8 DO’s and DON’Ts for the Disney Dining Plans

The Disney Dining Plan can be a real value for so many families. It is vital for you to run the numbers and see if the Dining Plan works for your family. Some guests don’t care so much if they come out ahead, but more like that, the meals are pre-paid, so there are no surprises on vacation, and you get the all-inclusive feel. If you do opt for one of the Disney Dining Plans, then here are eight DO’s and DON’Ts that you will definitely want to know:

8 – DO make advanced dining reservations.

This is definitely an important reminder. You will definitely want to make reservations as early as possible for all of your table-service dining experiences. The restaurants at Walt Disney World are extremely popular and fill up quickly. You won’t be thrilled if you have to wait a long time to get in or if you have trouble getting in at all to use your entitlements. Reservations can be made 60 days before the first day of your vacation.

7 – DON’T waste your snack credits.

Snack prices vary wildly anywhere from $3 all the way up to $11.25 (the Lobster Tail at the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival). Try to pick snack items that are at least over $6. Not only that but don’t waste your snack entitlements on beverages, especially water. Sodas come with your meal entitlements, and you can get cups of water for free at many quick-service locations. You are much better served using your entitlements for food items that are unique to Disney, so you get to enjoy even more Disney food.

6 – DO consider a dinner show when considering 2-entitlement meals.

We absolutely love the dinner shows! They are “All You Care to Enjoy,” so you get to fill up on as much as you want. This is especially great if you skip lunch and then plan to have a large dinner, thus helping to save up the entitlements. Not only can you eat as much as you want, but you can also enjoy all you can drink various alcoholic beverages too! There are selections like sangria, a couple of mixed drinks, beers, and a couple of wines. For those who enjoy adult beverages, this is a real treat! Gratuity is also included in the price, which means your entitlements cover it, so you don’t have to budget for that!

5 – DON’T overdo the 2-entitlement meals.

I know I just told you that you should try out a dinner show, but don’t overdo the 2-entitlement selections. There are several restaurants around Walt Disney World, and not all of them make the most sense to use your entitlements for. If you want to enjoy the restaurant and know you will have to buy some of your meals, you will want to compare to see if your entrée and meal will actually equal double of a normal table service meal. If it doesn’t, this might be an excellent meal to pay for out of pocket if you know all of your entitlements are accounted for.

4 – DO get the most bang for your buck when making meal selections.

When you dine at one of the restaurants, pay attention to the prices. If you tend to shy away from the most expensive steak on the menu because of the cost, you don’t have to do that now! You can order whatever entrée is offered on the menu, and you won’t pay anything extra for it! This gives you that true all-inclusive feel to the vacation, which is a fantastic feeling. Try new things and enjoy the more expensive meals for a change! This will also help to get the most out of the cost of your dining plan, too!

3 – DON’T forget about budgeting for gratuities.

Unless you are dining at a quick-service restaurant or Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review dinner show, your gratuity is NOT included with the dining plan. These costs can definitely add up, so you will want to include them in your vacation budget. The servers make the majority of their pay from your tips, and they are definitely well-deserved! You can charge the gratuities to your room, or you can pay with your card, Disney gift card, or cash.

2 – DO consider buffet meals.

The buffet meals are actually quite expensive, especially at breakfast. One of the great things about them is that if you have children under three in your party, they eat for free! Children under three can’t have a dining plan, which means they either share with you or you have to purchase them something separately. These meals give you a lot of value for your plan and can help you fill up to allow you to skip a meal. Skipping meals is especially helpful if you are trying to save entitlements for 2-entitlement meals or if you are on the Disney Dining Plan, which only offers one table-service entitlement per night of your stay.

1 – DON’T leave any unused credit.

If you come to the end of your vacation and have unused meals or snack credits, DON’T WASTE THEM! You can now track your entitlements within the My Disney Experience app, so be sure to keep an eye on how many you’ve used and how many you have left. If you get to the last day of your vaction with snacks left, you can purchase a wide variety of things that would be suitable to take home with you. These types of things also include pre-wrapped candies, cakes, cookies, lollipops, and other snacks. They are all Disney-themed, and many of them are even Mickey-shaped. This lets you take back a little bit of Disney magic with you and enough to share with the folks back home!