So some super exciting news this week. Disney is finally confirming the return of the Disney Dining Plan and Disney Quick Service Dining Plan for bookings beginning January 9, 2024 and forward! I honestly don’t know if there has ever been a more anticipated announcement. As May 31, the drop day for 2024 Walt Disney World Packages, I know each of us is polishing up those appetites and more than ready to take advantage of the DDP’s return and the more inclusivity it lends to paying for a Disney vacation. While we don’t have all the specifics yet, let’s chat thru what we know so far!
As I mentioned, the type of plans returning will be both the Disney Dining Plan and the Disney Quick Service Plan. Frankly, I am super surprised they didn’t just make the short lived, Dining Plan Plus the all around go to, but what do I know. If you’ll remember, that was the plan the had the option to mix and match quick and table service meals within the plan. I found this an outstanding choice for those that love flexibility! One day, you could have 2 table services, and maybe the next 2 quick meals if you were on the go a little more. I feel like this plan was just a bit more conducive to variety with eatery choices and schedule. While I do believe they are possibly missing the mark by not bringing this back for 2024, I am going to hold out hope that we will see its return and the further expansion of the Disney Dining Plan types in the future, once WDW gets back into that DDP swing again!
Let’s talk about the Disney Quick Service meal plan as we knew it, pre-Covid. This particular plan included 2 quick services meals and two snacks, per person, per night of stay and a refillable drink mug per person to be used at your respective resort. Ideally in my mind, this plan was perfect for shorter stays or families that prefer to be more on the go from rope drop to fireworks. And with the combination of mobile ordering, this meal plan is one serious time saver if you won’t be visiting long. Keep in mind that some sit down dining experiences can take some time, so if your family doesn’t like long dinners or you have little ones that are not a fan of sitting thru a drawn out meal, then a quick plan is going to be your ideal choice. Many folks ask if the quick meal portions are substantial and I have to say yes. Most any meal that you order at Disney is going to be very heartily portioned if not enough to share! So we are not talking about “happy meal” sized dining on the quick service plan. You will definitely get your fill! Pricing information on the quick service plan will be available soon.
Next up, the Disney Dining Plan itself, or as us old heads refer to it, the regular dining plan. This classic combo is the favorite of most guests that did add dining in the past. One quick meal, one table meal, and two snacks per person, per night of stay and a refillable drink mug per guest makes this plan that middle of the road that most guests are looking for. And of course, planning sit down meals ahead of time and getting a lay of the quick service restaurants will help you really make the most of this plan and it’s meal credits. Pricing and details on combining credits (for a signature dining experience) have not yet been released, but as soon as those details are available, I’ll be sharing them AND my thoughts. I am hoping for a reasonably priced and easy to follow return of this plan to Disney vacations.
Overall, at this stage in the game (before knowing every detail) I can’t help but share in the excitement at the return of the various meal plans. My biggest reason, stress relief. Being able to get your dining paid for prior to even stepping foot onto the property is so helpful to most folks planning a WDW vacation. These plans give you the feel of the “all inclusive” type vacation where you don’t have to think about each purchase of a snack, drink, etc. In my mind, I’m thinking no Mickey Bar left behind AND littles (and bigs) can get those much needed snacks to stave off hangriness! Less hangry, means less fussing, means less stress, means a magical vacation! I look forward to sharing more with you as further details are released, but for now, dive into those Disney restaurant menus and get hype for the return of the Disney Dining Plan!
