Tag: walt disney world dining plan

Worth the Money: Disney Dining Plan

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family, family fun, Family Vacation, preschoolers, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

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One of the biggest questions people have when they start planning their Disney vacation is if they should purchase the Disney Dining plan.

It seams for most people there is no middle ground. You either love the plan or you think it is a waste of money.

We have been traveling to Disney almost annually since 2007. I would say for eight out of 10 of those trips we have purchased the dining plan and the only reason why we didn’t purchase it those two times is because our stay was too short to qualify for the dining plan. So I bet you can guess which camp we are in when it comes to the dining plan.

Speaking of qualifications, in order to be able to purchase the dining plan you must be staying on Disney property, in one of the Disney owned resorts, and have purchased at least two days worth of park tickets. So if you are just going to be visiting Disney for a few days and will only visit the parks once, then you will not be able to get the dining plan.

Another big consideration for people is the cost of the dining plan.

Disney has three tiers of dining plans.

The first is the quick service plan. This entitles each person to two quick service meals (which is a place where you walk up to the counter and order) and two snacks (any single serve item is considered a snack. This includes the vegetarian chili at Columbia Harbor House in the Magic Kingdom and the Smuckers Uncrustables.) You also get a refillable mug that you can use for unlimited beverages at your resort only.

This plan costs $48.19 for adults and $20.88 for children ages 3 to 9 per day.

The next step up is the regular (base) dining plan.

What is included in this plan is one quick service, one table service (which includes soft drink, entree and dessert) and one snack each day. This tier also includes the refillable mug.

The cost of this plan is $69.35 for adults and $24.95 for children ages 3 to 9 per day.

The top tier is the Deluxe Dining Plan includes three meals (your choice of either quick service or tables service), two snacks and refillable mug.

The price of this plan is $106.68 for adults and $38.75 for kids ages 3 to 9.

There are a lot of different options available for different prices and budgets.

In my opinion, I think the dining plan is worth it for adults. If you have a child who is a picky eater or doesn’t eat that much you might want to skip the dining plan.

The greatest thing is that you can order anything off the meal including the most expensive items and you can enjoy some of the best character dining experiences that would end up costing almost $60 for just one meal.

Do you prefer to use the dining plan or do you pay out of pocket? Leave your comments below.

Tot Five: For the Health of it

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family fun, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

When I often think of Walt Disney World, I think of an indulgent vacation with a lot of relaxation.

However, just because you are on vacation, it doesn’t mean that you have to take a vacation away from your healthy lifestyle.

While Mickey ice cream bars, churros and giant turkey legs might sound good, if you take it to the extrememe you might regret it when you get home.

Here are my tot five tips on staying healthy while at Walt Disney World.

1. Eat Healthy

 

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Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World.

You are on vacation, and the last thing you want to do is worry about if you are eating healthy or not. It’s your vacation so you want to enjoy your food a little more than you would at home. This is fine as long as you work in a little healthy foods every now and again.

At Disney this is easy to do. All restaurnts, including quick service, offer healthy options like salads, rice dishes, lean sources of protein and more.

For the Mousekatots, you can look for the Mickey Check on menus throughout the resort. This will indicate the healthiest options for the little ones.

2. Portion Control

If you are going to grab a bite to eat for breakfast, lunch or a small dinner and you want to watch your calories, you can always purchase a child’s meal for yourself.

Even on the dining plan you can use a credit for a child’s meal (and if a child has a dining plan they can use the credit for an adult meal. They aren’t separated into adult and child catagories like they used to be.)

3. Swap out your dessert credit for a snack

If you are on the dining plan, you are entitled to dessert with your counter service restaurant.

Instead of getting a dessert, you can swap it in for anything that is considered a snack like a piece of fresh fruit.

4. Exercise

 

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Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World

If you go on a Walt Disney World vacation you are going to do a lot of walking.

But, if you are a runner or enjoy going for a morning walk to get some exercise or take in the sights and sounds of your resort, Disney has something for you.

In a partnership with new balance, the athletic shoe company, each of the resorts has a map that shows you the best and safest places to run or walk at your resort as well as the distance.

These maps are usually on sign posts around the resort. If you can’t find them, ask at the front desk and they should be able to point you in the right direction.

5. Balance is Key

While eating healthy and exercising is important while you are on vacation, you also want to cut yourself some slack. Treat yo self!

If you have been healthy all day, a nice little treat won’t undo all of it.

Also, if you do put a little weight on during your vacation, don’t stress. It is your vacation and you can always lose what you put on.

What are your tips for staying healthy while at Walt Disney World? Leave it in the comments below.