Gearing up for a 2024 Disney World vacation? Ooooh, golly, then you’ll definitely want to know about some BIG changes that have hit the scene this year…

One of the absolute biggest updates is the return of the Disney Dining Plan, which had been suspended since the Resort reopened in 2020 following its temporary closure. (Similar to some of the other changes — like those coming to Park Pass reservations — this change took effect for stays starting January 9, 2024.) So we thought we’d take the time now to discuss why you should not buy the Disney Dining Plan.

You read that correctly — we’re diving into all the reasons you should NOT add the Disney Dining Plan to your 2024 Vacation Package.

(If you want to know all the reasons why you definitely SHOULD BUY the Disney Dining Plan, we’re listing them here.)

Before we dive in, though, here’s a quick recap on the Plan…

Disney Dining Plan — The Basics

The Disney Dining Plan is an optional add-on to a Disney World Vacation package (including a stay at a Disney owned-and-operated hotel) that allows guests to pre-pay for meals and snacks at Walt Disney World.

Though several versions of the Plan have been available in previous years, the Quick Service and Standard Disney Dining Plans are the only two options to return in 2024.

As stated on the Disney World website, inclusions for the Standard Disney Dining Plan are as follows:

• Everyone in the travel party will receive 1 Table-Service meal per night, 1 Quick-Service meal per night and a snack/nonalcoholic drink per night of their package stay—along with 1 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 with valid identification may substitute for beer, wine and cocktails.
• The cost of the Disney Dining Plan is per guest, per night, at the following rates:
  • $94.28 per adult per night ages 10 and up
  • $29.69 per child per night age 3 to 9
  • This cost is added to the regular cost of a Disney World Vacation Package.

As stated on the Disney World website, inclusions for the Quick Service Dining Plan are as follows:

• Everyone in the travel party (ages 3 and up) will receive 2 Quick-Service meals per night, a snack/nonalcoholic drink per night of their package stay – along with 1 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 with valid identification may substitute for beer, wine and cocktails.
• The cost of the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan is per guest, per night, at the following rates:
  • $57.01 per adult per night ages 10 and up
  • $23.83 per child per night age 3 to 9
  • This cost is added to the regular cost of a Disney World Vacation Package.

And that’s the basics! If you’re looking for more in-depth info, you can visit our Disney Dining Plans page here, and check out a whole list of FAQs here.

What Was MISSING From the Disney Dining Plan Announcement? Click HERE to find out.

So now that you know what the Disney Dining Plan is, let’s chat about all the reasons you shouldn’t get it!

Lack of Flexibility

For some folks, lining up several Table Service (or sit-down) restaurants for each day of their vacation is a joy. For others… it’s a headache.

And we’re not talking about simply picking where you’d like to eat and booking Advance Dining Reservations months in advance. What about when you’re actually in the parks? What if you suddenly notice a low wait time for one of your must-do attractions on the My Disney Experience app, but NOOOOO…. you can’t take advantage of it because you’ve got YET ANOTHER Table Service meal to get to?

If being locked into too many places to be sounds enough like regular life to you than a vacation, well… adding the Standard Disney Dining Plan (which includes one Table Service credit per night of stay) simply may not be a fit for you.

Now, we should mention that there is another option here: the Quick Service Dining Plan includes two Quick Service restaurant credits per night of stay… no Advance Dining Reservations required!

But even in this case, what if you’d rather enjoy several snacks throughout the day as opposed to two full meals? While the Quick Service Dining Plan definitely offers more flexibility with regards to time, you’re still essentially “locked in” to how you need to dine.

Where — And in Some Cases WHAT — You Can Eat is Dictated

Look… before we dive in, I do want to stress that there really is a LOT of variety when it comes to restaurants included on the Disney Dining Plan. You can see the entire list here. 

That said, it is still a list that dictates where you can dine when using Plan credits, and there are select restaurants and dining experiences that are not included.

When it comes to what you can order, most entrees on a menu are typically included on the Disney Dining Plan (and your server can advise on any options that are not). That said, some “enhancements,” such as Scallops at Narcoossee’s or Bacon-Smoked Gouda Macaroni & Cheese at Le Cellier, are not included.

Also, keep in mind that appetizers are not included with the Disney Dining Plan. If you enjoy a bowl of soup or a salad prior to your main course, that will be an out of pocket cost.

Click HERE to find a full list of 2024 Disney Dining Plan Restaurants

Now let’s talk snack credits. While the amount of items that are snack credit eligible is often a very pleasant surprise to guests (as it even includes LOTS of options at EPCOT’s seasonal Festivals, and many items around $8.00 and even above, in some cases), there are select items that are not available as a snack credit (like the beloved Tropical Serenade Float at Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom, for instance). This is, thankfully, fairly rare, but it does happen.

Though the Disney Dining Plan is quite generous when it comes to where and what you can eat when using credits, it’s not automatically “all-inclusive” in the full sense of the term.

Check out the BEST SNACKS in Disney World HERE!

You Can Enjoy Lots of Great Dining at a Lesser Cost

Here is a simple truth about the Disney Dining Plan: it’s more convenience-based than savings-based. For many, the pre-paid aspect alone is enough of a bonus to purchase the Disney Dining Plan. Plus, it IS vacation, after all… a lovely reason to splurge!

But the truth is you CAN dine cheaper… and still dine well in Disney World!

The cost for the Quick Service plan is $57 per night for ages 10 and up and $24 per night for ages 3 to 9. For the Standard Plan, the price is $95 per night for ages 10 and up and $30 per night for ages 3 to 9.

Even paying completely out of pocket, depending on where you dine and what you order, you may very well be able to dine on delicious foods in fun and lovely settings and be completely satisfied for less cost per day.

Or you might be more inclined to mix things up if you’re not on the Dining Plan, which may result in an overall lowering of cost — a day of dining only at Quick Service eateries, followed by a day enjoying a new Table Service restaurant or Character Meal that you’ve been hoping to try, followed by a day hopping to various bars and lounges to take in some tasty small plates in several locations, followed by SNACKS ONLY day (FUN!!)… you get the idea.

We have a few resources for you to check out below to help you consider some fun — and tasty! — ways to dine for less!

• The Best Meals in Disney World For Under $15
• 19 Disney Snacks For Under $10 That We Like MORE Than $50 Meals
• 10 of the Best Fast Food Values in Disney World
• BEST Value Fast Food Restaurants at Disney World
• 3 Disney World Snacks That Are Big Enough to Be Meals!
• Our Best Strategies for Saving On Breakfast at Disney World
• The 6 Best Shareable Meals in Disney World
• Best Value Disney World Lounges 
• BEST Value Restaurants at Disney World
• Cheapest Places To Eat in Disney Springs 

You have a Child Who is 10-Years-Old (or Just Above)

Why is “10” the magic number when it comes to the Disney Dining Plan? Because, as is the case with Disney World theme park tickets, anyone age 10 or older is considered an Adult on the Disney Dining Plan. The thing is…

… what if your 10-year-old (Or your 11- or 12-year old) doesn’t have an adult-sized appetite just yet? You will have already paid the Adult price to potentially see some of that food go to waste.

Or what if your “mini me” still prefers Chicken Nuggets, mac and cheese, and other items that are typically available on Kids Menus, but are not on the regular entree list?

As we’ve discussed previously, this fairly common occurrence is treated on a case by case basis. Technically, adults (anyone age 10 or over) are supposed to order from the adult menu and kids (ages 3-9) are supposed to order from the kids’ menu. In practice, if an older child (or actual adult) doesn’t like any of the food on the adult menu, the server may be able to bring a larger-size portion of any of the food on the children’s menu. That said, when this happens, an adult credit will be deducted from your account even though the guest is eating “kid” food.

These are questions only you can answer when it comes to your kiddos, but they are something to keep in mind when you’re determining the value of the Disney Dining Plan for your family.

Speaking of age-related inclusions…

Alcohol is Included on the Disney Dining Plan… Whether You Imbibe or Not

In 2018, alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, and cocktails) were added to the Disney Plan for of-age guests — and, yes, that includes Quick Service restaurants that serve alcohol (which, BTW, is most of them, though you will only find alcohol at Table Service restaurants in Magic Kingdom).

Those who 10 or older but are not yet of drinking age or who opt not to imbibe can enjoy specialty beverages such as milkshakes, smoothies, and various “mocktails.”

We discussed this recently in more detail, but generally speaking when it comes to maximizing the Dining Plan, cocktails, beer, and wine are simply the priciest drinks on the menu.  (A few examples: at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a Rum Island Breeze at Backlot Express is $14.50 and a Takodana Quencher at at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo is $16.50; at EPCOT’s Chefs de France, a French Martini is $16.75, and a Blood Orange Margarita at La Hacienda de San Angel is $18.00.)

If you have members in your group who can’t or simply prefers not to imbibe (or prefers not to imbibe at EVERY SINGLE MEAL), that’s an automatic strike (for lack of a better word) against being able to maximize the value of the Plan. The flipside, though, is that some items like the famous non-alcoholic Peanut Butter and Jelly Milkshake (don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!) at 50s Prime Time Cafe can run around $9.00.

So, there are certainly ways to make the most of that inclusion without drinking alcoholic beverages. But, dollar for dollar, alcoholic drinks typically offer the most price value on the Plan versus what you would pay out of pocket.

Other Inclusions You May Not Maximize or Use

When it comes to inclusions you may not use, there’s not only alcohol to consider. For instance, each guest receives a Refillable Resort Mug on the Disney Dining Plan.

These are refillable with drinks such as soda (Coke products), coffee, and iced and hot tea at self-service beverage stations at Resort hotels all over Disney World — not just the one you’re staying at!

That said, the mugs are are NOT refillable in the parks. So let’s say you are “Park Hop ’til You Drop” kind of folks who don’t spend a ton of time at your Resort hotel. Or maybe you don’t have a whole crew of soda and/or coffee fans. This inclusion, which indeed can be a boon to some, may not be worth it for you.

Learn all about Refillable Resort Mugs HERE

Or, it simply may not be worth it for ALL of you. Remember, if one member if your group desires the mug, you can always buy one or two out-of-pocket for $21.99 (good for length-of-stay). The mugs themselves, while included, are not exclusive to guests on the Disney Dining Plan.

And look, we’re ALL FOR SNACKING around here! But here is another example of missing out on maximization: many guests find that two full Disney meals (especially with regards to Table Service restaurants) are served in larger amounts than what you might eat at home. Some people (not me, but some people) simply aren’t ready for a full snack on top of all of that, and may opt to use their snack credit for a non-alcoholic beverage.

That’s totally eligible and completely fine (not to mention, it can be very refreshing on a hot day in the parks — STAY HYDRATED, friends!). But it’s not maximizing the value of a snack credit compared to, say, grabbing a loaded Funnel Cake at Epic Eats in Hollywood Studios, which comes in at $8.49.

What we’re saying is, it’s best to do some homework ahead of time to really consider each inclusion to determine if you can maximize all of your credits and that Refillable Resort Mug. And if you find that you can, you can check out THIS POST by clicking here or below!

Why You Definitely Should Buy the Disney Dining Plan in 2024

Our DFBGuide Video

Disney Dining Plans are NOW AVAILABLE to book as an add-on to your Disney World vacation for stays, should you find it is a good fit for your group. If you’re looking for more information on the Disney Dining Plan, we also cover it in great detail in our DFBGuide YouTube video: