Dining plan for 2024

We have anxiously awaited the return of the dining plan and now the date is set and the details are released for January 9, 2024.  It is time to look at who should and should not choose the dining plan.  

Before we delve too far into this, let's explain the difference between a quick service and a table service meal.  Quick Service won't require reservations.  You will walk up to a restaurant or kiosk and order from a sign board or menu.  Typical QS meals would be a chicken fingers basket, sandwich with fries, personal pizza with a small salad, or similar.  Think of it like a fast-food restaurant.  

Table service meals are sit down meals where you have a server who comes to your table or it's a buffet.  They DO require reservations.  All character meals are table service although a few require two TS credits per person.  If you purchase the Disney Dining plan with table service meals, we will can assist you with making those reservations.  Now, back to what we think!

While this is similar to the previous Dining plans of three years ago, one big change is the increase in cost of the adult Dining plan. The quick service plan for adults only increased a few dollars and the children´s plan for both quick service and standard dining plan are slightly less than before.

The Disney Dining plan is now $94.28 for adults (10 and up) and $29.69 for those 3-9 years old. The Quick Service plan is now $57.01 per adult  and $23.83 per child.

While I love Disney and sell Disney, I am also a mom of 7 and we vacation a lot. This means making sure to do things on a budget when possible. This new standard dining plan is pretty pricey depending on your length of stay and plans while traveling.

Benefits of the standard dining plan:

• Convenience reigns supreme, it is nice to pretend your trip is free once you arrive on property. Sure you paid a TON for your meals but once you get there and you are going to character and specialty meals and enjoying specialty smoothies, a beer or cocktail as well as a dessert at every table service you can live like a queen and put the price out of your mind!
• When paying for teens or young adults you can´t beat the convenience of teaching them how to use the plan and allowing them some freedom to learn how to budget their meals.
• You can plan the cost of your trip in advance and only spend money on gratuities while on property.

Cons:

• Well, it is expensive. Unfortunately, eating on Disney property without the plan will be pretty expensive as well.
• I find myself overindulging at times to take full advantage of my dining plan. 
• You really need to plan to have a table service meal each day on the standard dining plan to make it a reasonable cost.

Is the dining plan worth the cost?

It really comes down to how your family eats. Are they going to order a steak, enjoy a dessert and order a specialty smoothy, mocktail or cocktail? Then you will be able to break even without worrying about costs throughout the week. But if you are used to splitting meals, prefer to keep moving and not stop to sit down, don´t care for alcohol and won´t do a lot of character meals this might not be a savings.

Typical day that the dining plan works:

Magic Kingdom:

Quick Service at Columbia Harbor House with a Trio Platter for $14.29 or a lobster roll for $16.29 with a lemon slushy for $5.99

Snack: PIneapple Dole Whip float for $6.99 

Dinner at Ohana: $59 including dessert and a cocktail $14.50-16.50

Total is about $102.50 (savings of about $10 plus the resort refillable mug that will be used throughout the stay)

Child:

Ohana alone is $38+$5.50-6.50 for a specialty drink is $43-45 for this meal alone.

snack: dole whip $6.99 (because you have to train them in the way of the whip early)

lunch at Columbia Harbor House: kids meal $8.50

Total is about $59 savings of $30

If you are traveling with kids 3-9 the dining plan is likely worth it. If you are traveling with kids, plan specialty meals/character meals and will drink alcohol the plan will be a savings!

For more tips and fun, follow us @instagram disney.dillon or Facebook   and feel free to email for a quote dillontravels@gmail.com Remember we are paid by our vendors like Disney, Sandals, Virgin Voyages, Palace Resorts, and Royal Caribbean (and many more) so our services are 100% free to you!

Sci Fi dining with Fantasmic priority seating