Welcome to Disney Parks Moms Panel, Mary!
You've asked a great question about your upcoming visit to
Walt Disney World. I am so glad that you asked about the
Disney Dining Plan!
When Guests ask if a Disney Dining Plan is right for them and their family, the first thing I suggest is taking a look at the various menus of
Dining Locations throughout the four theme parks, two
water parks,
Disney Springs, and
Walt Disney World Resort hotels. You can do this by clicking on any restaurant, then clicking on "View Menu" which is to the right of the photo on the restaurant's home page. Once there, scan the menu to see which items your daughter would enjoy, keeping in mind that Table-Service chefs are happy to make modifications for
Special Dietary Requests.
At that point, take note of how much these items would cost if you were paying out of pocket for each. In many cases, a Disney Dining Plan costs less than if you price out the included items you would order for each meal.
Be sure to consider the differences between what's included in
Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan,
Disney Dining Plan,
Disney Dining Plan Plus - NEW!, and
Disney Deluxe Dining Plan. If you see yourselves enjoying more snacks and Quick-Service meals, then the first of the two may be better for you. If you envision more Table-Service options or enjoy more flexibility, one of the latter two may suit you perfectly.
For my family, a Disney Dining Plan gives us the security of being able to order
any included item on each menu, without worrying about the price. We've prepaid, so we order as we please.
Be sure to send more questions as you plan your visit to The Most Magical Place on Earth, Mary. We can help you and your daughter dine around Disney
deliciously!
Andrea