Is The Disney Dining Plan Worth The Cost In 2024?

As of January 9, 2024, the Disney Dining Plan has returned to Walt Disney World. And Guests are once again wondering – is it worth it?

My answer, as you might expect, is simply…it depends on your family.

Deciding whether the Disney Dining Plan is worth the cost is an important choice. They’re not cheap. But, cost shouldn’t be the only factor in deciding whether or not you should get it.

I believe there are a few things you should consider. Because at the end of the day, the point of a Meal Plan isn’t to save you tons of money. But, unless you know your reasons for getting one, it’s going to be hard to fully enjoy your vacation without becoming fixated on how much it cost you.

What Is A Disney Dining Plan?

A Disney Dining Plan is a pre-paid plan. While the food and drinks aren’t unlimited, the idea is that you’ll have enough “credits” to cover all of your meals, drinks, and snacks for your entire vacation.

Prior to the Park closures, there were multiple plans. But, when it came back in 2024, there are only 2:

• The Quick Service Dining Plan
• The Disney Dining Plan

The plan you choose will determine whether you only get Quick Service credits or a combination of Quick Service and Table Service credits. Both plans get the same number of snack credits and a refillable mug for each member of your family to use at the Resorts. (Stay tuned for a more in-depth look at both of these plans)

But, what should you consider before buying a Disney Dining Plan?

Consideration 1: Price

The Dining Plans aren’t cheap. But, neither is the food at Disney. The number one reason a family decides not to get a Dining Plan is the cost. But, I believe they truly don’t realize how expensive it is to eat at Disney.

On average, a family of 4 can spend $200 – $300 per day feeding their family. Over the course of a one week vacation, that adds up to an average of $1200 – $1800.

Currently, the price of the Meals Plans are:

• Quick Service Dining Plan: $57.01 per adult, $23.83 per child – per night
• Disney Dining Plan: $94.28 per adult, $26.69 per child – per night

This means that on average, a family of 4 is paying between $1370 – $2260 for a Meal Plan for their one week vacation, if they have kids over the age of 9.

That’s a lot of money to be spending on food over the course of one week. But, believe it or not, if you’re planning to purchase the majority of your meals at Disney, getting a Meal Plan could actually save you a little bit of money.

That’s why I always recommend that my Clients look at the menus. If you had to pay out of pocket, would you come close to or exceed the cost of the Meal Plan? If the answer is yes, you may want to consider getting one.

You Should Consider a Meal Plan if…

• Your family wants to experience many Character Meals – Many cost $66 + tax per adult – covering most of the $94 per day cost you’d need to spend to break even.
• You are 21 and older with valid identification. You may substitute your drink for beer, wine and cocktails – making a Meal Plan very cost effective.
• You planned your meals ahead of time and you realize the cost comes close to or exceeds the cost of the Meal Plan you’re considering.

You Shouldn’t Consider a Meal Plan if…

• You’re bringing food with you and/or plan to cook meals at your Resort – especially if you have a full kitchen
• You don’t eat large portions – Sharing plates is allowed at all Quick Service and many Table Service restaurants
• You have very young kids who need to pay, but eat very little – they rarely eat enough to justify the cost

Consideration 2: Convenience / Peace of Mind

I’ve personally done Walt Disney World trips with and without a Meal Plan. I can say with absolute certainty that my vacation is more enjoyable when I have a Meal Plan.

But, let me tell you why…

We spent many years struggling to pay the bills and worrying that we wouldn’t have enough to feed the boys. I hated that feeling. And although our circumstances have improved over the years, that sense of worry has never left me.

That’s why you’ve heard me say many times that I pay for everything at Disney with gift cards. I meticulously budget and load up my gift card so I’m not constantly seeing money leave my checking account.

I have never come home with an empty gift card. But, I still worry – did I budget enough for food? Am I sacrificing what I want to make sure my family gets what they want? And I hate feeling that way on vacation.

So, that’s the reason I continue to get a Meal Plan. It allows me to enjoy my vacation without stressing about how much each meal is going to cost me.

I can’t tell you if we’re getting our money’s worth. But I can tell you that my vacation is better because of it.

You Should Consider a Meal Plan if…

• You prefer to have most expenses covered upfront. Meal Plans eliminate the unknown and make it easier to plan a vacation budget.
• You don’t want the stress of wondering if you’ve budgeted enough to feed your family.
• You get sticker shock every time your family says they’re hungry.
• You like the convenience of not having to pull out your wallet for every transaction.

You Shouldn’t Consider a Meal Plan if…

• Your only concern is making sure you’re getting your money’s worth. It’s far too much pressure and not meeting that goal will sour the whole experience for you.

Consideration 3: Which Restaurants Do You Want To Eat At?

There are so many sought after dining reservations at Walt Disney World. Most will cost you 1 Table Service Credit. But, there are a few that require 2 Table Service credits, per person, to eat there:

• Be Our Guest
• Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (Lunch and Dinner only)
• Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

Now – If you’re equating 1 Table Service credit to a dollar amount, spending 2 credits at any of these restaurants won’t make sense. With most of the 1 credit restaurants falling in the $50 – $70 range, you’d have spend at least $100 per person to make the math work. And none of these restaurants hit that price range.

Of course, it all comes down to preference, convenience, and peace of mind. If the thought of spending $84 to eat at Cinderella’s Royal Table makes you break out in hives, use the 2 credits. You’ll still have an enjoyable experience. Just make sure that you account for that lost credit, so your family doesn’t have to miss a meal.

You Should Consider a Meal Plan if…

• The credits make sense – 1 meal = 1 credit.
• One of the 2 credit restaurants is a bucket list item and you don’t mind losing the extra meal credit
• You only plan on dining at 1 Table Service restaurant. You can get a Quick Service Dining Plan and pay out of pocket for your 1 sit down meal. It’s still going to be cheaper than getting the Disney Dining Plan.

You Shouldn’t Consider a Meal Plan if…

• You want to eat at more than one of these “2 credit” restaurants – it’s more cost effective to not get a Plan
• You’ll be spending the rest of your trip trying to “make up” the rest of the money you lost by spending 2 credits on that one Table Service meal.

Consideration 4: Traveling With Teens / Young Adults

Traveling with teens and young adults is much different than traveling with small kids. While some families may opt for kid’s meals or share adult portions to save money, these “hacks” may not be as effective when you’re traveling with this age group.

This doesn’t automatically mean you need to get a Meal Plan.

But, not only do teens and young adults typically eat more, they may want to break away from their parents and do the things they want to do. And with a MagicBand in hand, the freedom to make purchases, even without physical cash, is way too easy.

Most teens and young adults understand that they have a certain number of meals and snack credits to use throughout their trip. If they want a quick bite between rides, it’s not a huge deal. That’s what they’re there for.

The problem is when they decide to make purchases without informing the person whose credit card is linked to the reservation. No one wants their child to go hungry. But, they also don’t want to find unexpected charges on their room account.

You Should Consider a Meal Plan if…

• You plan on buying most or all of your meals at Disney – if they’re eating a lot, it could be more cost effective
• You want to make sure your teen / young adult has the ability to get food or snacks at all times, without charging the room

You Shouldn’t Consider a Meal Plan if…

• The freedom to get whatever they want will tempt them to get more than their allotted credits. A gift card would likely work better since the only limitation is dollar amount.
• The way the Meal Plans are set up doesn’t align with your itinerary. Both plans give you 2 meals plus 1 snack per day. But, if you’re planning to go to an Epcot festival and sample different foods from around World Showcase, you can easily spend a week’s worth of snack credits before the day is over.

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