Disney Dining Plan- do you need it? pros and cons?? HELP

tab1007

Ok so we are going to Disney with my parents and our children later this year. We have the hotel booked and now I am thinking about the dining plan.

I am a little overwhelmed by the options and I am not even sure if we need it.

If you don't do it are you limited in your ability to make reservations in advance?

Thanks

Tara

 

SPonchette

The dining plan doesn't affect your ability to make reservations. You can do those 180 day s from the day you arrive for your trip. 

We had the dining plan with 1 quick service, 1 table service & a snack per day and thought it was worth the money.  It was worth it for us b/c we didn't look at prices or worry about what we were spending, so it was stress-free. 

ooodsie

I think the 3 meals a day plan is overkill - no one needs 3 sit down meals with appetizer/entree/dessert.  It's too much.  The other plan that gives you a counter meal, snack and dinner is the one I think makes the most sense if you're going to do it.  

If you want to do a character meal, those take 2 credits so you can double up and just skip a sit down dinner one day in order to do the character one the next.

You definitely do need to make reservations on the 180day mark in order to get the best times for some of the more popular places.

Have fun!! 

ladyredlight

I can count on one hand the amount of clients I have sent to Disney without the meal plan.  They always come back and tell me I was right they should have taken it.

UsedToBeGoldie

come on over to FB and join our group!  search for "Disney Planning Mamas" and request to join... it's 100+ strong (lots of moms from this board and others) and so many smart pros that have been tons of times.

 

kellyann1972

ours was free when we went in October, I liked having it. But we were on an onsite villa so could have done without it too for at least breakfast or snack.

keltic14

We've gone without the meal plan and won't do it again. It's so much easier and cheaper if you plan to do character meals. Most character meals are just one sit down meal so you could do one each day if you wanted to. There are a few that are two sit downs but most were just one last summer. Not sure if that has changed. We always get the sit down, quick service and snack option. It's perfect for our needs.

browneyedgrl4282

It is worth it! If you plan on going to a lot of character dining and sit downs, it ends paying for self very quickly!