FROM: Disney Travel Tips from Mouseketrips Published Saturdays
In Support of the Disney Dining Plan
Most people dig the Disney Dining Plan, if they can afford it, because it spares them the effort of calculating what they can afford to eat. With the Plan, they can eat almost anything, anywhere. Is there a downside? Keith Anderson takes a closer look.
Walt Disney World offers three dining plans to guests who stay on Disney property. The question people ask me most often is "Is it worth it"?
The most popular of the dining plans is the Disney Dining or Plus Dining plan, which includes one table service meal, one counter service meal, and one snack per person per night of your stay. When you check in, you have access to all of your credits for your entire stay. How you use them is up to you.
A table service meal is any character meal or restaurant where you sit at a table and order from a menu. A counter service meal is any restaurant where you walk up to the counter and order your food. And a snack, of course, is a snack, such as a bottle of water, a Mickey ice cream bar, popcorn, etc. Virtually all of the restaurants in the parks and resorts are included in the dining plan, as are a few that are in Downtown Disney.
Whether the plan is worth it depends on your family. If you just want to grab food and run, the Quick Service Plan might be right up your alley. If you like eating at all of the fanciest restaurants, then the Deluxe Dining might work best for you. If you are like me and most people, and like to have one nice meal each day, then consider the Disney Dining plan.
The cost of the Disney Dining plan is $46 for adults 10 and older and $12 per child 3-9 per night of your stay. During the summer, peak season, and Christmas, the price increases $2 per adult and $1 per child, per night. Disney requires that you purchase the plan for your entire stay, so if you are staying six nights, you must purchase six 'nights' of the plan.
I do the Disney Dining plan each trip with my family. When originally released, the plan was a killer money-saver, as it included an appetizer at the table service meals and gratuities, and for quite a bit less money than what Disney charges now. Over time, Disney has adjusted the plan and increased the prices a bit, but for my family, it's still a great deal.
On our last trip, for example, we stayed 10 nights, and over the 10 night stay, we saved about 30% on the cost of our food. Now, had we not had the dining plan, we probably wouldn't have ordered desserts with every meal, so take the savings anyone tells you with a grain of salt.
For me, there are a few reasons that matter more than the savings:
- Everything is pre-paid and budgeted. I know roughly the cost of what my meals are going to be for the entire stay before I leave home. There may be some additional costs for breakfast or if we order anything that isn't included, like an appetizer, but I know that 90% of my food costs are already paid for in advance.
- Since everything is paid for, we don't have to worry about making last minute changes to our itinerary just to save a few dollars. Before the dining plan, we would make reservations for each night, but inevitably, we stood outside trying to decide if we really wanted to go in and spend $200 on dinner for our family, or whether burgers were okay again. Now, when we plan our trip, we don't even worry about the cost of the food, and we have a fantastic time.
- Also, my kids are picky eaters. Since everything is paid, I don't care what my kids order, I don't have to tell them they have to pick from the two cheapest things on the menu. If my son wants to order a $40 steak, so be it, no skin off of my nose.
For most of our clients, the Disney Dining plan saves them money and allows them to have a much more enjoyable trip. It may take a bit more planning to get your reservations done in advance and plan out your days, but in the end, it is worth it.
While you're waiting for Keith's next Disney tip, why not ask him to plan your next Disney trip? Mouseketrips does nothing but Disney - and they're really good at it! Hook up with them at their website, through Twitter, or on Facebook.
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