Get the most from your Disney Dining Plan

Everyone likes a bargain.  We love the Disney Dining Plan.  We got hooked on it from the very beginning. The first year that my husband and I traveled to  Disney as a couple in 2003, he was so excited in Italy, he ordered the anitpasto platter that was about $30.  To this day, I give him a hard time about that splurge.  We noticed that Disney actually had good food unlike most other all-inclusive vacation destinations.  Our family is usually not big fans of the "feed the masses" food.

There are some not-so-secret-secrets to getting the most out of your Disney Dining Plan.  I thought you would enjoy knowing what they are prior to traveling....shh! don't tell anyone please!

1).  The number one secret is to try to travel during the Free Disney Dining Plan.  If you can't travel during this time frame, then I personally think the Dining Plan is a good value for your vacation.  One of the reasons is that time is money and any way you cut it, it takes time to move around within the Parks.  Another reason is that you get tired from all that walking and it saves you energy to stop riding and grab a bite in the Parks.

2).  Book the most expensive restaurants to use for your Dining Plan.  Now, you still have to be cautious because a lot of the shows, steak houses and special dining take 2 of your credits per person.  There is nothing wrong with these places, matter of fact that are quite enjoyable.  Just make sure that you plan accordingly when you book your meals.

3).  Use your snacks for pure enjoyment.  What do I mean by that?  Well, we actually take chips, cookies, dried fruits, water bottles, etc. with us into the Parks.  We then use our Dining Plan for fun snacks such as cupcakes, popcorn, funnel cakes, decorated cookies, late night snacks at the Resort and more.

4).  Take breakfast with you and eat in your Resort Hotel room.  We always pack fruit, cereal, milk, muffins, oatmeal, spoons, plates, cups, etc. for our breakfast.  If my kids are anything like your kids, they are too sleepy to eat at breakfast.  Additionally, we are so excited to get to the Parks in the morning, we just want to get done and go.  The only exception to this is that it is a family tradition for us to go to Chef Mickey's for breakfast on the day of departure.

So if you are craving some of those Mickey Mouse waffles, book a character breakfast for one morning of your stay.  Also, you can find these at the Resorts quick service breakfast so that your kids get to experience one of the best waffles on the planet.  Just between you and me, don't get the whole wheat....just saying!

5).  We grab Quick Service for our lunch.  Note that not all quick service restaurants are created equal.  I've been to some that give you more items as well as more options to choose from than others.  We have some that are our favorites such as Pinocchio Haus in the Magic Kingdom.  We had a sub sandwich there and a little slice of chocolate cake that was so tasty.  We also enjoy the Sunshine Seasons in the Land at Epcot.  It has some of the best stir fry dishes for a family to share.  We also love to pop in on Flame Tree Barbeque in Animal Kingdom.  Next time, we plan to do the picnic that you can pre-order at one of the Guest Relations within the Animal Kingdom.

6).  We always use our Table Service meal for either a Character Meal, a Family Style or an all-you-can eat buffet.  We not only enjoy meeting our favorite characters during dinner but we also enjoy the selections provided at these meals.  Our family has always enjoyed Ohana at the Polynesian Resort.  My husband's new favorite is Cape May Seafood Buffet in the evening.  He ate crab legs until he said he didn't want to see another crab for quite some time.

7).  If you do reserve and plan to dine on more than your allotted Dining Plan meals, pick the least expensive to pay out-of-pocket.  The least expensive meals are most likely the ones that order a-la-carte off the menu.  Most of your buffet, family style and character meals are going to be the most costly for your party.

8).  Drinks-if you order a Large drink during your quick service meal it is included.  If you just tell the person at the counter you want a Coke without specifying the size, you get the small size.  This was a tip I just learned this trip and I wouldn't be surprised if that benefit magically disappears.

9).  Don't forget to take advantage of your refillable mug that comes with your Dining Plan for every member over age 3.  We usually take a sponge and dish detergent with us.  What can I say, my mom taught me to be prepared.  We wash ours out in our room every night and then refill them in the morning.  Then we usually stop by our Resort restaurant prior to bed for either some tea, hot cocoa or other refreshing beverage.

10).  Finally, we've come rolling in late at night and stayed our first night on Disney property.  I've known some to stay off property on their travel day and then transfer the next morning.  We like this approach because we have extra meals that we didn't use that travel day/night.  Also, this poor mama doesn't have to pack up and get settled again.

Remember, your meals are based on per night of your stay.  Also, the plans are only available to those who choose to stay on Disney property.  It's one of the perks of being a Disney guest.  Additionally, I personally think that Disney requiring guests to reserve restaurants with a credit card is a great idea.  Make sure that you keep a list of all your reservations as well as cancellations.  It has forced all guests to make decisions about where they truly want to eat so that others get an opportunity to get great reservations as well.

Have fun and enjoy your Disney dining experience!