Disney Dining Plan - is it worth it? Part 2 - Standard Dining Plan

August 28th, 2008 . by admin

Following on from my last article, here I’ll look at whether the full dining plan is worth paying extra for.

What does the standard dining plan include?

Per package, per night, each guest is entitled to:

1 Table Service Meal -
Full buffet & non-alcoholic beverage
OR
Entree, non-alcoholic beverage & dessert (except at breakfast)

1 Quick Service Meal -
One entrée OR one complete Combo Meal
One dessert (Lunch or Dinner) or one juice (Breakfast)
One single serving non-alcoholic beverage

1 Snack -
Choose from:
- Frozen ice-cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
- Box of popcorn
- Single serving grab bag of Frito-Lay’s chips
- One 20oz bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dansani water
- Single piece whole fruit
- Medium fountain soft drink or apple juice

The package costs $39.99 extra per person, per night.

This time, for the purpose of this article we’ll imagine you’re on a 7 day visit to Disney World.

Day 1 - Magic Kingdom

~ Morning snack from The Lunching Pad at Rockettower Plaza
Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel - $3.79

~ Lunch is at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
Bacon Double Cheeseburger - $7.59
Triple Chocolate Cake - $3.59
Minute Maid Orange Juice - $2.39

~ Dinner - Your little Princess is desperate to eat in the Castle and meet Cinderella, so you’re using two of your table service credits to eat at the Cinderella’s Royal Table “Dreams Come True” Dinner.
Cost = $40.99

TOTAL = $58.35

Day 2 - Animal Kingdom

As you used two table service credits for yesterday’s dinner you only have a quick service and snack credit to use today.

~ Lunch is from Pizzafari
Hot Italian Style Sandwich with Chips - $7.09
Apple Pie - $3.59
Coca-Cola - $2.39

~ Afternoon snack is from Tamu Tamu Refreshments
Carrot Cake - $3.59

TOTAL = $16.66

Day 3 - Epcot

~ Breakfast is at Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Boma
$16.99

~ Afternoon snack from the Electric Umbrella
French Fries w/cheese sauce - $2.89

~ Dinner is from Liberty Inn
Bacon Double Cheeseburger - $7.59
Mickey’s Crisped Rice Treat - $2.69
Minute Maid Apple Juice - $2.39

TOTAL = $32.55

Day 4 - Blizzard Beach

~ Lunch is from Avalunch
Turkey Club Wrap - $6.69
Itzakadoozie - $2.39
Sprite - $2.09

~ Afternoon snack from The Warming Hut
King Size Chips - $2.39

Then it’s back to the resort to get freshened up for dinner…

~ Dinner is at ‘Ohana at Polynesian Resort
$26.99

TOTAL = $40.55

Day 5 - Disney’s Hollywood Studios

~ mid-morning you get thirsty and grab a drink from Toluca Legs Turkey Co.
Nestea Iced Tea - $2.39

~ Lunch is at Toy Story Pizza Planet
Woody’s Meal Deal - $8.09
Chocolate Chip Cookie - $1.89
Minute Maid Lemonade - $2.39

~ Dinner at 50’s Prime Time Cafe
Golden Fried Chicken - $14.99
S’mores - $4.79
Chocolate Milk - $2.00

TOTAL = $36.54

Day 6 - Magic Kingdom

~ Breakfast is with the characters at Crystal Palace
$18.99

~ Lunch is from El Pirata y el Perico Restaurante
Beef Taco - $5.99
Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream Bar - $3.29
Diet Coke - $2.39

~ Afternoon snack is from Aloha Isle
Dole Whip Soft Serve - $2.89

TOTAL = $33.55

Day 7 - Epcot

~ Mid-morning snack is from Kringle Bakeri og Kafe in Norway
Waffle - $2.49

~ Lunch is at Sommerfest in Germany
Bratwurst - $6.39
Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce - $3.59
Dasani Bottled Water - $2.00

~ Dinner is at Rose and Crown Pub & Dining Room in United Kingdom
Bangers and Mash - $15.99
Baileys Irish Coffee Trifle - $5.99
Espresso - $3.19

TOTAL = $39.64

Is it worth buying the full dining plan?

For this comparison I’ve tried to choose a variety of different menu items, and have also used two table service credits for one character meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table. Two table service credits can also be used to get one private dining meal, or a dinner show, which I haven’t looked at here.

The total for the above 7 day’s worth of meals = $257.84

Disney Dining Plan would have cost = $279.93

So, as you can see you’d be paying $22.09 more for the dining plan than you would have spent on meals, making it better value without the dining plan. Maybe if you used your table service credits differently, and bought the most expensive thing on the menu at every place, you’d come out on top, but I doubt you’ll save a huge amount by purchasing the dining plan, whichever way you look at it.

If you can get the dining plan free on one of the promotions run by Disney, then you’ll be laughing, otherwise I’d recommend not bothering.

(Prices shown for comparison purpose only, and may have changed since data was gathered.)

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