How Much Money for a Large Family at Disney World

Walt Disney Globe's Dining Plan comes in 4 tiers, with prices starting at $55 per night for adults and $26 for kids. This guide covers meal plan pricing, money saving tips, what's included, whether it's worth getting, Costless Dining dates, and info about the DDP's temporary interruption.

Let's commencement with the current status of the 2022 Disney Dining Plan. In brusk, it's not available…yet. If you're hither wondering when it'll be brought dorsum, we effort to answer that in When Volition the Disney Dining Plan Return? As covered in extensive item there, nosotros expect it to return at some point soon, perhaps as early on as January 2022.

When information technology comes to the Disney Dining Programme, the next question is inevitably: " When is Free Dining bachelor? " We answer that question in detail here. It should get without saying since the Disney Dining Program is temporarily unavailable, merely 2022 Free Dining dates take not been released. We are far less optimistic about the render of the Free Disney Dining Plan promotion in 2022–perhaps in the fall. If you'd similar to be notified when that happens, sign up hither for our Gratis Disney newsletter here.

Prior to this, the Disney Dining Plan has evolved over time, and the biggest recent modify was the debut of the new Disney Dining Plan Plus terminal yr. Earlier that, the most meaning change was the inclusion of alcoholic drinks on all tiers of the Disney Dining Plans. This is a nice perk for drinkers, only has downsides.

Due to the latter alter coupled with carte du jour cost increases, the Disney Dining Programme had actually become a better value in the concluding two years prior to being suspended. That'south discussed below in more detail–as with everything else, it's up in the air as to whether the 2022 Disney Dining Program will maintain that edge since we don't have pricing or other key details.

One thing is nearly certain about the 2022 Disney Dining Plan: it'll toll more money than the prices listed hither. For ane thing, all of Walt Disney Earth'due south prices have increased significantly in the last couple of years–just look at How Much Does a Disney World Vacation Cost in 2022? As covered there, total holiday packet prices are upwardly by thousands of dollars in the last couple of years.

For another thing, inflation has disproportionately impacted nutrient costs. Consequently, card prices at Walt Disney Globe have gone up in the concluding twelvemonth or so, albeit not to the total degree of aggrandizement. (Perhaps Disney's annual price increases have put them nearly the price ceiling for many guests.) In any example, we'd await 2022 Disney Dining Plan pricing to increment past 10-15% beyond the board as compared to what's listed here, which reflects price points that are at present roughly 2 years one-time.

Once it comes back, hither'due south everything else you demand to know about the 2022 Disney Dining Plan…

We've used each tier of the Disney Dining Plan numerous times, usually multiple times per year (the Deluxe is our favorite, for reasons we'll embrace below). Our tips and opinions are based on our first-hand experience with the Dining Plan–we fifty-fifty used the brand-new Disney Dining Program Plus!

Before nosotros go to dollars and cents, allow'southward encompass some basics. The DDP is a prepaid meal programme offered at Walt Disney Earth and then guests can upkeep their dining costs in advance and (potentially) salve money. It provides guests with credits that tin be redeemed for snacks, counter service meals, table service meals, or fine dining meals.

Disney Dining Plan credits are stored on the invitee's MagicBand or Key to the World card, with the receipt provided later redeeming the credits indicating how many credits remain. Gratuity is not included on the Disney Dining Programme, meaning guests need to pay that out of pocket. Otherwise, it's a adequately all-inclusive meal plan, albeit with some limitations.

Walt Disney World guests purchasing a vacation package with a room and tickets through Disney are eligible to buy the Disney Dining Plan. This ways that if y'all want the DDP, you lot cannot salve coin by staying in off-site hotel or by purchasing discount Walt Disney Earth tickets through a Disney-authorized ticket seller.

Disney Vacation Order members staying on points are also eligible to add-on the Disney Dining Plan, without the purchase of park tickets through Disney (equally many of them either take Almanac Passes or prefer purchasing discounted tickets through authorized tertiary parties).

Let's go more into the nitty-gritty of the Disney Dining Programme, starting with the basics: prices and what each plan includes…

Disney Dining Plan Overview

For the purposes of the Disney Dining Plan, a "counter service repast" consists of a combo meal (entree plus side) and drinkable, including alcoholic beverages for adults (where available). Information technology no longer includes a dessert. Also as of this appointment, a counter service meal may also consist of 3 snack items (divers below) in a unmarried transaction.

A "table service meal" consists of an entree, dessert, and potable, including alcoholic beverages for adults. For those guests on the Palatial Disney Dining Plan, this as well includes an appetizer.

As part of Walt Disney Globe's salubrious living initiative, the dessert in the table service repast may likewise exist substituted for a side salad, cup of soup, or fruit plate.

A "snack" includes items sold at snack carts around the park or in quick service restaurants. The definition of a snack has been expanded to include any unmarried serving side item, which means more items will now be considered snacks (snacks were previously determined on a instance-by-case basis with the DDP symbol (the imperial thing in a higher place) denoting what was a snack). A snack at present includes every side detail, paw-scooped ice cream, and many other items that previously did non qualify every bit snacks.

Tax is always included, but guests pay for tips out of pocket. 2 tabular array service repast credits may be used for one Signature Meal, Dinner Shows, Pizza Delivery or Room Service Repast. Children nether 3 eat free from an adult'southward plate.

Quick Service Disney Dining Plan (QSDDP)

The QSDDP is the everyman tier of the Disney Dining Plan. This is the tier that is typically included with Free Dining at the Value and Moderate Resorts.

For each person on the room reservation, the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan includes:

• two counter-service meals (per night)
• 2 snacks (per night)
• a refillable potable mug (per stay)

The per night price of the Quick Service Plan is $55 per adult and $26 per child ages 3-9.

Standard Disney Dining Plan

This is the standard tier of the Disney Dining Plan, and what's typically included with "Free" Dining at the Deluxe and Palatial Villa Resorts. For the price difference betwixt the plans, you lot can upgrade from the Free Quick Service Dining Program to this program at the Value Resorts.

For each person on the room reservation, the Standard DDP includes:

• one counter-service repast (per dark)
• one sit down-down repast (per night)
• two snacks (per dark)
• a refillable drink mug (per stay)

The per nighttime price of the Standard Disney Dining Plan is $78.01 per adult and $thirty.51 per kid.

Disney Dining Plan Plus

This is the upgraded tier of the Disney Dining Programme, which is best for guests who want to do table service lunch and dinners, or breakfast breakfast and dinners every day of their holiday. For the extra cost, you receive a second table service meal in place of a counter service meal–only you have the option (or "flexibility" as Disney calls it) of simply using those credits at quick service restaurants.

For each person on the room reservation, the DDP+ includes:

• two meals at your choice of table service or counter service restaurants (per night)
• two snacks (per night)
• a refillable drink mug (per stay)

The per night cost of the Disney Dining Plan Plus is $94.61 per adult and $35 per kid.

Palatial Disney Dining Program (DxDDP)

This is the upper echelon of Disney Dining Plans, and the closest thing Walt Disney World offers to an all-inclusive meal package (albeit non roofing tips and other things you may want to club/purchase). By default, no resort tier receives this for Costless Dining, but you can pay the difference to upgrade to it.

For each person on the room reservation, the DxDDP includes:

• iii meals at your pick of counter service restaurants or table service restaurants (per night)
• two snacks (per night)
• one refillable potable mug (per stay)

The per-night toll of the Deluxe Disney Dining Programme is $119 per developed and $47.50 per child during regular season, and more than during peak season.

Those on the Deluxe Program may officially mix their adult and child credits, meaning that kid credits may exist used for adult entrees. This has long been an unofficial loophole (and remains one for the lower tiers of the plans), but it'due south at present officially allowed on the Deluxe Program.

If you have further questions that aren't answered past these pages, check out Disney'due south Dining Program website. In that location are comprehensive and unnecessarily complicated PDF documents describing the various plans and their rules. Most importantly, the site has a list of participating restaurants (nearly every restaurant participates).

DDP credits don't have a set up dollar value, and how much they are "worth" widely varies based upon your dining preferences. For example, a tabular array service credit may exist redeemed at an inexpensive restaurant for a water, sandwich, and water ice cream dessert that would normally cost $23 total. Alternatively, it tin can be redeemed at a nicer restaurant for a drinking glass of wine, swordfish steak, and Copetta Sotto Bosco that would normally price $62 total.

These are actual examples from Walt Disney World restaurants, demonstrating the large difference in value a credit may have depending upon at which eating place and for which menu items it'south redeemed. You could become even less or even more value out of the Dining Plan, depending upon what you gild.

By analyzing pricing, we can reverse engineer an approximate value that Disney places on each meal type within the various DDPs. Based upon our calculations, a table service repast is worth approximately $45, a counter service repast on the DDP is worth approximately $21, and a snack is worth approximately $5. (For the purposes of these calculations, we view the refillable mug as a throw-in, since its value could fluctuate widely depending upon length of stay.)

Past comparing those dollar amounts to online menus available for Walt Disney World, you tin become a pretty good idea of whether the Disney Dining Plan is right for your family. We write a long review below and also have resource for getting more value out of the Dining Plan, but ultimately information technology'due south a personal thing. With those crude numbers, you lot can do the math for yourself and make an informed decision as to whether the DDP is correct for you.

When information technology comes to the Disney Dining Program, the well-nigh important thing y'all demand to know is how to best utilize these credits so y'all get ameliorate value out of the DDP. For this, come across our popular 'Value Maximization' posts:

• Meridian 10 Restaurants for Maximizing Table Service Credit Value
• Top 10 Restaurants for Maximizing Counter Service Credit Value
• Tips for Maximizing Snack Credit Value.

Frequent users of the Disney Dining Plan become pretty skillful at getting more bang for their buck, every bit they know these strategies are the difference between saving hundreds of dollars with the Disney Dining Programme and losing hundreds of dollars with it. With these posts, quick card review, and some advance planning, first-time visitors to Walt Disney Globe can also make the most of the Dining Programme!

Every bit noted at the top of the post, the Disney Dining Plan is offered throughout the yr for "costless" to Walt Disney World guests who buy a vacation packet (this is not offered to Disney Vacation Society members staying on points). Typically, Gratuitous Dining is offered for select dates in August through December.

The Gratuitous Dining promotion is incredibly popular with Disney fans. Notwithstanding, y'all demand to remember that in that location's no such affair as a gratuitous lunch. When Gratis Dining is available, you forfeit some other discount that might be offered–similar a room-only discount. Y'all're too locked-in to buying tickets direct from Disney, which means no discount tickets. Suffice to say, you need to do the math and compare the "Free" Dining Plan to other discounts.

Earlier even booking the Disney Dining Plan, you should determine where yous want to consume and secure Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs). Information technology should be piece of cake to see which Disney Dining Plan best suits your needs, or if the Dining Plan is even necessary.

Even for many on-site Walt Disney World guests, the Dining Plan is not the best option. For instance, if you want to splurge and stay Club Level (read our Guide to Club Level & Concierge Lounges at Walt Disney Globe for more info), it'southward not a good fit for you. If you primarily want to indulge in Signature Restaurants or fine dining, the Disney Dining Programme isn't a good choice. Vegans and vegetarians also will not be well-suited by the Disney Dining Programme. (The list goes on…)

For a simple organization, it's surprisingly complex, then don't feel bad if it takes some reading before you fully understand how the Disney Dining Plan works and whether it is a good fit for your political party. If y'all merely anticipate eating cheap meals or desire to stay on a tight budget, the Dining Plan probably won't make a lot of sense. But we'll go to that…

Is the Disney Dining Programme Worth Information technology? – Pros & Cons

Savings – You can salvage on the Disney Dining Programme, but you have to exist a certain blazon of eater and non waste any credits. If you are a large eater who likes steak and would like to order it at every meal, you tin can save money with the Disney Dining Program. This requires that everyone in your political party is a big eater, and that all of you utilise all of your counter service and snack credits wisely. (See our Worst Snack Credit Uses on the Disney Dining Plan list for more on that.)

If your teens are human garbage disposals and the adults in your party love steak, the Dining Plan can offer some savings. As before long equally anyone in your party starts ordering chicken or pasta, those savings disappear to the bespeak that you start losing money on the Disney Dining Plan. No matter what they order, a vegetarian volition lose money by using the Disney Dining Plan–without exception.

With the improver of alcohol to the Disney Dining Program, anyone who enjoys a beverage or two per twenty-four hours volition also come out ahead. The toll of drinks at Walt Disney World restaurants average around $8-14, which is larger than the price increase of the Dining Plans this year. If yous get ii glasses of vino per day, you're looking at around $xx-25/person more in value every day.

Conversely, if you're non-drinkers or using the Quick Service Disney Dining Program and spend about of your fourth dimension in Magic Kingdom (where booze isn't served at counter service restaurants), you come out behind. Booze is the huge new wildcard to the Disney Dining Plan, and can actually swing the pendulum of value. Whether that's in your favor or out of your favor depends almost entirely upon how many alcoholic drinks you relish per day.

Speaking of which, the Disney Dining Programme is potentially very valuable for those who visit during Epcot'southward International Food & Wine Festival or whatever other Epcot festival (basically, any month except summer). The good news is that taking reward of this value does not require drinking–this is all about snacking!

Some of the best snacks at the Epcot festivals tin toll equally much equally $10 and tin can exist purchased using snack credits. Nosotros highly recommend stockpiling snack credits and using them during your Epcot days, as not only are these festival snacks a great apply of credits, but the Epcot festivals are a ton of fun, and this is a mode to avoid the sticker shock of paying out of pocket.

The Palatial Dining Plan tin be utilized well if you follow the strategy of eating breakfast (or an early luncheon) at a Tabular array Service restaurant (graphic symbol breakfasts are great for this) and dinner at a Signature Table Service Restaurant, plus snacks whenever. Read How We Saved 50% on the Palatial Disney Dining Plan for a specific example of how we've leveraged the DxDDP for maximum value!

Information technology's worth noting that prices have risen dramatically for the Disney Dining Plan since it was introduced, meaning that just because you used it on your last trip ~5 years ago and found it to exist a good value, does not mean it'due south still a expert value. The titbit and tip were cut ages ago, and prices have increased.

However, the biggest of the price increases occurred a few years ago, and prices accept not climbed much since and so. It would seem that Walt Disney World has reached its price ceiling (or shut to information technology) with the Disney Dining Plan. Prices are only up slightly, and that has been truthful of previous years, likewise. Prior to that, in that location were some double-digit price spikes.

Past dissimilarity, tabular array service card prices take steadily increased since the introduction of the Disney Dining Plan, and at a higher charge per unit (~15%) than the Disney Dining Plan pricing. This means that the relative value of the Dining Program versus paying out of pocket actually has improved of late.

Effort – If value is your main business organisation and yous aren't a steak-addict, it tin take a lot of pre-planning to save money by using the Disney Dining Plan. Because the margin of savings tin can be then low, in many cases the Dining Plan causes guests to order the nigh expensive item on the card to go "value" out of the plan.

Same goes for choosing more than expensive restaurants. In that location have times on the Dining Plan when a cheaper menu item sounded proficient, just in that location was that lingering idea in the back of my mind that if I didn't gild something more expensive, the Dining Program would actually cost u.s.a. more than paying out of pocket.

This web log solitary has at least 10 articles about the Disney Dining Plan, and we could probably have another couple dozen and still accept people asking us questions. Saving money on the Disney Dining Plan requires a good amount of pre-planning or cognition of how to work the system if you're only a normal eater.

It's proficient to pre-programme where you want to eat at Walt Disney World regardless of whether y'all're on the programme (not all restaurants are equal and you'll need ADRs for some), and then that'due south not necessarily a bad thing, but using the Dining Plan increases the amount of pre-planning that'due south necessary–if you intendance nigh saving money. We've found that we commonly salvage more with the Tables in Wonderland bill of fare than the Dining Programme, and the former requires no pre-planning maximization effort.

Corporeality of Food – 1 common complaint is that the Disney Dining Plan often "forces" guests to eat more than they want. While Sarah and I are both big eaters, at times, the Dining Plan is just too much food. There have been occasions when we otherwise would have eaten small counter service meals, merely because we had the credits to apply, nosotros have eaten at Table Service restaurants. Not but did this issue in over-consumption, but information technology too burned valuable holiday fourth dimension.

If you take a short trip and want to experience as many attractions as possible, this is something to keep in mind. While you can get value out of the Disney Dining Plan, that savings requires sitting down for longer meals and eating a lot of food. If you don't normally eat equally much food as the DDP provides, you aren't actually saving money–the savings are illusory. Yous're over-consuming in the name of (false) savings.

Convenience – Many visitors contend that the Disney Dining Plan is about convenience. Nosotros fence that it is not convenient. In terms of convenience, wait at information technology this way: you're reading an in-depth article almost using the Disney Dining Plan, and you'll probably read other such manufactures.

How many manufactures take yous read titled "Paying for Meals with Cash Info & Tips"? Hopefully none. A convoluted credit system cannot perhaps be more than convenient than the universal standard of paying money for a billed amount. It just can't.

Budgeting – This is probably the most contentious point. In improver to supposedly beingness convenient, a lot of its fans abet the Disney Dining Plan because it helps them stay on a budget and avoid thinking nearly coin on vacation. Over again, this doesn't pass the odour test.

In almost cases, when people try to stay on a vacation budget, it's because at that place is a need for that budget. Overspending might cause financial strain. Viewed in that low-cal, the Disney Dining Programme doesn't help with a budget, information technology helps with predictability. Meals toll the same amount every night, regardless of what'due south consumed.

If you're on a tight budget and yous'd unremarkably spend $35 per person per dark on food if yous paid out of pocket, but you end upwardly spending ~$sixty+ per person per night on food with the DDP, isn't that predictability doing you more harm than good?

The Disney Dining Plan allows you to fall back on this predictability and 'turn off' your brain with regard to how much dining costs on vacation. If y'all don't desire to worry about money, purchase (discounted!) Disney Gift Cards before the trip. While we don't advocate making that psychological disconnect between actual and "fake" money, if you really don't want to think virtually money, go that route.

We will be edgeless: if yous are too lazy to make a dining budget before your trip, chances are yous're as well lazy to figure out where to dine to maximize your value. Given that, you'll probably end upward saving more money with the gift carte du jour method.

Sticker Stupor – Even if yous're not on a tight budget, menu prices at Walt Disney World tin can be a bit…shocking. The psychological disconnect nosotros mentioned above isn't ever a bad thing, particularly if you want to splurge or have financial ways, merely can't bring yourself to club certain items when directly paying menu prices.

The Disney Dining Program won't scare yous away from expensive bill of fare items. If you love filet mignon, simply would shy away from ordering it upon seeing the menu price, the Disney Dining Programme might be for yous. Nevertheless, y'all might have some sticker shock when y'all see the nightly prices of the Dining Plan, in the kickoff identify…

Conclusion

Overall, whether the Disney Dining Plan is correct for you is a personal decision based on a lot of variables. We approximate that for the majority of guests, it is non a good value. This doesn't mean it'southward not a good product, as it volition offer monetary savings for some families, and psychological condolement for plenty of others. I can't say whether the DDP is right for your particular circumstances, but hopefully the considerations above can help with your conclusion. If you lot use the Disney Dining Programme for your vacation, make sure you do your homework and plan accordingly!

If you are still unsure of whether the Disney Dining Program might exist right for you lot—or need personalized help with any aspect of your trip from hotels to the DDP and more—nosotros recommend contacting a no fee "Authorized Disney Vacation Planner" (basically, Disney's term for a travel agent) to get a quote and to help you plan. They get their committee from Disney, so none of the authorized (central word) planners will charge y'all for booking their trip and helping. Hither's one such recommended Authorized Disney Holiday Planner.

With regard to the Disney Dining Program and restaurants in general, this article is only a jumping off point. Kickoff-time Walt Disney Globe visitors frequently underestimate the importance of planning (especially for restaurants, many of which are booked solid months in advance) and have a bad time considering they didn't program enough. Want more dining recommendations? Bank check out our Walt Disney Earth Restaurant Reviews. For info on whether the DDP is correct for you, read our Ultimate Guide to the Disney Dining Plan. For comprehensive vacation advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything y'all need to know!

Your Thoughts

What is your experience with the Disney Dining Program? Thinking nigh using the 2022 Disney Dining Plan once it becomes bachelor? Does the DDP piece of work for you? Is it a bad fit for your family? Do y'all agree or disagree with our assessment? Whatever questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to united states and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

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Source: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-dining-plan-costs-info-tips/

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