Free Disney Dining Plan 2024 Prices. Worth it?
Breaking down the Disney World free dining offer
On April 9, 2024, Disney released a second free dining offer for select July, September, and December dates. In short, Disney is saying that if you come to Disney World this summer or fall, you’ll be able to eat most of your meals for free while on your vacation.
Free Dining has become extremely popular over the years and many guests have even come to expect it. The idea behind it is to fill empty hotel rooms during off-peak times of the year.
Disney knows people love this offer and some even wait for it.
Since 2017, Disney has offered a free dining plan discount for summer travel dates.
For example in 2019, the offer ran from July 5 through September 2nd. And in the summer of 2018, kids would get the dining plan for free.
But what makes 2024 unique is that Disney ran the free dining plan promotion twice, for nearly the same travel dates.
The first offer came on January 3, 2024, and required visitors to have a Disney+ membership.
Disney then released a second round of free dining on April 9, 2024, also for the summer and this time included September and December as well.
To get the free dining you’ll need to pay the package deposit with a Disney Visa credit or debit card.
That’s not a bad idea because if you don’t already have a Disney Visa you can apply for one and get up to a $400 statement credit plus you’ll get 0% financing on your Dinsey World package for 6 months.
Also on April 9th Disney released a room offer where you can save up to 30% on the nightly hotel rate for summer and fall. This offer is available to everyone, even those who do not have a Disney Visa credit card but it cannot be combined with the free ding deal.
So, should you take advantage of Disney World’s free dining offer? Let’s take a look at a few sample vacation packages and see how it works.
Disney World Free Dining 2024
The free dining package promo for summer 2024 gives guests staying at Disney World Value and Moderate category resorts the quick service dining plan for free.
Deluxe hotel guests can get the regular Disney Dining Plan for free (the one that includes the table service meals).
Required package components:
Minimum of 4-day Park Hopper tickets
Minimum 4 nights at the Disney World hotel
Let’s use a sample family to see how they might do with the free dining offer. This fictional family will consist of 2 adults and 2 children ages 8 and 6, staying 4 nights during the first week of July, at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside with 4-day Park Hoppers.
This is just sample pricing to illustrate my point, but actual pricing will vary based on dates, length of stay, and party mix.
The non-discounted rate for this offer including the Quick Service Dining Plan is about $5,002. If this family takes the room offer, their package price is $4,705, a savings of about $300.
And if they take the Quick Service Dining Offer, the package price is $4,355.
But what if they take the room offer and exclude the quick-service dining plan? Then their total would be about $4,058. Yes, it’s less than the free quick-service dining offer. But only by $300.
A family of 4 staying 4 nights will easily spend more than $300 on food, so free dining is still the better deal.
What if they stay at a Disney Deluxe hotel? I like Disney’s Yacht Club Resort for free dining because it tends to have the best rates and the most availability.
Now remember at the Deluxe hotels, they will get the table service dining plan for free:
1 table service meal
1 quick service meal
1 snack
This is per night, per person.
The rack rate with the Disney dining plan included without any offers for 4 nights during the first week of July with 4-day park Hoppers comes to $6,760
Now let’s apply some discounts. The room offer with the Disney dining plan comes to $6,028. A savings of $900.
When I apply the free dining offer, the package total comes to $5,768.24, a savings of $1032 compared to the rack rate.
And what about the room offer without a dining plan, compared to free dining? That comes to $5,037.00.
Free dining is $431 more. But think about that for a moment.
For $431 more, they can dine at the best Disney World restaurants, including most character meals. The average price of a character meal is about $50 per person. So $200 for a family of 4.
It’s close when you compare free dining to the room offer. You could easily spend $700 on dining at Disney, especially if you do a character meal.
But the room offer may be the better deal.
This is where I can help. I work with people every day to help them determine which offer works out best for them. I’d be happy to help you too.
You can contact me here to get started in just one click.
Specializing in family-friendly vacations at
Disney, Royal Caribbean and Universal Orlando.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
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Guide to Walt Disney World FREE DINING Offers
For the first time in 4 four years, Disney World is again offering the infamous FREE Dining offer.
Current Free Dining Offers at Disney World
If you’re a Disney Visa Cardmember you can get a FREE Disney Dining Plan for select dates and hotels in July, September, and December 2024.
The trade-off here is that you cannot combine the room discount with this offer. Free Dining Plan offers generally work out better for those that have 4+ people on their reservation.
Otherwise, it might work out better to take the room discount.
See more about the Disney Dining Plans here >
FREE Disney Dining Plan Details
Free Quick Service Dining Plan on stays at Disney World Value and Moderate Resorts
Free Disney Dining Plan on stays at Disney World Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts
If you’re staying at a Value or a Moderate resort, I can upgrade your Quick Service Dining Plan to the Disney Dining Plan. You just need to pay the difference in cost.
Disney World Free Dining Dates 2024
July 1 to July 31, 2024
September 1 to September 7, 2024
December 9 to December 21, 2024
To receive a free dining plan:
Must book a deposit with a Disney Visa credit card. Right now you can get 0% financing for 6 months on Disney World packages.
Stay at least 4 nights at Disney World hotel
Include at least 4 ticket days with Park Hopper
3 Bedroom Villas, Club Level rooms, and Suites are excluded
Insider Tips on the Free Dining Plan
Dining Plan Upgrade
If you book the offer at a Moderate or Value resort, receiving a free Quick-service meal plan, you can pay a price difference to get the Disney Dining Plan.
Free Dining Blackout Dates
As with most Disney World offers, there are blackout dates. Disney does not disclose what those blackout dates are. Some resorts and room categories are excluded on select nights.
Disney may adjust blackout dates and hotels without notice.
If you prefer to have me do the work for you, send me a quote request. You’ll also get insider, expert travel planning advice.
If you’re familiar with previous Disney Dining Plans, you should note there are some big changes in 2024.
See my video below for details or click here to read my article “Disney Dining Plans: How they work and are they worth the cost?”
Specializing in family-friendly vacations at
Disney, Royal Caribbean and Universal Orlando.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
Search articles
Recent Articles
See what I’m up to in the theme parks.
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