The Disney FREE Dining Plan 2024 for Disney+ Subscribers

The Disney FREE Dining Plan 2024 for Disney+ Subscribers

Like everyone else, we wait for the Disney Free Dining Plan Offer every year! The promise of getting free food for our ENTIRE Disney Vacation is always a treat. Literally. It’s a Disney Pro Tip move that can save you thousands of dollars depending on your family size and really allows you to enjoy the experience of a Disney Vacation. So what’s the catch? Instead of Pre-Paying for your Disney Food ahead of time, you can simply get it for FREE, when you book a Disney Vacation during certain times throughout the year. And only if your a Disney+ Plus Subscriber. Here are all the details.

Disney Free Dining Plan Dates 2024

A FREE Dining Plan has arrived EXCLUSIVELY for Disney+ Plus subscribers. Starting Jan. 3, 2024, Disney+ subscribers can get a FREE dining plan when purchasing a non-discounted 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel and theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option. This offer is valid for arrivals most nights July 1 through Sept. 30, 2024.Visit DisneyWorld.com/SpecialOffers beginning Jan. 3 for additional offer details!*

the mara quick service pizza at akl

When is the Disney Free Dining Plan Promotion in 2024?

The Disney Free Dining Plan 2024 is AVAILABLE beginning January 3, 2024, to Disney+ Subscribers ONLY. Disney+ subscribers can get a FREE dining plan when purchasing a non-discounted 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel and theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option. Generally, Walt Disney World releases the Free Dining Plan at the beginning of the year- as soon as January hits. The second round usually happens in April. And then if we’re lucky they release in the fall.

D-Luxe Burger Disney Springs

Is Disney Free Dining Plan Offered in 2024?

YES! Disney+ Plus Subscribers are able to take advantage of Disney Free Dining Offer at Walt Disney World on select dates, for arrivals  July 1 through Sept. 30, 2024.

What is the Disney FREE Dining Plan?

It’s true, the Disney Dining Plan can always be purchased with any Walt Disney World vacation through the Magic Your Way package. It breaks up into two Disney Dining Plan tiers based on how much food you plan to get per person per day and usually costs upwards of a thousand dollars per person. But if you’re lucky enough to travel to Walt Disney World during the Free Dining promotion, then it’s FREE! Depending on how big your party is and how many days you’re staying, you could potentially save big bucks by getting your food for free. 

The Disney Quick Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan are the two options available to Disney+ Plus Subscribers during this promotion. Each plan includes a certain number of meals and snacks based on the number of nights of your stay, and there are over 200 dining locations to choose from across all of Disney World! 

Food at Pandora World of Avatar

Free Dining Plan Offer 

When the Disney Free Dining Plan is offered, there are rules in place. For example, if you’re staying at a certain resort, you’re eligible for a certain Dining Package- the Disney Dining Plan, OR the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan. Check out resorts and plans attached to each below. Plus details on how to upgrade for more. For this deal there are 2 Dining Plan options included depending on which resort you book, here is the what is included. 

What’s Included in the Disney FREE DINING Offer?

  • Refillable Mug: eligible for refills at self-service beverage islands at Quick-Service locations at any Disney Resort hotel. Note: You cannot refill your mugs up in the parks.
  • A Dining Plan based on your booked resort. 

Crystal Palace Dinner

Resorts Included on the Free Disney Dining Plan

The Free Disney Dining Plan is valid for Disney+ Plus Subscribers and offers meals Per Person, Per night of your stay. It is only valid if the Offer is available and you’re staying at one of the following resorts. 

Disney Dining Plan 

The Disney Dining Plan offers everything that the Quick Service Dining Plan Offers PLUS a Table Service Meal. So, if you’re looking to have a nice dinner each day, or a special breakfast, then the Disney Dining Plan includes those more expensive dining experiences. Everyone in the party ages 3 and over receives the following PER NIGHT OF STAY.

  • 1 Quick-Service Meal (per night of stay)*
  • 1 Table-Service Meal (per night of stay)**
  • 1 Snack/Nonalcoholic Drink (per night of stay)
  • 1 Resort-Refillable Drink Mug

For Reservations at these Deluxe Villas

For arrivals most nights from July 1 through September 30, 2024, with the purchase of a 4-night, 4-day nondiscounted package that includes a room at a select Disney Deluxe Villa Resort hotel and ticket with a Park Hopper option

  • Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
  • Disney’s Beach Club Villas
  • Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
  • Disney’s Old Key West Resort
  • Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
  • Disney’s Riviera Resort
  • Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
  • The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

At these Deluxe Resorts 

For arrivals most nights from July 1 through September 30, 2024, with the purchase of a 4-night, 4-day nondiscounted package that includes a room at a select Disney Deluxe Resort hotel and ticket with a Park Hopper option

Crystal Palace Plant Basaed Cauliflower

Resorts Included on the Disney Quick Service Free Dining Plan

When the Disney Free Dining Plan is offered, there are rules in place for other resorts too. If your Disney Vacation package includes one of the resorts below then you get the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan which includes 2 Quick-Service meals and 2 snacks or non-alcoholic beverages Per Person, Per night of your stay. Plan details. And it’s only valid if you’re staying at the blow resorts. 

Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan 

The Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan allows you the opportunity to dine at a variety of Disney Quick-Service Restaurants and purchase your meal with a dining credit. These are counter-service restaurants and are perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a casual dinner. Everyone in the party ages 3 and over receives the following PER NIGHT OF STAY.

  • 2 Quick-Service Meals (per night of stay)*
  • 1 Snack/Nonalcoholic Drink (per night of stay)
  • 1 Resort-Refillable Drink Mug

At these Moderate Resorts 

For arrivals most nights from July 1 through September 30, 2024, with the purchase of a 4-night, 4-day nondiscounted package that includes a room at a select Disney Moderate Resort hotel and ticket with a Park Hopper option

At these Disney Value and Value Plus Resorts 

For arrivals most nights from July 1 through September 30, 2024, with the purchase of a 4-night, 4-day nondiscounted package that includes a room at a select Disney Value Resort hotel and ticket with a Park Hopper option

chefs de france food

Can you Make Disney Free Dining Plan Modifications?

Yes! One of the perks of the Disney Free Dining Plan is that if your resort of choice doesn’t have the “right” dining plan for free, you can upgrade to the dining plan of your choice and pay the difference. 

Disney Dining Plans and Resort Choices

Check out our post on Disney Free Dining and on Resort Levels to help you pick the best combo for your vacation. 

People Wait for Disney Free Dining? Yep.

We see it every year. The rumor mill gets going and before you know it, there is chatter in every direction regarding the Disney Free Dining Plan promotion. Every spring, April typically, you will see full posts published with the sole purpose of predicting whether or not Walt Disney World will even run the Free Disney Dining promo. Posts are published with history regarding when in the past the Free Disney Dining has been released and what dates they typically offer the free dining plan. BUT, it’s never guaranteed. The fact that it continues to be offered means Disney wants people IN THE PARKS and free dining is how they get them there. 

What’s the big deal with the Disney Free Dining Plan?

UMMMM FREE FOOD! And even better, free DISNEY food, which is phenomenal. That’s what! The Free Disney Dining plan promo is generally offered during slower times of the year for Walt Disney World when they need to fill rooms. We began taking advantage of this offer years ago when you really could call it “low attendance”. Nowadays, that’s not really a thing as we’ve noticed crowds increasing every year since. And Disney doesn’t really have an off-season. Its usually offered in September/October and sometimes selected dates in November and December. It changes every year and sometimes there is no rhyme or reason why some dates are blacked out and others are not. It’s Disney, they do what they want.

Disney Dining Plan Types

It’s important to know that the Disney Dining Plan comes in a range of prices depending on which plan you choose.  Disney’s FREE Dining promotion is usually offered based on your Disney Resort choice! At its most basic you can usually get the Quick Service Dining Plan for Free. And if you find you want a higher plan you can usually upgrade to a more complex dining plan for a small fee, no matter which Disney Resort you’re staying at. 

  • The Quick Service Dining Plan
    • 2 Quick-Service Meals (per night of stay)*
    • 1 Snack/Nonalcoholic Drink (per night of stay)
    • 1 Resort-Refillable Drink Mug
  • The Disney Dining Plan
    • 1 Quick-Service Meal (per night of stay)*
    • 1 Table-Service Meal (per night of stay)**
    • 1 Snack/Nonalcoholic Drink (per night of stay)
    • 1 Resort-Refillable Drink Mug

 Keep in mind that your time at table service restaurants is usually at least an hour. So consider that when planning your days in the parks. Also meals are per person per night that you are staying on property. This is important because it’s not based on how many days you are there, but rather how many nights.  And you don’t have to use that allotment every day. Instead, you get a total number of meals and you use them according to your liking.

What’s Included in the Disney Dining Plan?

  • Beverages are included with each meal. Guests under 21 years of age may choose from a variety of nonalcoholic beverages. Guests 21 and older with valid identification may substitute for beer, wine, and cocktails.
  • Meal and Snack Allotments, depending on the plan purchased, are loaded into your Disney Account starting with your first day of stay. 

What’s Not Included in the Disney Dining Plan?

  • Items that are more than a single serving (such as a box of doughnuts or a jar of peanut butter)
  • Items (such as popcorn or drinks) that are served in a souvenir container
  • Items considered to be merchandise (such as bottle toppers, glow cubes and bottle straps)
  • Special dining events offered at certain Table-Service locations

RVshare RV rental at Disney

What Restaurants are Included in the Disney Dining Plan?

Note the Disney Dining Plan is not accepted at all Disney Restaurants. Check out the Disney Dining Plan List of Approved Restaurants.  The dining plan changes every year so keep an eye on the Disney Dining Plans page to be in the know. Also, remember that you can use Disney Snack Credits for dessert on eligible items. And some alcoholic beverages are now also included as part of the meal options. You an check out the Dining Credits at Disney Restaurants for all the details. 

How do I get The Disney Dining Plan For FREE?

First, if you’re trying to snag some of the best restaurants with advanced dining reservations, you will need to have your trip booked at least 6 months ahead of time. So, if you’re anticipating that Free Disney Dining will be offered for travel dates in September, then you will need to have a reservation well ahead of that. Check out the Disney Vacation Planning Timeline for your best Disney Planning strategy.  Everyone can book Advanced Dining Reservations (ADR) 6 months ahead of time.  But for those staying on Disney property, you get to book 6 months ahead of time from the beginning of your trip, which gives you a slight advantage over those not staying on WDW property. If you have your ADRs booked and were lucky enough to plan 6 months out, then you can call and have them ADD the free Disney Dining Promo plan to your package. 

Why you Should Book Your Trip to Disney Regardless of Promotions

If you are working with a travel agent, they will take care of adding the Free Dining Plan for you, once it releases. This is a HUGE PERK of having a travel agent. Why? Well a couple of years ago, Disney decided to be slightly deceptive and caught everyone off guard by not releasing a Free Disney Dining Plan to Disney Visa cardholders first. Which is usually the norm for this promo. So basically, we all woke up and there was the promo with very little warning. And the website crashed every 5 seconds because everyone on the planet was trying to get it. 

kid friendly drinks disney world

Or You can Wait for the Disney FREE Dining Promo to be Released

Ok so what’s the other way? Wait until Disney releases free dining and book your trip then. However, you will risk not getting Free Dining at all if you choose this route. Because while the promo is offered, as soon as it’s released everyone books their vacation. Meaning there are fewer rooms and promo options available. Another risk you take by waiting is that there are only a select number of rooms and select resorts available.  This is standard when they offer a promo so you could miss out on your resort of choice and even miss out on the promo itself. Disney doesn’t release the number of rooms available for the promo, but rather leaves it to your imagination by stating “limited availability”.

Kona Cafe Tonga Toast with fruit cyrup

What’s Our Recommendation regarding Free Disney Dining?

Disney Free Dining is a godsend if you’re up against a Disney Dining Budget ( who isn’t?). If you’re traveling with family, or a large party we find it almost necessary. And it’s FREE. We obviously recommend just having your trip planned prior to the release of the promo. But you can do it either way. Keep in mind, Disney is never obligated to release a discount or promotion. So you could be waiting a while if you’re hoping to take advantage of this promo each year. It’s always possible that they will not release free dining at all.

Is The Free Disney Dining Plan Worth It?

Well, it’s free! Of course! No, really we’re just kidding though. That’s not something we can really answer for you. Sad we know, but there are a lot of things to factor in. Keep in mind you can always ADD the dining plan to the Magic Your Way package, so if you see that the room discount is a better deal, just add the Disney Dining Plan to your package so you can still utilize it.

The rules change every year. So basically, it’s a mystery until Disney announces the dates and exclusions. Once the details of the promo are released, we recommend seeing what is best for your family. Depending on where you want to stay and how many people are staying in your room, you might be better off taking advantage of a room discount or a Disney Bounceback Offer.

Ooey Gooey Cake at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

Disney Free Dining Pros and Cons

Here are a few things to consider:

Not all Disney resorts are included. 

Usually, Art of Animation Little Mermaid Rooms are excluded, and sometimes All-Star Movies, Fort Wilderness Campground, Port Orleans Riverside, and really any other resort that they don’t need help filling.  So if you were really looking forward to staying in one of those exclusions, then Free Disney Dining is not for you.

You can’t use other discounts.

Here is where it gets tricky. So the food is free, right?! Well yes and no. It is free, but by taking advantage of that promo, you are excluded from using other discounts. Like room discounts or ticket discounts. Since its part of the Magic Your Way Package, you also can’t really use your Disney Annual Passes (since tickets are part of MYW) and you also can’t use DVC points in conjunction with free dining.

The Free Disney Dining plan that you receive depends on the tier of the resort you choose.

Value Resorts will always receive the Quick Service Dining Plan, which means you no longer get the table service meal for free when getting the free dining plan. But you can upgrade to the Plus Dining plan for an additional cost. This changes the value of the free dining discount, so plan accordingly. So be ready to upgrade and pay a small difference if you want a free table service meal added to your Free Disney Dining Plan.

Generally, there is a Minimum Stay required.

As with all promotions, there is usually a Disney Resort Stay minimum. Most of the time it is a 4-day/ 3-night minimum. So if you’re grabbing a long weekend at Disney World you may not qualify for the promo.

Zebra Domes at Animal Kingdom Disney World

Disney Free Dining Tips

While free food is always worth it, there will be times when you realize most of your vacation is about eating. Yes, EATING. So the question becomes… did you go to Walt Disney World to spend your time eating all the food? With Free Dining, you get access to lots of food and lots of snack credits. All have deadlines to be used. For the snack credits especially, you will feel like you’re wasting money if anything goes unused. thankfully, many of the pre-packaged snacks at Disney gift shops can be purchased with snack credits if you find that you were unable to eat all the snacks and just need to bring some home. 

If you want to maximize your “Disney Snack Credits”, look for the more expensive snacks to use your credits on. This is especially helpful if you’re using Free Dining during an Epcot Festival. We’ve seen snacks as high as 8 dollars be included as an official snack. So that could save you some money! And get you free food you had planned on eating at the festival anyway!

Liberty Tree Tavern, Walt Disney World

How Much Does the Disney Dining Plan Actually Cost? ( when it isn’t Free)

For a price point reference, here’s the breakdown of cost per person on the main plans.

Disney World Quick Service Dining Plan Value

  • Adult- $57 per person/ per night
  • Child ( 3-9)- $24 per person/ per night

Disney World Dining Plan Value

  • Adult $95 per person/ per night
  • Child ( 3-9) $30 per person/ per night

This may sound like a huge saving, but if you normally wouldn’t spend that much on food in a day, then the room discount may be a better deal. Per our Disney Vacation on a Budget post, we figure you usually spend about 70-100 dollars per person per day. 

Generally, we love the Disney Dining Plan. It can help you stay within budget and allow you to try more expensive items that you may have ignored if you were paying outright. We also love that the difficult daily reminder of “staying on budget” is removed as a result of us not having to think about how much food costs. Just keep in mind it’s not always the best deal! If you want to get a head start picking the Disney restaurants, read the reviews. Grab our dining planner or printable Disney Vacation Planner in the shop to get all your planning in one place. 

Disney Free Dining Plan Details and Dates for Walt Disney World! Everything you need to know about this promo offer! #disneydining #disneyfree #polkadotpixies

Co-Founder and Director at Polka Dot Pixie Co LLC | Website | + posts

Melanie Renee is a photographer, writer, designer and mom. Visiting Disney destinations since 2010, she is also an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. When she's not creating her next coffee recipe, or designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's seeking beautiful sunsets and planning her next trip .


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