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Disney offers five different dining plans, from two quick-service meals per person per night to three meals at the restaurant of your choice. For 2013, Disney’s Basic Dining Plan includes one quick-service meal, one table service meal, and one snack per person per night of their reservation.

This is a great option for most families because it saves you money and also allows you to try a variety of restaurants. One of the best ways to plan your meals is use a quick-service credit for lunch and a table-service credit for dinner. You can grab lunch wherever is  conveniently located near you and then plan to make dining reservations for dinner. You can end with a big meal and then be ready to start all over the next day.

If you travel to Disney World during the free dining promotion, you can receive a free basic dining plan when you stay at a moderate or deluxe resort. You receive the quick service dining plan for free when you stay at a value resort. The quick service dining plan will include two quick service meals and one snack per person per night. One of the biggest drawbacks to this plan is that it does not include character meals. However, you can always pay the difference to upgrade to the basic dining plan if you choose when you are at a value resort. For a one week stay, it ends up being about a $200 difference to pay to upgrade your dining plan rather than stay at a moderate resort.

The out-of-pocket cost of the quick-service dining plan is $37.58 per adult and $14.32 per child per night. The cost for the basic dining plan is $55.59 per adult and $17.16 per child per night. One person’s table service meal alone could cost over $50 so it can be a big savings!

Your dining plan meals will consist of  an entrée, a non-alcoholic beverage, and dessert during lunch or dinner. During breakfast, your meal will include an entree and a non-alcoholic beverage. Just don’t forget to make your advance dining reservations that start 180 days in advance.

There are plenty of tips and tricks to get the most out of your Disney Dining Plan. Stay tuned to find out how when we learn more next week!

Do you get the Disney Dining Plan when you go? Which plan works best for your family? Don’t forget to comment and let me know!

Magically Yours,

Siera

Related articles

• The Essentials of Disney Dining Plans 2013 (disneydining.com)
• Why Choose the Disney Dining Plan (disneydining.com)

Siera (112 Posts)

When Siera isn't planning Disney vacations for her friends and family, she is spreading Disney magic with everyone around her! Siera is a graduate of the Disney College of Knowledge and an authorized Disney vacation planner with Destinations in Florida.