Many guests love the convenience of Disney Dining Plans. They are easy to use and offer the peace of mind of knowing all your meals are paid for in advance. No more carrying extra cash or credit cards in the parks or worrying about going over budget. However, figuring out how to use the plan can be intimidating, especially for first timers. Here, we will help you plan by answering the most common questions about dining plans.
Who can purchase a Disney Dining Plan?
The Dining Plan can be purchased by guests staying on-site at a Disney owned resort. This does NOT include Swan & Dolphin, Shades of Green or offsite hotels. If you are not a DVC member or AP holder, you may only purchase the dining plan as part of a Magic Your Way package which includes your Disney hotel stay and park tickets. The Dining Plan can not be purchased independently. You must purchase the plan prior to your arrival. You may not add it on after you have arrived. You must purchase the same plan for every person on your reservation. You may not select different plans for each of you and a guest on your reservation may not "opt out" of the plan. You will be charged for the same plan for every person on the reservation who is 3 and above. You are not required to purchase a plan for children under 3.
Which plan should I choose?
The first step is deciding which plan is right for you. Disney offers three basic dining plans. Choose the one that best fits your family's eating habits. Keep in mind that portions at WDW are large. So large, in fact, that many people claim to be satisfied when sharing meals with another person. Most people that use dining plans agree that you get "a lot" of food. Just because a plan doesn't offer three squares a day, you really don't have to worry about going hungry. Also remember that eating multiple sit-down meals every day does take away a large amount of park time. Prices for each plan can vary by season and usually increase annually. You can check the WDW website for current pricing. Here is what you get with each plan:
Quick Service Dining Plan: each member of your party receives 2 Quick Service meals and 2 snacks for each night of your stay plus a refillable resort mug.
Disney Dining Plan: each member of your party receives 1 Table Service meal, 1 Quick Service meal and 2 snacks for each night of your stay plus a refillable resort mug.
Deluxe Dining Plan: Each member of your party receives 3 meals of any type (either Quick Service or Table Service) and 2 snacks for each night of your stay plus a refillable resort mug.
How many "credits" will I receive?
Dining credits are calculated based on the number of nights of your stay, not days. For example, if your resort is booked for 6 nights/7 days (you check in on Sunday and check out on Saturday), the number of credits you receive for each person will be multiplied by 6. Therefore, if you have the Disney Dining Plan, each person would receive 6 Table Service meals, 6 Quick Service meals and 12 snacks.
When can I use my credits?
Your dining plan is activated as soon as you check in to your resort. Even if your room is not ready, you can head directly to the food court or to a park and begin to use your credits immediately. Credits expire on midnight of the day you check out of your resort. Even after you check-out of your room, if you plan to spend more time on property before heading home, you can continue to use remaining credits until midnight.
Where can I use my credits?
Dining Plan credits are accepted at all restaurants and food locations at the resorts and in Disney parks. They are also accepted by most of the restaurants in Disney Springs. Contracts for non-Disney owned restaurants are negotiated yearly and there may be a few who don't participate in the dining plan, but most do. You can check the Disney website for a full list of participating restaurants.
Are credits assigned to individual people?
No. All credits are assigned in one "pool" and can be used how and when you want. For example, if you are a party of 4 staying for 6 nights/7 days as in the above example, each of your 6 credits will be multiplied by 4 people and put into one pool on your account. Therefore, you will receive 24 Table Service credits, 24 Quick Service credits and 48 snack credits. Everyone on the reservation can use these credits at any time.
Let's say one day Mom is not in the mood for a snack. Dad can use a snack credit for a churro in the morning and use another snack credit for an ice cream sandwich in the afternoon. Or if someone in your party doesn't want any snacks, someone else in the party can use the extra credits to get a second snack every day. The point being that no one in the group is limited to their allotted 6 snacks for the week. The same person can use all the credits if they want to.
As credits are used, your receipt will show how many remaining total credits you have.
Am I limited to what credits I can use each day?
No. You may use your credits how and when you wish. If you have the Disney Dining Plan, you received 1 Table Service credit, 1 Quick Service credit and 1 snack credit each day, but that does NOT mean you must use those and only those each day. For example, Day 1 of your trip, you may choose to eat a Table Service meal at breakfast and dinner. Day 2 of your trip, you may choose to eat all your meals at Quick Service restaurants. Day 3 of your trip, you may choose to eat at a Signature Dining meal which requires 2 credits. You may use as many or as few credits as you want each day. Keep track of remaining credits on your receipts and plan ahead.
What happens if I use up all my credits?
Dining credits and pricing is calculated based on the length of your stay. If you use all of your credits before your trip is over, there is no option to add on or purchase more. You will be required to pay out-of-pocket for any additional food you need until your trip ends. You can still save money by planning ahead. If you know you will not have enough credits left over, try to utilize them for the more expensive dinner meals and pay out-of-pocket for cheaper breakfast or lunch meals.
What happens if I have leftover credits?
Because of the generous portions, many people find themselves with leftover credits at the end of their trip. Any unused credits will expire at midnight on checkout day. These credits will NOT be refunded and they can NOT be transferred to another guest. So how do you keep them from going to waste? We have a few suggestions. You can use them to purchase a packable "to go" meal from your food court to take with your for the journey home. You can find other guests at a dining location who do not have the dining plan and offer to buy them a meal. Or you can purchase pre-packaged snack items to take home with you. They make great souvenirs for friends and family or a nice pick-me-up when you are suffering from Post Disney Depression!
What can I get with a credit?
A Quick Service credit entitles you to one entree or complete combo meal and a non-alcoholic beverage at breakfast, lunch or dinner.
A Table Service credit entitles you to an entree and non-alcoholic beverage or a full buffet and tax at breakfast. At lunch and dinner, you will get an entree, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage or a full buffet and tax.
Note: gratuity is NOT included in your Table Service credit
A snack credit can be used for a large variety of foods or drinks at restaurants and snack carts throughout the resort. In general, a snack credit may be used for almost any snack, dessert, drink or side item under $5. Look for the Disney Dining Plan symbol on menus to see what items qualify. If you are unsure, just ask!
Appetizers, alcoholic beverages and any other items not covered by your meal credit must be paid for out-of-pocket.
How many credits do meals cost?
All individual snack items cost 1 snack credit
All Quick Service meals cost 1 Quick Service credit
Most Table Service restaurants require 1 Table Service credit per meal, but there are exceptions:
Enjoying any meal at Cinderella's Royal Table will cost 2 credits per person.
A meal at any Signature/Fine Dining restaurant will cost 2 credits per person. This is the list of Signature Dining restaurants:
EPCOT - Le Cellier Steakhouse
Monsieur Paul
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS - The Hollywood Brown Derby
ANIMAL KINGDOM - Tiffins
ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE - Jiko's The Cooking Place
BOARDWALK INN - Flying Fish Cafe
CONTEMPORARY RESORT - California Grill
GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT - Narcoossee's
WILDERNESS LODGE - Artist's Point
YACHT CLUB RESORT - Yachtsman's Steakhouse
DISNEY SPRINGS - The Boathouse Restaurant
Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe
Morimoto Asia
Experiences at the 3 dinner shows can cost up to 2 credits per person. These shows are:
Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review (For Wilderness)
Mickey's Backyard BBQ(Fort Wilderness)
Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (Polynesian VIllage Resort)
Pizza delivery to your resort room is available at select resorts and costs 2 Table Service credits.
Room Service dining is available at select resorts and costs 2 Table Service credits.
Can I use the dining plan to dine in my room?
Yes. Select resorts offer in-room pizza delivery. However, this option will cost you 2 Table Service credits per tray. Resorts offering this service are:
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort – 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort – 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort – 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort – 4:00 PM to midnight
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – 4:00 PM to midnight
Disney’s Pop Century Resort – 4:00 PM to midnight
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – 4:00 PM to midnight
Disney’s Old Key West Resort – 4:00 PM to midnight
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa – 4:00 PM to midnight
Select resorts offer a room service menu. You will also be charged 2 Table Service credits for this option. Resorts offering this service are:
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s BoardWalk Resort
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s BoardWalk Resort
Can credits be converted?
Yes, but with some restrictions. A Table Service credit can be used at a Quick Service restaurant. However, I don't recommend this as a good value for your money. One Table Service credit will only get you One Quick Service meal. But it does offer flexibility should you have leftover credits.
However, Quick Service credits may NOT be used at Table Service restaurants. For example, 2 QS does NOT equal a TS. You may only use TS credits at TS restaurants.
Quick Service credits MAY be exchanged for up to 3 snack credits. However, all three snacks must be purchased in the same transaction. If you use a QS credit to purchase any less than 3 snacks, you forfeit the remaining entitlement. You may do this at any Quick Service location, resort food court and certain merchandise locations. These merchandise locations are:
Big Top Souvenir (Magic Kingdom)
Confectionary (Magic Kingdom)
Prairie Outpost (Magic Kingdom)
Karamell-Küche (Epcot)
Beverly Sunset(Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
Writer’s Stop (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
Mombasa Marketplace (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
Candy Cauldron (Downtown Disney)
Goofy’s Candy Co. (Downtown Disney)
Helpful tips you need to know:
The Disney Dining Plans have separate pricing for adults and children. However, Quick Service meals are no longer designated as adult or child.This means if your child is a hearty eater, he is welcome to order an adult size QS meal. If you have an adult that eats light, they are welcome to order a meal from the kid's menu. However, at Table Service restaurants that are not buffet, children must order from the children's menu. Note: If you have the Deluxe Dining Plan, most Table Service locations will allow children to order from the adult menu.
Guests using a Table Service credit may decline the dessert option and instead substitute a side salad, cup of soup or fruit plate.
If you don't want the drink included with your Quick Service meal, you can substitute a snack or side item instead or get a bottle of water to go.
Make the most of your snack credits. Don't waste snack credits on lower-cost bottled drinks, ice cream bars or bags of chips. Of course, you can if want to, but there are so many more options that will give you a better value for your credit. There are hundreds of delicious options priced closer to the $5.00 mark that are a better value such as delicious baked goods and candy. Or if you don't have a sweet tooth, use them for soups, salads and side items.
Don't forget there are many breakfast items (muffins, bagels, cereal, etc) that can be purchased with a snack credit. Therefore, snack credits used wisely can act as an additional "meal".
Don't forget! Be Our Guest is considered Quick Service for breakfast and lunch. You will still need to make Advance Dining Reservations for these meals because of the restaurant's popularity. But you will get a Table-Service type dining experience for the cost of a Quick Service credit. Dinner at BOG is charged a Table Service credit.
If you are using the Quick Service plan, you are still welcome to dine at any Table Service restaurant. But, you will have to pay the total cost out-of-pocket.
If you plan to eat at Table Service restaurants, be sure to make Advance Dining Reservations. You can make reservations up to 180 days in advance. Reservations go quickly so plan early. It can be very difficult to get reservations and most restaurants are nearly impossible to get into without one. You will generally have no luck with walk-ups at very popular restaurants or during busy times of the day or year so plan ahead to be sure you don't miss any meals you really want to experience.
Maximize your credits by sharing QS meals when possible. Many QS restaurants offer portions generous enough to be shared by 2 people, especially if you have light eaters or fussy kids. Sharing meals reduces waste and leaves you more credits to eat more often. Meal sharing is generally not allowed at Table Service restaurants. You will be charged a credit for each person in your party.
Families on the dining plan do not have to eat together or use credits at the same time. This means, your family can split up or older kids can be sent off on their own and everyone can eat when they choose using credits from your plan. Your "pool" of credits will be reflected on everyone's magic band. Although convenient, be sure to keep track of what credits everyone used while you were apart so you are not surprised with a shortage of credits. In general, when our group split up, I would tell everyone in advance what the plans were. For example "We will meet back in front of the castle at 3. If you get hungry before then, you are each allowed to use one QS credit or one snack credit". This way you won't be surprised by finding out Johnny was very hungry and ate lunch at 3 different locations! You are also not required to all be present for Table Service dining. Mom and the girls can enjoy dinner with the princesses while Dad and the boys may choose to skip it or eat somewhere else.
If you are doing a split stay at two different resorts, your dining plan will be treated as two completely separate reservations. This means your credits from your "first" reservation will expire at midnight on the day you check out of the first resort. Even if you are staying onsite at another resort, those credits will no longer be good and you will receive a new batch of credits at the second resort. So to minimize waste, be sure to manage your credits carefully and be sure you use up the first round before starting on the second round.
During EPCOT's Food and Wine Festival or Flower and Garden Festival, specialty booths accept snack credits for most of their tasting options! Sampling several of these "snacks" can easily replace a meal. Also remember that you can convert one QS credit for three snack options in the same transaction. Therefore you can use one meal credit to get a tasting portion for 3 people in your group. Or, you can get 3 different samples all for yourself!
I hope we have answered all of your questions about using the Disney Dining Plan, but if there is anything we missed, please just ask!
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