While it is common for those planning vacations to Walt Disney World to discuss “The Disney Dining Plan”, in reality there are a variety of different Dining Plans offered by Disney, to help the vacationer experience dining…and other extras….as easily as possible. Choosing a Dining Plan can also be a way to make your meals at Disney World more affordable, as many find that this can be a cost-savings to them, as well as a great way to budget, and experience new restaurants.
But before you decide to add a Dining Plan to your vacation, you will want to know what is included…and what each costs. To start, let’s see what plans are available.
There are 5 actual Dining Plans, with each differing in cost of course, as well as what is included:
- The Quick Service Plan
- The Basic Dining Plan
- The Deluxe Dining Plan
- The Premium Dining Plan
- The Platinum Dining Plan
And there is also the Wine and Dine Plan for those who would like to explore their dining experiences a bit “more”. 🙂
Now let’s take a look at each one in more detail.
Quick Service Dining Plan
The Quick Service Dining Plan is the least expensive Dining Plan choice, and as such is the easiest way to plan affordable meals while at Walt Disney World. This plan provides for each person in your room the following items:
- 2 Quick Service Meals (counter service or “fast food”) per night. Choose one entrée/combo meal, one single non-alcoholic beverage, and dessert.
- 2 Snacks per night.
- One refillable resort drink mug. With this mug you get unlimited drink refills at any RESORT HOTEL only.
The Quick Service Dining Plan prices for 2011 are: Adults $34.99 per person per night; children 3-9 are $11.99 per person per night.
Basic Dining Plan
Perhaps the most popular of the Disney Dining Plans is the Basic Plan. This plan provides for each person in your room the following items:
- One table-service meal or buffet per night
- Breakfast: includes entrée and non-alcoholic beverage OR full buffet, and tax
- Lunch and Dinner: includes appetizer (for kids 3-9 ONLY), entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage OR full buffet, and tax
- Gratuity is NOT included for table-service meals on the Disney Dining Plan. An 18 percent gratuity will be added automatically for parties of 6 or more; a gratuity may also be added for items not included in the Dining Plan, such as alcoholic beverages
- One quick service (counter service or “fast food”) per night. Choose one entrée/combo meal, one single non-alcoholic beverage, and dessert.
- One snack per night
For 2011, the Basic Dining Plan prices depend on the time of year:
- Adults (ages 10 and up) $45.99 and Children (ages 3-9) $11.99
- Cost is per person per night with the exception of the following:
- Adults $47.99 and Children $12.99
- Cost is per person per night for the following dates: 2/17-2/26; 3/11-4/30; 6/3-8/13; 12/21-31
The Deluxe, Premium, Platinum and Wine Dining Plans
Offering more food than the Basic or Quick Service Dining Plans, the higher priced Deluxe, Premium, and Platinum Dining Plans are all the same from the dining aspect: the difference in each is in the “extras” that are included with the Premium and Platinum Plans, beyond the food options that the Deluxe Plan includes. With each of these plans, every guest in your room receives three meals, all of which can be chosen from either Disney World table-service or quick-service restaurants. These 3 meal credits/night for each person in your room can be used in any of the following ways:
- Table-service meal or buffet
- Breakfast: includes entrée, and non-alcoholic beverage OR full buffet
- Lunch and Dinner: includes appetizer, entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage OR full buffet
- Quick service (counter service or “fast food”) per night. Choose one entrée/combo meal, one single non-alcoholic beverage, and dessert.
In addition, each person in your room enjoys:
- Two Snacks per night
- One refillable resort drink mug. With this mug you get unlimited drink refills at any RESORT HOTEL only.
For 2011, the cost for the above meal options in the Deluxe Dining Plan is: $78.99/adult per night; $21.99/child (ages 3-9) per night
What does the Premium Dining Plan include?
As mentioned above, the main difference between these plans are the “extras” that you receive. With the Premium Plan, in addition to all the food noted on the Deluxe Plan, you also receive:
- Unlimited use of selected recreation, including golf, guided fishing excursions, water sports etc.
- Admission to Cirque du Soleil show, La Nouba.
- Unlimited admission to Disney’s Children’s Activity Centers
- Unlimited Admission to a number of Theme Park tours, including the popular Keys to the Kingdom, Simply Segway Experience, and more
- Admission to Grand Gathering Experiences, if you have eight or more in your party.
- Access to Preferred Viewing Areas for Wishes and Illuminations (some restrictions apply)
For 2011, the cost for the Premium Dining Plan is: $169/adult per night; $119/ child (ages 3-9) per night
What does the Platinum Dining Plan include?
With the Platinum Plan, in addition to the food of the Deluxe Plan, you receive everything in the Premium package PLUS things like:
- Pre-arrival planning service
- Specialty fireworks cruise
- Reserved seating at Fantasmic!
- Selected spa treatment per guest (age restrictions apply)
- Additional dining options, such as Victoria & Albert’s restaurant, room service, and more.
For 2011, the cost for the Platinum Dining Plan is: $229/adult per night; $160/ child (ages 3-9) per night
The Wine and Dine Plan
The Wine and Dine Plan Add-On can be added on to any package that includes dining for an extra charge per night.
In the 2011 Wine & Dine Plan you will receive one wine selection for $39.99 per night per room.
Important things to know about the Disney Dining Plans
Be sure to know that everyone in the room must be on the same package. In addition, there is no charge for children under 3: they may share an adult meal, or you may pay separately for them. Children ages 3-9 must order from a kid’s menu when available. Lastly, note that all dining credits must be used by midnight the last day of your stay, otherwise they expire.
Nancy and her family live in the Baltimore MD area, but consider Walt Disney World their second “home”. She started her site The Affordable Mouse, as a way to share ideas about how to plan affordable Disney vacations, and recently authored an ebook: Magical Meals: A Guide to Affordable Dining in Walt Disney World . Her favorite things at Disney World (in no particular order) are Soarin’, most of the food in World Showcase, Illuminations…and that special brand of Disney magic that you can’t find anywhere else.
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