Disney Dining Plan – How It Works and How to Get It For Free!
Yes, I know this is at the Disneyland Hotel and not at WDW, but it's the only picture I have of my kid and Chef Goofy. Deal with it.
Before I get into the “free” part, a quick word…
Perhaps you’ve heard of the Disney Dining Plan at Walt Disney World and you’ve thought that it sounded like a great idea, but also a little complicated. That’s fair. You’ve thought sillier stuff and we both know it. The fact is, the Disney Dining Plan is actually simple and it will save you about 30% per adult. That’s a boatload of money (actual boats may vary).
Disney Dining Plans are only available to guests of Walt Disney World Resorts using Magic Your Way Vacation Packages. That part is important. When a plan is purchased you are allotted X amount of meals and/or snacks during your stay at over 100 participating eateries on Walt Disney World Resort property. The meals are broken down by type, meaning you get a certain number (varies by plan) of breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks over the duration of your Disney vacation. Here’s some information from Disney:
* When booking your vacation, purchase one of the Magic Your Way Vacation Packages that includes a Disney Dining Plan.
* While vacationing at Walt Disney World Resort, choose from over 100 select restaurants available.
* Present your Key to the World card [Editor -- also serves as your room key] to your server or cashier prior to ordering. The Key to the World card electronically monitors your party’s allocated meals.
* Track your meals with the easy-to-read receipt your server will provide you, which displays your remaining meal balance.
* Redeem your meals in any order throughout your package stay until each person’s meal total is complete.
For information on the Magic Your Way Vacation Packages and Disney Dining Plans visit the official Walt Disney World website.
Now for the FREE part: Walt Disney World is currently running a special offer for 5-night/6-day Magic Your Way room and ticket packages booked by August 14, 2010 (package must be used between August 15, 2010 and October 2, 2010). Based on the resort level purchased (Disney Value, Moderate, Deluxe, Deluxe Villa, respectively) guests will be able to add a FREE Disney Dining Plan (a family of 4 would save $689) or a FREE Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan (a family of 4 would save $529). To learn more, check availability and book your vacation please visit this official Walt Disney World page.
The bottom line is that the Disney Dining Plan is a good deal even if you have to pay for it! Now I’m just a travel editor of very little brain, but it seems to me that Disney vacations are a lot more enjoyable without a constant rumbly in your tumbly. Just a theory.
Pace yourself.
Photo by Whit Honea