The Ultimate Guide to Disney Dining Plans at Walt Disney World

• Lyn Prince
• May 23, 2025
• 4 min read

Planning a Walt Disney World vacation means making a lot of exciting decisions—where to stay, what parks to visit, and of course, where and how to eat! One of the most popular options for dining is the Disney Dining Plan (DDP), a prepaid meal plan that helps many guests simplify their food budgeting while enjoying delicious meals across the resort. But is it right for you?

In this guide, we’ll walk you through:

• What Disney Dining Plans are

What Disney Dining Plans are

• Types of Disney Dining Plans

Types of Disney Dining Plans

• What’s included

What’s included

• How to use dining credits

How to use dining credits

• Participating locations

Participating locations

• Pros and cons

Pros and cons

• Tips for maximizing value

Tips for maximizing value

• FAQs

FAQs

What Is the Disney Dining Plan?

The Disney Dining Plan is an optional meal package that allows guests to prepay for their meals and snacks at Walt Disney World Resort. It offers a set number of meal and snack credits that can be redeemed at over 200 dining locations throughout the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs.

This plan is only available to guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel with a vacation package that includes both theme park tickets and hotel accommodations.

Types of Disney Dining Plans (2025)

As of 2025, Disney offers two Dining Plan options:

1. Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan

Perfect for guests who prefer casual, fast, and flexible meals without the need for dining reservations.

Includes per person per night:

• 2 Quick-Service meals

2 Quick-Service meals

• 1 Snack or nonalcoholic drink

1 Snack or nonalcoholic drink

• 1 Resort refillable drink mug (for unlimited refills at your hotel)

1 Resort refillable drink mug (for unlimited refills at your hotel)

Great for: Families on the go, park-hoppers, budget-conscious travelers

2. Disney Dining Plan (Standard Plan)

Best for guests who want a mix of sit-down and quick-service dining, including character meals and themed restaurants.

Includes per person per night:

• 1 Table-Service meal

1 Table-Service meal

• 1 Quick-Service meal

1 Quick-Service meal

• 1 Snack or nonalcoholic drink

1 Snack or nonalcoholic drink

• 1 Resort refillable drink mug

1 Resort refillable drink mug

Great for: Guests who enjoy sit-down meals, table-service experiences, or plan character dining

What’s Included in a Meal Credit?

Quick-Service Meal Credit Includes:

• 1 entrée (e.g., burger, salad, rice bowl)

1 entrée (e.g., burger, salad, rice bowl)

• 1 beverage (alcoholic or nonalcoholic for guests 21+)

1 beverage (alcoholic or nonalcoholic for guests 21+)

Table-Service Meal Credit Includes:

• 1 entrée

1 entrée

• 1 dessert (lunch/dinner only)

1 dessert (lunch/dinner only)

• 1 beverage (alcoholic or nonalcoholic)

1 beverage (alcoholic or nonalcoholic)

Note: Buffets and family-style meals count as a single Table-Service credit and include all-you-care-to-enjoy options.

Snack Credit Includes:

• Mickey ice cream bars

Mickey ice cream bars

• Popcorn

Popcorn

• Bottled drinks

Bottled drinks

• Fruit

Fruit

• Bakery items

Bakery items

• Select festival foods

Select festival foods

How Dining Credits Work

• Credits are based on nights of stay, not number of days.

Credits are based on nights of stay, not number of days.

• All credits are loaded into your account at check-in.

All credits are loaded into your account at check-in.

• You can use your credits anytime during your stay—they don't have to be used daily.

You can use your credits anytime during your stay—they don't have to be used daily.

• Track your credits in the My Disney Experience app.

Track your credits in the My Disney Experience app.

• Credits expire at midnight on the day you check out.

Credits expire at midnight on the day you check out.

Participating Locations

Most restaurants across the resort participate in the Dining Plan, including:

• All theme park quick-service and table-service restaurants

All theme park quick-service and table-service restaurants

• Many Disney Resort hotel dining locations

Many Disney Resort hotel dining locations

• Disney Springs restaurants like D-Luxe Burger and Rainforest Café

Disney Springs restaurants like D-Luxe Burger and Rainforest Café

• Select festival booths at EPCOT (during festivals)

Select festival booths at EPCOT (during festivals)

Pro Tip: Always check that a location accepts the Dining Plan (most do) in the My Disney Experience app or on the Disney website.

What Does It Cost?

Pricing varies by season and length of stay, but here’s a general breakdown for 2025:

Plan

Adult (ages 10+)

Child (ages 3–9)

Quick-Service Dining Plan

~$59.99/day

~$24.99/day

Disney Dining Plan

~$94.99/day

~$29.99/day

Prices are per person, per night and must be added for the entire party for the length of stay.

Pros and Cons of the Disney Dining Plan

✅ Pros:

• Prepaid convenience—less worry about budgeting in the parks

Prepaid convenience—less worry about budgeting in the parks

• Great for families who plan to dine often or enjoy character meals

Great for families who plan to dine often or enjoy character meals

• Use snack credits for expensive EPCOT festival items for more value

Use snack credits for expensive EPCOT festival items for more value

• Refillable mugs save money on drinks at the resort

Refillable mugs save money on drinks at the resort

❌ Cons:

• Must plan ahead to get maximum value

Must plan ahead to get maximum value

• May not save money if you don’t eat full meals daily

May not save money if you don’t eat full meals daily

• Dining reservations required for most table-service meals

Dining reservations required for most table-service meals

• Not available to off-site guests

Not available to off-site guests

💡 Tips for Maximizing Value

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