Is the Disney Dining Plan worth it?
It’s a question I often get from clients, friends and family, and there are a few things that need to be considered before answering it.
What is it?
If you don’t know what the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) is, it’s a prepaid meal package that guests staying at Walt Disney World hotels can purchase in advance of their vacation. It’s been around since 2005 but has evolved over the years into a tiered system with a bit more flexibility to fit your group’s needs.
The DDP is only for Disney resort guests who have purchased a vacation package or have used Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points to book their stay. How the plan works is that you’re purchasing a set number of meals in advance of your trip (based on the number of nights you’re staying) – and this will potentially save you some $$ and make your vacation as hassle free as possible.
How do you track it?
Everything is automatically tracked through your MagicBand, so you scan your band to pay for snacks and meals. There are three ways to keep tabs on your balance:
- Use the My Disney Experience app (go to “My Resort Stay” and then “Check Dining Plan”)
- Check your snack or meal receipt (it will list the updated totals)
- Ask your resort Concierge or Guest Relations to confirm your balance
Dining Plan Options
Before we get into the pros/cons of the DDP, it’s important to understand the basics of four three tiers that are offered to resort guests. 2020 experienced a slight increase in pricing due to standard inflation as well as the addition of a NEW plan option called Disney Dining Plan Plus. Below are the 2020 tiers and pricing.
While the DDP may seem simple at first glance, it’s actually quite complicated and has a lot of ins and outs. You can read all the rules for the DDP on Disney’s website and get a full list of participating restaurants as well. Check it out here.
Pros:
- “Hassle free” while you’re on vacation – Since you prepaid for your meals, you don’t have to stress about budgeting while you’re in the parks and resorts
- (Potential) savings – If you do the advance work, you’ll potentially be able to save money by using the Disney Dining Plan (I can help with this!). Also, as the prices for food in the parks increases, the DDP prices are increasing less. This means you’re actually starting to save more with the DDP as park prices go up.
- Lots of food – While the prices for food in Disney can be shocking at times, the quantity of food you get can be even more shocking. You’ll never go hungry on your vacation!
Cons:
- Requires a lot of work – Like I mentioned before, it takes a lot of work to really understand the system and get your bang for your buck. Just take a look at Disney’s website and you’ll see how complicated it really is! Many people end up with tons of their “snack” credits left over at the end of the trip, so they stock up on treats to take home! Not a bad option, but it seems like a bit of a waste.
- Marginal savings – You can do the research to determine the math (or I can help with this) on how much you’ll really save, but most sources will say the same thing: you don’t save that much (if at all) for how much advance work is required. However, as the prices for food in the parks increases, the DDP prices are increasing less. This means you’re actually starting to save more with the DDP as park prices go up.
- Too much food! – The DDP typically includes multiple courses for your sit down meals (that you may not have ordered if you weren’t on the DDP).
When You Should Use the Dining Plan
- If you’re a group with a lot of big eaters.
- If you don’t want to stress about the costs of meals during your trip.
- If you are willing to do the advance planning work to determine the plan that’s right for you – or have me to help you!! 🙂
When You Should NOT Use the Dining Plan
- If you have young kids who don’t each much.
- If you have a group of adults who can/prefers to split meals (we always have a “meal buddy” in our family!)
- If you’re trying to stick to a tight budget during your trip – because the savings is marginal with the DDP, you’re likely better off doing your own budgeting while on your trip to save even more.
Is It Right For You?
Overall, the Disney Dining Plan is a personal decision. The savings are marginal (even when Disney offers “free dining plans,” you are not able to take advantage of any other discounts such a room rates, etc.). To determine if/which DDP is right for your group, it’s best to map out all of the Advance Dining Reservation restaurants you want to eat at during your vacation. Take a look at their menus to get a sense for their price points. Then you can see which DDP tier makes sense (if any) and make the best decision for you vacation!
If you have any questions, contact me today!