Heigh-ho Lora, and welcome to planDisney!
Oh my gooseberry pie! Your inquiry is certainly a popular one these days. We hear from many Guests who are anxious for the return of
Disney Dining Plans. We don't know exactly when this fan-favorite will be part of our world again, but I recommend following the
Disney Parks Blog; it's the best official source of breaking news and announcements. It's also the first place you'll hear of any updates to the
current health and safety protocols and
vacation package offerings.
In the meantime, if the pre-paid aspect of a Disney Dining Plan appeals to you, I suggest purchasing
Disney Gift Cards in the amount you would normally budget for meals and snacks. To get an approximate idea of costs, check out some
menus on the Walt Disney World website. Disney Gift Cards can be used at nearly all restaurants in Walt Disney World, and can even be applied to
Mobile Food & Beverage Orders on the
My Disney Experience Mobile App.
I prefer to leave my Disney Gift Cards in my resort room safe and use a
MagicBand for charging. A night or two before I check out, I go to the front desk and pay down my resort balance with Disney Gift Cards. Using a MagicBand or Key to the World Card is a convenient way to pay for meals and snacks on the go, and by using my method, you can still utilize pre-paid gift cards for the majority of expenses. Just be sure to visit the front desk the
night before you check out, as your expenses will be automatically charged to your credit card on file by the morning of your departure day.
The best part of using Disney Gift Cards rather than a Disney Dining Plan, is that you can save any leftover funds for a future trip (Disney Gift Cards never expire), or use the remaining gift card balance on souvenirs. Whether you're a collector of spirit jerseys or Minnie Mouse ear headbands, there are gadgets and gizmos a-plenty that can be purchased with Disney Gift Cards!
I wish I had more exact information regarding the return of Disney Dining Plans, but fortunately, there are still ways to cover most of your expenditures before your vacation begins. Best wishes for a magical summer escape, and we'll see ya real soon!
Betsy