Planning for your next Disney World trip can really be a challenge!

Listen, we get it. When you’ve got so many things to consider like your hotel reservations or navigating Genie+, it can start to feel overwhelming really quickly. That’s what we’re here for. The last thing we want is for you to arrive and be disappointed with your plans. So, let’s talk about where you’ll eat, specifically how there are some restaurants you might regret eating at in 2024.

As you may have heard, the Disney Dining Plan will be returning on January 9th, 2024, and this will be the first time it is available at Disney World’s newest restaurants. For those who don’t know what the dining plan is (especially since it’s been missing from Disney World since early 2020), it’s a way for Disney World guests who book a vacation package through Disney to pre-pay for their dining costs.

Two plans will be available: the Standard Dining Plan and the Quick Service Dining Plan — here are FULL details on what each plan will offer and here’s a list of all the Disney World restaurants participating in the plan.

Which Disney Dining Plan is Right for You?

When thinking about the restaurants you should dine at in 2024, especially if you’re planning on taking advantage of the dining plan for your trip, we’ve got to think about which will be worth it.

Out of all the dining options, there are signature/fine dining experiences, certain character meals, and shows that Disney has classified as a two-credit meal, which means instead, you’ll have to spend two table service credits for every individual participating in these meals. Just to be clear, this does NOT entitle you to multiple entrees, nor does it mean you get two drinks with your meal. What you will get is the same beverage/entrée/dessert combo as a one-credit meal restaurant, but you’ll be giving Disney two credits instead of one at the end of the meal. Also, you’ll still have to pay gratuity out of pocket.

So if we do some rough math to come up with an average value ($94.28 per night – $6 average snack – $25 average quick service meal = About $63 for table service meal), we’ll see that means that a one-table service meal is worth about $63, which means that your two-credit meal should cost at least $126 for it to make sense. This makes the Dining Plan for that two-credit meal not quite worth the expense. It may makes better sense to pay out of pocket for it, not using the Dining Plan.

Let’s go over a few examples:

1. Cinderella’s Royal Table

Breakfast

• Most expensive cocktail = $15.00 – French 75
• Adult cost = $69.00 – includes pastries and entrée

This meal covered by the dining plan is $85.00. If you paid for this meal with 2 table service dining credits, you would be losing $41.00 compared to paying out of pocket.

Lunch/Dinner

• Most expensive cocktail = $15.00 – French 75
• Adult cost = $84.00 – includes appetizer, entrée, and dessert

This meal covered by the dining plan is $99.00. If you paid for this meal with 2 table service dining credits, you would be losing $27.00 compared to paying out of pocket.

2. Yachtsman Steakhouse

Dinner

• Most expensive cocktail = $18.00 – Bourbon Flight
• Most expensive entrée = $52.00 – Red Wine-braised Short Rib
• Most expensive dessert = $20.00 – Carrot Cake

This meal combination covered by the dining plan is $90.00. If you paid for this meal with 2 table service dining credits, you would be losing $36.00 compared to paying out of pocket.

3. Le Cellier

Lunch/Dinner

• Most expensive cocktail = $23.00 – Le Cellier Icewine Flight
• Most expensive entrée = $62.00 – Le Cellier Filet Mignon
• Most expensive dessert = $15.00 – Warm Pecan-Brown Butter Tart

This meal combination covered by the dining plan is $100.00. If you paid for this meal with 2 table service dining credits, you would be losing $26.00 compared to paying out of pocket.

4. Narcoossee’s

• Most expensive cocktail = $22.50 – Paper Plane
• Most expensive entrée = $59.00 – New York Strip
• Most expensive dessert = $22.00 – Artisinal Cheese Selection

This meal covered by the dining plan is $103.50. If you paid for this meal with 2 table service dining credits, you would be losing $22.50 compared to paying out of pocket.

5. Hollywood Brown Derby

• Most expensive cocktail = $16.00 – Nutty Irishman
• Most expensive entrée = $49.00 – Filet Mignon
• Most expensive dessert = $14.00 – Decadent Chocolate Cake

This meal covered by the dining plan is $79.00. If you paid for this meal with 2 table service dining credits, you would be losing $47.00 compared to paying out of pocket.

6. Citrico’s

• Most expensive cocktail = $23.50 – 1806 Old Fashioned
• Most expensive entrée = $59.00 – New York Strip
• Most expensive dessert = $14.00 – Orange Blossom Flan

This meal covered by the dining plan is $96.50. If you paid for this meal with 2 table service dining credits, you would be losing $29.50 compared to paying out of pocket.

These are just a few examples of the value of the two-credit meal options versus paying out of pocket. You’re not going to be able to spend $126 at any signature dining or 2-credit character dining location if you’re only buying a beverage, an entrée, and dessert. That means that spending two credits is more expensive than paying out of pocket for those meals. And on top of that gratuity is always paid out of pocket, even with the Dining Plan.

So when it comes to deciding which of Disney World’s restaurants you’ll visit, you’ll have to keep in mind the value of the dining plan and plan accordingly! Watch out for these factors while you figure out what restaurant works best for you and your family.

With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off!

Stay tuned for more Disney news!

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Are you considering the Disney Dining Plan for your Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments!