Disney dining plans are options available exclusively to Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels with Magic Your Way Vacation Packages.

When planning your budget you need to consider the cost of food while on vacation.  How do I figure out what the costs are for food you ask?  Well there are many fine sites out there on the internet that will have menus from each and every restaurant so you can see individual prices.  But you should try to have an idea of which restaurants you prefer to dine in since menu items are different at each one.  An easy option to figure a budget is using one of the Disney Dining Plans.

Here is a great video explaining the dining plans

How Disney Dining Plans Work

We were on vacation with friends at Walt Disney world and we were having dinner one night.  My friend John orders a pasta dish and his wife Brenda orders veal. He questions his wife “I thought you like fettuccini” and she replies “I do but I felt like veal tonight”.  You can tell John was a little upset and he mutters under his breath “Yeah and that costs $6 more”.   Embarrassed Brenda looks up at me but I pretend to be absorbed in my food and acted like I didn’t notice.

With the Disney Dining Plan both Brenda and John could have ordered veal.  John could have ordered steak if it was on the menu. There are three major benefits of the Disney Dining plans which is saving money, hassle free vacation not worrying about costs plus getting everything paid in advance.

Obviously to have the dining plan save money you have to choose your selections wisely. That doesn’t mean just ordering the most expensive item on the menu every day.  But on the other hand you don’t want to just have a muffin and coffee for breakfast.

The Disney Dining Plan is not a limited to certain menu items or price limits.  If it is listed on the menu you can order it.  Let your eyes and appetite choose your selection and not your wallet. The Disney Dining Plan is part of your vacation package and is paid in full 45 days prior to your vacation.  That’s really nice and adds to the total vacation experience.  It beats having this bill handed to you for all the dining charges at checkout.

Are the dining plans for everybody?  No.  Some people are not big eaters and share a plate when they dine out.  Others only eat one meal a day and there are those that never order dessert.  And there is the budget minded who will only order a muffin and coffee for breakfast or order the pasta instead of veal.

For the average family the Disney Dining plans are an advantage.  However the average family does not necessarily eat the same and there are different plans to suit each family’s taste and lifestyle.  Let’s take a look at the different dining plans available.

CLICK HERE for pricing and details on Disney Dining Plans