The 2011 Disney Dining Plan is available to Walt Disney World (WDW) resort guests who book a travel package. It can be difficulty to make a decision about which plan best fits a party’s needs. The Disney Dining Plan (DDP) has rules and restrictions and is structurally complicated. The plan also features several options at various price points. What follows are descriptions of the quick-service, basic, and deluxe dining plans.
Briefly, the dining plan allows guests to select a food allotment for every night of their resort stay. The allotment converts to meal entitlements, or credits. Credits reflect dining categories – quick service, full service (also known as table service), and snacks – that are calculated for the length of stay. They are then are placed into an account for redemption at select venues.
Author's Note: This article was last updated June 17, 2011.
2011 Magic Your Way Plus Quick Service Dining
For each night, a Disney Resort guest choosing the Quick Service DDP receives:
- Magic Your Way vacation-package benefits (see below);
- Two quick-service meals that each consists of one combination meal or one entrée and dessert (for lunch and dinner) and one non-alcoholic beverage;
- Two snacks, with options such as frozen treats, popcorn, fresh fruits, or non-alcoholic beverages; and
- One resort refillable mug good at the guest's Disney Resort.
Prices for this package are $34.99 (ages 10 and up) and $11.99 (ages 3 – 9) per night. Children ages 3 and under eat free from an adult plate.
In 2012, the Quick Service DDP will include one snack. The price for this plan will remain the same.
2011 Magic Your Way Plus Dining (Standard DDP)
For each night, a Disney Resort guest choosing the Standard DDP receives:
- Magic Your Way vacation-package benefits (see below);
- One quick-service meal as described above;
- One full-service meal, that consists of either one full buffet or one appetizer (guests 3 – 9 only), an entrée, a dessert (for lunch or dinner), and one non-alcoholic beverage; and
- One snack good at the guest's Disney Resort.
Prices for this package differ during regular and peak seasons. Prices are $45.99 (ages 10 and up) and $11.99 (ages 3 – 9) per night during regular season. Prices are $47.99 (ages 10 and up) and $12.99 (ages 3 – 9) per night during peak season. Children ages 3 and under eat free from an adult plate.
2011 Peak Season Dates: 2/17/11 - 2/26/11, 3/11/11 - 4/30/11, 6/3/11 - 8/13/11,12/23/11 - 12/31/1.
In 2012, the Standard DDP will add a resort refillable mug for each guest. The plan's prices will increase to $51.54 for adults and $15.02 for children per night during regular season, $53.54 and $16.02 for peak season dates.
2012 Peak Season Dates: 2/16/12 - 2/25/12, 3/9/12 - 4/14/12, 6/1/12 - 8/4/12, 12/21/12 - 12/31/12.
2011 Magic Your Way Deluxe Dining
For each night, a Disney Resort guest choosing the Deluxe DDP receives:
- Magic Your Way vacation-package benefits (see below);
- Three meals, either quick or full-service, used as the guest sees fit;
- Two snacks; and
- One resort refillable mug good at the guest's Disney Resort.
Prices for this package are $78.99 (ages 10 and up) and $21.99 (ages 3 – 9) per night. Children ages 3 and under eat free from an adult plate.
In 2012, the Deluxe DDP package shifts to follow a regular season and peak season pricing. Its price increases to $84.54 for adults and $23.79 for children per night during regular season, and $89.54 and $25.79 during peak season.
2012 Peak Season Dates: 2/16/12 - 2/26/12, 3/9/12 - 4/14/12, 6/1/12 - 8/4/12, 12/21/12 - 12/31/12.
Disney’s Special Dining Experiences Substitutions
The Disney Dining Plan allows substitutions for special dining experiences.
- One full-service meal may be exchanged for one character meal, except at Cinderella’s Royal Table.
- Two full-service meal credits may be exchanged for one meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table (gratuities included).
- One Signature Dining experience; one private in-room dining at Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts (gratuities included); or one dinner show (category 2 or 3 for all, as well as category 1 for the 9:30 p.m. Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue), subject to availability (gratuities included).
- Two adult full-service meal credits may be exchanged for one pizza delivery at select Moderate and Value Resorts for each pizza.
Disney’s Grand Gathering Substitutions
Guests participating in Grand Gatherings, parties of eight or more, may exchange credits, subject to restriction, to attend the following:
- Good Morning Character breakfast (two full-service credits);
- International Dinner and Illuminations Dessert Reception (two full-service credits); and
- Safari Celebration Dinner (two full-service credits)
Magic Your Way Vacation Packages
2011 Magic Your Way packages include:
- Disney’s Magical Express Service bus transportation to resorts;
- Admission to Extra Magic Hours;
- One souvenir Disney luggage tag;
- One round of Disney’s miniature golf per person and one arcade game card worth 100 game play points per room;
- One Planet Hollywood $15 discount voucher and keepsake item per room;
- 10% discount on Sammy Duvall’s water sports at Contemporary Resort; and
- 15% discounts on the following: Bass fishing excursions; select boat rentals at participating marina locations; most Niki Bryan body and water services at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa or Saratoga Springs; and participating Children's Activity Centers (restrictions apply).
Disney Wine and Dine Plan
The Wine and Dine Plan may be added to Magic Your Way Plus or Deluxe packages for guests 21 years and older. Purchased for the length of stay, the plan includes one or two bottles from a designated list of wines at select locations. For 2011, the cost of the Wine and Dine Plan is $39.99 per night, per reservation. No information has been released on a 2012 plan as of June 2011.
Walt Disney World provides a variety of dining options – ranging from Disney's quick-service, basic, and deluxe plans to Disney Dining Plan’s premium and platinum options – that offer guests the opportunity to make their dining experiences an integral part of their vacation.
For more information or to make reservations for Disney's full-service and character dining, check Disney's dining website or call 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463).
Related Article: Walt Disney World Dining Reservations
Debra Peterson - A freelance writer and scholar, Debra Peterson specializes in Disney Studies, with particular interests in Walt Disney World and ...
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