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What Does Disney Dining Plan Include? Complete 2025 Guide

MagicTable Team
Guides

Planning a Walt Disney World vacation involves countless decisions, and one of the biggest questions families ask is: what does Disney Dining Plan include? Understanding exactly what you’re getting can help you decide whether it’s the right choice for your family. For a detailed value analysis, see Is the Disney Dining Plan Worth It? A 2025 Data-Driven Guide.

Available Plans for 2025

Disney offers two dining plan options:

  • Quick Service Dining Plan
  • Standard Disney Dining Plan

Note: The Deluxe Dining Plan and Disney Dining Plan Plus are currently unavailable.

Quick Service Dining Plan

Price (2025): $59.14 per adult, $24.71 per child per night

Per Person, Per Night Includes:

  • 1 Quick-Service meal (entrée + beverage)
  • 1 Snack or non-alcoholic beverage
  • 1 Resort refillable mug (for entire stay)

Best For: Families preferring casual dining who want to maximize park time.

Standard Disney Dining Plan

Price (2025): $97.79 per adult, $30.66 per child per night

Per Person, Per Night Includes:

  • 1 Table Service meal (entrée + dessert + beverage)
  • 1 Quick Service meal (entrée + beverage)
  • 1 Snack or non-alcoholic beverage
  • 1 Resort refillable mug (for entire stay)

Best For: Families who want sit-down dining experiences, character meals, and more variety.

What Counts as Meals and Snacks?

Table Service Meals

  • One entrée (appetizers at select buffets/family-style only)
  • One dessert (lunch/dinner)
  • One beverage (alcoholic for 21+, non-alcoholic otherwise)

Popular Table Service Locations:

Important: Some signature restaurants require 2 table-service credits (Cinderella’s Royal Table, California Grill, etc.)

Quick Service Meals

  • One entrée or combo meal
  • One beverage (alcoholic for 21+, non-alcoholic otherwise)

Popular Quick Service Locations:

  • Casey’s Corner (Magic Kingdom)
  • Woody’s Lunch Box (Hollywood Studios)
  • Satu’li Canteen (Animal Kingdom)
  • Sunshine Seasons (EPCOT)

Snack Credits

Hundreds of items qualify, marked with Disney Dining Plan symbols. Learn more in What Counts as a Snack on Disney Dining Plan? Complete 2025 Guide:

  • Ice cream novelties and bars
  • Popcorn
  • Pretzels
  • Fresh fruit cups
  • Cookies and brownies
  • Bottled beverages
  • Specialty coffee drinks

Major Restriction: EPCOT festival marketplace items are NOT eligible for snack credits.

Beverage Inclusion Details

For Guests 21+:

  • May choose one alcoholic beverage per meal (beer, wine, cocktails)
  • Or one non-alcoholic beverage

For Guests Under 21:

  • One non-alcoholic beverage per meal
  • Includes soft drinks, juice, milk, specialty drinks

The Resort Refillable Mug

Every person receives one mug valid for your entire stay:

  • Unlimited refills at resort quick-service locations
  • Works for fountain beverages, coffee, tea, hot chocolate
  • RFID chip prevents sharing (limits refills to one every few minutes)
  • Cannot be used in theme parks
  • You keep it as a souvenir

How Credits Work

Credit Distribution: Total credits = number of nights × credits per night

Example: 5-night stay on Standard Plan

  • 5 Table Service credits per person
  • 5 Quick Service credits per person
  • 5 Snack credits per person
  • 1 Refillable mug per person

Flexibility:

  • Use credits whenever you want during your stay
  • Credits roll over day to day
  • All credits expire at midnight on checkout day
  • Credits are pooled for your party

What’s NOT Included

Gratuity: Tips for table-service meals (budget 18-20% extra)

Tax: Actually IS included in the plan price ✓

Other Exclusions:

  • Room service
  • Minibar items
  • Pizza delivery
  • Some lounge/bar menu items
  • EPCOT festival marketplace items

Major 2026 Enhancement

Children ages 3-9 eat FREE on the Standard Disney Dining Plan at select Disney Resort hotels during specific travel windows! This dramatically increases value for families with young children.

Comparing the Two Plans

Choose Quick Service If:

  • You prefer fast, casual meals
  • Have young children who don’t sit well for long meals
  • Want the most economical option
  • Like eating on your own schedule

Choose Standard Plan If:

  • You want at least one sit-down meal daily
  • Enjoy character dining experiences
  • Can take advantage of the 2026 kids-eat-free promotion
  • Want to try signature dining

Cost Example

Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children ages 5 & 7) - 5 nights:

Quick Service: $838.50 total
Standard Plan: $1,284.50 total

Difference of $446 buys you 10 table-service meals with desserts.

Tips for Maximizing Value

  1. Book character dining (typically $40-65 out-of-pocket, uses 1 credit)
  2. Choose higher-priced entrées
  3. Order alcoholic beverages with meals (adults 21+)
  4. Use snack credits on premium items from the List of Snacks on Disney Dining Plan PDF: Complete 2025 Guide ($5-7 value)
  5. Make reservations 60 days in advance following Disney Dining Reservation Cancellation Policy: Complete Guide to Fees, Grace Periods & Exceptions
  6. Track credits via My Disney Experience app

Is It Worth It?

Worth It If:

  • You prefer prepaid budgeting
  • You’d order similar portions paying out-of-pocket
  • You’ll use higher-priced table-service restaurants
  • You appreciate convenience over maximum savings
  • Taking advantage of 2026 free kids promotion

Skip It If:

  • You’re light eaters or share meals
  • You prefer flexibility to eat off-property
  • You have picky eaters who won’t finish meals
  • You want to graze at EPCOT festivals

Making Your Decision

Now that you know exactly what the Disney Dining Plan includes, calculate whether it makes sense for your specific dining preferences and budget. The convenience of prepaid meals has real value, even if pure dollar savings are minimal. For more details on meal credits, see Disney Dining Plan Meals: Complete Guide to Table Service, Quick Service & How Credits Work in 2025.

Ready to start planning? Use this guide to determine if a dining plan fits your family’s needs, and don’t forget to make those table-service reservations 60 days in advance!