The Disney Dining Plan is back!
Magic Kingdom!
The Disney Dining Plan has been a Disney staple for years but it’s been MIA since 2020. It’s finally back and we are ready for it! If you’re planning on using the Dining Plan, though, you NEED to read this.Â
The Disney Dining Plan is making its grand return and will be available soon to add to vacation packages for trips starting on January 9th, 2024. Beginning May 31st, 2023, guests can start booking the Dining Plan for their 2024 trips. If you purchase a package that includes the Dining Plan now, that gives you roughly seven months to plan and learn all about how to use the Dining Plan.
Full spread from Columbia Harbour House
But, there’s a very important rule regarding the Dining Plan that almost everyone forgets: You might be able to actually save even more on your Disney World vacation with a hotel room discount instead of the Disney Dining Plan — or at least, you could potentially get a better bang for your buck.
Breakfast at Akershus
And, if you want to know even more, we have the complete guide that you can use to plan and prepare! We have a huge chapter in the guide comparing how much you could save with the Disney Dining Plan compared to other Disney World discounts. For example, right now there’s a discount that can save you up to 25% off your stay at hotels like Disney’s BoardWalk. Assuming a similar discount will be available in 2024, let’s do some very rough math and find out how much we can actually save.
Mickey Ice Cream Bar!
When we checked the Disney World website, a stay at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn from February 7th to 8th, 2024 for 2 people was $570 per night (before taxes and fees). For two nights, that’s $1,040 total. But, assuming there’s a similar discount available for 25% off, that could bring your total stay to $780 — a savings of $260.Â
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
On the flip side, the Quick Service Dining Plan will cost $57.01 per adult, per day, and $23.83 per child (ages 3 to 9), per day. For our hypothetical trip, we’ve got two adults staying for two days — that’s $228.04 total for the Dining Plan.
So, in this case, you’d be saving more with the hotel room discount with that $260 you saved.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
While you can get lots of details about the return of the dining plan here, what is really important is learning how to use it and maximize it to your benefit. To truly learn how to use the Dining Plan, we have created the single most useful tool we could think of — Disney Dining Plan: The DFB Guide to Maximizing the DDP!
Mickey waffles!
Our guide teaches you how to maximize the use of your Dining Plan and get the most bang for your buck with those restaurant and snack credits. Our guide also helps you determine if the new plans are worth the cost for you. We break down the pros and cons of each plan complete with example days and cost analyses.
The DFB Guide To Maximizing the DDP is a virtual guide that you can download instantly onto any computer, tablet, or smartphone so it’s easy and portable, ready for planning on the go. If you’re getting ready to head to Disney World or plan for your Disney Dining Plan, this guide will make sure you get the absolute most out of your Disney dining experience.
Did you miss the Disney Dining Plan?
For now, the only dining plans returning are The Quick Service and Standard Disney Dining Plans. Both plans must be purchased as an add-on for your Disney World Vacation Package. This means you’ll be staying at a Disney-owned-and-operated resort, and will have purchased at least a one-day theme park ticket for everyone staying in your room.
Don’t forget to keep following DFB for all of your Disney Dining Plan news, tips, and tricks!
Get Your Own DFB Guide To Maximizing The DDP HERE!Â
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I just reviewed the Disney Ding Plan and I would need to go to one is 3 restaurants for dinner and order the most expensive entree, alcoholic drink, and dessert along with having lunch at one of two quick served s in order to come close to breaking even on the new cost. This is almost as expensive as the Deluxe Dining Plan that gave me 3 table service and alcoholic drinks along with 2 snacks per day. I won’t be participating in the new plan.