Hi there, Megan, and welcome to planDisney!
Can you believe that it's not just a bunch of hocus pocus? You'll be waking up to another glorious morning in The Most Magical Place on Earth this October! So many Guests (including my pal
Jennifer) are ecstatic about the return of
dining plans. I think you'll love the convenience and efficiency they add to Walt Disney World Resort vacations.
Character Dining Experiences provide a great way to maximize the number of beloved characters your tiny Mousekeer will be able to say hello to without spending your magical minutes in queues. Since most of these meals can be enjoyed for just one table service credit per person on the Disney Dining Plan, I think you'll find the upgrade to the
Disney Dining Plan to be worth it. I just spoke to a helpful Cast Member who shared that the exact price difference is contingent on the length of your Walt Disney World Resort vacation as well the number of people in your party, but you can expect to spend around $35 more per adult per day and about $7 per child ages 3 to 9. Of course, this price was provided to me in American dollars, so I suggest reaching out to either your travel agent or the
Walt Disney Travel Company for a more exact amount and to upgrade your holiday package if the numbers work with your budget.
Because there's nothing quite like the magic of a character dining experience, my husband and I (who are both in our thirties) always make sure to have a reservation for at least one during each magical vacation. Most recently we enjoyed the Best Friends Breakfast at
'Ohana where we were greeted with hugs from Pluto, Lilo, Stitch, and Mickey himself in his Aloha finest. While breakfast at 'Ohana (shout out to POG Juice) and Stitch's antics never disappoint, my all-time favorite Character dining experience can be found at
Garden Grill Restaurant in EPCOT. Here, Farmer Mickey (yes, in overalls), Pluto, and my beloved rascally chipmunk duo offer up a deliciously hearty meal of steak, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potatoes. Additionally, the smaller (rotating - yes, rotating) restaurant often allows them to stop by tables multiple times resulting in even more memorable moments.
I hope this was helpful, Megan, and that your magical vacation leaves you with a full heart (and belly). If you have any additional questions or require further clarification, feel free to stop back by. I'm always
happy to help!
See ya real soon,
Lizzie