Everything you need to know about the Disney Dining Plan

**Updated Feb 2024**

The Disney Dining Plan has officially returned!

Disney World offers 2 Disney Dining Plans to any guests purchasing a Disney Resort Package (room and tickets). These Dining Plans don’t have to be complex and confusing!

Here is what we will cover in this post…

• What is the Disney Dining Plan?
• Who can purchase a Dining Plan?
• Are there any unexpected costs?
• What if we have food allergies?
• What is the resort refillable mug?
• Is the Dining Plan worth it?
• Why you’ll love each plan
• Pro tips for the Dining Plan

WHAT IS THE DISNEY DINING PLAN?

Disney Dining Plans are pre-paid meal plans that give guests a specific amount of meals and snacks per night’s stay at Disney World. There are 2 Dining Plans to choose from – the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan (often called the Standard Dining Plan). And of course each one offers different options with different prices as seen below.

You may be wondering what is included in each meal credit. Well, here is another chart for you:

WHO CAN PURCHASE A DINING PLAN?

Anyone purchasing a Disney Package can also purchase a Dining Plan with their package.

All OR NOTHING

Note that everyone in the room must purchase the Dining Plan you are choosing. You are unable to purchase a Dining Plan for only a select amount of people on your room reservation.

Also note that you must purchase your Dining Plan for your entire resort stay. You cannot choose to save costs by purchasing the Dining Plan for only part of your stay.

CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OLD

Like many things at Disney World, children under 3 are free when it comes to the Dining Plan. You will not be charged anything for your children under three years old when you add a Dining Plan to your reservation.

Keep in mind that these little ones will not receive a Refillable Resort Mug like everyone else in your party, nor will they receive meal or snack credits. However, they are allowed to pick off of anyone else’s plate, and at buffets they are able to have their own drink and plate of food!

I ALREADY BOOKED MY DISNEY TRIP. CAN I ADD A DINING PLAN?

If you booked a Disney Package that includes nights at a Disney Resort, then yes, you can most likely add a Dining Plan by talking to your Disney Travel Planner.

Heads up, you typically have to add the Dining Plan to your package at least 48 hours prior to check-in!

ARE THERE ANY UNEXPECTED COSTS?

Tips! Tax is included in all of your meal and snack credits. However, tip is not included. Keep this cost in mind as you prepare to eat at any Table Service restaurant. No tips are necessary at Quick Service restaurants.

WHAT IF WE HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES?

Well of course, this could throw a wrench into your plans if you purchased a Dining Plan and found out you couldn’t even eat the food!

At most Table Service restaurants, you can request to speak to the chef to get all of your questions answered and to triple check that you and your family are safe. They are usually so kind and will accommodate any needs you have!

To get a general idea of what is offered, check out the menus online or on the My Disney Experience app.

When it comes to Quick Service restaurants, you probably aren’t going to have much luck speaking to a cast member that knows much about the ingredients. However, many of the Quick Service restaurants already have allergy menus available for you to look at on the My Disney Experience app!

WHAT IS THE RESORT REFILLABLE MUG?

This is a mug that each person on the Dining Plan receives. At no cost to you, you are able to fill your mug with a variety of drinks offered at your resort, including sodas, coffee, and hot chocolate. Drinks that are excluded are milk, orange juice, and alcoholic beverages.

WHEN AND WHERE DO I PICK UP MY MUG?

On the day of your check-in, all of your meal and snack credits, are automatically loaded onto your My Disney Experience account. There will also be a “mug credit” per person. So just hop over to your resort’s dining hall or souvenir shop, grab a mug, head to check out, and scan your MagicBand. Now you can start refilling your mug at any resort.

There are usually 4 or so colors/themes to choose from. Different themed mugs may be available during certain season and holidays.

WHERE CAN I FILL MY MUG?

You are able to fill your mug at any resort, but you are not able to fill them in the theme parks, nor at any restaurants. Of course you can fill your mug with ice water at any of these locations.

IS THE DINING PLAN WORTH IT?

This is going to be different for every single family. Look at the chart at the top of the page to see what you receive at each meal; look at the menus online; and think about what you normally eat or what you want to eat on vacation.

For us, we could probably save money if we did not do the Dining Plan, but we’d be pinching pennies, and that cuts into the “fun” of our vacation! We end up getting the Dining Plan each visit because we love the freedom to pick whatever we want off the menu without considering the cost. We also love the all-inclusive feel of our vacation when we have the Dining Plan. Everything has already been paid for!

On the flip side of that, I always end up eating way more than I normally would because I am trying to maximize each snack and meal credit! I feel the need to get a drink at each meal since it’s included, although I would normally choose water. I also try to find the biggest and most expensive snacks to use my snack credits, whereas normally, I’d probably just be happy with an apple.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE EACH PLAN

Quick Service Dining Plan

• No planning or advance dining reservations —> you don’t have to make any reservations 60 days in advance!
• More freedom in planning and park touring. Choose a great restaurant that is close to where you are in the parks.
• Eat when we want since you don’t have reservations. If you’ve been eating Mickey pretzels and dole whip all morning, you may not want to eat lunch until 3pm, and you’ll have that flexibility since you don’t have any dining reservations.

Standard Disney Dining Plan

• This is a great plan if you want to have character meals! Find the character meals that are only 1 Table Service credit, and you are getting a great value!
• This is also a great plan for dining packages! Certain parks offer dining packages where you can eat at specific park restaurants and then get priority seating at the night time show. Many of these packages are 1 Table Service credit, another great use of a credit because you get the meal and priority seating!
• Unlike the Quick Service Plan, this plan forces you to plan in advance by making dining reservations at those Table Service restaurants. This can be a good way to force you to slow down and take a breather each day.
• In the planning phases of your trip, making reservations for the restaurants you are most excited about can give you a little structure and foundation to your planning.

PRO TIPS FOR THE DINING PLAN

Don’t forget to tip at Table Service restaurants.

Character meals are a great use of a Table Service Credit.

Dining Packages like the Fantasmic! Dining Package that include VIP seating to shows and require only 1 Table Service Credit per person can be another great use of a Table Service Credit.

Be careful! Certain restaurants, such as the Signature Restaurants will cost you 2 Table Service credits per person. If you want a Princess Character Meal that only costs 1 Table Service credit per person, go to our favorite princess meal restaurant – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway Pavilion of Epcot.

If you want ice water at your meal, ask if you can replace the drink with an extra side, like mac & cheese! This is great for getting more food to share with the little ones under 3 that don’t have any credits.

And that’s that for Dining Plans! Let us know if you have any questions below!