2024 is fast approaching and if you’re planning on vacationing at Disney World, you have a decision to make.

Disney World

In case you haven’t heard, Disney’s popular Dining Plan is returning in January of 2024 for guests staying at Disney World hotels during their 2024 vacations, and that means you need to choose whether you should or should not purchase a Disney Dining Plan. To make sure you’ve got all the info you need to make your choice, let’s talk about a problem with the dining plan and how you can avoid it.

So, what is the Disney Dining Plan?

The Disney Dining Plan is an optional add-on to a Disney World Vacation package (which also includes a room at a Disney-owned-and-operated hotel and theme park tickets) that allows guests to pre-pay for meals and snacks at Walt Disney World.

Satu’li Canteen

Though Walt Disney World suspended the Disney Dining Plan program upon reopening in 2020 following the temporary closure of the Resort, the Disney Dining Plan is NOW AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING for Disney World vacation stays starting JANUARY 9, 2024.

Now let’s get into the potential problems you might face with the dining plan.

So, who’s eligible?

Let’s talk about eligibility. The Disney Dining Plan is exclusive to guests staying in a Disney World Resort hotel. Also, you must purchase a Disney Vacation Package, which includes both park tickets and lodging on Disney property. This means that if you’re planning to stay off Disney property or explore other theme parks besides Disney, you won’t have access to the dining plan. So, you need to think carefully about where you’ll be staying and what kind of park tickets you’ll need for your Disney vacation.

Indian-style Bread Service

Also, remember that you have to purchase the dining plan before your vacation. You can’t just decide to add it once you’re at Disney World. This means you’ll have to make a decision about the dining plan well ahead of your trip.

Is it flexible?

While the dining plan offers a convenient way to plan your meals in advance, that does come with a trade-off in terms of flexibility. If you purchase the dining plan, you have to make reservations for all your table-service meals 60 days before your trip (not necessary for quick service spots). If you are the kind who loves the vacation planning process and doesn’t mind making those Advance Dining Reservations 60 days in advance, knowing what you have to look forward to is part of the fun! But it could be a lot of stress for those who prefer a more spontaneous approach. (Also, keep in mind that if you miss one of those reservations, it could result in a cancellation fee of $10 per person for most restaurants.)

Steakhouse 71 Stack Burger

Another thing you have to know is that the dining plan doesn’t allow the credits to carry over to your next visit. So if you don’t use all your dining credits during your trip, they simply vanish, along with the money you put toward them. While the DDP can provide structure to your dining experiences, it might also feel constraining for those who want more flexibility during their Disney vacation.

Is it about convenience?

Finally, the Disney Dining Plan is more convenience-based than savings-based. There are two main options: the Standard Dining Plan, which costs $94.28 per adult and $29.69 per child (ages 3 to 9) per day, and the Quick Service Dining Plan, which is priced at $57.01 per adult and $23.83 per child per day. With these prices, you really have to think about how your family eats and see if it works out best for you.

Kalbi Beef Kabobs

But the truth is you CAN dine cheaper… and still dine well in Disney World! Even paying completely out of pocket, depending on where you dine and what you order, you may very well be able to dine on delicious foods in fun and lovely settings and be completely satisfied for less cost per day.

January will be here before we know it, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Dining Plan news, and get ready to add it on when you book your next vacation!

See the full list of the restaurants included with the Dining Plan here!

Will you be purchasing the dining plan for your next Disney World vacation? Tell us in the comments!