Hey there, Brandi! Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
Brandi, this is a great question! Budgeting a perfect Walt Disney World Vacation is something I spend a lot of time thinking about prior to planning for the trip itself. It’s important to know what you are going to need in order to create the magical vacation you want.
One of the benefits of
Disney’s Dining Plans for my family are the refillable mugs that come with them. We love these mugs and use them frequently during our stay. I also enjoy knowing that most of our meals are prepaid. I love not having to think about that part of the budget once I’m immersed in the magic enjoying my vacation.
To know if the price difference is worth it for your family, I would ask the following question: How many Table Service meals are you hoping to enjoy? If you are going to try to do at least one a day during your stay, it might be a great idea to include the dining plan. But if that number is smaller, then maybe paying for your meals as you go might be a better option for you.
Another tool that I’ve found very helpful when deciding if the Dining Plan was a smart choice for my family was using a Dining Plan Calculator. You can search for these wonderful tools online and enter your trip details to get a better idea of the cost of your out of pocket expenses versus the cost of a Dining Plan. These numbers might ultimately make the decision for you.
I hope this information helps you in making your decision. And remember, no matter what you decide, you will soon be enjoying a visit to the most magical place on earth, and that’s worth all the planning ahead you’re tackling now. So, enjoy your planning and dreaming up this magical visit. It’ll be worth it once you arrive!
See you real soon,
Emille