Answering 8 BIG Questions about the Disney World Dining Plan | the disney food blog (2024)

The Disney Dining Plan is BACK after a multi-year hiatus and we’re answering your burning questions about how it’s all going to work!

When it comes to making your dining decisions, there’s a lot you need to consider — and with the Disney Dining Plan, you’ve got some rules and restrictions to worry about. But, you don’t need to worry anymore because we’ve got you covered!

Before we get into the BIG questions, there’s a major one you might be asking:What is the Disney Dining Plan? We’re glad you asked.

Disney Dining Plans are anoptional add-on to a Disney World Vacation Package (which also includes yourDisney World hotel roomandtheme park tickets.) This means that the Disney Dining Plan is exclusive to guests staying in a Disney World Resort hotel.Disney Dining Plans are pre-purchased, so all you have to do when you get to Disney World is head toa restaurant that accepts the Disney Dining Plan and you can use it!

There are only two Dining Plan options when it returns — the Standard Disney Dining Planand theQuick Service Disney Dining Plan.

According to theDisney World website, inclusionsfortheStandard Disney Dining Planare as follows:

• • Everyone in the travel partywill receive1 Table-Service meal per night, 1 Quick-Service meal per nightand1snack/nonalcoholic drink per nightof their package stay—along with1 Resort-refillable drink mug. Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during the stay.
  • Beverages are included with each meal. Guests under 21 years of age may choose from a variety of nonalcoholic beverages. Guests 21 and older withvalid identificationmay substitute for beer, wine and co*cktails.

The cost for theStandard Disney Dining Planfor 2024 is$94.28per adult, per night(ages 10 and up), and$29.69 per child,per night(ages 3 to 9). When the Standard Disney Dining Plan was last available in 2020, the cost was $78.01 per adult, per night, and $30.51 per child, per night.

According to theDisney World website, inclusionsfor theQuick Service Disney Dining Planare as follows:

• Everyone in the travel party(ages 3 and up) will receive2 Quick-Service meals per night, and 1 snack/nonalcoholic drinkper night of their package stay – along with1 Resort-refillable drink mug. Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during the stay.
• Beverages are included with each meal.Guests under 21 years of age may choose from a variety of nonalcoholic beverages. Guests 21 and older withvalid identificationmay substitute for beer, wine and co*cktails.

The cost for theQuick Service Disney Dining Planfor 2024 is$57.01 per adult, per day, and$23.83 per child (ages 3 to 9), per day.When the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan was last available in 2020, the cost was $55.00 per adult, per night, and $26.00 per child, per night.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s answer some questions!

What do you get with a table service credit at lounges and bars?

This is the first time that Disney World bars and lounges will be accepting dining plan credits, but that means you’ll have to use table service credits at them. Lounges often have smaller plates or different menu styles, which can make it difficult to figure out just how those credits will be used.

For example, at a lounge like Enchanted Rose at the Grand Floridian, in exchange for a table service credit, you’d get an entreé, drink, and dessert like you would at a table service spot. But, keep in mind that entreé may be a smaller portion and there may not even be dessert on the menu, so choose your lounge wisely if you’re considering using a table service credit!

How do Pizza Pickup credits work?

Pizza Pickup is available at select Disney World hotels and requires 2 quick service credits total — not per person. In exchange for 2 total quick service meal credits, you’d get one large pizza and two beverages (nonalcoholic or alcoholic if you’re 21 and up.)

So, for example, you’d spend 2 quick service credits and could receive:

• One large pepperoni pizza
• 1 bottle of Coca Cola
• 1 16oz. Bud Light

Pizza pickup can be a great way to fill a family for not a lot of money, so keep it in mind on your next trip!

Will hotels have a list of qualifying Disney Dining Plan restaurants?

Since dining locations are subject to change, your best bet is to visit the Disney World website for the most up-to-date information about which restaurants qualify for the dining plan. Hotels used to provide a list of restaurants to people at check-in, but in this age of technology, the website will have the most accurate information.

Of course, you can always count on Disney Food Blog to have the most up-to-date information on our list of Disney Dining Plan restaurants page. Click the link below to see more!

See the FULL LIST of Disney Dining Plan Restaurants

Will the My Disney Experience app keep track of dining credits?

Your usage of the Disney Dining Plan will be electronically linked to your reservation, which means there are a few different ways you can keep track of your meals and snacks:

• View your remaining meal and snack credits in My Disney Experience (the Disney World app)
• Check your dining receipts for a print out of remaining meals and snacks
• Ask the front desk or concierge at your hotel

Keep in mind that unused meals and snacks do roll over day to day, so if you don’t use credits one day you can use them the next. But, credits expire at midnight on the date you checkout of your hotel — meaning they won’t roll over from trip to trip.

Will third-party restaurants accept Dining Plan credits?

Certain third-party-owned and operated restaurants do accept dining plan credits, like Jaleo, The Edison, and more. But, that is not the case for all non-Disney-owned restaurants. For the full list of restaurants that do qualify, check the Disney World website or our post here.

Will table service locations that offer to-go service accept Dining Plan credits?

Certain Disney World table service restaurants offer to-go dining for guests, which begs the question — can you use dining plan credits on takeout at these locations? We did some digging and found that yes, you can! As long as the table service restaurant accepts dining plan credits, you will be able to use them for to-go orders as well.

Are there specific requirements for what qualifies something as a “specialty drink”?

The dining plan differentiates between drinks and “specialty drinks,” but what exactly does that mean? Well, it will vary by location, but generally, you can assume it refers to milkshakes, smoothies, specialty coffees and teas, and things like that.

Will Regal Eagle Smokehouse accept quick service Dining Plan credits for same-day EPCOT festival packages?

During EPCOT festivals, we’ve seen Regal Eagle Smokehouse offer same-day dining packages making it one of the only quick service restaurants to do so. We had wondered if this meant you could use quick service credits to purchase a festival package, but no — that’s not the case.

While this dining plan thing can be overwhelming at first, we’ve got all the tips and tricks to help you navigate it. In the meantime, be sure to check out our DFB Guide to Maximizing the Disney Dining Plan.

We’ve also got plenty of resources on the blog. Why do the hard work when we’ve got everything you need right here?!

• Best Value Snacks for the Disney Dining Plan in 2024
• BEST Table Service Restaurants To Make the Most of Your 2024 Disney Dining Plan
• Is the Disney Dining Plan Worth It in 2024?
• Why You Definitely Should Buy the Disney Dining Plan in 2024

If you want help booking your Disney World vacation and finding all the best deals, contact our friends over atSmall World Vacations! The travel agents there can take a ton of the stress out of planning your trip, and the best part is thattheir services are absolutely free!