What not everyone knows is that when it comes to staying at DisneyWorld, you can actually buy a dining package (or receive one in a promo) which may save you money while you are there. Of course it also runs the risk of costing you money so it is certainly something to think on. For us, we never booked one as it did not make sense for us based on cost (we are not big eaters) but for other people I know they like the convenience of it as you pre-pay for it so you don't have to budget for additional food costs when you are at the pack.

You basically pre-pay for credits that can be used towards food. Upon check into the hotel you are provided all of your credits for your entire stay. These credits expire at 11:59pm on the day you check out so even if you check out of the hotel and go back into the park, you can still use them. The credits uploaded onto your file at check in which is connected to each persons wrist band so you don't have to dine together. However, the credits are shared between everyone staying in the same room so if you do not dine together, it is easy to spend someone else's credits.

There are three options to chose from:

1. Quick-Service Plan: these will be grab and go food locations
   
2. Dining Plan: mix of both plans - the most popular option
   
3. Deluxe Dining Plan: fancier, sit down restaurants

That is very true, okay, let me break it down a different way.

Table Service

1. Nicest of all the restaurants, will be a table service (you sit down and things come to you) or a buffet.
2. Character dining experiences also fall under this category.
   Examples: Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge, California Grill at the Contemporary, San Angel Inn at the Mexico Pavilion in Epcot
3. If this is your cup of tea then book the Deluxe Dining Plan to only eat at this option, if you are okay only eating at these places once per day then book the Dining Plan

Quick Service

1. Quick meals where you line up at a register to order then pick your items up at a counter
   Examples: Satu'li Canteen, The Lunching Pad, Geyser Point Bar & Grill
2. This would be covered under Quick Service plan or you'd get one credit per day with the Dining Plan to use here

Each tier has their own pricing and amount of credits as well as what they include. Prices and provided # of credits are listed below, per day.

Quick Service

2019 cost was U$ 23.78 per night, per child | U$ 52.50 per night, per adult

2 meal credits - can only be used at Quick Service locations

2 snack credits

Dining Plan

2019 cost was U$ 27.98 per night, per child | U$ 75.49 per night, per adult

1 Quick Service meal credit

1 Table-service meal credit

2 snack credits

Deluxe Dining Plan

2019 cost was U$ 43.49 per night, per child | U$ 116.25 per night, per adult

3 Table-service meal credit

2 snack credits

Everyone over 3 also gets a refillable mug that you can use to get drinks at any Disney operated hotel (it does not work in the park). These mugs fit about a can's size worth of drink so they are not even worth taking into the park.

Quick Service

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner: an entrée and a drink

Table Service

Breakfast - the quick service credit will be used - an entrée and a drink

Lunch or dinner - the Table Service credit will be used - an entrée, desert, and one beverage OR (if available) one buffet seating OR (if available) one family-style seating

**you could eat at the Quick Service for dinner and just get the entrée + drink but it does not make sense to use the Table Service credit for breakfast

Deluxe Table Service - (can be used at Quick service or table service):

Breakfast: an entrée and a drink

Lunch or dinner: appetizer, an entrée, desert, and one beverage OR (if available) one buffet seating OR (if available) one family-style seating

Snacks are the same for any of the tiers. "Snacks" are any single item that has a sticker (or printed on it) of a purple square split into four smaller squares (two purple, two white) with the Disney "D", a standard "d" "p", and a drink container inside the boxes. Items at Epcot's various festivals are included if they have this symbol. Examples of some of these items are Oatmeal, ice cream bar, bottle of water, popcorn, coffee, muffin

1. Not every hotel participates (ex. Victoria & Alberts)
   
2. it is only available for kids age 3+
   hildren under 3 eat for free from an adult's plate or you can bring a meal into the restaurant for them
   
3. children (ages 3-9) have to order from the kids menu, they are not allowed adult portions
   
4. children 10+ may order from the kids menu at the restaurant's discretion
   
5. Children are only able to use Children credits and Adults only use Adult credits
   
6. If you are dining with someone who is not on your meal plan, you can use your credit(s) to pay for them
   
7. some sit down restaurants use 2 credits for a meal so check before sitting down
   
8. when you pick a restaurant just tell the Cast Member that you will be using a Dining Plan as this will allow the server to set the bill up properly as well as point out items that are not covered

it is only available online if you book a package through Disney (onsite hotel + park tickets)

you can call Disney or a travel agent to book just a onsite hotel + dining package

**you cannot book a dining package without staying at a Disney hotel or a Disney approved hotel (ex. Four Seasons Orlando, Swan & Dolphin, most Coronado Springs hotels)

Usually Disney runs a promo every fall (it's usually once a year but typically in the fall) where they will offer a free Dining Package based on the time of year, hotel, and room you are trying to book. The stay time period, hotel, and room level eligibility changes every year. For example, in 2019 it was for:

Vacations booked Jan. 2 - Feb 10 for stays that took place between July 5 - Sept 30 that were 5 nights / 6 days for a max of adults + 2 kids per room.

Fine print:

if you stayed at a Value or Moderate hotel then you received a free quick service plan

if you stayed at a Deluxe hotel then you received the Dining Plan (not the Deluxe, the moderate option)

you were allowed to pay a fee to upgrade the dining plan

not every hotel was included in the offer

Side note - if the Free Dining Promo is not running, check to see if the Summer Meal Offer is on.

Side, side note - sometimes you can get the Free Dining Package on Bounce Back promotions (when you visit, contact the Disney operator at the hotel and they will provide you a promo if you book your next trip while on your current trip), Chase Disney Visa Cardholder promotions, and sometimes it can even be country related.

If you are trying to save money, this might not be the best way to go about doing it as they will usually increase the cost of the hotel room when compared to a hotel + ticket packages. If you don't eat a lot, are a vegan/veggie, or are a picky eater then it might not be right for you. Remember, Disney is a business and their business is to separate you from your hard earned money!

There is not a specific idea as to how much a credit is worth (Disney keeps that information hidden) but looking at average prices

1 snack credit is worth about $5-7

1 table service credit is $40-45

1 quick service credit is $20-25

With that in mind, think about how much you usually eat in a day and then look at some of the restaurant pricing that you can find online. Does it make sense for you? Remember, it is Florida so it will probably be hot. A lot of people eat less in the heat.

Another thing to think about, usually all entrees worth (roughly $20-50) are included but things like additional sides, add-on's, and special / promo items are not. However they will usually include a non-alcoholic drink and a dessert. So if you are eating at an a la carte restaurant you might get your steak and a Coke but nothing else.

Tips are not included with the credits and are based off the total meal cost before credits (except show meals and Cinderella's Royal Table). Parties of 6 or more are automatically charged an 18% tip.

You can change some credits around so upon booking, ask to do some swapping around. You can usually downgrade credits:

1 quick quick service credit can be changed into 3 snack credits

1 table service credit can be swapped to 1 quick service meal

1. Use a snack credit for breakfast
2. You can use a snack credit on an appy or split an entrée for a light lunch which would save you a meal credit
3. Eat light on one day, gorge on another
4. try to order the most expensive item on the menu or the most expensive restaurant
   Ex. dinner at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is $60 and is covered by the meal plan
5. try to eat at places that include VIP seating for parades and nighttime shows like
   - Fantasmic! Dining Package
   - The Rivers of Light Dining Package
   - Festival of Fantasy Dining Package
6. if Epcot is having a festival, use your snack credits there as a lot of the treats are $10
7. plan for three table service meals per day - however each table service meal will be about 45 min - 1 hour so it is a lot of time out of your day
   
8. skip the restaurants that require 2 table service if you want the most bang for your buck
   Ex. California Grill: entrée + desert + drink is $70 or 2 dining credits
9. if you are eating at a quick service restaurant, you can swap a dessert for a side, just ask your server

If you are a vegetarian or vegan, it is not worth it.

if you are a light eater, not worth it

If you are planning on having a day at the hotel where you just order in-room dining, don't. Pizza delivery (Disney does their own and it is crap) takes 2 table-service (not quick service) dining credits so just pay out of pocket