Disney Dining Plan: Complete Guide for 2025-2026
The Disney Dining Plan is one of the most popular add-ons to a Disney World vacation package. But it can also cause the most confusion. In this article, we go into everything you need to know about the Disney Dining Plan—What is it? How does it work? How much does it cost? Can it really save you money? And so much more.
What is the Disney Dining Plan?
The Disney Dining Plan is an optional component that can be added to a Disney World vacation package—it lets you prepay for most of your meals and possibly save a bit of cash in the process.
An added benefit is that it allows you to bundle the cost of food into your Disney World vacation payment plan. Having a (nearly) all-inclusive Disney Vacation—complete with hotel, tickets, and most dining for a single price—means less need to keep track of daily spending during your trip.
How Does the Disney Dining Plan Work?
Disney Dining Plans assign a certain number of dining credits (also known as entitlements) to each person staying in your resort room—those credits can be redeemed for meals, snacks, and more.
The number and type of credits you get depends on the plan you choose and how long your trip is.
What Kind of Food is Included?
Most of the food options at Disney World Dining are included in the Dining Plan one way or another. Anything from a Mickey pretzel to an all-you-can-eat buffet and even a dinner show can usually be paid for using Dining Plan credits. But it depends on which plan you have and what type of credits you get.
Is the Disney Dining Plan Flexible?
One of the biggest benefits of the Disney Dining Plan is its flexibility.
You’ll see Dining Plans described as a certain number of credits “per night,” but that really just refers to how they calculate the total number of credits you’ll get over the course of your trip.
In reality, all of your meal and snack entitlements are available to use right away, starting the moment you check in. And you can use them whenever you like throughout your trip.
Want to have three sit-down meals in one day? No sweat! Not feeling that hungry and just want a snack instead of a meal? Piece of cake (literally)!
Just make sure you use them all up by 11:59 PM on the day you check out of the hotel—any unused credits will turn into pumpkins at midnight!
Each credit/entitlement within the Disney Dining Plan is earmarked for a specific type of meal or experience. Here’s an overview.
Some Disney Dining Plans include Table Service Credits. A table service meal at Disney World is one in which you are seated at a table and given a menu. In these restaurants, a server visits your table, takes your order, delivers your food, and serves you throughout the meal.
Via Napoli restaurant in Epcot’s World Showcase
Your Disney Table Service Meal entitlement includes:
- Entrée (usually with an included side item)
- Beverage (including alcohol options for those aged 21+)
- Dessert (except at breakfast)
Some restaurants also offer a special prix fixe or buffet menu option on the Dining Plan.
Special Rules for Signature Dining and Dinner Shows
A select few of the nicest restaurants at Disney World are considered to be “Signature Dining.” These high-end locations usually still accept Table Service Credits, but there’s a catch.
Because they’re more expensive in general, you will have to use two Table Service Credits for a single meal at these specialty restaurants.
Similarly, the ever-popular Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue—a Dinner Show at Fort Wilderness—also requires two Table Service Credits.
A Quick Service credit lets you enjoy fast casual dining options at Disney World. You’ll usually place your order at a counter or via the My Disney Experience app, then pick up your meal and find a table. For a real world example, think of the experience you might have at McDonald’s, Panera Bread, or other “fast food” and “quick casual” places.
Connections Cafe at EPCOT
Your Disney Quick Service Meal entitlement includes:
- Entrée (often with an included side item)
- Beverage (including alcohol options for those aged 21+)
Some quick service places may also have special combo meal options eligible for the Dining Plan.
All Disney Dining Plans include a Snack Credit.
Generally speaking, any single-serve food item or non-alcoholic beverage with a price point around, say, $7 or less will likely qualify for use of a snack credit.
Some examples include:
- Mickey ice cream bar
- Mickey soft pretzel with cheese sauce
- Churro
- Dole Whip
- Box of popcorn
- 20-ounce soda or bottled water
- Small bag of potato chips
- Whole fresh fruit
- Select items at EPCOT festival booths
Again, these are merely possible examples — the best way to determine if something qualifies is to either ask the Cast Member tending the location, or to look for a “DDP” logo next to the item on menus and price signage.
Purple DDP icons are shown to the left of eligible snacks on a menu board
Each Disney Dining Plan includes a Resort Refillable Mug for every person in the room.
This plastic travel mug can be used throughout your trip for free refills at your hotel’s self-service drink center. It’s not valid at the theme parks, water parks, or Disney Springs.
Fill your mug all vacation long with soft drinks (Coca-Cola products), water, coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and occasionally some other options—then, once your trip is over, you’ve got a nice practical souvenir to take home with you.
There’s more than one kind of Disney Dining Plan. Each choice offers different kinds of meals and is priced differently.
Disney is currently offering two versions — there’s the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, or the more traditional Disney Dining Plan (standard version). In prior years, there was also a “deluxe” version which is currently not offered.
Here’s an overview of the different types of Disney Dining Plans.
Columbia Harbour House
The Disney Quick Service Dining Plan is the least expensive dining plan option. It entitles you to counter service meals and snacks at most Quick Service dining locations and food carts around Walt Disney World Resort. This plan lets you quickly “put some gas in the tank” and then head off to your next ride!
Best for: light eaters, budget-conscious travelers, and those who are constantly on the go
2025 Cost (Per Person, Per Night)
Adult (Ages 10+): $59.04
Child (Ages 3-9): $24.89
2026 Cost (Per Person, Per Night)
Adult (Ages 10+): $60.48
Child (Ages 3-9): $0.00
Space 220 Restaurant at EPCOT
The “standard” or “table service” Disney Dining Plan offers a mix of on-the-go Quick Service meals and leisurely Table Service meals. Many families enjoy this plan because they can use their snack credit for a grab-and-go light breakfast (such as a muffin), have a Quick Service lunch without wasting too much time in the park, then end the day with a relaxing dinner before the fireworks.
Best for: those who prefer a wider variety of choices, people who enjoy taking time out for a relaxing meal, those who like at least one heavier meal each day
2025 Cost (Per Person, Per Night)
Adult (Ages 10+): $97.69
Child (Ages 3-9): $30.85
2026 Cost (Per Person, Per Night)
Adult (Ages 10+): $98.62
Child (Ages 3-9): $0.00
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Dining Plan Rules
Here are a few more things to understand about the Disney Dining Plan:
- Dining plans must be purchased as part of a Disney World Resort hotel package. They cannot be purchased if you’re staying offsite.
- The Dining Plan must be purchased for the entire length of your resort stay. It cannot be purchased for just a few nights of your stay.
- Everyone (ages 3+) in the room must purchase the dining plan. It cannot be purchased by just a few of the people on the reservation.
- Everyone (ages 3+) in the room must purchase the same dining plan. It’s not possible to have some people on one dining plan and other people on a different plan.
- Entitlements can not be transferred between members of the travel party
- Children ages 3-9 must order from the children’s menu if one is provided
Disney Dining Plan FAQs
We hope this article has helped eliminate some of the mystery surrounding the Disney Dining Plan.
But if you’re still feeling a little lost, don’t fret! You can get fast, free help from some theme park experts we just happen to know.
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