Disney Dining Plan or Deluxe Disney Dining Plan… Which To Choose?

I enjoy dining and trying new places and was very excited a few years ago when they came up with the Disney Dining Plan. It gave me the ability to not have to worry about what I was going to order, price didn’t matter and I could try new restaurants every night. Since the start of the Disney Dining Plan I’ve done both the original Disney Dining Plan and the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan.

The Disney Dining Plan includes 1 snack, 1 quick service (non-alcoholic drink, entree and dessert or combo meal) and 1 table service (non-alcoholic drink, entree and dessert or full buffet) per person per night for $45.99 ($2 more during peak season) for adults and $11.99 ($1 more during peak season) for children.

The Deluxe Disney Dining Plan includes 3 meals, 2 snacks and a resort refillable mug per person per night for $78.99 for adults and $21.99 for children. The Deluxe plan lets you choose whether or not you want quick service (non-alcoholic beverage, entree and dessert or combo meal) or table service (non-alcoholic beverage, appetizer, entree and dessert or full buffet).

Both of the plans require that everyone in your room be on the same package and it must be purchased for the entire length of your stay. Other important information to mention is that gratuity is not included. It used to be, but Disney has since removed it. Another important thing to note is that in the morning you don’t dessert so you get juice instead.

Now on to which one is for you… Are you someone that likes to eat a table service meal every day, try new restaurants and check out those that are more expensive? If so, then the Deluxe plan is for you. The way that I use this plan is that I arrive early on the first day of my trip and leave in the evening on my last day so I get one more day to use the credits. That way, I dine at no more than 2 locations a day and try some of the restaurants that require 2 table service credits. I often choose to have breakfast table service or a very early lunch and then have a late dinner. I use some of my snack credits during the trip when I need to but enjoy saving some so that I can take items home like fudge or treats from Goofy’s Candy Company. If we drive down, I save a credit so that I can stop by Earl of Sandwich and pick up a sandwich or salad to put in the cooler to have on the way home. You can even take it on the plane if you’d like. One of the best things, that saves you tons of money with this plan is the refillable resort mug. At $2.39 for a drink you’ll find that you can get a really good deal out of this. For example, say your vacationis 7 days and you visit the food court in the morning and in the evening (twice a day) to get drinks, this would normally cost you $33.46 +tax. It’s one of benefits to this plan that frequently gets overlooked. This plan is also perfect for those that like to relax on their vacation and aren’t in a hurry to try to catch every attraction.

For those of you that aren’t wanting to spend a lot of time making Advanced Dining Reservations or spend much time sitting down in a restaurant, then the Disney Dining Plan would be the option for you. You aren’t as tied down with only having one table service a day, unless you decide to use 2 credits to dine at a signature restaurant or at one of the dinner shows. This is a great plan for those that like to fill their vacation full and try to see and do as much as possible. You can try some great dining options and not be tied down every day.

As far as which Disney Dining Plan is for you depends on really what it is you want out of your vacation. I don’t always do one or the other. It depends on the number of days that I’m visiting Walt Disney World and what all I want to accomplish. I will say that I’m much more likely to go with the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan when I book a long trip. That way I can try many new restaurants and still have plenty of time to see and do what I want at the parks and resorts.

If you have any questions about the Disney Dining Plans don’t hesitate to ask me questions. I’m more than happy to answer them.
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Kristen Hoetzel
Cooking With Mickey

Twitter @CookingwMickey

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