The Disney Dining Plan (DDP) is a way for families staying at an on-site official Walt Disney World hotel to prepay for food on their Disney vacation. Each plan includes a combination of snacks, quick-service meals, and/or table service meals. Disney loosely defines a snack as 1 frozen ice cream novelty, popcorn scoop (single-serving box), single piece of whole fruit, 22-oz. fountain soft drink or juice, or similar; these are frequently designated with the purple and white DDP symbol, but if you’re unsure ask a cast member. A quick-service meal, more commonly known as fast food, is defined as 1 entree or complete combo meal and a single-serving non-alcoholic beverage. A table-service meal, or sit-down meal, includes one entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage or one full buffet. There are a handful of signature dining restaurants and dinner shows that are considered to be a higher value meal and require the use of two table-service credits.
Like many things in life (especially online), the Disney Dining Plans are a divisive topic among Disney fans with some strongly for it, others strongly against, and many falling somewhere in between. My husband and I love the dining plan and typically save a decent amount of money by adding the Plus Dining plan to our vacations. Ultimately, the decision of whether to add any of the plans really depends on your family’s needs/preferences. I can help you decide which choice is right for your family, but here are some basics to help you understand your options.
What is included in the dining plan?
- 2 Quick-Service Meals
- 2 Snacks
- 1 Resort Refillable (one per person)
- 1 Table-Service Meal
- 1 Quick-Service Meal
- 2 Snacks
- 1 Resort Refillable (one per person)
- 3 Meals (Your Choice of Table-Service or Quick-Service)
- 2 Snacks
- 1 Resort Refillable (one per person)
Factors in Planning
Vacation Style: For my family, experiencing Walt Disney World’s unique dining options is among the most enjoyable parts of our vacation. For others, the idea of spending precious park time sitting down to dinner is unthinkable. If you want to have breakfast with Mickey and the gang (e.g. Chef Mickey’s), lunch in a French bistro (Les Chefs de France), and then dinner at the drive-in (Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater), the standard or deluxe plans may be a good choice for your family. If you’d rather just make a quick stop for a ballpark hot dog (Casey’s Corner), a prehistoric burger (Restaurantosaurus), or one of Disney’s (in)famous turkey legs, the quick-service plan may be more your speed. One thing I will mention though, I do really like having a built in break for meals during the day to give us a chance to recharge.
