Is the Dining plan worth the extra money?

Question

We are heading down to Disney World in May. Has anyone tried the Dining plan? What are the pros and cons of using the plan vs paying seperately? Is it really worth the extra money? Thanks for the help

Answer 1

Where are you staying? will you have a car? How many days here and how many parks?

There are ways to save money but it could take more time.... different plans for staying different places.

Generally if you are staying on property and you are planning like 4 parks in 4 days... Dining plan is a great option.

Staying off property and have lots of time and park hopper tickets then you can do better,

Ft Wilderness Cabins have kitchen for meals. Hotels on or near International Drive are near several AYCE breakfast that are $3-5.
I-drive has many inexpensive meal options

Answer 2

It is really worth every penny and if you use it properly, you will save heaps of money.
The selection of restaurants is quite varied, although not all restaurants in the complex are included as part of the dining plan. The restaurants have great food and the waiting staff all have a super happy Disney personality.
However, it's best if you plan a little bit ahead of time and really figure out how to maximise your value for the plan.

Answer 3

Yes! Definitely worth the extra money. Last year we went to Disney World for about 5 days and we saved a lot of money. It controls how much you eat so it is much easier to save money and resist the urge to eat! It is great. Some cons are is that you do not get to pick exactly what you eat. For example, churos are not included but pretzels and ice cream bars are. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Last year I went to Disney on the Dining Plan. I loved it. It was also free for me.

Answer 5

I feel that the dining plan is only worth it if you plan to stay longer than 4 days and if your hotel room does not have a kitchen. If your hotel room does have a full kitchen, take advantage of it and eat out only a few times.
However, the Disney Dining Plan is great for those staying a week or longer and in rooms without a kitchenette.
According to the Disney Reservation Specialist that I contacted, the dining plan comes out to about $50/person in meals for one entire day. This is a huge savings. A nice buffet meal can sometimes cost $35 for one person. And that is just one meal. While the dining plan will save you money, you will have to keep track of what meals you’ve used up each day or what smaller meals you can trade in for nicer meals. Disney provides this information on each receipt they give you for each purchase. Here are the pros and cons of the dining plan:
Pros: results in a huge savings on meals; your meals are paid for in advance (it is included in your Disney Resort stay cost), provided you follow your plan and the select dining list, and gratuity is often times included. You also have a wide variety of dining locations to choose from.
Cons: You have to keep track of what you've used and what you have left. You also have to really plan each meal for each day and make reservations well in advance.
If you would like any help researching or planning your next trip, or if you would like to read up on some fun tips and ideas, visit my Disney Vacation Services Website at:

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Have a great time!