It's great to see you here today at the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Erin!
I love using the
Disney Dining Plan when I'm on vacation at Walt Disney World Resort, but just like most things in life, it is what you make of it! My family definitely saves money when we use the Dining Plan but we do a little research before we leave, just like you're doing right now, to make sure that it's right for us. Our favorite Dining Plan is the middle tier, the
Disney Dining Plan, which includes a Table-Service meal, a Quick-Service meal, and a Snack for each person every day. We find that this version of the Dining Plan gets our family the best value because we're able to use it for unique experiences like
Character Dining and
Signature Dining, which tend to have a higher price point than other Table-Service meals.
When you're doing your calculations, don't forget that the
Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan you're looking at also includes two Snacks per person per day, an alcoholic beverage with each meal for guests over the age of 21, and a refillable travel mug that you can use for soft drinks at your
Resort Hotel whenever you want. Those Snacks can really add up, especially since you'll be visiting during the
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays! You could use that Snack credit for some popcorn or a soda, but you can also use it to get Slow-roasted Turkey with Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and Cranberry Sauce from the
American Holiday Table! If you're spending the day at
Disney's Animal Kingdom you can have your classic favorites like burgers, hot dogs, and pizza, but you can also get the Ribs, Chicken, and Pulled Pork Sampler from
Flame Tree Barbecue for a Quick-Service credit, and that meal rings up around $20 so it's an excellent use of your Dining Plan. I suggest taking a look at some menus and thinking about what your party might want to eat, and then doing some quick calculations to see if the value is there for you!
I hope this answers your question, Erin, and please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help you plan your magical vacation.
Jessica