The Disney Dining Plan with Kids: Why You Might Want to Go for it on Your Next Walt Disney World Vacation!

We dream of eating at Walt Disney World almost as much as we dream about hugging Mickey or soaring above London with Peter Pan. If you’re like us, planning your meals is a top priority, and having the Disney Dining Plan can help take some of the stress off.

If you’re traveling with kiddos and debating about whether or not to get the Dining Plan or not, we’ve got a few reasons why you might want to say yes. We bring you these with this caveat: the Disney Dining Plan isn’t for everyone, and you’ll want to crunch some numbers (check out our menus here for pricing) to be sure it makes sense for you.

Here are some reasons the DDP might work for you if you’re traveling the World with kids.

It’s Hassle-Free

You’re going to have so much on your plate already with a Disney vacation that you need a little piece of mind. The Disney Dining Plan makes paying for your meals as easy as touching your MagicBand to the Mickey-shaped touch-point.

This will save you a lot of time and headache trying to get cash or credit cards out to pay for your meals when you should be spending that time chatting with your family about what to do next. Best yet: when you tap that Mickey, you won’t be racking up charges!

You Can Get Your Kids an Adult Meal

This one might seem counterintuitive at first (why would you order a big adult meal for your little kids?), but getting an adult portion can pay off big for you parents. Typically at quick service restaurants, a DDP credit is a credit is a credit. It doesn’t really matter if it’s a meal for an adult or a child. (Note: this has been a little questionable in recent months, so always be sure to ask for confirmation!) Flame Tree Barbecue Rib and Chicken Combo Platter

When you order an adult portion for your kids, you only have to use one quick service credit for the meal — and they will easily feed two kids. Those with smaller stomachs can split a meal and really spread out those meal credits, and if you’ve only got two credits per person per day, this can mean never having to pay out of pocket for your kids’ meals.

Fun Character Meals

It’s a magical feeling to watch your kids hug a princess or give Pluto a high-five. One of the best ways to meet some of your favorite characters is during special character meals — not just because you get to chow down on some delicious food, but also because the characters come to you so you never have to wait in line.

Chef Mickeys Character Meal with Mickey Mouse — Mickey Mouse playing with a young guest at Chef Mickey’s in Disney’s Contemporary Resort at in Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida

If you’re planning to do two or more character meals, having the Standard Disney Dining Plan might make a lot of sense for you. Character meals are pricey, but you’re getting a meal and a character experience all rolled into one, and when you use the DDP, it’s prepaid, so you only have to think about having fun!

Taking the Magic Home

It can be a real bummer to leave Disney World at the end of your vacation. Where else are you and your kids going to get your Mickey Rice Krispy Treat fix on the daily?

Good news: your Disney Dining Plan comes with snack credits, and if you’re drowning in snack credits toward the end of your vacation, you can use them to stock up on treats to take home with you. This can be a good way to stave off the post-vacation blues for your kids and enjoy some Disney snacks when you’re not in the parks.

Are you planning on using the Disney Dining Plan for your next vacation? Let us know down in the comments!