Disney Deluxe Dining Plan: Advice?

If you like the all inclusive idea, why not put the same amount you think you'll spend on a Disney gift card and use that for all of your meals? That way, whatever is left over can be saved for another trip OR you can spend it any way you want in the gift shops or whatever.
Its a good idea, but IMO, it doesn't work the same subconsciously as having your meals actually prepaid would do. While some people will order the steak dinner every night with the dining plan because they don't have to worry about the cost, they may still feel like they need to watch what they spend with the money on a gift card to ensure they don't go over. And with putting money on a gift card, you really don't want to overestimate and then have that money hanging in the balance on a gift card you may not be able to use. My MIL put almost $1000 on Disney gift cards before her first trip expecting to use it all between meals and souvenirs, and she had nearly $400 left at the end of the trip. She won't be returning again for the foreseeable future, so now she just uses the balance towards gifts for the kids, which isn't ideal for her.
 
I think the gift card idea is good and would like to try it at least once. I also want to try this Deluxe Dining Plan at least once. Ive been reading up, and Im hoping Ive spaced it out well taking in the feedback from people saying its too much food. We are not really breakfast eaters, so Ive planned for mostly early lunches & then some 2 TS credit dinners. Im also stretching out my dining plan to our checkout day as well, so its really an extra day to finish our credits. We’re Ieaving Disney that day, but not Orlando so we’ll still be around. I checked out menus to see what we would potentially be ordering and figured a general cost of a meal compared to what dining plan credits cost, which for TS Ive read people are saying is around $45 per credit. It really is so individual to the family, everyone knows how their family works. I know me and my hubby DO order our own individual appetizers, meals & desserts bc our tastes are so drastically different. We never share lol, but we will taste each other’s dishes 😂! On vacay, we EAT and DRINK lol. Definitely more then we do at home! And at least I know thats tried & true lol, bc even tho this is our first Disney trip, its definitely not our first vacation together with excursions. I tried to pick places where it seemed I would be getting value out of my credits or at least breaking even. Do some people want to put in that time for research? Im sure definitely not! But I like that kind of thing. It makes me feel very informed on my vacation. And Im willing to throw plans out the window if we’re there & its sweltering hot & we have a cranky kid who cant take it anymore lol! We roll with the punches baby!! 🤣🤣
 
Oh and I learned not to waste snack credits on cheap things like water bottles or basic candy! Since we’re skipping breakfast, and Ive been reading how some pretty yummy looking small dishes count as “snacks”, I feel ready to be on the lookout for maxing my snack value too!
 
  • Like
Reactions: HCL
t really is so individual to the family, everyone knows how their family works. I know me and my hubby DO order our own individual appetizers, meals & desserts bc our tastes are so drastically different. We never share lol, but we will taste each other’s dishes 😂! On vacay, we EAT and DRINK lol.
Just a reminder that you can also request desserts "to go" if you're too full for it after your meal. Its not ideal if you plan to still be in the park, but if you're headed back to your room, its easy enough to bring it back with you and stick it in your fridge. I find that to be a better option than ordering the dessert while there and picking at it, not getting the full value out of it.

Oh and I learned not to waste snack credits on cheap things like water bottles or basic candy! Since we’re skipping breakfast, and Ive been reading how some pretty yummy looking small dishes count as “snacks”, I feel ready to be on the lookout for maxing my snack value too!
Another good option is to use snack credits to stock up on items that are easy to bring home. We like the various treats at Goofy's Candy Co in Disney Springs. My niece and nephew like the treats as gifts from us, and its fun to eat a Mickey rice krispie treat a week later after you're home!
 


Oh and I learned not to waste snack credits on cheap things like water bottles or basic candy! Since we’re skipping breakfast, and Ive been reading how some pretty yummy looking small dishes count as “snacks”, I feel ready to be on the lookout for maxing my snack value too!
OMG the first and ONLY time I took my whole family with me and got the Deluxe plan, and I told them over and over NOT to waste a snack credit on things like soda and chips because they could get much better options.....what's the first thing my Aunt and Uncle do? Buy a Sprite and a bag of plain chips. It was almost like they did it just to be defiant. Talk about annoying. I'm too much a Disney control freak to be sharing credits with fools lol. Needless to say, that will be the last trip they ever go on with me. It was like herding cats.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HCL
I had the same situation happen! We were travelling with a my husband's family and I tried to "educate" them all on the best use of the dining plan and every day someone would get a bottled water or soda! It took a day or two before I stopped caring how they used their credits. It made the trip much more bearable. I have decided that after I help plan, I tell others that they are on their own and unless they have questions, I am not going to worry about them. We have a much better time with less stress this way.
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Top