Disney Dining Plan
Basic Option

The Magic Your Way Basic Disney Dining Plan offers an easy and affordable way to enjoy snacks and meals at over 100 selected restaurants throughout the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Character Dining, Dinner Shows, and Signature Dining are all included in the Dining Plan.

From extremely elegant to cool and casual, I’m sure you’ll find a great meal that fits your style and schedule. See the Magic Your Way Dining Plan Brochure (pdf file) for complete details.

Purchasing the Disney Dining Plan allows you to have an almost all-inclusive Disney vacation. I say almost because the gratuity is no longer included in the dining plan price. Still, having all of your meals paid for in advance makes for wonderful and stress-free dining experiences.

You must purchase a Disney World Vacation Package to be able to add the Dining Plan.

A side note about gratuities. An 18% gratuity is automatically added for parties of 6 or more. A gratuity may also be added automatically for any items that you order that are not included on the dining plan – like alcoholic beverages.

Other items that are not included in the dining plan are some bottled drinks, in-room mini-bars, souvenir or refillable mugs, snacks and drinks from rental counters, glow cubes, and any special photos received during a meal.

The Disney Dining Plan includes:

• one (1) Quick Service Meal (think counter service)
  
• one (1) Table Service Meal
  
• and one(1) snack
  

All of the above is per person, per night of your package stay for everyone in the party over the age of 3. Guests under the age of 3 may share from an adult plate at no extra charge or they may simply purchase a meal from the menu.

NOTE: Children ages 3-9 must order from the children’s menu when there is one.

So in other words, a guest staying for 5 nights would be entitled to 5 counter services meals, 5 table service meals, and 5 snacks, all to be used however he wishes throughout the length of his stay. A family of 4 (all over age 3), would receive a total of 20 counters, 20 tables, and 20 snacks for a 5 night stay.

You can use your meals and snacks in any order you wish whenever you want throughout your stay up until midnight on the day you check out. To redeem a credit, you simply “pay” with your Key to the World Card (your room key). All credits are tracked automatically for you and you will receive a receipt showing the remaining credit balance at each transaction.

So the family of four in the example above can use 2 counters for breakfast, 2 counters for lunch, 4 tables for dinner, and 4 snacks on one particular day. Or maybe only 3 counters, 2 snacks, and 4 tables. Or 7 counters, 2 snacks and 0 tables!

You can continue using snack and meal credits in any combination or order you want for the rest of your package stay until each person has depleted his or her allotted meal and snack credits.

The Disney Dining Plan is accepted at over 100 selected Quick Service and Table Service locations throughout Disney World, including Character Meal locations.

You can also use the plan at a multitude of snack locations. Most Quick Service restaurants, outdoor food carts, and locations selling ice-cream novelties, popcorn, or drinks will accept the dining plan.

You can use the dining plan for Character and Signature Dining. Character Meals will “cost” you one table service credit. Except for Cinderella’s Royal Table, which requires the use of 2 table service credits for each person.

Signature Dining meals and Category 2 or 3 at the Dinner Shows also require 2 table service credits for each person in your party.

You can also use the dining plan for In-Room Dining or Pizza Delivery at your Resort. Two table service meal credits will be redeemed for each Private In-Room meal ordered. Likewise, two adult table service credits have to be used for the Pizza Delivery option.

This is just my humble opinion, but I don’t think it is a wise use of credits to utilize the Pizza Delivery. But, many people do it and are happy with it!

I suggest that you thoroughly plan out the usage of all of your meal and snack credits. Any credits remaining on your account at midnight on the day of checkout are lost and no refunds are given.

If for some reason you end up with extra counter service credits, consider getting a meal “to go”. Grab a meal for the car or plane trip home.

Also, stop your food court on your way out to use any remaining snack credits. The first time my family used the Disney Dining Plan we came home with 17 Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispie treats!!

You can click here for the official 2008 Disney Magic Your Way Dining Plan Brochure.

More Info:

Advanced Dining Reservations
Dining Plan - Deluxe Option
Dining Plan - Wine and Dine Add-on Option
Using Snack Credits