The Dining Plan Now Works at Disney World Lounges — And We Have THOUGHTS

The Disney Dining Plan is BACK and we’re sharing everything you need to know about its return to Disney World.

But, the service won’t operate exactly the same as it did in the past. We’ve gone over some of those changes already and have brought you our best tips, but now it’s time to see them in action. Come with us to see how the Disney Dining Plan works at lounges!

Dining Plan 101

Whether you’re enjoying the food court at your Resort, a snack from a kiosk in the Parks, or a Signature meal in Disney Springs, there’s no shortage of tasty things to eat and drink. And to help guests plan ahead — and possibly save some money in the process — Disney offers the Disney Dining Plan.

The Disney Dining Plan is only available to those with Resort Packages. This means you have to be staying at a Disney Resort, and you must have park tickets linked to your stay.

Each of the Dining Plans offers different credits per person, per night.  Because of this, they also vary in cost, with the Standard Dining Plan being the most expensive. Here’s a look at that breakdown:

Quick Service Disney Dining Plan Credits (per person, per night): 

• 2 Quick Service Meals
• 1 Snack

The cost for the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan for 2024 is $57.01 per adult, per day, and $23.83 per child (ages 3 to 9), per day. When the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan was last available in 2020, the cost was $55.00 per adult, per night, and $26.00 per child, per night.

Standard Disney Dining Plan Credits (per person, per night):

• 1 Table Service Meal
• 1 Quick Service Meal
• 1 Snack

The cost for the Standard Disney Dining Plan for 2024 is $94.28 per adult, per night (ages 10 and up), and $29.69 per child, per night (ages 3 to 9). When the Standard Disney Dining Plan was last available in 2020, the cost was $78.01 per adult, per night, and $30.51 per child, per night.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about how it all works now that you can use the Disney Dining Plan at select lounges!

How does it work at lounges?

Since this is the first time Disney World is accepting dining plan credits at lounges, there’s a bit of a learning curve. You’ll have to use table service credits at lounges — which means you’ll have to purchase the Standard Dining Plan to get these credits.

But, lounges can often have different menu styles and smaller plates, which makes it difficult to figure out how those credits might be used. For example, at Nomad Lounge in Animal Kingdom, to use the dining plan, you’d exchange 1 table service credit for an entreé, drink (nonalcoholic or alcoholic if 21+), and dessert.

Keep in mind that the entreé may be a smaller portion than what you’d get at a true table service restaurant depending on where you go — you also run the risk of dining at a lounge that doesn’t offer dessert. Make sure you check the menu of the lounge you’re thinking about using the dining plan at before you do to make sure you’re getting the most value out of your credits!

Our experience

Of course, it’s one thing to read about this change, but it’s another thing to actually see it in person. We visited the Enchanted Rose at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort to see what a Cast Member could tell us about the Dining Plan here.

During our visit, a Cast Member verified our findings. First, the menu has not changed. That means that things like the Seasonal Flatbread and House-made Truffle Fries will stick around, but that also means you won’t see any new desserts at this spot. Why does this matter? Well, normally 1 table service credit gets you an entreé, drink (nonalcoholic or alcoholic if 21+), and dessert. But at some bars and lounges, you might not get the full value of one table service credit.

At Enchanted Rose Bar, for example, you get one appetizer, which counts as an “entreé” on the Disney Dining Plan, plus one alcoholic beverage. Since there aren’t any desserts offered here, you can’t get a third item with that table service credit. Additionally, we learned that none of the specialty beverages at the Enchanted Rose are included in the Disney Dining Plan. Instead, you can redeem that table service credit for generic beer, wine, or a simple cocktail like a vodka soda.

In this case, using a table service credit at the Enchanted Rose is probably not worth it. Make sure to look over the menu very carefully before you decide to spend those dining plan credits at a lounge — otherwise, you may end up leaving food on the table, so to speak.

If you want to take full advantage of your Dining Plan, save those credits for a regular sit-down restaurant. Stay tuned to AllEars as we bring you everything you need to know about the return of the Disney Dining Plan!

Learn More About the Dining Plan at Disney World Right Here!

Will you be using the Disney Dining Plan on your next trip? Tell us in the comments.

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