Walt Disney World is constantly evolving, keeping those of us who plan Disney vacations for a living on our toes. New attractions, new entertainment offerings, new resort hotels, and new snacks and menu items. Speaking of food, Disney announced today a fourth option as part of its popular Dining Plan - Disney Dining Plan Plus.
To learn about the Disney Dining Plan in general, check out this blog post.
The new tier lies between the Disney Dining Plan, which offers two snacks, one quick-service meal and one table-service meal per person, per night, and the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan, which also offers two snacks per person, per night but also includes three meals which can be used in any combination of quick-service and table-service meals. The latter plan is ideal for folks who are primarily dining at character or signature meals and dinner shows which require two credits - or who are on a gastronomic tour of Walt Disney World - but we usually hear that it’s too much food for clients spending the majority of their time enjoying the parks and not in restaurants. Conversely, the Disney Dining Plan doesn’t afford enough credits for clients interested in a two-credit character or signature meal here and there.
Book the Rivers of Light Dining Package at Tiffins Restaurant for reserved seating at Animal Kingdom’s nighttime extravaganza.
What’s a Walt Disney World guest who wants to strike a balance between park time and leisurely dining to do? Hello, Disney Dining Plan Plus, and welcome to the rescue. The new option features the standard two snacks per person, per night along with two meals which can be used in any combination of quick-service and table-service meals.
Here’s a typical scenario. A family visiting Walt Disney World wants to maximize their park time by making reservations at several character meals and dining that offers reserved seating for shows - no waiting in line to meet characters at the parks or using valuable FastPass+ selections to watch a nighttime show. You have to eat anyway, so why not eat AND meet characters or grab special seating for shows at the same time.
If this family is visiting for four nights on the Disney Dining Plan, they’d have two snacks, one quick-service meal and one table-service meal per person, per night. Because credits can be used in a daily allotment or all at once, we’ll total their credits for the duration of their trip = eight snacks, four quick-service meals and four table-service meals per person, per night.
Using two table-service credits to meet Cinderella at Cinderella’s Royal Table - smart use of dining credits so that you don’t have to wait in line or use a FastPass+ selection
They have lunch reservations at Cinderella’s Royal Table (two table-service credits) because their daughter adores Disney princesses, dinner reservations at Be Our Guest because Mom’s first crush was the Beast, and dinner reservations at Hollywood Brown Derby for the Fantasmic! dining package because Dad wants to linger over wine instead of standing in line to get good seats. Well, this family on the Disney Dining Plan has exceeded the number of table-service credits by two. They’ll end up paying out of pocket for one of these meals.
Catch a glimpse of the enchanted rose in the West Wing dining room of Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom.
If they booked a package with the Disney Dining Plan Plus, they would have a surplus of two table-service credits . The remaining two credits could be used at table-service or quick-service restaurants- affording them with dining flexibility. Win, win!
Healthy and filling bowl entree at Satu’li Canteen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom - one quick-service credit to refuel quickly for standing on your feet waiting to enter the line for Filght of Passage
The last dining tier is the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan. With just two snacks and two quick-service credits per person, per night, this plan is ideal for Walt Disney World visitors attempting the four-parks-in-one-day challenge or trying to accomplish as many rides in a park in a single visit. Eating at the table-service restaurants - signature, character or one-credit sit-down eateries - uses a lot of time which these type of visitors want to spend in the parks.
Which is the right plan for you? For a quick trip with a focus on entertainment and attractions, it might be the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan. For another trip when you’re eating at one-credit, table-service restaurants, it could be the Disney Dining Plan. When you’re wanting a mix of character and signature dining, it might be the new Disney Dining Plan Plus. And for that special trip when you’re focusing on exploring the best of what Disney has to offer culinarily, the Disney Dining Plan Deluxe just could be the right plan!