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Maximize Your Disney Dining Plan

Adding the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) to your vacation package is like having an all-inclusive, foodie adventure at Walt Disney World! It lets you pre-pay for meals, so you can simply enjoy your trip without worrying about out-of-pocket costs. Want to get the most bang for your buck out of the DDP? Here are some insider tips to make the most of your dining plan!

'Ohana Breakfast

1. Babies & Toddlers Aren’t Included- On the Dining Plan, little ones under 3 don’t get their own dining plan credits. At non-buffet restaurants, you’ll need to order a separate meal (which isn’t covered) or let them share from your plate. Bring your own snacks and small meals to supplement them, like food packets, or purchase their favorite side, like macaroni and cheese, or fruit. I like to order a side dish, and then share bits from our plates. 

Caribbean Beach Resort 

2. Dine Beyond the Parks - There are SO many restaurants to explore beyond the parks! Some of the best table-service meals are at Disney Resort hotels, which you can easily access via Monorail, Skyliner, or boat. The Boardwalk Inn, Yacht Club and Beach Club are located right outside Epcot's World Showcase. Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Contemporary, and The Polynesian Village Resort have great options. Disney Springs is also a foodie paradise, with tons of restaurants that accept the dining plan.

3. There Are 2 Types of Dining Plans 
  • Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan – 2 quick-service meals + 1 snack per night
  • Disney Dining Plan – 1 quick-service + 1 table-service (including most character meals) + 1 snack per night.
Topolinos Terrace 

4. Refillable Mugs - Every guest on the DDP gets a refillable resort mug for unlimited soda, coffee, and tea refills at your Disney resort! I don't recommend carrying them with you to the parks. 

5. Use Your Snack Credits Wisely – Don’t waste snack credits on bottled water or small treats! Instead, get large, sharable bakery treats and filling items like pretzels with cheese, or funnel cakes. My favorite treats are the funnel cake and fruit waffles over at Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom or the Croque Glacé at Epcot in France.

6. Choose the Most Expensive Items РAt table-service restaurants, order the priciest entr̩e to get the best value from your credit. Signature dishes, steak, and seafood options are great picks. Be sure to ask the server if anything on the menu is not available on the Dining Plan. You don't want any surprises.

Whispering Canyon 

7. Share Meals to Stretch Credits – Quick-service portions are large! Consider splitting meals and using the extra credits for another day! A breakfast bounty platter from your resort, a flatbread pizza from Pinnochios Village Haus, or a large burger from Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe are definitely shareable. 

8. Character Dining – Using a table-service credit for a character meal (especially a dinner!) is one of the best ways to get the most for your money, as these meals are typically pricey when paid out of pocket. Some character meals cost 2 DDP credits per person (see #9). Ask your Kingdom Konsultant Agent if you have any dining credit questions. 

9. Avoid 2-Credit Meals -Unless You Really Want Them – Some fine dining and dinner shows are deemed Signature Dining, and require 2 table-service credits per person, such as Cinderella's Royal Table. If you’re trying to stretch your credits, these aren’t always the best use of the plan. Then again, if there's a restaurant that you would never pay out of pocket for because it's too expensive, 2 DDP credits may be worth it to you!

10. Beat the Mealtime Madness- Skip the long lines at quick service spots by eating at off-peak times. Lunch at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m.? Yes, please! Attraction wait times also tend to drop during peak meal hours, parades, and fireworks—perfect for squeezing in an extra ride or two. It's easier to find table service reservations at off-peak times too! You'll find that availability for dinner is more open at 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. than the tines in between.

11. Special Diet? No Problem!  Disney is AMAZING when it comes to accommodating dietary needs. Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or have food allergies, just let your server know. At some locations, the chef will even come out to discuss options with you personally! You can mark these needs on your reservation when booking as well. If your Kingdom Konsultant Agent is booking your dining for you, be sure to let them know.

Space 220 

12. Hard-to-Get Reservations? Don’t Give Up! Popular restaurants book up fast, so snag those reservations as soon as they open (60 days in advance at 6 a.m. EST). If you miss out, don’t worry—keep checking the app, as spots open up all the time. Same-day cancellations happen, too! There are websites that you can use for dining alerts as well. 

💫Pro tip: Use the Join the Walk-Up List feature on the My Disney Experience app for last-minute availability. Have your Kingdom Konsultant book your dining for you, and sleep in! 

13. Epcot’s Festivals: A Must-Do!  If you love trying new flavors from around the world, plan your visit around Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival, Festival of the Arts, or Flower & Garden Festival... it’s a foodie dream with booths from around the world, small plates, drinks, and culinary experiences that are perfect for snack credits.

'Ohana

14. Check Your DDP Credit Balance! On the My Disney Experience mobile app, go to My Plans and then click on Disney Resort Hotel information. On that screen, you will see a button called Check Dining Plan. When it loads, you will find details of your remaining available Table Service, Quick Service, and Snack entitlements. Another option you have is to ask your server at any dining location to check your plan balance for you. They will be able to scan your MagicBand+ to pull up your information. You could also look at the bottom of any dining receipt to find your balance. 

Want to add the Disney Dining Plan to your next trip? Have more questions? Just ask your Kingdom Konsultant agent—we’re happy to help make your Disney dining experience as magical as possible!


Summer Squires is a Mom of 4 who loves helping other parents plan memorable and stress-free family Disney vacations! You can email Summer at summer@kingdomkonsultant.com.

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Location: Orlando, FL, USA

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