Walt Disney World Dining: Dining Options, Disney Dining Plans and How to Choose What’s Right for You

Written By Missy Scharer

Planning Disney dining can feel overwhelming with reservations, dining plans, character meals and snacks everywhere you look. The good news? It doesn’t have to be complicated. Let’s break down Disney dining options, Disney dining plans and how to choose what’s right for your family.

Disney Dining Options: What Are Your Choices?

First off when you book a Disney World Package your dining reservations open 60 days prior to your check-in date. You will be able to reserve dining for the entirety of your trip. Here are a couple things to remember:

  • Popular restaurants fill up fast

  • Having a plan makes a huge difference

If you are overwhelmed with options, this is where working with a Disney travel agent really helps. I help my clients decide:

  • Which restaurants are truly worth booking

  • Which meals fit best into their park schedule

  • How to balance dining with park time

Dining Options

Quick-Service Dining

  • Cafeteria or counter-service dining

  • Mobile ordering available on your My Disney Experience app

  • No reservations required

  • Perfect for families who want flexibility and minimal downtime

Table-Service Dining

  • Sit-down dining where you are waited on by servers

  • Reservations strongly recommended (this is where your 60 day dining reservation window comes in handy!)

  • Character dining Options are table-service

  • Ideal for when you want a break at a park or want to experience the different foods and themes Disney has to offer without being rushed

Disney Dining Plan

Quick Service Dining Plan

  • 2 Quick-Service Meals (per night of stay)*

  • 1 Snack/Nonalcoholic Drink (per night of stay)*

  • 1 Resort-Refillable Drink Mug**

Table Service Dining Plan

  • 1 Quick-Service Meal (per night of stay)*

  • 1 Table-Service Meal (per night of stay)*

  • 1 Snack/Nonalcoholic Drink (per night of stay)*

  • 1 Resort-Refillable Drink Mug**

  • *lot’s of asterisk here! Click below to learn more about your options!

Click Here to read more about the Disney Dining Plan options

How to choose what’s right for you and your family!

That’s why I am here. As a Travel Planner, I specialize in Walt Disney World and that means helping with dining. When you choose to plan your vacation with me, we’ll work together on what dining reservations you would like, what your park day strategies look like and how dining fits in to that. I’ll also take a closer look at the Disney Dining plan options available and calculate if they are worth it for your family.

Here’s what I suggest when planning dining:

  • Take a look at the Disney Dining Plan options and do the math to see if it is going to work for your family’s budget.

  • Think about each day you are at Disney World, will you be at the resort, at the parks, exploring other resort hotels? This will help determine what type of meal you would like, quick service or table service.

  • Do you or your kids love a certain character and want to experience one of the Disney World Character Dining options?

  • Have you seen or heard a certain Disney food that you just have to try? Build your meals around locations. Animal Kingdom is going to offer very different and unique foods compared to Magic Kingdom. It’s fun to try new and exciting foods throughout Disney World.

  • Do the math! Take a look at what restaurants you want to eat at and estimate your daily food budget.

I’m here to help!

Thanks! With Love,

Missy

Missy Scharer
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Bringing Your Own Food and Water to Disney World: What You Need to Know