Is the dining plan worth it?

[iftravel]

I’ve heard many people like it. I don’t know how to check the price and how to add it to my room reservation and what’s included. Disney just made it difficult. Thought I would ask the front desk when I check in but curious everyone’s experience. Thanks.

 

[AnnieBets]

It depends. Read this article:

2025 Disney Dining Plan Review, Info & Tips - Disney Tourist Blog

The 2025 Disney Dining Plan comes in tiers, with prices starting at $59 per night for adults and $25 for kids. This guide to Walt Disney World’s meal package covers costs, money saving tips, what’s included, our review of whether the DDP is worth it, and likelihood of Free Dining returning...

www.disneytouristblog.com

 

[nomoretslt]

If you’re a DVC member, your reservation will be on the DVC member website, click on My DVC in the drop down area on the right, click on my dashboard on the drop down menu. “My reservations” should show up Below your membership info regarding your home resort, Click on the reservation you want to add the dining plan to . There is a string of trip options below (do not touch “modify my reservation”). Click on “add dining plan” and it will show you your options and cost. You have to purchase for your length of stay and also for each person on the reservation. And at least 48 hours in advance. Read thru the info @AnnieBets posted.
We will usually stay in a studio our first day before moving to a one bedroom. We will sometimes purchase the quick service dining for that one day…we can use it the first day and until midnight the second day. We will each get a mug that is sold for $24 retail now, but you can get a 20% DVC discount is you purchase separately, 2 counter services each ((with alcoholic beverage where available) with entree only, no dessert. And one snack (which you can use at most kiosks at Epcot during festivals). Disney loses money on us because we hit the most $$ places. The mug can be used for 14 days. Since we have a full kitchen in the one bedroom, we actually use it and also the outdoor grills where available.
I personally don’t think it’s worth it any more, but can see the appeal if you have little ones. Park food is very expensive, but you can bring in your own food, just no alcohol. I think Mickey pretzels are over $7 now.
if You traded in, then I don’t know what the steps are, sorry.

 

[elaine]

Yes, must add at least 48 hours in advance. You can check menu pricing at allears.net.
I'm on the fence for a 4 night girls' trip. We'd have an adult beverage at lunch/dinner and so I'm thinking we might get it. We're planning Chefs De France, Kona Cafe, Ohana, Boma's. We will eat out anyway at a nice place every night. But, I would get 10% DVC discount. So, I think it might break even (at best)?

 

[iftravel]

Yeah I exchanged and I am checking in today and I don’t want to eat at Disney for the full 7 days. So guess I will skip it. But thank you all for your inputs.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I don't think it's worth what they charge, and I don't love the food at Disney. Some of it is good (okay) but so many choices outside of Disney, no reason to pay that much for it.

We like having a car, and sometimes the car rental cost is outrageous. For those times, we could take the bus to the resort and pay for our dining with the savings (and get groceries delivered by Walmart). We did that once, and it was fine. We ate breakfast in the room, lunch at the park, and back "home" for a light dinner in the room. That was one week. I think two weeks would get ridiculous with the expense of eating at the parks, but I am a cheapskate.

 

[Dean]

I don't think it's worth what they charge, and I don't love the food at Disney. Some of it is good (okay) but so many choices outside of Disney, no reason to pay that much for it.

We like having a car, and sometimes the car rental cost is outrageous. For those times, we could take the bus to the resort and pay for our dining with the savings (and get groceries delivered by Walmart). We did that once, and it was fine. We ate breakfast in the room, lunch at the park, and back "home" for a light dinner in the room. That was one week. I think two weeks would get ridiculous with the expense of eating at the parks, but I am a cheapskate.

It's definitely not worth it for all but a very limi9ted number of people with the current versions. Historically they've had much better options but even those were somewhat limited as far as the group that it made sense to purchase. If one wants to prepay, just get a Disney Gift card or prepay a CC. Basically it only makes sense if one is going to eat exactly the way the plans are laid out or for ultra short stays. Personally I want at least a 20% discount over what I would have ordered or what I truly wanted to order and that's extremely difficult to accomplish.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I’ve heard many people like it. I don’t know how to check the price and how to add it to my room reservation and what’s included. Disney just made it difficult. Thought I would ask the front desk when I check in but curious everyone’s experience. Thanks.

It is extraordinarily difficult to make the math work versus just paying cash.

 

[TolmiePeak]

If you have a DVC unit with a kitchen why would you eat all meals at restaurants?

 

[TheHolleys87]

If you have a DVC unit with a kitchen why would you eat all meals at restaurants?

Years of reading D.V.C. forums has convinced me that many owners think of their D.V.C. resort as a hotel, not a vacation home such as they’d have on the beach or in the woods. Statements such as “I don’t cook on vacation” and “I’m not about to do laundry” are very common. We like to have breakfast in our villa, and we love being able to pack light and do laundry, but not everyone thinks like us.

 

[Janann]

If you have a DVC unit with a kitchen why would you eat all meals at restaurants?

I'm generally in a theme park at lunch and dinner time. The kitchen is good for breakfast and late-night snacks.

 

[Dean]

We FAR prefer a 1 BR or larger due to space and emeniteis though we rarely eat full meals in the unit. About the only time I'll accept a studio is just for a place to sleep for 1 to 2 nights. For non DVC trips this is also the case though we tend to eat in slightly more for longer non DVC stays and even more still if we have a larger group than just the 2 of us. We just got back from a 2 week 2 island HI trip (MVC not DVC) and had a 1 BR both weeks. For the first week we had no large meals in eating out once a day with a light breakfast and leftovers, cheese/crackers or sandwiches for snacks. For the second week we grilled hot dots 2 nights and had baked potatoes one of those nights with all else either lighter options or eating out. For our larger HHI trip the reverse will be true as there is an economy of scale when you have 75 people. For that trip we'll likely only eat out lunch on arrival and lunch on departure. In addition there are often larger breakfasts, lots of grilling, etc. Plus we'll do 2 family meals, one with my side of the family and one with Kim's.

 

[AnnaS]

I have been tempted in the past once or twice but just could not see having all of our plans revolve around our meals. Too much food also. It has always been a mix of some QS and TS meals. Breakfast is usually in the room (if we are with the kids/grandchildren/might have one or two breakfast ADRs for the week). We might pick up a muffin/oatmeal in the shop also in addition to what we have in the room.

Over the years, we have had lunch here and there in the room also (Publix/leftovers). We did like TIW - 20% - sad to see it gone. Now I will just use the 10% DVC Discount. (DVC owner 25 years/have never purchased it).

I would consider it for a split or short stay (but never really had this opportunity).

 

[Dean]

I have been tempted in the past once or twice but just could not see having all of our plans revolve around our meals. Too much food also. It has always been a mix of some QS and TS meals. Breakfast is usually in the room (if we are with the kids/grandchildren/might have one or two breakfast ADRs for the week). We might pick up a muffin/oatmeal in the shop also in addition to what we have in the room.

Over the years, we have had lunch here and there in the room also (Publix/leftovers). We did like TIW - 20% - sad to see it gone. Now I will just use the 10% DVC Discount. (DVC owner 25 years/have never purchased it).

I would consider it for a split or short stay (but never really had this opportunity).

With the pre Covid plan where you got only table service credits we did really well. But we prefer sit-down meals and usually have a larger group with more than one units. Even before you could officially share credits, we would routinely ask where applicable and only remember being told no once and this was at a non Disney Restaurant. Currently with either plan it's extremely difficult to make the numbers work even if the plan fits perfectly otherwise even if one routinely choses the most expensive options that are applicable. IF the drink option adds value and it's a 1 or 2 night stay, that's about the only situation where it makes sense to me at present. Truthfully I'm not very impressed when someone wants to pay more for the "convenience", there are other ways to lock in costs that make far more sense if that's the goal.

 

[nomoretslt]

@Dean a Disney gift card is a great idea…and then combine DVC or AP discount at a table service restaurant. Did you say 75 people for a family trip? Wow.
@AnnaS we really liked the TIW card too. We really miss Party for the Senses during Food and Wine and the regional lunches. Guess they will not ever return.

 

[Dean]

@Dean a Disney gift card is a great idea…and then combine DVC or AP discount at a table service restaurant. Did you say 75 people for a family trip? Wow.
@AnnaS we really liked the TIW card too. We really miss Party for the Senses during Food and Wine and the regional lunches. Guess they will not ever return.

We routinely do a family trip usually around the 4th of July and almost always to HHI staying at Marriott's Grande Ocean resort. Last year we had 74, the year before 85 which was our highest total. I cover the accommodations, it's my way of giving back and getting people together that would never do so otherwise. It's both mine and Kim's side with my side being slightly larger. We do a family meal which was always at a restaurant until Covid but with the group growing modestly larger, we've decided that eating in is best. Now we actually do a family meal for each side. My side uses the community lounge at the resort and Kim's uses one of the units and treats it like a Bistro adding tables in the units, on the balcony and in the hallway. Both options work well for their respective situations. All I ask otherwise is no drama and a group photo. Here's last years group photo.

 

[AnnaS]

We routinely do a family trip usually around the 4th of July and almost always to HHI staying at Marriott's Grande Ocean resort. Last year we had 74, the year before 85 which was our highest total. I cover the accommodations, it's my way of giving back and getting people together that would never do so otherwise. It's both mine and Kim's side with my side being slightly larger. We do a family meal which was always at a restaurant until Covid but with the group growing modestly larger, we've decided that eating in is best. Now we actually do a family meal for each side. My side uses the community lounge at the resort and Kim's uses one of the units and treats it like a Bistro adding tables in the units, on the balcony and in the hallway. Both options work well for their respective situations. All I ask otherwise is no drama and a group photo. Here's last years group photo.View attachment 107762

This is awesome - family union/reunion!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you have a DVC unit with a kitchen why would you eat all meals at restaurants?

Because you are on vacation for the purpose of eating out. I cook/bake lots of things at home. But we go to Disney to dine at our favorite places. We might only have snacks in the villa or maybe one "find something to eat in the villa and hit up the little store or counter service" meal.

 

[elaine]

For April girls’ trip, we decided to skip DDP and saved likely $100+ for 4 days. We ate cereal, toast, food bars in room with coffee for breakfast (same as we’d do at home), counter service lunch, wine/snacks in room around 5, and then a nice dinner. We usually do not get desserts at lunch/dinner.
We ate when/where we wanted. Our only meal that was “worth it” for DDP was Boma’s. And, as we didn’t need to eat at Disney restaurants, we ate at Todd English Blu Zoo one night, which was excellent.
For big eaters who are in parks all day, I could see it being a better value.

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

FYI, if you reserve a hotel @ Disney World, then add a Disney Dining Plan, kids age 3-9 eat free. On Reddit, people confirmed that DVC stays can have the DDP added!

TS

 

[TheHolleys87]

FYI, if you reserve a hotel @ Disney World, then add a Disney Dining Plan, kids age 3-9 eat free. On Reddit, people confirmed that DVC stays can have the DDP added!

TS

NB: That's for arrivals in 2026, not this year.

 

[Baldwin]

We just joined DVC last month after staying in a Kidani 1BR unit for the first time. We need 2 bathrooms now. We always buy the DDP. That will change now because we will have a kitchen and because the girls eat mainly kids food (mac and cheese, fries, mashed potatoes, etc). That was fine when we paid the kids price but none of them is a kid anymore. I really like the DDP but it is really hard to justify it.

 

[nomoretslt]

We just joined DVC last month after staying in a Kidani 1BR unit for the first time. We need 2 bathrooms now. We always buy the DDP. That will change now because we will have a kitchen and because the girls eat mainly kids food (mac and cheese, fries, mashed potatoes, etc). That was fine when we paid the kids price but none of them is a kid anymore. I really like the DDP but it is really hard to justify it.

Congrats on joining DVC. I see you bought at the Polynesian. Do their new one bedrooms in the towers have 2 full baths? I haven’t really been paying attention. We love BLT one bedrooms….they are like Kidani with two full baths, but easy to get to MK and Epcot. I’ll never understand why they did not go with 2 full baths at the Riviera one bedrooms. Still love it there though.
We only get the counter service DDP when we are staying in a studio for one night before switching to a one bedroom (2 of us). It’s worth it for the snacks at Epcot during festivals and Regal Eagle. But we are even rethinking this…..we are getting older and changing rooms is tiring. We mostly did it to save points…but we now have plenty.
Enjoy your membership!

 

[weems637]

Here is our "go to" when in Orlando. The Landry Select Dining Club is $25 to join, but you get a $25 dining credit to use on your first visit. The best benefit is first priority seating. Once, at the Animal Kingdom for lunch, we walked up to the Yak & Yeti, they said it would be an hour wait. They asked usif we were members of the Dining Club? Yes!, We were seated within 4 minutes! Also, you accumulate dining credits with each dollar spent. There are over 60 restautants nation wide! (note: I do not receive any compensation for this recommendation)

 

[Dean]

Several options in the area under Landry's. T-Rex and Rainforest are the other 2 on Disney that come to mind but there are quite a few in the immediate area such as Landry's Seafood and Salgrass plus several others in the Orlando area. Even though you'll see Boathouse on the Landry's list this is not applicable to the one at Disney Springs which I don't think is the same company.