Making the Most of the Disney Dining Plan

The Basic Disney Dining Plan is elegant in its apparent simplicity. One snack per person, per day. One counter service ("fast" food) meal per person, per day. And one table service meal per person, per day. Think about it: you can use a snack credit for a breakfast pastry, have a convenient counter service meal in the midst of the day's activity, and a nice sit down meal every night as you wrap up your day. Plenty to eat, and all pre paid. Nice, eh?

Except it doesn't usually work that way. Many guests will pick up a box of doughnuts, cereal, yogurt, etc to have in the room for breakfast. And then there's the heat. Florida can be tropically humid and hot much of the year and for those of us who come from different climates, it can wreak havoc on a hearty appetite. So how many counter service meals are shared? How many are skipped in lieu of a snack credit pastry, pretzel or smoothie? And what if your family misses that table service meal because of a sudden need to ride Rockin' Roller Coaster one more time? The credits don't have to be used one each per day. They are grouped together. So what happens when you find yourself outside your original plan, with credits to spare? Now it's time to get creative!

Table Service. You missed a table service meal for some reason or another. It definitely happens. Sometimes it's hard to estimate how long it takes to reach a resort or park using Disney transportation. Sometimes other things come up. And now you find yourself with too many credits and not enough reservations. So what to do? Check out your reservations for the rest of the trip. Are you interested in switching out a one credit meal for a signature two credit dinner? Was there a character breakfast or a themed lunch you'd like to try? Go see the Concierge desk in your resort's lobby and see what they can find available for you. On our last trip, we ended up using our extra credits on table service breakfasts we had planned to pay for out of pocket. It was a great way to enjoy a few extra morning meals without having to pay much for them. Our other option had been a nice sit down lunch. Take advantage of the ability to enjoy a new restaurant that you hadn't anticipated!

Counter Service. These gems are simple to rack up. Meals are very generously portioned and when the dessert is included, it is often easy to share with family members. Suddenly even using one per person becomes harder to do. So when you are getting towards the end of your trip and your counter service credits are still in the double digits, what to do? Take advantage of counter service breakfasts and lunches. If you're looking for a mid afternoon snack, think about getting a counter service meal to share. If your resort offers flatbread pizzas, plan to get a few pizza meals for late night movie snacks with fruit for dessert. The fruit cups make great breakfasts the next day. Still have a few left on your last day? Stop by Earl of Sandwich for wrapped up sandwiches and cupcakes or brownies to eat in the car or on the plane going home.

Snacks. The easiest of the credits to rack up. The best advice? Use them! If you're looking for a powerade or smart water to combat the heat, use your snack credits! If you see something tasty you think you'd like to try? Use one. If your children beg for Mickey bars or popsicles? Get them. With all the food from the counter service and table service credits, it is easy to overlook the snacks. And at times it is tempting to pay out of pocket for the drinks or less expensive items. Use the snack credits until they are gone and then plan to pay out of pocket. We have tried this strategy several times now and have still ended up with credits at the end. So how to use them? Add additional items to your counter service meals if you like. Soup, fruit bowls, ice cream and specialty drinks are all items you can supplement meals with. Use them for breakfasts. And when the trip is over, head to your resort's gift shop or Goofy's Candy Company to use them up on items you can take home with you. We brought home fudge, toffee slabs, lollipops, Pez dispensers and plenty of single serving Chip and Dale bagged snacks. It makes the magic last a little longer and they make great souvenirs.

The basic Disney Dining Plan can make a huge difference to a Disney vacation. Having your meals pre paid is excellent and not having to say "no" to the ice cream and treat requests makes everyone happy. But even a perfect plan is hard to follow when you are surrounded by the spontaneity of vacation. Keep in mind a few ways to keep using the plan to its fullest and even getting more enjoyment out of it. And happy Disney eating!