The Disney Dining Plan is one of those things in the Disney online community that gets a lot of attention. Why? Well, the topic of discussion always goes to are the plans worth it? Are they worth the money and can you get a good value out of them?
Well, thanks to a change that occurred in 2018, the Disney Dining Plans have become an exceptional value, if you know how to use it! So, just what change occurred? Well, now, Guests are able to choose from several new beverage options including non-alcoholic specialty beverages and, for Guests 21 and older, beer, wine and cocktails. Yep! I said alcoholic beverages are now included with the three Disney Dining Plans!
What items are now included?
Non-alcoholic Options:
- Canned and bottled single-serving non-alcoholic beverages
- Any size single-serving fountain soda (refills included, where available)
- Single-serving non-alcoholic specialty beverages (smoothies, milkshakes, frozen coffees, slushies, etc.)
- Single-serving brewed coffees and teas (refills included, where available)
Alcoholic Options:
- Single serving canned or bottled beer
- Single-serving regular size draft beer
- Single-serving wines by the glass or single-serving canned and bottled wines
- Single-serving canned and bottled cocktails
- Single-serving specialty cocktails on the menu
- Single-serving non-alcoholic specialty beverage that is also on the alcoholic menu (ie: Strawberry smoothie with dark rum.)
Ok…now we’re talking, right?!
But you’re going to want facts, right? Just how can the Disney Dining Plans be a good value? Let’s do the math. Let’s take a look at the potential savings that could occur with a family of four – two adults and two children under the age of 9 – using current pricing.
Quick Service Disney Dining Plan Example
For 2018 the price of the Quick Service Dining Plan per person per night:
- Adult (Ages 10 and up): $52.49
- Child (Ages 3-9): $21.75
Breakfast
Fountain View – Starbucks
Uses 1 snack credit per person
Adult #1 – Venti Frappuccino (5.79)
Adult #2 – Venti Frappuccino (5.79)
Child #1 – Smoothie (4.99)
Child #2 – Smoothie (4.99)
Meal Total $21.56
Lunch
Tangierine Café
Uses 1 Quick Service meal credit per person
Adult #1 – Saffron Rotisserie Chicken (17.99) Tangierine Cocktail (9.00)
Adult #2 – Saffron Rotisserie Chicken (17.99) Tangieriene Cocktail (9.00)
Child #1 – Kid’s meal (8.99)
Child #2 – Kid’s Meal (8.99)
Meal Total $71.96
Dinner
Katsura Grill
Uses 1 Quick-service credit per person
Adult #1 Garlic Shrimp (14.00) Sapporo Draft Beer (8.00)
Adult #2 Shrimp and Chicken Teriyaki (14.00) Sapporo Draft Beer (8.00)
Child #1 Shrimp and Chicken Teriyaki (9.00)
Child #2 Beef and Shrimp Teriyaki (9.00)
Meal Total $62.00
Snack
Boulangerie Patisserie les Halles
Uses 1 snack credit per person
Adult #1 Bisque de Homard (4.90)
Adult #2 Croissant Jambon Fromage (4.75)
Child #1 Mousse au Chocolate (4.50)
Child #2 Chocolate Tart (4.50)
Meal Total $18.65
Totals
Total cost of meals if paid out of pocket: $174.17
Total cost paid for Disney’s Dining Quick Service Plan: $148.48
Total Savings: $25.69
Standard Disney Dining Plan Example
For 2018 the price of the Disney Dining Plan per person per night:
- Adult (Ages 10 and up): $75.49
- Child (Ages 3-9): $25.80
Breakfast
Be Our Guest Restaurant
Uses 1 Quick Service Credit Per Person
Adult #1- Croque Madame (25.00) Drink (3.29)
Adult #2- Vegetable Quiche (25.00) Drink (3.29)
Child #1- Crepes (14.00)
Child #2- French Toast (14.00)
Meal Total: $84.58
Lunch
Starbucks Main Street Bakery
Uses 1 Snack Credit Per Person
Adult #1- Double Chocolate Chip Frappe- Venti (5.79)
Adult #2- Caramel Macchiato – Venti (5.79)
Child #1- Strawberry Smoothie (4.99)
Child #2- Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher (4.99)
Meal Total: $21.56
Snack
Aloha Isle
Uses 1 Snack Credit Per Person
Adult #1- Pineapple Float (5.49)
Adult #2- Pineapple Float (5.49)
Child #1- Pineapple DOLE WHIP® Cup (4.49)
Child #2- Pineapple DOLE WHIP® Cup (4.49)
Meal Total: $19.96
Dinner
Ohana
Uses 1 Table Service Credit Per Person
Adult #1 – Buffet (46.00) Alcoholic Drink (10.00)
Adult #2 -Buffet (46.00) Alcoholic Drink (10.00)
Child #1 – Buffet (26.00)
Child #2 – Buffet (26.00)
Meal Total: $164.00
Totals
Total cost of meals if paid out of pocket: $290.10
Total paid for Disney’s Dining Plan: $202.58
Total Savings: $87.52
Deluxe Disney Dining Plan Example
For 2018 the price of the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan per person per night:
- Adult (Ages 10 and up): $116.25
- Child (Ages 3-9): $39.90
Breakfast
Cape May Character Breakfast
Uses 1 Table Service Credit Per Person
Adult #1 – Buffet Price (35.14) Mimosa (10.00)
Adult #2 – Buffet Price (35.14) Mimosa (10.00)
Child #1 – Buffet Price (20.23)
Child #2 – Buffet Price (20.23)
Meal Total: $130.74
Lunch
Rose and Crown
Uses 1 Table Service Per Person
Adult #1- Grilled New York Strip Steak (32.00) Sticky Toffee Pudding (8.00) Welsh Dragon Drink (11.25)
Adult #2- Pan-roasted Scottish Salmon (27.00) Lemon Scone (8.00) Leaping Leprechaun Drink (13.75)
Child #1- Steak and Chips (12.00)
Child #2- Bangers and Mash (12.00)
Meal Total: $124.00
Snack
Snack Cart
Uses 1 Snack Credit Per Person
Adult #1 – Popcorn (4.00)
Adult #2 – smartWater (4.25)
Child #1 – Hot Pretzel (5.00)
Child #2 – Hot Pretzel (5.00)
Meal Total: $18.25
Dinner
Garden Grill
Uses 1 Table Service Per Person
Adult #1- Buffet Price (44.72) Citrus Freeze (11.50)
Adult #2- Buffet Price (44.72) Citrus Freeze (11.50)
Child #1- Buffet Price (26.62)
Child #2- Buffet Price (26.62)
Meal Total: $165.68
Snack
Karamel Kuche
Uses 1 Snack Credit Per Person
Adult #1 – Caramel & Chocolate Pineapple (4.79)
Adult #2 – Caramel & Chocolate Dipped Strawberry (4.49)
Child #1 – Caramel Chocolate Fudge (4.49)
Child #2 – Peanut Butter Caramel Crunch Cookie (4.49)
Meal Total $18.26
Totals
Total cost of meals if paid out of pocket: $456.93
Total paid for Disney’s Magic Your Way Deluxe Dining Plan: $312.48
Total Savings: $144.45
As you can see, there really is a lot of savings that can be had with the three different 2018 Disney Dining Plans!
The best advice I can give you about figuring out if the Disney Dining Plan is worth it though is to do the math. As you can see with our quick examples above, just figuring out a rough estimate on what a family could purchase while on the Disney Dining Plan can show that the money saved can be quite substantial.
What are your thoughts on the 2018 Disney Dining Plans? Do you think they are a good way to save money? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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Quick question: If you are on the quick service dining plan, have lunch/dinner at a hotel restaurant and decide not to have a beverage (instead, taking advantage of the beverage stations in the restaurant where you can use your refillable mug), can you exchange that beverage for dessert or a snack? Thanks for any input on this.
Can you use each snack/ meal credit whenever you want or are they limited to a particular days use? Ie.. use more credits one day as opposed to another..
Hi Sheryl! You can absolutely use your snack credits whenever you want. You are not limited to one per day. So if you wanted to use two snack credits to buy a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar and a bottle of water at one time, you absolutely could do that.
Please let me know if you have further questions!
First let me say, I always get the Disney Dining Plan because my family and I like to eat in the popular restaurants which makes it worthwhile. I have kept track of what the cost of all the meals are, and there is a savings. However, your meal plan above assumes everyone has alcohol at lunch and dinner every day, sometimes at a Character Breakfast. There are many people who do not drink alcohol on any regular basis. You also assumed the child was under nine. Children ten and over pay the adult price for the dining plan but smoothies and floats cost a lot less than alcohol. That changes the amount of the savings. Give an outline without alcohol and children over ten. Also, as I do when I bring groups to Disney, point out the quick serve meals that are big enough to share like the chicken and ribs in Animal Kingdom or the snacks that are filling enough to be a meal like some of the salads and oatmeal for breakfast. These items are great savings because it allows you to stretch your meal credits for more meals instead of having to put out-of-pocket in order to eat three meals a day.