2013 Disney Dining Plan Guide
If you’re using the 2013 Disney Dining Plan, or are wondering, “is the Disney Dining Plan worth it?” you’ll want to read these comprehensive articles we’ve written about the highly divisive Walt Disney World meal plan options. The Disney Dining Plan can be a great value or a poor value depending upon how you will use it, and these articles will give you an idea of the best and worst ways to use the Disney Dining Plan from a value perspective, so you’ll know whether it’s for you (if you’ve yet to pull the trigger), or how you should plan on using the Dining Plan if you’ve already booked your Walt Disney World vacation!
Top Disney Dining Plan Resources
2013 Disney Dining Plan Overview & Review – Here’s all the information you need to know about the various versions of the 2013 Disney Dining Plan, including prices and what the various plans include. Check this article out for current dates of the 2013 FREE Disney Dining Plan! We also share our review of the Disney Dining Plan, and whether we think it’s worth the money. (It certainly isn’t for everyone–not even when it’s “free.”)
Maximizing Table Service Credit Value on the 2013 Disney Dining Plan – The alternate name for this article is “Best Value=Order STEAK!” And really, that title would be all you need. Actually, it’s a bit more nuanced than that. This article ranks the top 10 table service restaurants at Walt Disney World in terms of objective value on the Disney Dining Plan. In other words, we examined the menus of all Walt Disney World table service restaurants and listed the 10 that are the most expensive (and thereby offer the most “bang for your buck” on the Disney Dining Plan, objectively speaking).
Maximizing Counter Service Credit Value on the 2013 Disney Dining Plan – Thanks to some high priced combos (like the chicken and ribs combo at Cosmic Ray’s or Fairfax Fare) and restaurants that serve expensive desserts, there are a lot of ways to maximize your counter service credit on the Disney Dining Plan, too. Some of these more expensive meals are even big enough to split, meaning that you can do breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the Disney Dining Plan if you use credits effectively!
Maximizing Snack Credit Value on the 2013 Disney Dining Plan – That bottle of water or that banana you might spontaneously want? Bad uses of snack credits if you care about bang for your buck. Find out what items are a good use of snack credits. (Most of them are not nearly as healthy as that water or the banana…but they sure do taste better!)
Disney Restaurant Reviews – Not all Disney restaurants were created equal. While none are so bad that they have rodents in the kitchen (well…as long as you don’t count Chef Mickey’s!), some Disney restaurants are surprisingly bad…and some are surprisingly good! Read our thoughts and opinions on each restaurant, as we give you some ideas as to our favorite restaurants and least favorite restaurants, and why we like or dislike particular restaurants. Just don’t read these on an empty stomach, as there are lots of mouth-watering photos in the reviews!
Disney Dining Plan v. Paying Out of Pocket - Here we breakdown our dining costs from one trip where we paid out of pocket and compared that to what we would have paid on the Disney Dining Plan. This post also includes a comparison of paying out of pocket to Free Dining, and explains why Free Dining isn’t really “free.”
Save Big With the Deluxe Dining Plan - The Deluxe Disney Dining Plan is a huge splurge, and way more food than most people will be able to eat. Disney counts on this, and offers the Deluxe Dining Plan at a relatively reasonable price point given what you can get on it, because Disney assumes you’ll skip some meals and not be able to “maximize” the Deluxe plan. We “beat the system” with the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan, and ended up saving a ton of money. Here’s where we ate, how much we saved, and how you can do the same!
Best Character Meals on the Disney Dining Plan - Just like the “Maximizing” articles listed above, except for character meals. Although this list is objective, in our experience, these are some of the better quality character meals at Walt Disney World, too. It does stand to reason that restaurants costing more would serve better food, so this shouldn’t be too surprising…
Your Thoughts
Is the Disney Dining Plan a good value for your family? If you use the Disney Dining Plan, how do you maximize your savings and enjoyment of eating at Disney while on the Dining Plan. Please share any tips or thoughts you have in the comments!
60 Responses to “2013 Disney Dining Plan Guide”
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What restaurant has a robot? I’d love to try it!
Ha, sorry. That robot is from Space Mountain. I just thought it was a fitting photo for this page!
any news of when the dining plan will be free for this year? we went in march 2012 and had the free dining. We want to go back but want to utilize the free dining
Expect an announcement around July.
Our trip is July 8th. Do you think it would be possible for us to get the free dining deal before our trip?
We have a trip planned for Setember 2013, and usaully the run the free dinning for the fall in the middle of April, and no word yet, do you know if and when they will start offering it for the fall of 2013 ??
July is peak season so it’s highly doubted that free dining will ever be offered. As for as the fall deals I hear they should be released end of April beginning May.
Any idea if there will be a discount on any dates this summer? If so when will it be announced?
Highly doubt there will be any summer dates. Summer is the most popular travel season, and this promo is usually offered to increase bookings during slower seasons. Sorry!
We are booked Sept. 15 thru 22nd? Think Disney will offer the usual free dining?
Probably.
We ae planning a trip to DisneyWorld this September. We are waiting to see if they offer the free meal plan. We are open for the dates of September. I hear it will be July.
I am going with my daughter-in-law. This will be her first trip. Still in shock she wants to go with her mother-in-law. Peter Pan could be my son. I never wanted to grow up.
bagsRpacked
I am so overwhelmed with planning our disney world trip in November, this early and I’m reading up on as many things as possible. with the dining plan, is there a menu in each restaurants where you can pick your food if you’re using disney dining plan? and also is there minimum to maximum price for each meal if you’re using the plan? thank you!
If you use the dining plan, you order off the regular menu and can order anything (other than prix fixe) so it follows that ordering the most expensive item off the most expensive restaurant’s menu (a single table credit restaurant) makes sense. Getting a 13 dollar burger for dinner doesnt make sense.
Any idea of general time frame for free dining in December ? We usually go the week prior to the holiday and it is free ??? Any news for 2013 ??
Will disney have free dining this August this year 2013
I am looking for the same thing. We have a group of 13 going down August 3. I would love to get eithier free dining or a room discount.
If free dining is offered this fall is it blocked for dates around Columbus Day?
General public dates are not yet available, so that’s unclear.
I got a group rate at Disney port Orleans. Can I add on a meal plan
Depends upon how it was booked. I’d contact whomever booked the group rate.
We booked our vacation for early September of this year. Any idea when Disney will release discounts for that time? Everything I’ve read has indicated that it is highly likely Free dining or resort discounts will be offered. Just not sure when to be on the lookout.
Have dates picked out to go in Early December. Chances good that free dining will be offered and if so would booking it now affect our eligibility for it? Also, how does it work if we book now with Plus Dining? Would we be credited the amount paid? Totally Clueless since I didn’t plan our last trip 15 years ago. HELP TOM!
I can’t really give you odds on this, besides knowing that Free Dining *will* be offered this fall to some extent. I’ve heard rumblings that dates will be reduced from the past, but have no idea if that’s actually true. If your early December dates are the Pop Warner dates, don’t be surprised if it isn’t offered then.
Im looking to book for september of this year. You’re info has been very helpful so thank you! Do you know if there is a way to sign up for an e-mail alert or something like that for when the free dining dates for this fall are released?
Any thoughts on free dining for October and when that would be announced? I’m itching to book our trip and I’m trying to narrow down the dates!
Would like to know this as well. Also, if I book my trip now and it ends up being during the free dining period would I be credited for the cost of the dining plan?
I’ve been wondering what dates might offer something in Oct as well. I’m thinking 7-17 to book seeing how the holiday is the 14th the 7th is a week before so perhaps something will be available
Is the free dining option only avialable to those who purchase a Magic Your Way Package? I’ve read on other sites that there’s also an option available to the “general public.”
Dining plans are only offered to individuals staying at a Disney resort.
Looking also for the free Disney dining dates . I always go in August every other year..
We have our vacation booked for June 28 to July 5. It will be our kids 1st time going and we’ll be celebrating our anniversary as well. We took our Honeymoon to WDW. Any idea what the discounts/free offering will be during that time? Thanks
Probably nothing. That’s one of the busiest weeks of the year. Disney only offers discounts when it needs an incentive to fill rooms.
Thanks for the info—
we r booked august 17-23 2013, do u think they will restrict the resorts that can use free dining like they do with the %30 off deals?
Thanks
Hard to say. It’s usually not as restricted as the other discounts, but that might change this year.
I would like to go back to Disney World at the end of September, and there has always been a free quick service dining offer for that time, do you know if it will still be offered for fall 2013?
Most likely, but nothing is official as of yet.
If I book my trip now for November and the offer free dining, can I add it? Or do I have to wait for the promotion before I book.
Trip booked for nov 30- dec 7 any insight on free dining plan around the holidays?
I think there are *typically* some blockout days right around then because of Pop Warner, but we won’t know for sure until dates are released.
I was very concerned as I am planning a trip around this time this was what I was able to determine based on past schedules.
The pop warner stuff starts Friday/Saturday December 6-7th.
The pop warner event is based off the first Saturday in December each year, with crowds coming in on Friday and staying the week after.
And remember only the first date of your trip has to fall in the free dining plan to get it for your whole trip.
Thanks,
Tina
We visited WDW March 2012, we were so amazed with the free dining offer, although a little skeptical when we booked. It was a great saving and there was so much food!! Great choices very easy, Looking forward to making the big trip from Down Under again and will definitely be keeping in mind the free dining offer when we get to planning in a few weeks..
We are planning on visiting WDW the end of Sept, after reading your blog, I am unclear who the dining pass is available for and how you find out how and when to either purchase or look for discounts.
Thank you for any advice.
Hi, I am planning on going January 2014. Do you know or think there will be free dining or any type of discount then?
I’m trying to decide whether to book our trip for October, now or wait. If I add dining and then they do “free dining”- would I get a discount? If I book and don’t add dining, could I add it at a later point?? Thank you for your helpful blog.
Hello Tom, I was getting a little worried, its mid April now and by now they have come out with the free dinning for the fall months of Aug. and September, we were in on the free dinning for September last year and had to re-sch. that trip to this year, and now I am getting a little panicked due to some people saying they did not think they would offer the free dinning this year for fall or any times, so do you know if they will ??
I don’t know with 100% certainty either way–no one who is not bound by a NDA with Disney does, so don’t trust anyone claiming to be “certain” on this subject. That said, I’d be surprised if it isn’t announced. It’s entirely likely that Disney is waiting until the last minute to book as many full price packages as possible and then using the promo to convince those “on the fence.”
Thank You, I have had these reservations since the beginning of last year for September and had the free dinning added on it and then had to move it out till this year, been 3 years since a trip and me and hubby and kids so excited to finally be able to make it this year, but only can we afford it if the free dinning is offered, so I am keeping my fingers crossed to see it soon…
I have booked a trip for Late November early December 2013. I am still hopeful for free dining. Any hint as to when we can look for the anouncement.
Coming Fri Oct 4 for one week. A Disney Castmember told me just last week not to expect an announcement on ANY fall discounts until around August 15th. Do you think this is valid?? I was on wdw.com & was asking a ? related to resort res & happened to ask about discounts & asked specifically about free dining and/or resort discounts. I thought Aug 15 was VERY late to offer a discount.
I am going to Disney World September 7- Sept. 14, what are the chances of free dining?
FREE Disney Dining Plan when you book a full price Magic Your Way package and check in between 9/2/13 – 9/25/13
Hi, so disappointed free dining is not offered the end of Aug like the last two years. Whats the chance free dining will be offered in late Nov?
Thanks,
Michelle
My family and I are going for 9 days, can you suggest places to dine at? We have two kids (10 and 12) and are looking for some fun places. Thank you!
We just booked our reservations for Nov. 1st-9th. Do you think it’s a possibility for Free Dining to be offered during this time? Or do you possibly know when they might release something about it if they offer it? Thanks!
We are booked 11/2 to 11/13 at Coronado Springs. Looking for a thought on “Free dining” offered in that time frame. I’m hearing of people recieving PIN #s through December for Free Dining
Hello there. I’ve booked my trip for Sep/22 – Oct/06. But I’ve already paid for dining plan
What can I do about it??? Cry is not a good answer, ok?! (LOL)
Call Disney and take advantage of the offer!
any idea if free dining will be available for uk we are flying out on 25 sept 2013 and are holding out to book hotel