Disney World Dining Plans 2024 – Worth It? What We Know So Far

Walt Disney World dining plans are options you can add to a Disney World vacation package to essentially prepay for your dining before you arrive. In this guide, we break down the difference between each of the Walt Disney World dining plans to help you decide if they are the right choice for your group. For some families, a dining plan is a great way to save some money.

The Walt Disney World dining plan will be returning in 2024! You can read more about this exciting news in our coverage of the announcement and below in my breakdown of what differences we may expect, pricing, and more below!

The below tips are updated based on what we know so far on the Walt Disney World Dining Plan in 2024.

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To get a really good idea if purchasing a dining plan is right for you, you first need to figure out how often your group plans on eating in the parks. If you're going to rely entirely on Disney food then a dining plan might be a good option. If you're planning on packing in your own lunches and snacks, then a dining plan might not be the most feasible idea. Using our guide to help you navigate your way will help you save money and figure out what is the most cost efficient option for your group.

Walt Disney World Dining Plan Changes 2024

Guests staying in Disney Resort hotels at Walt Disney World purchasing vacation packages now have the option of purchasing a dining plan. The dining plan has been unavailable since the parks reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020 as Disney moved to return operations to normal. You can read more about why these dining plans were suspended and our commentary in our article speculating about when dining plans would return.

The only two dining plans that have returned, at least as of now, are:

• Disney Quick Service Dining Plan
• Disney Dining Plan

The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan and Disney Dining Plan Plus were not announced as returning but they may return at a later date.

Dining Plan Changes

Now that we have the new pricing for 2024 we can compare the change in pricing from 2020 plans.

Quick Service Dining Plan Price

Adult, per night

• $57
  • Previous pricing from 2020 was $55

Child, per night (Ages 3-9)

• $23.83
  • Previous pricing from 2020 was $26

Disney Dining Plan

Adult, per night

• $94.28
  • Previous pricing from 2020 was $78

Child, per night (Ages 3-9)

• $29.69
  • Previous pricing from 2020 was $30.51

The only main price difference to comment on is the increase in the adult price for the Disney Dining Plan which was raised from $78 to $94.28. But it is a positive to see that across the board the prices remained the same otherwise, especially for the Quick Service Dining Plan. Keep in mind we would have seen slow yearly price increases with these dining plans anyways but the jump from $78 to $94 for the Disney Dining Plan is significant. Disney did take an even approach with this price increase though since it just largely impacts the Disney Dining Plan. The cost of an adult for the Quick Service Dining Plan only went up by $2 which is less than many were expecting.

Another change that's noteworthy in the description of the dining plans is the elimination of one snack option per person. Previously, both these dining plans allowed for two snacks per person, and now the website only lists one snack as an option. Aside from that change, the options for both plans remain the same. The Disney Quick Service Dining Plan includes two quick service meals, one snack, and one refillable mug per person, per day. The Disney Dining Plan includes one quick service meal, one table service meal, one snack, and one refillable mug per person, per day. It is likely the mechanics of both plans will largely stay the same in terms of which restaurants are included, how to redeem, etc.

The other change we've noticed is that Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (lunch and dinner) and Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White now require 2 table service credits. Previously, the only character dining experience to require 2 table service credits was Cinderella's Royal Table. Considering the price increase of the Disney Dining Plan per adult, this is also another way to add to that price increase by using more credits for popular experiences like these.

However, this is also not as large of an increase as many were expecting and it is a positive sign to see the pricing remain close to the same for the Quick Service Plan which was always a popular choice for families.

Other than these small changes, the dining plans operate exactly the same as they did before.

Walt Disney World Dining Plans Basics

The Walt Disney World dining plans can be confusing for first-time guests. We broke down the basics of these plans to help you navigate how to get them and how to use them.

Basically, buying one of the Walt Disney World dining plans is buying all of your meals and snacks in the park in advance. Sometimes this can help you save money as Disney gives you a deal by purchasing in advance rather than paying as you go in the parks. For families that intend to rely completely on eating in the parks, a dining plan can be a good choice. But it's not too often you will come out on top of saving money using this option unless it's included with a Walt Disney World package discount. You can read our thoughts on the best Disney World discounts here.

There are many stories guests share of having to use up all their snack credits on their way out the door on the last day of the park so these plans are truly for guests that plan on eating nearly all their meals in the theme parks, hotels, or Disney Springs. This is also why these dining plans are great incentives for Disney to offer, this guarantees their guests are prioritizing eating on-site. I hope we will see the return of the free dining plan offered with a hotel stay next year, this was a common option offered in the slower September months at Disney World.

How To Get A Walt Disney World Dining Plan

In order to be eligible to purchase a dining plan you need to be staying at one of the Walt Disney World resort hotels.

When you book a Walt Disney World vacation package, you can select a package option that bundles your dining plan into your hotel and ticket cost. Sometimes Walt Disney World will do deals on these packages so it's worth keeping an eye out for these.

If you have an existing Walt Disney World hotel reservation, you can upgrade to a package that includes one of the dining plans. So if you decide to add a dining plan later, you have the ability to modify your reservation to do so.

How to Use the Walt Disney World Dining Plans

The Walt Disney World dining plans are quite simple to use. All you need to do is use your Magic Band at dining locations to redeem meals and snacks. That's it, it's pretty easy!

The tricky part is keeping track of how many meals and snacks you've redeemed. Luckily, there are three ways you can keep track of your dining plan purchases:

• Use the My Disney Experience app
• Check your most recent dining receipt
• Visit the Resort Concierge or Guest Relations and ask about your remaining entitlements

Using any of these options will help you easily keep track of your dining in the parks. Make sure you redeem ALL your meal and snacks- after all, you paid for it! If you purchased the child option for your kids then they HAVE to order off the kids menu so keep that in mind.

Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan

Disney's Quick-Service Dining Plan is the cheapest of the Walt Disney World dining plans. Quick-Service refers to any type of food options that you pick up yourselves.

We now have the pricing for the 2024 Disney World dining package plans:

Adult, per night

• $57
  • Previous pricing from 2020 was $55

Child, per night (Ages 3-9)

• $23.83
  • Previous pricing from 2020 was $26

Children under the age of 3 are allowed to eat of your plate.

Here is what is included per person: 

• 2 Quick-Service Meals (each meal includes a beverage)
• 1 Snack
• 1 refillable mug

Note: children will HAVE to purchase their meals from the kids menu if you paid the child price for the dining plan.

Here are some examples of what qualifies as a snack under this plan: 

At Quick-Service restaurants, most Outdoor Carts and select merchandise locations, snacks may include a single serving of items such as:

• Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
• Popcorn scoop
• 12 oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea
• Prepackaged milk or juice
• Piece of whole fruit
• Bag of snacks
• 20 oz. bottle of Coca-Cola®, Sprite® or Dasani® water
• 20 oz. fountain soft drink

Items that don't qualify are anything that comes in a souvenir container and items that are not considered a single serving.

Disney Dining Plan

The Disney Dining Plan is the mid-range option for the Walt Disney World dining plans. It offers the options of both quick service and table service.

We now have the pricing for the 2024 Disney World dining package plans:

Adult, per night

• $94.28
  • Previous pricing from 2020 was $78

Child, per night (Ages 3-9)

• $29.69
  • Previous pricing from 2020 was $30.51

Children under the age of 3 are allowed to eat of your plate.

Here is what is included per person: 

• 1 Quick-Service Meal (includes beverage)
• 1 Table-Service Meal (includes beverage)
• 1 Snack
• 1 refillable mug

Note: children will HAVE to purchase their meals from the kids menu if you paid the child price for the dining plan.

Table Service Options

What's great about this plan is the flexibility and available options you have for redeeming your table service meals. Along with regular table service restaurants, you can also use your table service meals for:

• Character Dining (2 Table-Service meals will be redeemed per person for Cinderella’s Royal Table, Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall & Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White)
• Be Our Guest Restaurant requires 2 Table-Service meals to be exchanged for a single dining experience.
• Signature Dining Restaurants (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Also includes dessert!)
• Dinner Shows (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Advance reservations required)
• Private in-room dining (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Dessert and gratuities are included.)
• Pizza delivery. (2 Adult Table-Service meals per person for this option. Includes pizza entree item, two beverages, and two desserts)

Here are some examples of what qualifies as a snack under this plan: 

At Quick-Service restaurants, most Outdoor Carts and select merchandise locations, snacks may include a single serving of items such as:

• Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
• 2 scoops of hand-scooped ice cream
• Popcorn scoop (single-serving box)
• Piece of whole fruit
• Single-serve bag of snacks
• 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola® products, including Dasani® water
• 20-ounce fountain soft drink
• Single-serve coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, milk or juice
• Cup of soup
• Add on toppings or sauces (e.g. side of cheese dipping sauce)

Items that don't qualify are anything that comes in a souvenir container and items that are not considered a single serving.

Is A Dining Plan Worth It?

This is really going to depend on a few different factors such as: how many days you will be staying in the parks, if you plan on packing your own food, and how many family members you have.

Unfortunately, it is common for people on the last day of their trip to be scrambling around the parks trying to redeem all of their leftover snack and meal options on their dining plans.

Here are some steps you can take to decide if a dining plan is a good choice for your group and if so, which one to pick:

1. Make note of how many days you will be in the parks and if you plan on bringing your own snacks or meals inside.
2. Does your hotel include free breakfast? If so, that would make the third option (The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan) a good one to eliminate. Why pay extra for breakfast at the parks if you can eat it at your hotel for free?
3. Consider how much your children eat. Do you think they will realistically eat everything included in the dining plan? You could always purchase the plan for the adults and buy the kid food as you go.
4. Check out the list of restaurants for each park. See which ones are musts for your family. Then factor in the cost. In some cases, you'll end up paying more for a dining plan depending on where you eat. But if you have your eye on the higher end table service places, then a dining plan would be a good choice. See our guide to Disney World food costs for everything you need to know.
5. In addition to researching restaurants, make sure that reservations are available! If you're doing this last minute, you might want to rethink a dining plan until you check to see if your top choice options are even available to eat at. You can make reservations up to 180 days in advance by calling  (407) 939-3463.
6. Keep in mind that there are cheap food options at Walt Disney World.

Overall, a dining plan has potential to be a money saver at Walt Disney World. We advise following the steps above and doing the math to see if it's a good choice for your group. Don't just purchase a dining plan without doing the research- this could end up costing you more in the long run!

Disney Dining Plan Plus

This plan has not been announced as returning for 2024.

Disney's Dining Plan Plus is the newest dining plan offered at Walt Disney World that gives guests more choices when selecting their daily eating options. You can check the Walt Disney World website to see what options are available. The prices here are estimates based on the most recent pricing information from Walt Disney World.

Adult, per night

• $94.60

Child, per night (Ages 3-9)

• $35

Children under the age of 3 are allowed to eat of your plate.

Here is what is included per person: 

• 2 Quick-Service OR Table Service Meals (each meal includes a beverage)
• 2 Snacks
• 1 refillable mug

Note: children will HAVE to purchase their meals from the kids menu if you paid the child price for the dining plan.

Table Service Options

What's great about this plan is the flexibility and available options you have for redeeming your meals. Along with regular table service restaurants you can also use your table service meals for:

• Character Dining (Cinderella's Royal Table requires 2 Table-Service meals will be redeemed per person)
• Signature Dining Restaurants (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Also includes dessert!)
• Dinner Shows (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Advance reservations required)
• Private in-room dining (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Dessert and gratuities are included.)
• Pizza delivery. (2 Adult Table-Service meals per person for this option. Includes pizza entree item, two beverages, and two desserts)

Here are some examples of what qualifies as a snack under this plan: 

At Quick-Service restaurants, most Outdoor Carts and select merchandise locations, snacks may include a single serving of items such as:

• Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
• Popcorn scoop
• 12 oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea
• Prepackaged milk or juice
• Piece of whole fruit
• Bag of snacks
• 20 oz. bottle of Coca-Cola®, Sprite® or Dasani® water
• 20 oz. fountain soft drink

Items that don't qualify are anything that comes in a souvenir container and items that are not considered a single serving.

Disney Deluxe Dining Plan

This plan has not been announced as returning for 2024.

The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan is the premium option for the Walt Disney World dining plans. It offers the options of both quick service and table service. The prices here are estimates based on the most recent pricing information from Walt Disney World.

Adult, per night

• $119

Child, per night (Ages 3-9)

• $47.50

Children under the age of 3 are allowed to eat of your plate.

Here is what is included per person: 

• 3 meals (any combination of quick-service or table service with beverages included)
• 2 Snacks
• 1 refillable mug

Note: children will HAVE to purchase their meals from the kids menu if you paid the child price for the dining plan.

Breakfast Options for Table Service per person

• 1 Entrée
• 1 Non-alcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

OR

• 1 Full Buffet or Family-Style Meal

Lunch and Dinner Options for Table Service per person

• 1 Appetizer
• 1 Entrée
• 1 Dessert
• 1 Non-alcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

OR

• 1 Full Buffet or Family-Style Meal

Table Service Options

What's great about this plan is the flexibility and available options you have for redeeming your table service meals. Along with regular table service restaurants you can also use your table service meals for:

• Character Dining (Cinderella's Royal Table requires 2 Table-Service meals will be redeemed per person)
• Signature Dining Restaurants (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Also includes dessert!)
• Dinner Shows (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Advance reservations required)
• Private in-room dining (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Dessert and gratuities are included.)
• Pizza delivery. (2 Adult Table-Service meals per person for this option. Includes pizza entree item, two beverages, and two desserts)

Here are some examples of what qualifies as a snack under this plan: 

At Quick-Service restaurants, most Outdoor Carts and select merchandise locations, snacks may include a single serving of items such as:

• Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
• Popcorn scoop
• 12 oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea
• Prepackaged milk or juice
• Piece of whole fruit
• Bag of snacks
• 20 oz. bottle of Coca-Cola®, Sprite® or Dasani® water
• 20 oz. fountain soft drink

Items that don't qualify are anything that comes in a souvenir container and items that are not considered a single serving.

Plan Your Walt Disney World Vacation

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You can discover more about planning your trip from these links:

• Walt Disney World Cheap Food Guide
• Discount Walt Disney World Tickets
• Walt Disney World Character Guide
• Guide to Epcot Food and Wine Festival
• Guide to Walt Disney World Transportation