[Ryan C.]

Walt Disney World's Disney Dining Plan will cost more in 2010. Although Disney has not released specific details regarding the rate increase, it could reduce demand for the Disney Dining Plan, which resort guests add to their room package.

Currently the dining plan costs about $41 per night for guests ages 10 and up and $11 for children ages 3-9. It is added to resort guests' hotel room key or "Key to the World," which is scanned at Disney restaurants and snack carts. Guests who add the Disney Dining Plan to their resort packages receive one snack, one quick service meal, and one table service meal per night of stay. Since one table service meal can easily add up to the daily Disney Dining Plan standard rate of $41, the Disney Dining Plan is currently a bargain. Should the 2010 cost exceed $45 per day for an adult, however, the value of adding the Disney Dining Plan to a resort package will decline.

The Disney Dining Plan is a better deal for Disney World cast members, who pay as little as $25 per day. The best deal of all is available to guests who take advantage of the free Disney Dining Plan, which is available to guests who book special packages for stays between three and fourteen nights between September 27 and December 17. The free Disney Dining Plan offer is not available in combination with any other discount, including annual passholder, Florida resident, or Disney Vacation Club discounts on Disney resort hotels.

The Disney Dining Plan was originally offered to standard resort guests only, but in recent years Disney World extended the dining savings program to Disney World annual passholders and Disney Vacation Club members. Passholders, cast members, and guests who like to stretch their Disney dollars eat at some of Disney World's best table service restaurants for a fraction of the price.

Table service locations include some of Disney's finest restaurants at the theme parks and resort hotels, including 'Ohana at Disney's Polynesian Resort, the Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom, and Teppan Edo steakhouse in Epcot's Japan pavilion. Reservations for table service restaurants need to be made in advance. Princess Dining at Norway's Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is also available with the Disney Dining Plan. More information on making dining reservations is available here.

A non-alcoholic beverage and dessert are included with all table service and quick service meals. Both types of meals are available at Disney theme parks, Disney resort hotels, and at select locations at the Downtown Disney shopping center. One of the best places to stretch the quick service meal entitlements is at Epcot, which features myriad informal cafes. At the patisserie in France, one combination diners can purchase with their quick service entitlement is a ham and Swiss sandwich on a baguette, a large drink, and an exquisite French pastry of their choice. Or head to the Japanese cafe near the koi pool for sushi with tea. The quick service entitlement is good for more than plain old chicken fingers and fries.

The snack entitlement can be used for a non-alcoholic beverage or a snack. Once again, Epcot offers the greatest variety of snacks, especially at World Showcase. The Disney Dining Plan snack entitlement can also be used during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in the fall. One snack entitlement can be used to purchase a snack-sized portion of international cuisine from the many outdoor kiosks featuring German apple strudel, Canadian cheddar cheese soup, Norwegian strawberry rice cream, Greek baklava, and a plethora of dishes from around the world.

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[G00fyDad]

I hope this doesn't change their trend of having a "free DDP" promotion in 2010. That was the whole reason we are changing our trip schedule and keeping the kids out of school 2 extra days. It would save us $1200. Not to mention it saving us $1500 by moving the travel dates just 3 weeks earlier.

[Winkster]

I guess we ought to resist commenting until we have full details although it wouldn't surprise me if the price went up.

Regardless of your thoughts regarding the last price hike and on changes to the plan (scrapping gratuities and appetizers etc), the plan does still represent excellent value.

I still think Disney should expand the options so you can select what you want to include - appetizer, entrees, dessert, gratuities, soft drinks, wine, beer and so on. Surely Disney could operate an "account" type system where you pay for whatever extras you want and tailor the plan to suit your own requirements.

I'm sure Disney would get more custom that way. We don't use the DDP now as we don't eat desserts and prefer appetizers but given that option, we might reconsider. It'd be good if you could purchase "units" which are not based on length of stay too.

It'd be a more complicated system but no worse than booking hotels, room upgrades and so on.

[stinkerbellsmom]

Well said winkster, I think the more customized DP is definately something that should be explored.

[Mandy0726]

I have never used DDP. Do you think that it is a good idea for those who do not want to make ressie everyday?

[G00fyDad]

Originally Posted by Mandy0726

I have never used DDP. Do you think that it is a good idea for those who do not want to make ressie everyday?

There are several things to consider when deciding whether to use the DDP or not.

Will you want to eat at any "Table Service" locations? Make a list of all locations (Quick Service (QS) and Table Service (TS)) that you want to eat at and look up the menu's for each place. Make a mock up of the order for each place and then toal all food costs. If that total comes to more than you would pay for the DDP then go with the DDP. For instance, with our restaraunt schedule, we would pay $1800 out of pocket. And with the DDP we will only pay $1200. A $600 savings is hard to pass up. Especially since we will be going to WDW during the Free DDP.

Remember that if you choose the DDP you must choose one of 3 options here:

Quick Service Dining Plan
The Quick Service Dining Plan includes, per person, per night of your stay:
Two counter service meals
Two snacks
One refillable resort mug
$31.99 per night per adult (10 and older)
$9.99 per child (3 – 9)

Disney Dining Plan
The Disney Dining Plan includes, per person, per night of your stay:
One table service meal
One counter service meal
One snack
Table service meals can also be used for signature restaurants, dinner shows, private dining or pizza delivery (these typically run 2 table service meals per person).
$39.99 per night per adult (10 and older)
$10.99 per child (3 – 9)

Disney Deluxe Dining Plan
The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan includes, per person, per night of your stay:
Three meals, which can be used for either counter service or table service meals
Two snacks
One resort refillable mug
$71.99 per night per adult (10 and older)
$20.99 per child (3 – 9)


If you don't plan on making ADR's for each day then the Regular DDP may not be for you. You could still use the Regular DDP and just play it "Loosey Goosey" but even though I have heard others say that ADR's do not always matter and that they could always get in to the restaraunts without them, I've seen way too many people say that they were turned away from the time they wanted because the place was full.

So, no, you don't need to make ADR's but they are very, very helpful.