Airport transport is always stressful. Taxi? Rental car? After a flight it’s the last thing you want to worry about. That’s where Disney’s Magical Express comes in. So what’s the deal? Let’s go through everything you need to know!

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Hello friends, I hope you are well! There are a lot of decisions that go into booking a Walt Disney World Vacation.  From dining plans to hotels to park passes, it’s a lot to think about! Well, that’s where I step in. Today I’m going to break down the different park passes to help you figure out what suits your needs best, and hopefully save you some money in the process! Okay, let’s jump in!

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Walt Disney World has so many great dining options to choose from, so is it worth it to buy the dining plan? In today’s post I’ll  break down the plans and approximate costs. I’ve done Disney with the dining plan and without, so I’ll also share my opinion! Okay, let’s jump in!

post updated July 2019

Who is eligible?

In order to purchase the dining plan, you need to be staying in a Disney Resort Hotel. The dining plan is a credit system, with the number of credits allocated per night of your stay at a Disney Resort Hotel.  You can purchase the dining plan separately (for example purchasing discount tickets and adding the dining plan later). The Dining Plans are available to guests ages 3 and up. Children ages 3-9 are considered children and pay a lower price per day. Ages 10 and up are adults, and pay the adult price.

What are my options?

Like all accommodations and park tickets, the dining plan comes with options. There are three levels of the dining plan: Quick Service Dining Plan, Standard Dining Plan, and Deluxe Dining Plan. Gratuities are not included with the dining plans. You also get a refillable mug included with the plan to use at your resort for the length of your stay. I have only ever purchased the Regular Plan, and have liked what comes with it.

Make sure to note that not all restaurants take the Dining Plan, so if you are making a reservation make sure the restaurant you are looking at accepts it!

The Quick Service Plan allocates 2 Quick Service meals per day, and two snacks.  Each Quick Service Meal comes with an entrée, and beverage (can be alcoholic beverage for adults 21+). Cost is roughly $52/night for an adult, and $25/night for children.

The (Regular) Dining Plan gives you 1 Table Service meal and 1 Quick Service meal per night of your stay. You also receive 2 snacks. Each Table Service meal comes with an  entrée and dessert, with a beverage or a buffet. Each Quick Service Meal comes with an entrée, and beverage (can be alcoholic beverage for adults 21+). Cost is approximately $75/night for adults, and $29/night for a child.

The Deluxe Dining Plan comes with all 3 meals at either Quick Service or Table Service Restaurants. You also get 2 snacks with the Deluxe Dining Plan. Table Service meals come with 1 appetizer, 1 entree, 1 dessert and 1 beverage (can be alcoholic for adults 21+). Cost is roughly $116/night for an adult, and $44/night for a child.

For all snacks, you’ll want to keep an eye out for the symbol below, this means it’s worth 1 snack credit.

For more information about what comes with the specific  Dining Plans, visit the Walt Disney World Website.

What are the different types of restaurants?

The Disney Dining Plans categorize the restaurants in Walt Disney World. There are quick service restaurants, and table service restaurants. Quick Service Restaurants are restaurants where orders are placed at a window or a counter, and you take your order on a tray to your seat. This would be similar to a McDonald’s. These restaurants do not require reservations. A Table Service meal is just that; one where you receive your service from your table. This is what I call a “Sit Down” meal. These restaurants generally require reservations, which I strongly recommend having. Some Table Service restaurants are worth two dining credits, like Cinderella’s Royal Table, or deluxe resort restaurants like California Grill.

How does it work?

When you book your vacation and purchase the dining plan, you are allocated credits for each night of your stay in a Disney Resort Hotel. Depending on the plan you choose, you will receive a certain number of each type of credit per day. The credits are taken when you sit down for your meal at a Table Service or at the counter of a Quick Service Restaurant.

Credits are automatically loaded onto your MagicBand, and reservations are loaded onto the My Disney Experience App. Credits are not taken when you make the reservation, but when you actually dine.

Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance from the Walt Disney World website, and can also be made by calling 407 WDW-DINE. Reservations generally require credit card information, and can be cancelled at any time. Your credit card will only be charged if you do not show up for your reservation. You can check your remaining credits in the My Disney Experience app, on your receipt when dining, or by visiting Guest Services at your resort.

Tips for getting the most out of the Dining Plan

If you are going to Walt Disney World when Free Dining is an option, take advantage of it! If booking a trip online you need to go through the Special Offers page to have it become available. The price of rooms generally go up when free dining is available, but it is still worth it!

The Dining Plans come with A LOT OF FOOD! By splitting meals when you can, you can get the most out of your credits. If you use this strategy, you can potentially make a 2-credit meal even more worth it, with credits you have saved by not using them at other meals. Or, if you are dining at a 2-credit restaurant, you can pay out of pocket for another Table Service meal, or pay for a Quick Service meal. You can look at the costs of certain restaurants that accept the dining plan to decide which you would be getting the best deal from, but I would only suggest doing this if you really want to

Generally when I am in Walt Disney World I will purchase something small for breakfast (if at all), and use a Quick Service for lunch and Table Service for dinner.

My Opinion

I have used the Disney Dining Plan during vacations, and I have paid out-of-pocket during vacations. I have a small appetite and definitely don’t get everything out of the plan because it’s simply too much for. But it’s convenient. By purchasing the dining plan, everything is paid for in advance, and you don’t have to think about how much you are spending. You also get more food when purchasing the Dining Plan (like dessert), and while you may not want it if you are paying out of pocket, it’s nice to get a complete meal. If you are okay spending a bit more money to not have to worry about the cost of food, you might find it worth it. I don’t think I would purchase the dining plan again. And my opinion has changed since I originally wrote this blog post, so maybe it will change again. You can always get an idea of what you would be paying on the dining plan vs. paying out of pocket with this calculator.

If you’d like to hear more about the Disney Dining Plans, check out the video below!

Have you ever used the Disney Dining Plans? What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading!