meals to enjoy on our other days--a flexible option that lets us enjoy each day at a different pace.
Cathy, I am so excited for you as you plan your visit to Walt Disney World! You are in for some of the most magical moments you can imagine--and some of them will be on your plate!
As you think of more planning questions, please send them our way. We love to help!
Andrea H