There is a lot of buzz right now about 2018 pricing coming out this week and the addition of alcoholic beverages for those 21 and over. They didn’t take anything away, it is still one table service credit, one quick service credit, two snack credits per person per night’s stay for those ages 3 and above. In addition, everyone still gets the refillable mug as well. This means the price increased a bit more to compensate for the alcohol. So, we thought we would do a price breakdown for you on what you would pay out of pocket versus using the standard dining plan.
The Standard dining plan includes the following:
- One Table Service Meal (includes one entree, one beverage, and one dessert OR one full buffet)
- One Quick Service Meal (includes one entree and one beverage)
- NEW FOR 2018: Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage with their Quick Service and Table Service meal (including specialty beverages where offered). Guests 21 and older can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement.
- Two Snacks
- One Refillable Resort Mug
- Specialty non-alcoholic beverages may include: Artisanal Milkshakes, Fresh Smoothies, Premium Hot Chocolate, Soda, Coffee, or tea
- Specialty alcoholic beverages may include: Beer or Cider, Wine or Sangria, Mixed Drinks and Specialty Cocktails
Below we have given a dining plan example to lay out how this looks if you were to eat this way. The examples demonstrate the potential savings for a family of four with two adults and two children ages 9 and under on the standard plan but it will give you an idea. Please note that Disney’s restaurant pricing can change at any time and gratuities are not included in the dining plan.
If you are not a dessert eater, you can ask for a substitution of salad, soup, or fruit place. The options depend on the restaurant venue.
Day 1
Breakfast – Main Street Bakery (1 Snack Credit)
Adult #1 Caramel Macchiato Espresso – Venti $5.79
Adult #2 Caramel Frappuccino – Venti $5.79
Child #1 Strawberry Smoothies $4.99
Child #2 Cupcake $5.59
Snack Total $22.16
Lunch-Be Our Guest (1 Quick Service Credit)
Adult #1 French Dip Sandwich $16.99
Dasani Bottled Water $3.00
Adult #2 Braised Pork (Coq Au Vin Style) Sandwich $16.99
Dasani Bottled Water $3.00
Child #1 Grilled Cheese and Turkey Noodle Soup $8.49
Child #2 Whole-Grain Macaroni $8.49
Meal Total $56.96
Snack at Sleepy Hollow and Aloha Isle (1 Snack Credit)
Adult #1 Aloha Isle-Dole Whip $4.19
Adult #2 Aloha Isle-Pineapple Float $5.29
Child #1 Funnel Cake $6.49
Child #2 Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich $5.29
Snack Total $20.22
Dinner – Chef Mickey (1 Table Service Credit)
Adult #1 Buffet $50.00
Maschio Prosecco Sparkling Wine – Glass $9.00
Adult #2 Buffet $50.00
Beso del Sol Sangria $9.50
Child #1 Buffet $30.00
Child #1 Buffet $30.00
Meal Total $178.50
Day 1 Totals
Total Meal Cost Paid Out of Pocket $277.84
Total Meal Cost Paid on Meal Plan $202.50
Total Saved on Meal Plan $75.34
Day 2
Breakfast – Trolley Car Café (1 Snack Credit)
Adult #1 Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew – Venti $4.99
Adult #2 Blueberry Yogurt Muffin with Honey $3.29
Child #1 Star Wars Cupcake $5.99
Child #2 Olaf Cupcake $5.99
Meal Total $20.26
Lunch – ABC Commissary (1 Quick Service Credit)
Adult #1 Chicken & Ribs Combo Platter $17.19
Yuengling $8.00
Adult #2 Chicken Club $10.99
Strawberry Lemonade Slush – with Mickey straw $5.99
Child #1 Mickey Check Meal – Turkey Sandwich $6.79
Child #2 Cheeseburger $6.99
Meal Total $55.95
Afternoon Snack (1 Snack Credit)
Adult #1 Apple Crisp a la Mode $6.69
Adult #2 Ice Cream Sundae $6.19
Child #1 Ice Cream Sundae $6.19
Child #2 Ice Cream Cup $5.29
Meal Total $24.36
Boma (1 Table Service Credit)
Adult #1 Buffet $43.00
Beso del Sol Sangria $9.50
Adult #2 Buffet $43.00
Beso del Sol Sangria $9.50
Child #1 Buffet $24.00
Child #2 Buffet $24.00
Meal Total $153.00
Day 2 Totals
Total Meal Cost Paid Out of Pocket $253.57
Total Meal Cost Paid on Meal Plan $202.50
Total Saved on Meal Plan $51.07
Day 3
Breakfast- Creature Comforts (1 Snack Credit)
Adult #1 Flat White Espresso – Venti $5.79
Adult #2 Teavana Iced Tea Lemonade – Venti $4.49
Child #1 Zebra Cupcake $5.59
Child #2 Cotton Top Tamarin Cupcake $5.59
Snack Total $19.17
Lunch – Flame Tree Barbecue (1 Quick Service Credit)
Adult #1 Ribs, Chicken, and Pulled Pork Combo $19.99
Mandarin Orange Vodka Lemonade $7.75
Adult #2 Pulled Pork Sandwich $10.99
Mandarin Orange Vodka Lemonade $7.75
Child #1 Baked Chicken Drumstick Meal $5.99
Child #2 Hot Dog Meal $5.99
Meal Total $58.46
Snack (1 Snack Credit)
Adult #1 Pineapple Cream Cheese Spring Roll $4.59
Adult #2 Iced French Vanilla Coffee $4.69
Child #1 Bugs Sundae $5.19
Child #2 Boneyard Bounty $4.70
Snack Total $19.17
Dinner – Teppan Edo (1 Table Service Credit)
Adult #1 Asakusa $37.00
Chocolate Ginger Cake $6.95
Kirin Draft Beer $6.50
Adult #2 Filet Mignon $36.00
Edamame $6.00
Whipped Coffee Cream $10.00
Child #1 Julienne Steak Meal $14.50
Child #2 Tori (Chicken Meal) $14.50
Child 1 & 2 Soft Serve Ice Cream $9.90
Meal Total $141.35
Day 3 Totals
Total Meal Cost Paid Out of Pocket $240.44
Total Meal Cost Paid on Meal Plan $202.50
Total Saved on Meal Plan $37.94
Day 4
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (1 Table Service Credit)
Adult #1 Buffet $53.85
Adult #2 Buffet $53.85
Child #1 Buffet $31.63
Child #2 Buffet $31.63
Meal Total $170.96
Les Halles Boul angerie-Patisserie (1 Snack Credit)
Adult #1 Bisque de Homard $4.90
Adult #2 Pissaladiere $4.50
Child #1 Palmier $3.85
Child #2 Biscuit Chocolat $3.50
Snack Total $16.75
Les Halles Boul angerie-Patisserie (1 Snack Credit)
Adult #1 Caramel Bacon Square $4.49
Adult #2 Wether’s Caramel Chocolate Swirl $4.49
Child #1 Caramel Drizzled Crisped Rice Treat $5.49
Child #2 Caramel Pecan Bar $3.99
Snack Total $18.46
Columbia Harbor House (1 Quick Service Credit)
Adult #1 Lobster Roll $14.99
Iced Coffee – french vanilla or mocha $4.69
Adult #2 Baked Chicken Breast and Shrimp $12.49
Iced Coffee – French vanilla or mocha $4.69
Child #1 Chicken Nugget Meal $6.99
Child #2 Garden Salad with Chicken $6.49
Meal Total $50.34
Day 4 Totals
Total Meal Cost Paid Out of Pocket $256.51
Total Meal Cost Paid on Meal Plan $202.50
Total Saved on Meal Plan $54.01
Total savings over 4 days of $218.36 before resort refillable mugs that are included in the dining plan.
Total Saved Over 4 Days without Refillable Mugs $218.36
Refillable Mugs ($17.99/person) $71.96
Total Saved with Refillable Mugs $290.32
Total Saved without any alcoholic drinks $212.82
REMEMBER, you can ask for fruit, salad, or soup as a replacement for the dessert.
Bottom line, if you like a sit-down meal once a day or just a couple character dining options, this still looks like a good option for you. If you are more grab and go folks, this is not your best bet.
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15 Responses to “2018 Dining Plan adds alcohol. Is it worth it?”
I tried out the plan with alcohol and I was impressed. I could even get a $16 Patron margarita in Epcot with a Quick service credit! I thought the drinks would be limited but apparently not.
I will definitely have to try out this margarita!! Any other tips?
Do you have to get the alcoholic drink with a meal or can you just use it later? Like if I wanted to get it at my resort before going back to my room???
That would be great if they would let us do that but no, the alcoholic beverage needs to be ordered with the meal.
Can you use a snack credit for alcohol beverage? How about during Food and Wine? Can you use snack credits to buy food and alcohol at food and bev kiosks?
Hi John, you cannot use a snack credit for an alcoholic beverage. You can use snack credits for select food items at the kiosks but not alcoholic beverages.
I have the quick service dining plan for myself and my 9 year old son. Since they don’t usually discriminate between adult and kids meals for the quick service choices, am I able to get 2 alcoholic drinks when we get quick service meals, and then just buy my son a water (which is all he really drinks?) We have a friend meeting us, and I was thinking she could take advantage of the second alcoholic beverage!
I cannot confirm nor deny that but if you were to try this, do not have your child walk up with you to order.
Is there a list of table and quick service locations that are participating in including alcohol as part of the ddp? I cannot seem to find this.
Hi Tom,
Here is a link to the restaurants that are on the dining plan. If they serve alcohol at their venue, it should be part of that component of the dining plan.
Yes, you can absolutely get two alcoholic beverages with two quick serve meals and then pay cash (or use a snack credit!) on a water for the little one. If the quick serve meal is designated as a kids meal, it might not work, but I don’t recall most of the quick serve places differentiating between adult and kids meals – its mostly just whatever is on the menu.
And yes, I did this multiple times, often with 3 meals (to share between 2 adults and two young kids) and adding two juices or milks for the kids.
This is great info. I just want to confirm – you can order an alcoholic beverage at Chef Mickey’s for dinner and it is included as part of the 1 table service credit? Thanks.
That is correct!! You can get an adult beverage with your dinner credit!! Amazing, right?
is there any way to get a dining plan without alcoholic beverages included? I don’t drink and would love to save that money.
Currently there is not a dining plan without alcoholic beverages but they are always evaluating feedback and we have told them there is a request for that by guests.
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