Starting October 27, 2009, Walt Disney World will move the booking window for Advanced Dining Reservations to 180 days, from the current 90 days. Walt Disney World resort guests will be able to book all dining reservations 180 days in advance of the day they check in, up to 10 days at a time. Non-Disney World Resort guest can make dining reservations 180 days in advance of their dining date. In addition to all restaurant reservations, all Disney resort venues will be 180 days as well, such as Fireworks Cruises, Tee Times and Fishing Trips. If you can make a reservation for it, you will be able to do so 180 days in advance.

Currently, some popular restaurants such as Le Cellier and Cinderella’s Royal Table are nearly impossible to find, even calling first thing 90 days in advance. This move should allow those who plan well in advance plenty of opportunity to book the reservations they want.

Starting on October 27, 2009, guests will be able to book dining reservations up until April 25, 2010.

Rumor is that at the time of the change, all dining reservations will require a credit card guarantee. No official announcement has been made, I will update this post if/when that change is announced.

Walt Disney World has announced 2010 rates, including small changes to their dining plans. Please find below a quick overview of all the available dining plans for Walt Disney World along with a downloadable brochure for each with more in depth information.

Update 1/4/2010 - New brochures were released today with updated restaurant listings, should be last update for 2010. All restaurants from 2009 are now included, including Teppan Edo, Yak and Yeti and Wolfgang Puck. Updated brochures are available from the links below.

Update 5/3/10 – Disney is currently offering the Disney Dining plan free! Travel dates of August 15 – October 2, 2010.

Update 7/6/10 – Disney extended the free Disney Dining offer for travel through December 21, 2010. Many dates are blacked out, so check carefully!

Update 8/7/10 – Information on 2011 Walt Disney Dining Plans has been released!

Quick Service Dining Plan

New for 2009, this plan has only changed slightly for 2010. The Quick Service dining plan appears to be a fantastic option for park guests who don’t want to be tied to eating at a sit down restaurant each day.

The Quick Service Dining Plan includes, per person, per night of your stay:

• Two counter service meals
• Two snacks
• One refillable resort mug

The cost of the Quick Service dining plan is $31.99 per night per adult (10 and older), and $9.99 per child (3 – 9).

Brochure: Disney World Quick Service Dining Plan

Disney Dining Plan

Not much has changed from the Disney Dining plan of 2009, except a small increase in price. Disney has also added the appetizer back, but only for kids 3 – 9.

The Disney Dining Plan includes, per person, per night of your stay:

• One table service meal
• One counter service meal
• One snack

Please note gratuities are not included on the table service meals. Table service meals can also be used for signature restaurants, dinner shows, private dining or pizza delivery (these typically run 2 table service meals per person). More information can be found in the brochure.

The cost of the Disney dining plan is $41.99 to $47.99 per night per adult (10 and older), and $11.99 to $12.99 per child (3 – 9). The Disney Dining plan is priced based on your travel dates, and is higher priced during the following peak times:

• February 12 – April 10, 2010
• June 4 – August 14, 2010
• December 17 – 31, 2010

It appears as though the cost of the dining plan is based on the day you check in, so if you check in one a date when the Dining plan is the cheaper price, and your vacation carries over into one of the higher priced times, you will pay the lower price for your entire stay.

Brochure: Disney Dining Plan

Disney Deluxe Dining Plan

Again, nothing has changed from the Deluxe Dining Plan of 2009, with the exception of a small price increase.

The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan includes, per person, per night of your stay:

• Three meals, which can be used for either counter service or table service meals
• Two snacks
• One resort refillable mug

The policy is the same for table service meals on the deluxe dining plan (gratuities not included, can be used for signature restaurants, etc.). If you use the meal credits towards table service meals, your meal will also include an appetizer for each person, in addition to the entree, dessert and drink.

The cost of the Disney Deluxe dining plan is $71.99 per night per adult (10 and older), and $20.99 per child (3 – 9).

Brochure: Disney Deluxe Dining Plan

Magic Your Way Premium Package

Again, very little has changed with the premium package, it now includes:

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two snacks, per person, per night. Available 100 Walt Disney World restaurants (includes tax but not gratuities, unless otherwise noted). More information is found in the brochure below
• One resort refillable mug per person
• Unlimited selected recreation, including Golf, Miniature Golf, Water Sports, Archery, Tennis, Guided Fishing Excursions, Cane Pole Fishing, Horseback Trail Rides, Pony Rides, Carriage Rides, Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides, Bike Rental and Watercraft Rental. Some restrictions may apply and advance reservations may be required, and are suggested. More information is found in the brochure
• One admission per person to Cirque du Soliel La Nouba
• Unlimited use of Disney Children’s Activity Centers
• Unlimited admission to selected theme park tours
• Preferred fireworks viewing areas for Wishes at the Magic Kingdom and IllumiNations at Epcot. ( Advance reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance and voucher is required.)
• One portrait session and photo package with professions PhotoPass professionals

The cost of the Premium package is $164 per night per adult (10 and older), and $114 per child (3 – 9). That is in addition to the standard cost of a Magic Your Way package.

Brochure: Magic Your Way Premium Package

Magic Your Way Platinum Package

Similar to the premium package above, the Platinum package is the ultimate in luxury. It includes everything the premium offers, plus:

• One Disney’s Photopass CD
• Private in-room child care (4 hour minimum, 6 hour maximum, gratuity is not included)
• One selected spa treatment per person
• Fireworks cruise (one per reservation, everyone on your reservation is included)
• Reserved seating at Fantasmic! (one per person)
• Nightly turn-down service
• Personalized pre-arrival itinerary planning
• Richard Petty Drive along experience
• Exclusive keepsake (one per room)

The cost of the Platinum package is $220 per night per adult (10 and older), and $154 per child (3 – 9). That is in addition to the standard cost of a Magic Your Way package.

Brochure: Magic Your Way Platinum Package

Disney Wine and Dine Plan

The Wine and Dine plan is available to add to any of the above dining plan options, with the exception of the Quick Service dining plan. The Wine and Dine option includes one bottle of wine per night of your stay, and can be used at most table service and signature service restaurants in Walt Disney World. The cost is $39.99 per night of your stay (price is per reservation, not per person).

Brochure: Disney Wine and Dine

For all of the packages above, there are a few things to remember:

• Everyone in your room must be on the same dining plan/package
• Dining plan credits expire at midnight the day you check out
• Dining plan credits are based on the number of nights you stay
• Dining plan credits and park passes are not transferable

Please note, as you look at the brochures, many of the restaurants that will be included for 2010 are not currently listed on the brochures. This happens every year, as the agreements and contracts for non-Disney restaurants are negotiated every year when it comes to inclusion in the dining plans. As 2010 approaches, more restaurants will be included, and the list should be similar to 2009.

Travel Dates: August 16 – October 3, 2009

Please note, this discount is now secondary, as the Free Disney Dining has been released to the general public. A Disney VISA is no longer required, and there is not additional benefit to booking with a Disney VISA.

Walt Disney World has announced the “Free Dining” promotion for the fifth consecutive year. Currently, the discount is only available to Disney VISA cardholders, though it will be released to the general public starting on Monday, March 30, 2009. With the “Free Dining” promotion, Disney resort guests who book a Magic Your Way package that includes both your Disney resort room and your Magic Your Way park passes, will receive the Disney Dining plan add-on for free for all guest three and older in their party. There are a few requirements:

• You must book at least a three night stay, and your stay cannot be longer than 10 nights
• You must include at least a one day Magic Your Way base ticket
• You must pay your $200 per room deposit at time of booking, you cannot “hold” a reservation

As it was in 2008, this year Disney World guests will also be able to book the “Free Dining”, and upgrade to the Disney Deluxe Dining for the normal price difference, which is $32 for adults and $10 for children three to nine. The Wine and Dine option is also available at full price to add onto either the Basic or Deluxe dining plans.

Availability is extremely limited, and must be booked by June 21, 2009. It appears that all suites have been excluded from this offer, though all resorts, including value resorts are included. To receive the Disney VISA cardholder discount, you must pay your deposit at time of booking with your Disney VISA, and you must pay the balance with your Disney VISA card as well, when due. As a reminder, this exact discount will be released on March 30 to the general public without the Disney VISA requirements.

One thing to note that while the last date of travel is October 3, the free dining will extend past that date, as long as you check in October 3 or before. As usual, this is subject to availability.

To book this special Disney VISA “Free Dining” vacation package, please contact our great sponsor Mouseketrips, and ask for the appropriate code:

• RYI – Magic Your Way Dining Plan
• EEV – Magic Your Way Deluxe Dining Plan
• UXQ - Magic Your Way Deluxe Dining Plan plus Wine and Dine

Walt Disney World has announced 2009 rates, including changes to their dining plans. Please find below a quick overview of all the available dining plans for Walt Disney World along with a downloadable brochure for each with more in depth information.

Information on the 2010 Disney World Dining Plans has been released, not much has changed other than pricing.

Quick Service Dining Plan

New for 2009, the Quick Service dining plan appears to be a fantastic option for park guests who don’t want to be tied to eating at a sit down restaurant each day.

The Quick Service Dining Plan includes, per person, per night of your stay:

• Two counter service meals
• Two snacks
• One refillable resort mug

The cost of the Quick Service dining plan is $31.99 per night per adult (10 and older), and $9.99 per child (3 – 9).

Brochure: Disney World Quick Service Dining Plan

Disney Dining Plan

Nothing has changed from the Disney Dining plan of 2008, except a small increase in price.

The Disney Dining Plan includes, per person, per night of your stay:

• One table service meal
• One counter service meal
• One snack

Please note gratuities are not included on the table service meals. Table service meals can also be used for signature restaurants, dinner shows, private dining or pizza delivery (these typically run 2 table service meals per person). More information can be found in the brochure.

The cost of the Disney dining plan is $39.99 per night per adult (10 and older), and $10.99 per child (3 – 9).

Brochure: Disney Dining Plan

Disney Deluxe Dining Plan

Again, nothing has changed from the Deluxe Dining Plan of 2009, with the exception of a small price increase.

The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan includes, per person, per night of your stay:

• Three meals, which can be used for either counter service or table service meals
• Two snacks
• One resort refillable mug

The policy is the same for table service meals on the deluxe dining plan (gratuities not included, can be used for signature restaurants, etc.)

The cost of the Disney Deluxe dining plan is $71.99 per night per adult (10 and older), and $20.99 per child (3 – 9).

Brochure: Disney Deluxe Dining Plan

Magic Your Way Premium Package

Again, very little has changed with the premium package, it now includes:

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two snacks, per person, per night. Available 100 Walt Disney World restaurants (includes tax but not gratuities, unless otherwise noted). More information is found in the brochure below
• One resort refillable mug per person
• Unlimited selected recreation, including Golf, Miniature Golf, Water Sports, Archery, Tennis, Guided Fishing Excursions, Cane Pole Fishing, Horseback Trail Rides, Pony Rides, Carriage Rides, Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides, Bike Rental and Watercraft Rental. Some restrictions may apply and advance reservations may be required, and are suggested. More information is found in the brochure
• One admission per person to Cirque du Soliel La Nouba
• Unlimited use of Disney Children’s Activity Centers
• Unlimited admission to selected theme park tours
• Preferred fireworks viewing areas for Wishes at the Magic Kingdom and IllumiNations at Epcot. ( Advance reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance and voucher is required.)

The cost of the Premium package is $159 per night per adult (10 and older), and $109 per child (3 – 9). That is in addition to the standard cost of a Magic Your Way package.

Brochure: Magic Your Way Premium Package

Magic Your Way Platinum Package

Similar to the premium package above, the Platinum package is the ultimate in luxury. It includes everything the premium offers, plus:

• One Disney’s Photopass CD
• Private in-room child care (4 hour minimum, 6 hour maximum, gratuity is not included)
• One selected spa treatment per person
• Fireworks cruise (one per reservation, everyone on your reservation is included)
• Reserved seating at Fantasmic! (one per person)
• Nightly turn-down service
• Personalized pre-arrival itinerary planning
• Exclusive keepsake (one per room)

The cost of the Platinum package is $209 per night per adult (10 and older), and $144 per child (3 – 9). That is in addition to the standard cost of a Magic Your Way package.

Brochure: Magic Your Way Platinum Package

Disney Wine and Dine Plan

The Wine and Dine plan is available to add to any of the above dining plan options, with the exception of the Quick Service dining plan. The Wine and Dine option includes one bottle of wine per night of your stay, and can be used at most table service and signature service restaurants in Walt Disney World. The cost is $39.99 per night of your stay (price is per reservation, not per person).

Brochure: Disney Wine and Dine

For all of the packages above, there are a few things to remember:

• Everyone in your room must be on the same dining plan/package
• Dining plan credits expire at midnight the day you check out
• Dining plan credits are based on the number of nights you stay
• Dining plan credits and park passes are not transferable

Please note, as you look at the brochures, many of the restaurants that will be included for 2009 are not currently listed on the brochures. This happens every year, as the agreements and contracts for non-Disney restaurants are negotiated every year when it comes to inclusion in the dining plans. As 2009 approaches, more restaurants will be included, and the list should be similar to 2008.

In an interesting story about the newly themed rooms at the Caribbean Beach, the Orlando Sentinel posted this blurb, that had nothing to do with the story at all:

Disney also announced a revised Magic  Your Way plan. For fixed price per day, guests can add a Quick Service Dining starting Jan. 11, 2009. The package offers two quick service meals and two snacks for each night of stay, as well as a refillable drink mug for unlimited refills of non-alcoholic beverages at Disney resort hotels.

If this is true, this will be a fantastic option for Disney World resort guests. It has become nearly impossible to get dining reservations at most of the WDW restaurants, due in large part to the popularity of the Disney dining plan. This new plan will allow guests to book a dining plan, but will not require any stress on the reservation ecosystem, as all meals will be counter service, no reservations required. This new plan may also reduce the demand on many of the restaurants as guests opt for this plan rather than the more expensive ones.

We are expecting to see all 2009 rates and package shortly. I will update you with any additional information I am able to find. We would expect this plan to be priced around $25 – $30 for adults, and $7 – $10 for children per night, while the existing dining plans increase in cost a few dollars.

Walt Disney World has announced some changes to the current Advanced Dining Reservation system, as well as an announcement of an upcoming online system to debut this Fall.

The Walt Disney World Resort will release a new reservation booking system for dining, recreation and tour reservations in late October 2008. The new reservation system will replace our current Dining Reservation System and will allow you to book multiple dining reservations in one experience, while associating reservations to your Walt Disney World Resort room reservations.

In the future, Guests will be able to make dining reservations online at disneyworld.com with this new reservation booking system. The launch date for this enhancement will be announced at a later date.

As a result of the system upgrade, effective July 29 through late October 2008, Guests will be able to book dining reservations up to Jan. 25, 2009 arrivals.  In late October, booking processes will return to normal, allowing Guests to book up to 180 days of arrival.

The system upgrade will not impact Victoria and Albert’s Restaurant, Cinderella’s Royal Table, and Chef Mickey’s Restaurant. Those three venues will continue to observe the normal booking processes throughout the system cutover.

Note: Any and all dates listed above are subject to change without notice.

So, dining reservations will stay as normal until July 29, 2008. At that time, basically everything stops in time, with the exception of the three restaurants listed above, which will retain their 180 day booking window. If you are traveling after January 25, 2009, you will need to wait until October to book your dining reservations, with the exception of those three restaurants, of course.

This is an exciting change, that guest and travel agents will not be able to book dining reservations online. No more calling Disney at 7 AM to get that coveted Cinderella’s Royal Table time slot. It will be interesting to see how the system is implemented, and if you will be required to have an existing Disney World reservation to use it, and if it will limit the number of reservations you can have at one time. I hope Disney takes their time to prevent any possible misuse of the system before it is launched.

Travel Dates: August 24 – September 20, 2008

Walt Disney World has released the long awaited Free Disney Dining program to the general public for the fourth consecutive year. This discount is identical to the Disney VISA cardholder free dining released on Monday.

With the “Free Dining” promotion, Disney resort guests who book a Magic Your Way package that includes both your Disney resort room and your Magic Your Way park passes, will receive the Disney Dining plan add-on for free for all guest age three and older in their party.

For the first time, Disney World guests will be able to book the “Free Dining”, and upgrade to the Disney Deluxe Dining for the normal price difference, which is $32 for adults and $10 for children three to nine. The Wine and Dine option is also available at full price to add onto either the Basic or Deluxe dining plans.

Availability is extremely limited, and must be booked by June 22, 2008. If you booked the Disney VISA free dining deal, there is no need to rebook, as this discount is identical to the one you have.

Guests must book a minimum of a three night stay, and must have at least a one day park pass included to receive the free dining. 

To book this special “Free Dining” vacation package, please contact our great sponsor Mouseketrips, and ask for the appropriate code:

• AYG - Magic Your Way Dining Plan
• AYH - Magic Your Way Dining Plan plus Wine and Dine
• AYI - Magic Your Way Deluxe Dining Plan
• AYJ - Magic Your Way Deluxe Dining Plan plus Wine and Dine

Travel Dates: August 24 – September 20, 2008

Walt Disney World has announced the “Free Dining” promotion for the fourth consecutive year. Currently, the discount is only available to Disney VISA cardholders, though it will be released to the general public starting on April 10. With the “Free Dining” promotion, Disney resort guests who book a Magic Your Way package that includes both your Disney resort room and your Magic Your Way park passes, will receive the Disney Dining plan add-on for free for all guest three and older in their party.

For the first time, Disney World guests will be able to book the “Free Dining”, and upgrade to the Disney Deluxe Dining for the normal price difference, which is $32 for adults and $10 for children three to nine. The Wine and Dine option is also available at full price to add onto either the Basic or Deluxe dining plans.

Availability is extremely limited, and must be booked by June 22, 2008. To receive the Disney VISA cardholder discount, you must pay your deposit at time of booking with your Disney VISA, and you must pay the balance with your Disney VISA card as well, when due. As a reminder, this exact discount will be released on April 10 to the general public without the Disney VISA requirements.

To book this special Disney VISA “Free Dining” vacation package, please contact our great sponsor Mouseketrips, and ask for the appropriate code:

• CMK – Magic Your Way Dining Plan
• CMM – Magic Your Way Dining Plan plus Wine and Dine
• CMP – Magic Your Way Deluxe Dining Plan
• CMS - Magic Your Way Deluxe Dining Plan plus Wine and Dine

We have been hearing rumors, that we since have substantiated, that Disney World will be releasing Magic Your Way package discounts to the general public on April 10, 2008. So, I know what you are asking yourself, will this be the free dining discount everyone is hoping for, or something completely different?

Since the Disney Dining Plan was introduced in 2005, Disney World has offered it for free as a “discount” during some parts of August and September each of the past three years. Here are the travel dates for the past free dining offer:

• August 21 – October 4, 2005
• August 13 – September 30, 2006
• August 26 – September 22, 2007

Based on discounts released late last year for travel during 2008, which offered the dining plan for free, we believe Disney will release the free dining discount again in 2008. Here are the travel dates for those discounts:

• UK Resident Free dining: August 10 – September 27, 2008
• Bounceback offer for WDW guests: August 30 – September 27, 2008

While it is possible that Disney may release another discount, and not the free dining, we fully expect to see the free dining released on April 10 to the general public. Expect the following time line:

• April 7, 2008 – Free dining to be released to Disney VISA cardholders
• April 10, 2008 – Free dining to be released to the general public
• August 30 – September 27, 2008 – Travel dates for free dining

So, with the free Disney dining coming up, here is what we suggest you do:

1. Book your package now for the resort and dates you want during the expected availability dates. We suggest you use an experienced Disney only travel agent like Mouseketrips. Please note that in order to get the free dining (assuming it is released), you must book a Magic Your Way package that includes the Disney resort and park passes. The park passes can be as short as 1 day passes, but they must be included.
2. Pay the$200 deposit on the reservation. If the availability dates change, or the discount ends up not being what you expected, you can cancel up until 45 days before your start date and get your deposit money back.
3. On April 10, let your travel agent rebook the reservation for you, getting you the free dining added to your reservation. If you are working with an experienced Disney travel agent, they will take care of that for you, and notify you of the changes. It will probably all happen before you wake up.
4. Start making your dining reservations, as you will be within the 180 day window. You can do this before April 10, but if you cancel your reservation, you will have to call back and cancel any reservations.

[Update 4/7/08] – Disney World has released the free dining program as we expected, currently to Disney VISA cardholders, and on April 10 to the general public. For more information, please see the Disney VISA free dining deal.

Prior to 2005, when Disney World introduced the Magic Your Way packages, Disney didn’t really offer a dining plan for it’s many restaurants in the theme parks and resorts of Walt Disney World. Yes, of course, they had the Silver, Gold and Platinum plans, but very few people could afford them, as they included all your meals, as well as entertainment, tours and other events. They never were meant to be a money saver, more of a convenience for those who wanted everything covered in their package, and didn’t really care what the cost was.

With the 2005 introduction of the Disney Dining plan, and the 2008 release of the Disney Deluxe dining plan, Disney World has two true dining plans that cover your meals while at Disney World, while not being forced to pay for anything else that you might not want. So, great, they offer a dining plan or two, but I thought MouseMisers was about helping me save money on my Disney vacation! Just read on to find out how you can save money on your Disney vacation by purchasing the Disney Dining plan.

So, what exactly is the Disney Dining plan?

Walt Disney World has over 125 restaurants spread out between 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, 25+ resorts and Downtown Disney. The Disney Dining plan gives you access to just about all of these restaurants, along with their full menus. So, what exactly is included? For each night of your stay, each person in your party age 3 and older will receive:

• One table service meal per person
• One counter service meal per person
• One snack per person

What does that all mean?

A table service meal would be any character meal or restaurant that offers a buffet, or where you order from a menu at a table. When ordering from a menu, your meal would include an entree, dessert and drink for each person in your family. You are free to order basically anything onon the menu, your waiter will explain if anything is excluded (many restaurants offer a dessert that is a sample platter, which is usually not included). Please note that gratuities are not included, so please remember that as you plan and dine.

The table service meal is available to use at most sit down restaurants. There are a few restaurants that Disney has deemed to be “signature” restaurants, and you can still use the dining plan there, but instead of paying one table service meal “credit” per person, it is double the cost, two credits per person. The list of all table service and signature restaurants can be found on the brochure below.

A counter service meal is where you walk up to a counter, and order your meal, similar to a fast food restaurant if you wish. Each counter service meal would include an entree, side, dessert and drink for each person.

A snack is typically a bottle of coke, an ice cream bar or popcorn. Many restaurants offer other items that can be considered a snack, just look for the square purple and white dining plan logo to tell you if it is included or not.

The great thing about the dining plan is that it is very flexible, when you check into your Disney resort, you are given all of your credits at that time, and your room key acts as a sort of debit card each time you eat, deducting each meal or snack from your pile of credits. After each meal, you will get a receipt showing you how many of those types of meals/snacks you have remaining, and it is your job to make sure you use all of them before you head home, you can’t take them home with you. So, if your kids (or you) want to eat all of their snacks the day you arrive, technically, it is no problem.

The cost of the 2008 Disney dining plan is $38.99 per night per adult (10 and older) and $9.99 per night per child (3 – 9), and is based on the number of nights you are staying. Please remember that each person in your room must be on the same dining plan (or no dining plan at all), you cannot pick and choose who will be on it. There is no cost for kids under the age of three for the dining plan, but be aware that you will not get any food for them at the restaurants. The only exception is restaurants that are buffets, they will be allowed to have their own plate and own food if you wish. If an item is not included in the plan, or you want to order something extra such as an appetizer, you will be billed for them along with the tip at the end of the meal.

That sounds good, but what does the Deluxe Dining plan include?

If you don’t think the Disney dining plan will be enough food for your family, consider the Deluxe dining plan. For each night of your stay, you will receive:

• Three meals per person
• Two snacks per person

The meals can be either counter service or table service meals, it doesn’t matter how you use them, it is totally up to you. Disney does not keep track or regulate how many of each type you use. The same rules apply for table service, counter service and snacks under both plans, and gratuities are not included under the deluxe plan either.

Many people who choose to the deluxe dining plan opt to eat at quite a few of thee signature restaurants during their stay, and with each signature meal taking up two of the meals, that leaves them one other meal and two snacks to use for breakfast and lunch.

The 2008 deluxe dining plan is $69.99 per night per adult (10 and above) and $19.99 per night per child (3 – 9), and again, everyone in your room must be either on the plan or not.

These seem a bit expensive, can I really save money with the Disney Dining plan?

For most people, the answer is yes. Just ask yourself this question:

Do I plan on doing one table service meal each day while at Walt Disney World?

If your plan is to eat as cheaply as possible each day, by either doing just counter service restaurants or sneaking in your own peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, then the dining plan is not for you. You will not be saving money.

If you are like most park guests, and do a character meal with the kids or a nice sit down dinner, the dining plan is perfect for you. Here is a sample day for a family of four (both kids are in the 3 – 9 age range):

Lunch – Tangierine Cafe, Epcot

Chicken & Lamb Schwarma platter – $13.99
Lamb Meditteranean Wrap – $9.99
2 soft drinks – $2.09 each
2 desserts – $2.50 each
2 kids meals – $6.95 each
Total cost with tax: $50.12

Snacks – 4 Mickey head ice cream bars ($2.50 each) – $10.65

Dinner – Le Cellier, Epcot
Le Cellier Mushroom Filet Mignon – $29.99
Herb crusted Prime Rib – $24.99
2 soft drinks – $2.99 each
2 desserts – $5.99 each
2 kids meals – $7.99 each
Total cost with tax: $94.70

Total cost for the day: $155.47. The cost of the dining plan for this family is $95.96 per night, so just this one day, they saved nearly $60 on their food bill. I purposely did not choose the most expensive items on the menus, so the savings could be more. It could also be less, depending on which restaurants you choose.

How do I make sure I save money when I buy the Disney Dining plan?

There are a few tips that can ensure that you get the most out of the dining plan.

1. Plan early. Make sure you plan as early as possible, many of the restaurants, especially those that are great deals on the dining plan, fill up months in advance. Dining reservations can be made 180 days in advance of the day you check in for your vacation by calling 407-WDW-DINE, or if you are lucky, your travel agent will do it for you. Do not wait to make reservations, once you know you are going to Disney World, get the reservations made, and adjust later on if needed.
2. Eat your table service meal at dinner time. Many of the table service restaurants offer lunch, but the portions, and costs, are smaller.
3. Use your counter service meal at lunch time. Breakfast tends to be a lot cheaper than lunch at many restaurants, and many people can just grab something quick for breakfast, and that doesn’t work as well for lunch.
4. Look around for snack options. As mentioned before, many restaurants and food courts offer snack options in addition to the standard bottle of Diet Coke or popcorn.
5. Avoid character meals. While fun, character meals are a fairly poor use of the plan. I usually plan on doing one each trip, it is enough for my kids to enjoy the experience, but not get bored with them.
6. Understand what is included. The Disney dining plan can be confusing, don’t be afraid to ask your waiter what is or is not included. They deal with the plan all day long every day, and know exactly what you can or cannot do, and are usually very helpful in helping you get the most out of the plan.
7. Read the brochure. Disney has a great brochure all about the dining plan, including all the restaurants on the plan, how to use it, etc. Take the few minutes to read it before you start your planning. There is a link below to download the brochures.
8. Use all your credits. If you leave for home with a bunch of credits still on your room key, you probably didn’t save much money by purchasing the dining plan.

What about the Deluxe Dining plan, will I still save money?

For most people, the deluxe dining plan is overkill, too much food, too much time required to eat all those meals, etc. Under some circumstances, the deluxe dining plan may work better for you, depending on what your dining plan looks like. Imagine the example above, where the cost for two meals and a snack was around $155. With a nightly cost of about $180 for the family on the deluxe plan, and one more meal and snack to use, it doesn’t take much to break even and start saving money. Before upgrading to the deluxe plan, make sure it works for you.

I like saving money and all, but are there other reasons to do the Dining plan?

For me, the money savings is great, and one of the main reason why I do the dining plan each trip. However, there are a few other reasons why I choose to pay for my meals in advance:

1. Budget – I know going in roughly what my total food costs are going to be for my entire trip. There aren’t going to be any big surprises, and I am not going to run out of food money half way through the trip.
2. Pre-paid - It sure is nice to have all your meals pre-paid, before you even get to the parks. You don’t have to worry about what you are going to order once at the restaurants. Without the dining plan, you may really, really want the $30 steak, but you end up ordering the $12 pasta instead to save a bit of money. Plus, now I don’t have to fight the kids over what they order, whether it is macaroni and cheese or a steak with lobster, it doesn’t effect my cost.
3. Convenience – The dining plan is very easy to use, and I don’t have to worry about carrying around a bunch of cash or credit cards, just my room key.
4. Nicer Restaurants – what typically happened before the dining plan existed is that we would have plans to eat at a nice restaurant for dinner, and then I start thinking about the enormous cost for our family just for dinner, and how much cheaper it would be to eat hamburgers instead, so we would go with the hamburgers. The dining plan allows you to eat at nicer restaurants than you normally would.

Where can I get more information about the Disney Dining plans?

Disney Dining - great website with up to date information about the Disney dining plans, where the best restaurants are to eat at to get a great deal, and all the restaurants included on the plan.
Disney World Menus – full menus of all the restaurants at Disney World, a great way to start your planning
Disney Dining Plan brochure – this is the official brochure, be warned, it is a big download (PDF file)
Deluxe Dining Plan brochure – again, a bit larger than the standard plan brochure, so it might take a while (PDF file)

To book a Magic Your Way package with the Disney Dining plan, or Deluxe Disney Dining plan, contact our great sponsor Mouseketrips.