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Disney Dining Plan 2026 Update: Over 20 Restaurants Return After Contract Shuffle, But Some Fan Favorites Are Still Missing
After a stressful end to 2025 for guests booking 2026 Walt Disney World vacations, the Disney Dining Plan situation is finally starting to look a whole lot tastier. In late December, more than 35 popular restaurants suddenly vanished from Dining Plan eligibility, sending families scrambling, especially those booking Disney’s Kids Eat Free offer. As of early January 2026, most of those locations have officially returned, confirming what we predicted earlier: this was not a mistake, but the annual contract negotiation shuffle between Disney and third party restaurant operators.
Related: Disney Springs Parking Added to Disney World App
Every year, Disney renegotiates Dining Plan reimbursement rates with outside companies that operate many locations around EPCOT World Showcase and Disney Springs. Groups like Patina Restaurant Group and Landry’s periodically drop off the plan during negotiations, then quietly reappear once terms are finalized. The 2026 cycle was messier than usual, but the wave of returns now confirms this was business as usual, just on a much bigger scale.
A long list of guest favorites is now back on the 2026 Disney Dining Plan. At EPCOT, Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria, Tutto Italia Ristorante, San Angel Inn Restaurante, and Rose & Crown Dining Room have all returned. Disney Springs guests can once again use credits at The BOATHOUSE, Morimoto Asia, Paddlefish, and Terralina Crafted Italian. Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Yak & Yeti Restaurant is also officially back, along with Maya Grill at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
That said, several high profile restaurants are still sitting on the sidelines. Space 220 remains off the Dining Plan, which is not entirely surprising given its high prix fixe pricing and history of late contract signings. Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is also still missing, along with T-REX Cafe, Rainforest Cafe, and The Polite Pig. Based on previous years, several of these could still return later this month as negotiations wrap up.
Related: Your Ultimate Guide to the runDisney Experience 2026
New for 2026, however, is an extra wrinkle guests need to watch closely. Some restaurants now only accept Dining Plan credits during specific meal periods. Via Napoli is currently dinner only, Tutto Italia is lunch only, and The Edison is only accepting credits at dinner. This means guests must double check meal eligibility in the My Disney Experience app before booking, rather than assuming all meals qualify.
These changes matter even more for families using Disney’s 2026 Kids Eat Free promotion, where children ages 3 to 9 receive a free Dining Plan with a qualifying package. Many families booked specifically to maximize high dollar dining experiences, and missing or restricted restaurants can shift the value math quickly. The good news is that contracts often finalize well into January, so history suggests more returns are likely.
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