Is the Disney Dining Plan Actually Worth It?

If you’re wondering if the Disney Dining Plan is actually worth it, this post is here to help!

Ultimately, this is going to be a personal choice. There are pros and cons to everything, and whether or not the Disney Dining Plan is truly worth it is really going to come down to what’s most important for you. 

If you’re looking for information on the Dining Plan itself (what it is, how it works, etc), check out this post!

First, we’ll look at why the Disney Dining Plan may not be worth it to you, then we’ll look at why it may be worth it, and then I’ll share my experience with the Dining Plan and if I’d get it again.

Why the Disney Dining Plan May Not Be Worth It

Cost

You can absolutely eat (very well) in Disney for less than you’re going to pay with the Dining Plan. It’s very difficult to break even or save money with the Disney Dining Plan. 

It can be done, but it’s very difficult. You have to eat everything and order the most expensive thing on the menu for every meal and snack.

So if you’re looking to be mindful of your budget and get the most for your money, the Dining Plan isn’t going to make the most sense for you. 

It’s A Lot Of Food

This is especially true if you select the standard Dining Plan with table service credits, which include dessert with every (non-breakfast) meal. This may be too much food for a good number of people. 

I’m a pretty big eater and I’ve done both Dining Plans in the past. I did the standard Dining Plan once and honestly, I wouldn’t do it again because of how much food it is. 

So if you don’t have a big appetite or you’re not that into the dining scene, then the Disney Dining Plan probably isn’t the best choice for you. 

Limited Locations

Now, when I say limited locations, I’m being a little nit-picky. There are TONS of restaurants that participate in the Disney Dining Plan. 

Honestly, most restaurants participate in the Disney Dining Plan. But not all of them. 

So you do have to make sure you’re book tables and making plans with locations that participate in the Dining Plan. If you want the freedom to truly go anywhere. 

Then the Dining Plan may not be the best bet for you.

Guidelines

There are guidelines and nuances that you need to be aware of. For instance, some of the higher end table service restaurants would cost you two table service credits instead of just one. 

This means you’d ultimately be short one meal on your trip and would likely have to pay for an additional meal. 

It’s not too overwhelming to learn the Disney Dining Plan guidelines, but if that’s more than you want to think about or manage, then the Dining Plan may not be right for you. 

Why the Disney Dining Plan May Be Worth It

Prepaying for Meals

This is the number one selling point of the Disney Dining Plan. Yes, you might be paying more overall, but you’re taking a lot of mental weight and financial worry off your plate while you’re actually on your trip. 

If you really stick to the Dining Plan, you won’t have to think too much about how much money you’re spending when you’re ordering food throughout the day. You literally won’t have to look at the price of anything. 

All you have to know is if a restaurant or snack is on the Dining Plan and how many credits you have left. And to a lot of people, that peace of mind is worth the added cost. 

If this is the kind of experience you’d like to have, then the Dining Plan may make sense for you. 

Trying New Things

I think this is especially true with the snack credits. Because when you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, there’s a lot more that counts as a snack credit than you may think.

I think a lot of the time when you’re not on the Dining Plan, people either skip snacks or stick with the classics (Mickey ice cream bars, pretzels, ice cream of any kind, etc). But you have so much more available to you.

When you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, you can be really motivated to make the most of those snack credits. This is especially true if you want to get your money’s worth. 

Because if we’re being honest, the Mickey ice cream bars aren’t going to give you the best value for your snack credit. So if you want to make the most of the plan, you have to be strategic and look for items that fall under the plan but are more expensive. 

So being on the plan can encourage you to try new things. 

You’re a Really Big Eater

If you’re a big eater, and you are going to eat everything on the Dining Plan and order the most expensive items on the menu, then the Dining Plan might actually be a good choice for you. 

You may be one of the rare few who break even (or even save money) on the Disney Dining Plan. 

And if that’s the case, then I’d say you should absolutely go for it if it’s calling to you.

My Experience with the Disney Dining Plan

In the past, I’ve actually loved the Dining Plan! Like I mentioned, I had the Standard Plan once and while it was way too much food, it was really nice to have the opportunity to try new restaurants. 

This was the first time I had the Dining Plan and I found I really did like having all my food prepaid. It also helped that the Dining Plan was free on that particular occasion. 

On trips since then, I’ve done the Quick Service plan and I found that it struck just the right balance between having that prepaid convenience without overeating. 

My first post-COVID trip was before the Dining Plan had been reintroduced, and I’m not going to lie, I didn’t like having to manage money for meals when I was trying to enjoy my trip. 

With that said, my future with the Dining Plan actually isn’t that certain… 

My Future With the Disney Dining Plan

As much as I’ve loved the Dining Plan in the past, Disney has made changes since they brought it back post-COVID.

In the past, both plans included two snack credits per night, and of course, they raised the price. So, I’m paying more and getting less, which feels very different than just paying a rising price.

I knew I was likely overpaying, but I had learned to really work that Quick Service Dining Plan so I don’t think I was overpaying by much. And I really did enjoy having that cost taken care of ahead of my trip. 

But at this point, they’ve basically raised the Quick Service price by the cost of a snack (compared to pre-pandemic pricing), while taking a snack credit away. And that just doesn’t work for me. 

One thing I’m considering doing for my next trip is budgeting for food ahead of time and then putting that amount on a Disney gift card to bring with me. This way, I’ll be prepaying, while also paying less. 

If I end up doing this, I’ll let you know how it goes!

What are your thoughts on the Disney Dining Plan? Does it make sense for you?