Ultimate Disney Dining Plan Guide for 2024
If you’re using the Disney Dining Plan for your Walt Disney World vacation or are wondering, “is the meal plan worth the money?” We have a ton of resources for evaluating the pros & cons of the divisive DDP. If you do determine buying it is right for you, here are tips & tricks here for getting the most out of it! (Updated March 20, 2024.)
This collection of posts is our Ultimate Guide to the Disney Dining Plan (DDP). We’ve used the Dining Plan over a dozen times and have also opted not to use it a ton of other times (we pay out of pocket far more often than we use the DDP). We’re neither blind fans of the Disney Dining Plan nor are we opponents of it, and we bring this balanced perspective to our articles covering the DDP.
The Disney Dining Plan can be a good or 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!
With the Disney Dining Plan now back after a 4 year hiatus, it’s time to dust off this guide once again! Unsurprisingly, a lot has changed since Walt Disney World last offered the DDP. For starters, only two tiers are back for 2024: the Quick-Service Disney Dining Plan (QSDDP) and standard or regular Disney Dining Plan (DDP), with the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan (DxDDP) and Disney Dining Plan Plus (DDP+) remaining unavailable…for now.
Second, the return of the DDP has thrown us more value-for-money curveballs, as 2024 Disney Dining Plan prices for kids have decreased while adult prices have increased. This is most pronounced when it comes to the regular tier, which is likely due to inflation and rising menu prices for table service restaurants. (If you’re already looking forward to next year, there are also already 2025 Disney Dining Plan Price Increases, albeit minor and below the rate of inflation.)
Beyond that, there’s a lot that has changed. For example, our lists of the best uses of credits have all changed fairly dramatically. This is the result of menus changing, meal services ending, certain spots closing completely, new ones opening, and some character meals now requiring 2-credits instead of just one.
Suffice to say, if you last used the Disney Dining Plan back in 2019 or earlier, you might need a bit of a refresher, as a lot has changed. From the obvious of prices to what’s included/excluded and the restaurants and snack spots that are best on the 2024 Disney Dining Plan…
Top Disney Dining Plan Resources
2024 Disney Dining Plan Overview, Info and Pros & Cons – Here’s all the information you need to know about the various versions of the Disney Dining Plan, including prices and what the various plans include. 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.”)
Full List of Restaurants on the 2024 Disney Dining Plan – Walt Disney World has released the list of participating locations for the 2024 Disney Dining Plan far earlier than normal, and this covers all of the counter service and table service restaurants that will accept both tiers of the DDP. This also covers what’s currently missing, including several high-profile spots like California Grill and Space 220!
Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews – Not all Disney restaurants were created equal. While none are so bad that they have rodents in the kitchen (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!
Top 10 Table Service Credit Uses on the 2024 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). In addition to spots with steak, you’ll find multiple character dining experiences on this list.
Best Uses of Snack Credit on the 2024 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!)
Best Counter Service Credit Uses on the Disney Dining Plan – Thanks to some high priced combos 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!
Worst Uses of Snack Credits on the Disney Dining Plan – Same idea as above, but with the tips for avoiding common pitfalls in terms of snack usage. (Seriously, it’s easy to “misuse” snack credits, scramble at the end of your vacation, and totally waste snack credits–when you could’ve been using them wisely all along!)
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.
Disney Dining Plan vs. 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.”
When You Should Buy & Skip the 2024 Disney Dining Plan! – Way too many Walt Disney World view the Disney Dining Plan in black and white terms, treating it as “good” or “bad.” As with many things, there’s actually much more nuance. Here are the circumstances where it’s advantageous and disadvantageous, so you can get a rough idea of whether it’s right for you based upon your party’s preferences, ages and appetites, where you plan to eat, and much more.
Free Dining Discount at WDW
“Free Dining” Dates & 2024 Predictions – Not currently available for the general public to book this year anymore, Free Dining will probably return for a second wave in 2024. This post tracks rumors about Free Dining’s release date and other info about this incredibly popular promotion that offers the Free Disney Dining Plan for Walt Disney World vacation packages for eligible guests.
2024 Free Dining at Disney World FAQ – Although it’s not currently available, this answers all of the questions that readers had about the first wave of 2024 Free Dining. Lots of this will be applicable to the likely second wave in 2024, or even 2025. Easily digestible in Q&A format, too.
“Is Free Dining Worth It?” – When it comes to Free Dining, doing the math is incredibly important–and we break things down here. Other discounts (such as a room-only discount) might be better for your family. Remember, there is no such thing as a free lunch; you have forfeit an alternate discount to qualify for Free Dining.
Best Walt Disney World Hotels for Free Dining – Our hotel recommendations for each resort tier that participates in Free Dining. This is based upon our preferred resorts at Walt Disney World, plus the options that will save you the most money.
Top 10 Restaurants for Free Dining – A combination of the best and most popular Walt Disney World restaurants that you’ll want to book as early as possible during Free Dining “season.”
If you need personalized help with planning any aspect of your vacation including the Disney Dining Plan, or want someone to watch for the Free Dining promotion for you and book it once it’s available—we recommend contacting a no fee “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” (Disney’s term for a travel agent) to get a quote and to help you plan. They get their commission from Disney, so none of the authorized (key word) planners will charge you for booking their trip and helping. Here’s one such recommended Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
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? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
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.
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..
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
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.
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.
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.
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— 🙂
Looking also for the free Disney dining dates . I always go in August every other year..
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.
Booked through disney or is hotels booked through Expedia ok?
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
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?
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.
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.
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.
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 ??
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.
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
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!
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.
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!