Disney Character Meals and Dining Plans

well we did not get the dining plan, and were glad we didn't because we thought the food was anything but good. But you know, it really didn't matter because we were at Disney, but doing all that running around does make you hungry!! Hope you have a good time!

I hated the dining plan. The food was terrible, especially in the parks where we spend 99% of our time. The kids food was really bad, like a Smuckers lunchable PB&J as an option. I could have packed a box of those with me on the plane. I suggest hitting a grocery store and stocking up when you get there on yogurts, etc. I don't know if the dining plan was cheaper, but we didn't end up using it all because of the lousy food so it was a waste of money for us.

As for the character stuff - my favorite by far was the Contemporary's Breakfast with Mickey. Yummy and the mouse ear pancakes are a must do! We also did the Cinderella's castle meal. I think that is a must do with girls, and the food was good, but we had little quality time withe princesses. The Polynesian dinner was fun, but late at night, so probably should have skipped it. we found a lot of characters and a lot of princessess at the museum at Disney studios.

Epcot's countries totally have the best food.

Have fun!!

The meal plan has different levels as I'm sure you have researched. We went December 2010. We opted for the highest level, I think it was about $280 a person for the week. It included 3 sit downs and two snacks per person, per day. An example our first night there at a sit down place, the bill was $175.00 for the four of us, so do the math and the plan MORE than paid for itself over the course of the week.
The food is crappy if you pick crappy food, there are a million places to use the plan and a huge variety. For the kids, there are hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken strips for meals and for snacks there is popcorn, fruit etc.
If you wan't worry free, this is the way to go. If you want the added stress of making sure everyone has their sandwich and who likes mustard and who doesn't or who wants cheese, did everyone get a juice box..... go that route, IMO.
The wife and I even had a date night while there and ate at Wolf Gang Pucks place, using the meal plan.
The character dinners will 'charge' you two sit downs per person. No big deal, if you eat a big buffet breakfast, which will usually hold everyone until dinner, then you're good to go.
We are planning another trip in 2013 and we won't go without the dining plan.
Have fun!

We went several years ago for two weeks. The first week we stayed on site and used the meal plan since we knew we wouldn't have a way to cook food. We ate at some of the best retaurants and had great food. We used the plan for a character lunch too and got to see all the princesses there that day. We also ate at the California Grill and for four of us the cost was over $250 (we saw the actual bill), but paid nothing. And that was really a fourth of what we paid for the entire plan. And we ate at a lot of places. The snack portion we used on days we weren't very hungry. You can use all your dine in meals on one day or spread them out. Or you can use your take out meals on one day (we used those for breakfast) or not. It is up to you how you use the meal plan.

The week we were off site in a condo with the grandparents (first week was just us) we spend a lot more money on food. You can't use the dining plan unless you are staying on Disney properties. We weren't the second week and had to pay for all our food. It was too far to drive back to the condo and eat lunch or dinner and then go back to Disney. (and we had to rent a car that week)

We did bring snacks and drinks into Disney, but they weren't enough to fill you up and get you through the day (we did this both weeks). And any of the retaurants in the Orlando area are really expensive, even McD's. The meal plan for us was so much better. We have had many friends use the meal plan and love it...even our friends that drove their RV and stayed in the Disney RV park used the lower plan and cooked breakfast in the RV and did lunch and dinner there on the days they didn't go to a park. And used the meal plan when they were in the parks and for three character dinners, so they wouldn't have to leave. It is worth it and you don't have to worry when the kids say they are starving...just pick up something and keep going.

You have time to figure things out. Just do the research. There is a book you can buy that tells you each year what is going on at Disney that year and what attractions are new or going away soon. I can't remember what it is at the moment and don't know where it is in the house, but you can get it at Barnes and Noble. We planned each day with this book. It even tells you of things that you don't get from the regular Disney brochure.

Good luck and God Bless.

We've been to Disney about 8 times. We never participated in the plans. I like planning my own things and not being told what I can and can't do.

We always stayed at the Polynesian and love this hotel. We've stayed in the Concierge building which is more expensive but you have access to food/drink all the time and they have special food at Breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner, and dessert times. No, that is not what we relied on for meals but we did eat breakfast and have snacks there. There are also perk associated with being in Concierge, such as private safari in Animal Kingdom, etc. It is worth checking out.

I have no idea what we spent for meals, we ate when we were hungry which meant sometimes it was a sit down like Chef Mickey, Polynesian Luau, Polynesian O'Hana breakfast and others was just stopping in to some of the little shops in the park for a snack.

I don't know plan prices because we never went that route but you probably could eat cheaper. You know as well as I do that they are not giving anything away!!

Of course, don't go into debt going to Disney but don't be cutting so many corners and pennies that you and your family will miss out on fun.

If you ask me the dining plan cannot be beat!!!!!!! Sometimes it is offered
for free when you book hotel and tickets!!!!! The prices on foot has
skyrocketed in Disney so you will spend a lot. With the dining plan, it allows
you a table meal (so say dinner) a quick service meal (you can use this
for breakfast at most hotels) or you can use it for lunch. Then you get a
snack (drink, popcorn etc.) There is enough food to sustain anyone thru the
day. I personally would not drag food and bags thru the park, too cumbersome.

RE: Free Dining is usually given during the slow times January, Feb. Oct.

It depends on if you are satisfied with fried chicken or rotisserie chicken from Sam's or Costco or the local grocery store, hamburgers, or mexican food from the 99 cent menu. If you know how to shop the sales for cans of soda, chips and fruit on sale and your family is satisfied with those arrangements, then you can save a lot over the Disney Food plans.

If you are easy to satisfy, then you can eat cheaper by bringing in food. But you can also get the Disney food plans that have you eat in the Disney restaurnts every other day.

Only you can decide what your family is willing to do. I took 8 kids to Disney World. We ate the foods I described in the first paragraph. We ate for about 20% (80% off) of what we would have paid for the Disney Food plans. But I have read what some of the other moms have said about my frugal ways on this site. If you are one of those, then order the Disney food plans and you will be happier, albeit poorer.

BTW, if you are a gardener, there is a tour in Epcot that shows how Disney does what they do with all the flowers and plants. A facinating tour. Be sure to sign up in advance.

Good luck to you and yours.
I hope you have a wonderful time.

We went in 2009, we had the dining plan that you got one sit down meal, 2 snacks and something else. I highly recommend it! There is no way you can eat cheaper on Disney property than the meal plan. We just ate breakfast at our resort. We ate dinner at the Polynesian one night, that for the four of us would have cost us over $100! We had breakfast with the Princesses as one of our sit down meals. Any of the Disney properties will take the dining plan and we were always happy with the food. Even the snacks we got were fine. We stopped and the kids meals "snack" that we got @ Magic Kingdom was more than I would have been able to eat. I will completely admit, my sister works for Disney, so she may have known more of the "good" places to eat, but we were completely thrilled!
We are planning to go again next year and without a doubt will do the dining plan again. Just my two cents. ;-) I thought it was great and saved me the hassle of lugging around a cooler with food, etc.
Have a wonderful time! It will be something the kids will always treasure no matter what route you go! J.

We stayed in a condo off-site. We ate breakfast in the condo every morning before we left. We packed sandwiches, fruit, chips, cookies and brought cans of soda and bottles of water. We kind of snacked and walked, but sometimes we sat under a tree and ate. (Big group, lots of kids, flexibility was nice). We ate out every night. I think we ate dinner in the park twice that week.

I thought it was easy! We did have to take time to make sandwiches in teh morning, but it was so nice to just have it in the backpack and pull it out when we were hungry.

I cannot imagine getting a Disney Meal plan could possibly be cheaper than bringing your own food, but I didn't consider them.

You can pretty much bring anything into the park except drugs, alcohol, firearms, etc. They really don't care if you bring food or drinks.

We didn't do the dining plan because it wouldn't have saved us any money, and it's very limiting. There is no way that eating all of your meals at the park will ever be cheaper than bringing in your own food & drinks. I suggest pre-planning, doing maybe one meal at the park, and if you must eat out, eating off site, where the food is cheaper. The food at Disney is completely a rip off & pretty average, IMO.

There are 8 Disney resorts that have a full kitchen available. If you can do at least one meal in the room and bring your lunch then you will save a lot of money. Even the walk in places to eat can get very expensive, they markup water bottles to $3.25 each.
For two families traveling together it might be cheaper to stay off site and rent a house or condo with a kitchen and the option of a pool. They will allow you to bring in a cooler with your own food and/or drinks so you can at least bring meals for the kids.

We did the Dining Plan. If you look at the prices on the menu you will realize that it is very expensive to eat without the dining plan. they do serve a lot of food, so you could split the kids if they want the same thing. All the restaurants took it, so I didn't find it limited. there are many different dining plans now also. Some are for full sit down meals, some are for the counter meals and snacks only (the casual eateries) and some are a combo. We had one counter, one snack, and one sit down meal a day. The Polynesian has a wonderful counter restaurant.