Why I Love the Dining Plan at Disney World
The dining plan is a controversial topic with many Disney-goers. Some people love it and some people hate it. I absolutely love it! If you are new to all things Disney, let me explain just exactly what the dining plan is. You have to book a Magic Your Way Vacation Package in order to qualify for the dining plan. There are three dining options: Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, Disney Dining Plan and Disney Deluxe Dining Plan. The Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan consists of two Quick-Service meals and two snacks per night. The Disney Dining Plan includes one Quick-Service meal, one Table Service meal and two snacks per night. The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan includes three meals that can be Quick-Service or Table-Service and two snacks per night. This number is based on the number of nights in your stay. Which dining option you choose depends of your preferences. Now, let’s look at why I love the dining plan so much!
You can take a break from cooking
One thing I love about taking a Disney vacation is I don’t have to cook all week. There are plenty of people who are content with buying groceries and cooking while on vacation. Not me! If I have to cook for my family, it isn’t really a vacation. Thanks to the dining plan, I don’t have to buy groceries, plan out meals, cook dinner or clean up afterwards. That is the definition of vacation to me. Take a break from all that cooking and let Disney do the work for you!
You can enjoy an adult beverage
I am not a big drinker, but I enjoy having an adult beverage or two while I’m on vacation. On our last trip to Disney, alcohol was not included with the dining plan yet. This is an additional amount that my husband and I paid out of pocket for each drink. Now, one alcoholic beverage is included during lunch or dinner with the dining plan. I typically only have a drink with my meal, so that’s money we will not have to pay out of pocket. If you’re like me, now you can enjoy your Piña CoLAVA or Rum Runner without paying anything extra.
You don’t have to budget
I normally try to stay on a set budget while we are on vacation. Each time we go to a restaurant, I look at the price for what I’m going to eat. If I’m torn between two meals, I will usually go with the cheaper option to save us money. I love that I don’t have to do that with the dining plan. The entire time we are at Disney, I just order what I want to eat without worrying about the cost. I’m the “planner” in our family, so the dining plan allows me to take a break from all the planning.
You can get the most expensive meal
Like I said before, I will typically choose the least expensive item on the menu to save us money. The dining plan allows me to splurge without feeling bad about it. To be honest, when we go to Disney I choose the most expensive meal on the menu every time. I can do this without feeling guilty because it’s already been paid for. I have been able to eat delicious food that I wouldn’t have tried otherwise due to the price. If you want to eat a New York strip steak at the Coral Reef Restaurant or the Taste of the Islands at Rainforest Cafe, you can without feeling guilty.
You can save money
I did quite a bit of research before I originally decided to go with the dining plan. I wasn’t quite sure if it would be beneficial for my family to use it. I actually created an Excel spreadsheet to calculate how much my family would spend out of pocket without the dining plan. I checked the menus and entered the exact amount of every meal and snack we chose on our last trip. For my family, we saved money by using the dining plan. I know this is not the case for everyone. It really depends on the size of your family, how much everyone eats and where you would like to eat.
These are just a few reasons why I love the dining plan and I hope you will too! Have a question about whether or not the dining plan would be a good fit for your family? I would be happy to answer any questions you have!
Deidra Calvert
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner- Platinum Level
MickeyTravels, LLC
1-270-792-5613 (cell)
deidra@mickeytravels.com
mickeytravels.com
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