Disney Dining Plan 2025: Pros, Cons & How to Get the Most Value

Hey there, mama! If you’re planning a Disney trip, you’ve probably heard about the Disney Dining Plan (DDP)—a prepaid meal plan that lets you cover food costs before your trip.

But let’s get real for a sec. Is it actually worth it? Or is it just another way Disney tempts us into spending more? As an Orlando local and a mom who visits the parks all the time, I’ve seen both sides of this debate. Let’s break it down so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your family!

What Is the Disney Dining Plan?

Think of the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) like a meal subscription for your trip. Instead of paying for food as you go, you prepay for a set number of meals and snacks per day.

Each person in your group gets a certain number of meal credits to use at Disney restaurants, quick-service spots, and snack stands. Plus, you get a resort refillable mug (great for coffee, soda, and more—but it only works at your Disney hotel, not in the parks).

One big change for 2025? You can no longer trade meal credits. In the past, you could swap two snack credits for a quick-service meal—but that’s gone now. What you get is what you get!

2025 Disney Dining Plan Options & Pricing

Disney offers two dining plans, depending on how structured (and how many sit-down meals) you want.

Quick-Service Dining Plan
- Cost: $59 per adult, $24 per child (ages 3-9) per day
Includes per person, per night:
- 2 Quick-Service meals
- 1 Snack
- 1 RESORT ONLY Refillable Mug

Best for: Families who want to grab food on the go without committing to long sit-down meals. This is a great option if you wanting slightly more flexibility in your day, as reservations are not required.

Disney Dining Plan
- Cost: $94 per adult, $30 per child per day
Includes per person, per night:
- 1 Quick-Service meal
- 1 Table-Service meal (including character dining!)
- 1 Snack
- 1 Resort Only Refillable Mug

Best for: Families who want a mix of quick meals and at least one sit-down meal a day (especially for character dining, as these tend to be the pricer options).

Is the Disney Dining Plan Worth It?

Honestly, it depends on how your family eats. Are you a three-meals-a-day type of family? Do your kids love meeting characters? Do your kids actually eat meals? Or do they just pick at their food while waiting for the next ride?

Why You’ll Love It:

Budgeting is easier. Meals are prepaid, so no stressing over food costs during your trip. For our family, this is what does it for us. It’s so nice once you’re there to not stress if you budgeted enough money.
Character dining is PRICEY—but this helps. If you’re planning meals like Cinderella’s Royal Table or Chef Mickey’s, using table-service credits can actually save you money.
- Price of Cinderella’s Royal Table for 2025:
  - Breakfast: $74 per adult, $45 per child (ages 3–9)
  - Lunch & Dinner: $88 per adult, $52 per child (ages 3–9)
- You can see if you plan on doing a character dinner in every park, or once a day the savings is definitely there
You get to say “yes” to fun treats. It’s nice not worrying about whether that $7 Mickey Ice Cream Bar is “worth it.” This is especially fun in Epcot during one of their mannnnny festivals. They always have so many unique treat options that qualify for you to use your snack credits
You won’t leave hungry. Portions at Disney are huge, and the plan covers full meals

Why You Might Skip It:

Not always a money-saver. If your family prefers sharing meals or just doesn’t eat much, paying out of pocket is probably cheaper.
You can’t trade credits anymore. No more using snack credits for a bigger meal—what you get is what you get. I see so often on Disney Facebook groups families asking where they can use their leftover snack credits on prepackaged food to take home. This is stuff you probably wouldn’t spend money on.
Table-service meals take time. If you’re planning to hit every ride, waiting an hour+ for a sit-down meal might not be ideal. Especially for those shorter trips!

Character Dining: The Only Way to “Save Money” with the Plan

If this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, character dining is a MUST. It’s honestly the only way to get real value out of the dining plan. Meals like Cinderella’s Royal Table, Chef Mickey’s, and Storybook Dining at Artist Point are super expensive out of pocket, so if you’re doing them anyway, the dining plan can save you money.

BUT, if your kiddo doesn’t care about meeting characters or just plain doesn’t eat that much, you might want to skip the dining plan.

Before deciding, think about how your family eats at home:

Do you eat three full meals a day? If yes, the plan might be worth it.
Do your kids nibble and snack more than eat big meals? You’re probably better off paying out of pocket.

How to Get the Most Out of the Dining Plan

If you DO go for the dining plan, here’s how to make it worth every penny:

Use snack credits on expensive treats. Skip bottled water (ask for free cups instead) and use snack credits for big-ticket items like festival snacks or Starbucks drinks (Any size!)
Character dining = best table-service value. If you’re using a table-service credit, use it on a character meal! These meals can cost $60+ per person, so it’s where the dining plan really pays off.
Mobile Order to save time. You can use Quick-Service credits through the My Disney Experience app and avoid long lines.
Track your remaining credits. Disney makes it easy to check how many credits you have left in the app. Don’t let them go to waste! On your last day, use leftover snack credits for packaged treats to take home.

Who Should & Shouldn’t Get the Plan?

Still on the fence? Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

Get the Dining Plan If…

You love character meals and plan to do at least one
You like pre-paying for meals so you don’t have to think about it later
Your family eats full meals and doesn’t usually split dishes

Skip the Dining Plan If…

You’d rather snack throughout the day or share meals
You don’t want to be locked into Disney restaurants every day
Your kids barely eat—paying out-of-pocket is probably cheaper

Final Thoughts: Should You Get the Disney Dining Plan?

At the end of the day, the Disney Dining Plan is all about convenience. If you love the idea of prepaying for meals and not worrying about food costs during your trip, it’s totally worth considering. BUT if your family prefers to snack, share meals, or be more flexible, you might save money by skipping it.

Mom-to-mom advice?

If you’re already planning to do a couple of pricey sit-down meals (especially character dining), it might be worth it! Otherwise, run the numbers and see if paying as you go makes more sense.

Check out a full list of all character dining here

Have you used the Disney Dining Plan before? Drop a comment below and share your experience—I’d love to hear your thoughts!