The Ultimate Guide to the Disney Dining Plan 

“Prepaid” is a beautiful word!! ❤ I love my vacation feeling more all-inclusive. 👍🏻

If you do character meals, the DDP is a MUST HAVE. A character meal can easily be as much as the DDP costs for an entire day.

When I went this year, I budgeted $300/day for food and schwag and got seven Disney gift cards to do that, one for each day. I came home with $500 left over, so I spent $1600. Our party of 3 adults did four sit-down table service, and the rest of the time we mostly grazed on snacks, festival booths and some quick service. I’m guessing we dropped about $100 average each per day, not counting the fireworks package at EPCOT and Be Our Guest. The dining plan probably wouldn’t work for me because you get only one each of table service, quick service and snack, along with the resort mug.

My tip is if you have two rooms, you can get DDP for one room and share with the other during shared meals. Another is doing a split stay where you can also box up uneaten food and put it in the fridge to have a few days later at the second stay.

Anyone who has used the DDP before and not used up the credit I HIGHLY recommend buying DFB DDP Guide and watching as many videos as you can. I did this prior to quarantine and learned so much that we used all credits on all trips since watching & are excited to see the DDP come back. I feel like a rockstar with all this knowledge especially use of snack credits for breakfast items like at Gaston’s or quick lunch like spring rolls ❤️ thank you DFB for helping us make the most of our DDP and our trips is general. They are even more fun since we started watching your channel years ago! 🥰🥰

I went through every restaurant and what we would order with DDP vs the price without - It ends up being 110$ less (not counting snacks) to not use the DDP and order the exact same items off the DDP - This would be with 9 snacks for the 110$ difference... aka not even worth it to get the DDP for us - Even with an alcoholic drink every possible meal.

The dining plan is basically a way for Disney to get you to spend more without thinking you are. Now if you’re someone that actually splurges on big meals every day of the trip, this is probably more up your alley. But me personally, I like not feeling obligated to eat or get a certain meal because I’ll have leftover credits if I don’t.

I think the only way to come close to breaking even on the DDP is order the most expensive entree and drink on every menu every single entitlement. I looked closely at several of the menus and most quick service place entree top of at about $15. Snacks are roughly $6ish-7 if you get the most expensive. So that means on the $57 a day quick service plan each quick serv meal would be around $25ish. So unless you really need a specialty drink at 10ish and the most expensive entree each entitlement you use, you are not breaking even. If you skip the plan, eat 2 meals a day being more flexible and maybe choosing a just as tasty but lower cost entrees (like the 10-12 range) - have free cups of water for one or both of the meals - a snack a day, you are probably spending closer to $40 a day. Over $100 savings for a 6 night stay.

We did the DDP in 2017 with one quick service, one table service, two snacks, and a refillable mug. Son was 9 that year so he had the kid price and hubby and I the adult price. It was fun eating at Coral Reef, Ohana"s, T-Rex, but at Be our Guest were in line for Monster's Inc and had to come out of line to go to the reservation (great food by the way), and the table service at our resort (Coronado Springs) we kept pushing our reservation back because we were so full. We did use most of the snack credits but just started grabbing bottled beverages on our last day as to not loose them. Paying for the tips was fine but that was an additional expense. We loved the "luxuriousness" of the plan though--- three course meals everyday!

I prefer the $150 per day food gift card they offered at the beginning of the year. I do not feel like I have to order the most expensive thing on the menu to get my money's worth. I can order what I like.

The day before this video came out, I decided to price out whether or not I could make the DDP work for me. I priced out everything I wished I could eat on a Disney vacation, and I only came out $15 ahead on the DDP based on current pricing. It also ended up being way more food than I would typically eat on vacation. The only thing I could see as a benefit is that paying for it now protects you against price increases on menu items and pre-fixe/buffet prices.

I loved the dining plan when I had it in the past. My thoughts on it are that for our family it worked well we got a lot of convenience out the time it saved not having to worry about cost at the parks when we were there plus it was very helpful that we could use it on character dining and meals we would not normally do on a theme park day. I agree it is not for everyone as it can be hard to want Io spend you whole trip trying to plan out every meal and if everyone will eat that much food.

We already have our 2024 trip booked and got the DDP. I am happy to try various alcoholic beverages to help make it worthwhile! :-)

The Dining Plan is great when you host older teenagers, who need the flexibility to eat when and wherever they want, using their wristbands or phones, without the hassle of handing them gift or cash cards. It also Makes it easier if your party splits up.

I prefer to put the money I would spend on. DDP onto Disney Gift cards. Then they are still prepaid..all inclusive feel but if we don't use all the money on food, we can use it for souvenirs instead...OR bring it home with us to use on a down payment for our next trip!

I'm going with my daughter who will have just turned 10, I despise the cut off age for the child meal age, I'm not going to ask her to lie but there's no way she eats enough to be considered an adult. Last time we went was Feb 2020 with a larger group and I loved the ease of the DDP!

you used to be able to convert unused dining credits to snack credits. So, before we left, we'd fill our carry-ons with snacks to have at home. Don't know if that will still be possible.

Thats a hard no for my family. I only eat 2 meals a day with hardly any snacking. My husband and daughter do eat 3 meals a day with some snacking, but they wouldn't even come close to breaking even with the amount of food they would have to eat. We can more than afford even the most expensive restaurants, so its best for us not to purchase the dining plan

I’ve always loved y’all’s vids have been watching them for years at least since 2021

With the price increase and having one less snack credit per day per person, it is now specifically a convenience service that you literally have to pay extra for. The only way you come out even, or slightly ahead is if you order the most expensive option for your entree, drink, snack, quick service meal. IT used to be that the dining plan was based on basically average costs, now it seems to be based off of the most expensive options. No longer worth it to me!

We generally tend to do quick service most of the time. I'm not sure I want to do a big sit down meal that takes valuable park time away for every day I'll be there. It just doesn't seem like it would pay for me and my partner to do.

My husband and I booked for 2024. Just the 2 of us, we don't have kids. We know where and what and how much we want to eat, drink, and snack. For us, it was an easy decision to skip the DDP. For the price and what we want vs what you get or don't get, it will probably work out the same on our food, maybe less if we just pay as we go, and we don't have to think about the dining plan and any stipulations or limits.

I last had the Disney Dinning plan when you had to keep track of different tickets, I still loved it. It made paying for meals simple and I tried a lot of different table service restaurants. It may not be the most economical choice but it does make vacationing less stressful.

We definitely save money buying gift cards at Target for 5% off vs the DDP. Then we still have flexibility to eat where we want.

I am big fan of the DDP (last used it in September 2019) but I have an unrelated question for anyone to answer. In the video there is a shot of a wall of photos from "Broadway At The Top" (1981 - 1993). Where is this wall of photos? I am a friend of one of the original cast and I would love to point him to this wall for his next Florida visit.

We love the dining plan since it takes away one more thing to worry about while vacationing. And I never had to deny my kid a $40 steak if they wanted it. 😅

Daisy Duck vogueing! Sign me up!

I am so happy you did this. I am going back in January and am so confused on this

We never had an issue using sacks credits at festivals or converting quick service credits to snacks 😅😊😊

My husband and I went to Walt Disney World for our honeymoon in 1995. We stayed 7 nights at Wilderness Lodge and included park hopper tickets, and the Food and Fun card. Total cost of our entire vacation was $1600. At that time, the Food and Fun card included bicycles, watercraft, etc. The food portion included gratuities. The servers wanted to give you extra food so that their gratuity was based on your total bill. The more you eat, the more they made. It was amazing! I mean seriously.....$1600!

I have found if you tend to order the more expensive menu items and get alcohol with your meals the DDP is very worth it. Or if you do more of the expensive restaurants.

Yummy. Be there in 13 days. can't wait. ❤

Was literally for a video from you guys on this earlier today 😅

I thought I’d really need the DDP before I actually went to Disney for the first time. I’m not small and a big eater so I’d be sure I would order plenty of food on the trip. NOTHING prepared me for some of Disney’s portion sizes lol.

I'm headed to the parks in November and I am looking forward to eating. I am going to be with 3 growing boys also so they will be eating their monies worth I am sure. I love watching these videos. Love the DFBGuide channel.

Oh geez Tony, big hug. ❤❤❤❤❤

I've never had a DDP but I really want to eat everything, mostly in snack form 😂 I was interested in Akershus restaurant but 2 table service credits is RIDICULOUS 😮 I can get Norwegian food at IKEA 😂

I got the DDP for my trip in October 2024. I expect it to work for me. The last time I was at Disney, they had the Gold Key plan (yeah its been that long). I miss that. You could do EVERYTHING! Rent speed boats. Go to all the shows. Sit down meals every meal. We ate at the best restaurants for every meal. Do they still have those mini speed boats you could rent at the hotels?

If you have kids and go to a lot of one credit character dinning, totally worth it.

we loved disney dining plan and we have missed it. I like the not worrying and we always do sit down meals not quick service

I wish it was coming this month as I’m going there on the 27th June lol

Do you know if we can use quick service credits to transform then on snacks

Do you have a video going over like ride limits? Ie: like weight limits, how the ride seats are built ect.

I know people complain about breaking even and leftover credits, but neither of these are problems we have EVER had. Yes, I know every trick in the book, but it's still not hard. Even quick service, even with an 85 year old, a vegetarian, and a fussy nine year old (technically we had a couple of 'left over" credits, but hit the quick service, and got food for the car/train). Any time I have been without a dining plan, I'm always horrified by how fast the bills pile up, and anytime we track it, we're definitely doing well.

Are the day of check in and day of check out included in the plan? For example, if I am staying 5 nights, do I get credits for 6 days or just 5 days?

When will the guide be available. I just ordered it and the thank you page said May 31st? My trip is going to be in January.

So the table service credit comes with a drink and entrée or drink entree and dessert?

We always do the dining plan. Last trip in 2022 it was not available and it was a nightmare. The dining plan is worth it just to take the pressure off your back.

Can you get breakfast or lunch anywhere for a snack credit?

Can I add the DDP on if I’m renting DVC points?

Can you use a snack credit to get an alcoholic drink in Epcot?

If you are coming from the uk and you get Quick service DP free as part of your package, can you upgrade to regular DP?

Did someone know if i can use a quick service ddp with the online order? Thanksss

The price went up but they took a snack credit away. It use to be 2 snack credits per person per day

Maybe this was mentioned but I missed it…can you trade in any quick service meals for a character meal?

The dining plan only covers dessert. Can you use points for the main, dessert and the cocktail. But pay for starter and any extra sides in cash? I wouldn’t want to use snack credits for that. Can the extra items be paid for in cash like you do for tip?

I have so many eating restrictions (not allergies) that it’s not worth it for me. It’s hard enough to find anything I can eat - I have to get special customization, which is not possible at just any sit-down restaurant. Can’t eat at 50’s Prime Time Diner, but I can do buffets like Hollywood and Vine, and really expensive (but worth it!) places like Hollywood Brown Derby.

When my nephew was 9, we planned buffet meals for our dinners at WDW. That way he got all he could eat at dinner. The kid’s menu at other restaurants did not always include enough food for him. When I brought my 3 teens to Disney , we had no trouble getting our $ out of the DDP. My son, especially, could eat all day long, and eat more snacks that I had in the room when he returned from the park. If I am traveling without kids or teens, I save $ not having the DDP. Vacation Grocery Delivery brings me breakfast and snack items to my resort (I always order a small styrofoam cooler too), and I can order QS kids or adult meals or make a reservation for a sit down meal on a few of my vacation days. There is no way I could eat enough food to justify the DDP.

Just a quick one in the uk we are being offered the dining plan AND $36 per night dining credits for 2024. Are credits just a fancy name for the dining plan with the freedom of not limited to 2 meals and one snack?

From the Disney site “Guests ages 3 to 9 must order from a children’s menu, where available.” So kids can’t order an adult meal at QS anymore - darn!

The only thing that concerns me is gratuity. It’s not a thing in the Uk so the idea of not having to worry about money for character meals etc thrill me except for that part.

Going for my 21st soon so excited!!!

Need more info about how it can’t be combined with other offers. I’m not seeing it anywhere!

We hate the DDP. It will not save you any money. Disney would not offer it if it didn’t make them money. You are not getting food for less money. You just paid for it up front. It causes added stress when choosing meals because of the mental struggle between ordering the most expensive thing to get your money out of it versus ordering what you actually feel like eating. No appetizers is another negative. Sometimes I want an appetizer and no dessert. If you eat at signature restaurants which are two credits, you will run out of credits way before your trip is over. If you don’t use all your snack credits, you will lose them or be forced to buy snacks to take home. The only way it is worth it is when they offer free dining plan.

ok,.. but like, what restaurant had that delicious looking bone marrow that kept playing in the video??

I’m a bit annoyed about them taking away one of the snack credits at that price. I was willing to pay a bit extra for the service because I used my credits up and I like pre-paying for my vacations. I would double up my table service credits to do signature dining so I relied on those 2 snacks to have on the days I had no table service. I was fine to do one quick service and 2 snacks. Also, I would use a big chunk of my snack credits at the Epcot festival booths. I feel like using 2 credits on the better restaurants kind of leaves you short on the other days now.

I just want to make sure I understood a rule correctly. If I purchase the DDP, I cannot get a room discount? Or is it if I get the free DDP (if available) I cannot get a room discount on top of that.

What is that cupcake at 7:53??

Very excited for this to add to our trip in 2026

Last time I used the DDP, my 3 kids were considered children, so DDP was great, because they could eat adult quick service meal. We also had 2 snacks back then. When we went back, DDP was no more, so we cut alcohol during meal and ate more often at quick service. So, a lot less expensive. Next time, in 2025 (such a long wait…) my 3 kids will be considered adults (12-14-15), there’s no way we’re gonna pay that much for meals…

I did the math and it goes down in price per day the longer you stay. If you do a 3 night stay, it is $133 per person, per night. If you stay for 10 nights, it is $94 per person, per night. If you drink cocktails and eat the most expensive everything, you will break even with the $94 per night. Otherwise you will be giving away $30 per person, per night to Disney.

I been to Disney world 19 times since 2020 and never heard of the ddp but as an annual pass holder and not much of a foodie it’s not worth it for me as I only eat 1-2 meals a day and get full fast

I’m sad they changed it from 2 snacks to now 1 and their is no delectable one that could get you an appetizer or more snacks. With my husband I know we would use it

Disney needs to figure out a way for people using Military Salute tickets to add the DDP.

Any word on free dining coming back?

It’s too risky! Suppose your stomach feels a bit off during your trip and you don’t want to eat all that food? I have taken a lot of summer trips and don’t want to eat all that in the 100 degree heat.

You need a video on the dining promo cards that’s going on now and how it works.

I've already booked a room using DVC rental, does anyone know if I can still get the dining plan?

Where is this delicious breakfast from @16:43 !!??

My family and I only tried the dining plan once, when they used to offer it for free. We would not choose to pay for it as it is too much food, too pricey, and you cannot get the hotel discount with it.

We went pre-closure, a group of ten, we had the DDP, at the end we had 43 snack credits left over after they broke down the meals into snacks. We were scrambling before the bus picked us up for the airport, in the hotel gift shop getting gummies, mints, bagged snacks, and cramming them in our luggage so we didn’t waste them. It was actually stressful.

Do you think the dining plan is worth it if you have a gluten-free diet?

They need to bring back the OLD Gold Key plan.

I just put a deposit down for my trip for the fall of 2024 and I added the DDP to it. I just added the Quick Service plan to see if I will benefit from it. I'll be going alone and I don't necessarily need to eat at a fancy place by myself. I won't know if it will be worth it until I arrive there next year. I wish they would have had this back when I was planning my trip this year so when I arrive in September, maybe I'll be able to gauge it when I start buying meals. Thanks for the video, AJ. Always informative and I'm glad I found your page.

as soon as you said DDP cancels out room discounts, i was out

So no app now and they've cut the extra snack... 🙄

I love the dining plan and for us it’s good value for money. We know how to get the best out of it ( I think😂) But as I DVC member , I just feel there are no special deals for us. Here in Scotland we paid our annual dues during Covid and couldn’t even get into the country to use our points. 😢 I just feel Disney doesn’t show it’s loyal fans any love.

we need a dining plan in California please DISNEY

Just wish they had a no alcohol option :-?

So you can’t go and dine in without a finding plan

Nope. Tables in Wonderland (if it ever comes back) is the better deal, you eat WHAT you want, WHERE you want and only as MUCH as you want and save 20% on Food & Booze.

Might work for guys, not ladies ( my friend hubby ate twice as much as either of us

No thanks.

You’re paying for the convenience and then some… certainly not getting any value here.

What’s up with the y’all’s??

Such a ripoff. There is no way it is even remotely possible to justify giving these clowns your money.