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How to Get the Best Value from Your Disney Dining Plan at Disney World

How to Get the Best Value from Your Disney Dining Plan at Disney World

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8 ways to maximize the Disney dining plan

Hooray! As of today, dining plans are FINALLY back at the Walt Disney World Resort!

Let’s be honest, food at Disney World is very expensive. You can certainly save money by bringing food, drinks, and snacks with you into the parks, but if you’re planning to purchase food in the parks, you may be wise to consider one of the Disney dining plans. Disney dining plans are available to guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. You can currently choose from the quick service dining plan and Disney dining plan when you book a vacation package at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel.

Character Dining

Character meals are some of the most expensive meals at Disney World. You can spend over $50 per person for a dinner with Mickey Mouse and friends at Chef Mickey’s! This is a great use of a Disney dining plan. Plus, your whole family will love having characters come visit with you at your table for photos and autographs. You can review all of the character dining experiences here.

Use Snack Credits Wisely

We typically don’t recommend spending snack credits on items less than $5. If you’d like a soda or bottle of water, it’s often better to purchase these out of pocket. Some of our favorite snacks are ice cream, cupcakes, funnel cakes, pretzels, popcorn, and breadsticks. You can even enjoy almost all Starbucks beverages with just a snack credit! So, go ahead and add that extra pump of syrup… it’s still only one snack credit!

Consider Meal Times

Breakfast is a less expensive meal than lunch or dinner, especially when it comes to table service meals. If possible, we recommend booking lunch or dinner for your table service meals as they would normally cost more if you were paying out of pocket. You’ll also get dessert included with your table service meal during lunch or dinner only. If you’re on one of the dining plans that only include two meals per day, breakfast is also an easy one to “skip.” You can use your snack credits to cover that meal or even pack cereal bars from home for an on-the-go meal.

8 ways to get the best value from the Disney dining plan

Epcot Festivals

If you are visiting during any of the annual festivals at Epcot, plan to use as many snack credits there as possible. All of the festivals offer snacks and drinks at the booths set up throughout the World Showcase, and even Future World, at times. These snacks can often be $8 or more when purchased out of pocket so they are a great value on the Disney dining plan.

The Festival of the Arts runs select dates in January and February. The Flower and Garden Festival usually runs from March through May. The Food and Wine Festival usually kicks off at the end of August and runs through mid-November. The Festival of the Holidays runs from Thanksgiving through December.

Dining Packages

Who doesn’t love dinner and a show? There are a few dining packages available with the Disney dining plan. You can enjoy a reserved viewing area for a parade or show with the cost of your meal. These dining packages cost the same number of credits that you would have spent otherwise. You can choose from:

  • Fantasmic! Dining Package at Hollywood & Vine, Mama Melrose’s, and Hollywood Brown Derby
  • Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade Dining Package at Tony’s Town Square
  • Candlelight Processional Dining Package at select Epcot restaurants
  • Garden Rocks Dining Package at select Epcot restaurants
  • Eat to the Beat Dining Package at select Epcot restaurants
  • Disney on Broadway Concert Series Dining Package at select Epcot restaurants

Specialty Drinks

You can treat yourself to a specialty drink with your table service meal at no additional cost. Alcohol is now included with the Disney dining plan. Or, if you prefer a kid-friendly drink, there are often specialty drinks available for guests of all ages. Just ask your server what options are available at each location.

best ways to use the Disney dining plan

Use Your Resort Refillable Drink Mugs

All four of the Disney dining plans include one resort refillable drink mug per person, age 3+. They can be refilled not only at the resort that your family is staying at, but ANY Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. You can fill your mug before you leave the resort in the morning, enjoy time by the pool with it, or even leave a park to refill your mug at a neighboring resort. You can get soda, Powerade, coffee, and tea in your mug.

Spend Leftover Credits on Prepackaged Snacks

If you happen to have any leftover snack credits at the end of your visit, be sure to spend them before you leave! All Disney dining plan credits are available until midnight on the day that you check out. You can find a variety of prepackaged snacks (or drinks) at the parks and resorts. If you aren’t visiting a park, stop by Goofy’s Candy Company Disney Springs. Goofy’s has a line of Disney gummies, jelly beans, licorice, and more that travel well. There are also prepackaged rice krispy treats you can take home.

You can keep track of your Disney dining plan credits in the My Disney Experience app or at the bottom of your receipt. It will automatically update each time an entitlement is used to reflect your remaining credits.

What are your favorite ways to use the Disney Dining Plan?

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Free Dining at Disney World Through 2013

Disney has recently announced the extension of free dining at Disney World for select dates through December 2013!

You will receive a free dining plan when you purchase a non-discounted Magic Your Way package (including room and theme park tickets) at select Disney Resort hotels. You will receive the Disney Dining Plan (one table service meal, one quick service meal, and one snack per person per night) when you stay at Disney’s moderate resorts, deluxe resorts, and deluxe villa resorts. When you stay at one of Disney’s value resorts, you will receive the quick service dining plan (two quick service meals and one snack per person per night). However, you can pay just the difference to upgrade your dining plan!Free dining at Disney World is valid for arrivals most nights:
  • September 29 to October 2, 2013
  • October 18 to November 2, 2013
  • November 11 to November 23, 2013
  • December 12 to December 22, 2013
This offer excludes campsites, three bedroom villas, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s All Star Movies Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort- French Quarter, and the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

But don’t wait long as rooms are quickly filling and this offer is subject to availability! You can book this special offer now through September 15, 2013.

Siera is a Disney travel specialist and would love to help you plan your next Disney vacation! Request your free, no obligation quote on the right side of the page or email spreadingmagic@gmail.com! 

Last Chance for Free Dining at Disney World in September 2013!

There’s just a few days left to take advantage of one of the best discounts of the year at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida! You can have free dining at Disney World in September 2013, but hurry, because you must book by July 31, 2013!

  • FREE Quick Service Dining Plan at participating Value Resorts
  • FREE Disney Dining Plan at participating Moderate Resorts
  • FREE Disney Dining Plan at participating Deluxe Resorts
  • FREE Disney Dining Plan at participating Deluxe Villa Resorts
As a reminder, all of the dining plans include a complimentary resort refillable drink mug per person. The Quick Service Dining Plan includes two quick service meals and one snack per person per night of your reservation. The Disney Dining Plan includes one quick service, one table service, and one snack per person per night of your reservation. The Disney Dining Plan can be an especially great savings if you plan to try any character meals!

This offer is valid for arrivals between September 2-25, 2013. You must purchase a Magic Your Way package, including at least 2 days of theme park tickets. This offer does exclude the campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, three-bedroom villas, and the Little Mermaid standard rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. If you are staying at one of Disney’s value resorts and would like the Disney Dining Plan, you can simply pay only the difference to upgrade your dining plan.

Siera is a Disney travel specialist with Destinations in Florida, an authorized Disney vacation planner! She would love to help you plan your next magical vacation. Contact her at spreadingmagic@gmail.com for more information or your free, no obligation quote! 

Why You Should Stay at a Disney World Resort Hotel

There are many benefits to staying at an on-site Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. Here are some reasons why you should stay at a Disney World Resort hotel:

  • Complimentary Airport Service – You can avoid the hassle of baggage claim with Disney’s Magical Express transportation, which conveniently transports you and your bags to and from Orlando International Airport at no cost to you.
  • Complimentary Resort Transportation and Parking – Motor coaches, ferryboats and our world-famous monorail make it easy and convenient for you to get around and experience all there is to see and do throughout Walt Disney World Resort, so you don’t have to miss a thing. And if you’re driving, complimentary parking is also available. (this alone can save you $14/day when you don’t have to pay to park at a theme park)
  • Extended Theme Park Hours – Each day, experience the magic at a more easygoing pace thanks to Extra Magic Hours, where you’ll enjoy additional quality time with family and friends in one of the parks—above and beyond the standard operating schedule.
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi – Stay connected with convenient, wireless high-speed internet access in Guest rooms, select restaurants and most public spaces.
  • Disney Dining Plans – When you choose a Magic Your Way package that includes a dining plan, you could save up to 15% while enjoying a variety of dining experiences throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
  • Resort Hotel Entertainment – Elaborately themed pools with slides, Disney movie screenings under the stars plus our widely popular Character Dining experiences are just some of the fun-filled activities that may be available at select Resort hotels.
  • Legendary Disney Service – Do you want to know what it’s like to have a Fairy Godmother? Someone who really cares about transforming your vacation dreams into happily-ever-after reality? Disney Cast Members are available 24 hours a day to make your vacation as captivating and carefree as possible. It’s all part of the phenomenal brand of Disney service you’ll find no matter where in the “World” you turn.

Are you ready to plan your Disney World vacation? As an authorized Disney vacation planner, I can help you plan your magical vacation at no cost to you! Contact me at spreadingmagic@gmail.com!

2013 Free Dining at Disney World is back!

Everyone’s favorite Disney World promotion is back. That’s right, 2013 free dining is now available! When you purchase a non-discounted Magic Your Way package at Walt Disney World, you are eligible for a free Disney dining plan! This special offer is valid for arrivals most nights between September 2 and September 25, 2013. It will include the following for each registered guest in your party:

  • Free dining plan – When you stay at a Value Resort, you can enjoy the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, which includes meals and snacks at over 50 select Walt Disney World Resort quick service restaurants. When you choose to stay at a Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort, you will enjoy the Disney Dining Plan, which includes meals and snacks at over 100 select Walt Disney World Resort restaurants.
  • Walt Disney World Theme Park tickets – You will enjoy admission to the Walt Disney World theme parks. You can choose from base tickets (one park per day), park hopper tickets (as many parks as you’d like each day), water park fun and more tickets (access to both of Disney’s water parks, Disney Quest, and more), or a combination of these!

Plus, when you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you can enjoy Disney magic throughout your whole stay including:

  • Complimentary transportation for you and your bags between Orlando International Airport and your Disney World Resort Hotel—as well as all around the Walt Disney World Resort.
  • More time enjoying select attractions with the Extra Magic Hours benefit where a theme park is open extra time each day (either one hour in the morning or two hours in the evening). (Valid Theme Park admission and Resort ID required)
  • Disney delights for the whole family, like fantastic pools, water slides, movies under the stars, and more.

Are you ready to plan your Disney World vacation and receive a free dining plan? Contact Siera at spreadingmagic@gmail.com for your free, no obligation quote today!