When you are making plans to go and visit the wonderful Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, I would highly encourage you and your group to look into the Disney Dining Plans! Now what is the dining plan? Well, it is a program that Disney offers that allows you to pay for your food before you even arrive at the resort.  During some months of the year, Disney offers the basic dining plan free with your stay at any Disney moderate or deluxe resort. I give this two thumbs up, but even if you are visiting the parks during a time when the Dining Plan isn’t free, I still think it’s VERY worth your money. It more than pays for itself.

Here is a quick break down of what the plan gives you:

Quick-Service Dining Plan: 2 Quick-Service Meals per day, 1 Snack Credit per day and 1 Rapid Refill Drink Mug (to use at your resort).

Dining Plan: 1 Quick-Service Meal per day, 1 Table Service Credit per day, 1 Snack Credit per day, and 1 Rapid Refill Drink Mug (to use at your resort).

Deluxe Dining Plan: 3 Table Service Credits per day, 2 Snack Credits per day, and 1 Rapid Refill Drink Mug (to use at your resort).

All of these have their perks and draw backs.  I personally have never used the Quick-Service Dining Plan or the Deluxe Dining Plan, but I know from using the Basic Dining Plan, that I won’t plan a vacation to Disney World without choosing one of the meal plan options.

Some of the things that I really love about getting a meal plan, is that from the moment I arrive on the Disney property, I don’t have to worry about having to pay more money for food each day, it’s already paid for! You will also NEVER go hungry! Each plan gives you so much food that it just isn’t possible.  Not only that, it just adds to the overall experience.  The first time I went to WDW, my family chose to not get the meal plan and instead we would pack lunches and eat cheap for dinner.  Don’t get me wrong, this is just fine if you are trying to cut costs, but it just isn’t as fun.  My family ate so many chicken sandwiches that trip, it isn’t even funny.  The next time I was in WDW we got the meal plan, and boy was that exciting!  Instead of just walking by the really nice and expensive restaurants, we actually got to go into them! It was GREAT!

Another thing I love about the dining plan, is even if you have picky eaters in your group, they will be more than satisfied! At each restaurant they offer kid meals that have the basic hamburger, chicken strips, etc even if you were to go to the Moroccan restaurant Marrakesh.  My cousin’s family went to WDW a few months ago and they got the Deluxe Dining Plan.  Her husband is an insanely crazy picky eater who wouldn’t eat anything but the food on the kids menu.  So for him, the restaurants just upped the portion size of the kids menu and he was happy as a clam.

So over all – I truly feel that getting the dining plan can really make your trip something a little more special!  But remember to make your reservations early so you can make sure you can get into the restaurants you really want to get into! Now, go eat and enjoy!

– Melissa L.