The Disney Dining Plan is available with Walt Disney Travel Company packages. This plan gives you the option of purchasing meal vouchers so you can prepay your meals, and has four different options.
There are a few things to know about the Disney Dining Plan before making your decision to purchase the vouchers. First, unused vouchers are non refundable, so use them all, or save the remaining ones for your next trip to the Disney Resort. Secondly, the vouchers can't be used for tips, alcohol, and no change will be given. Finally, the Breakfast in the Park coupons are not good for character meals, and are for a pre-selected restaurant, such as the River Belle Terrace.
The Disney Dining Plan does not save money, but does allow you to prepay your meals. Also, each package includes at least one character meal. For the character meal, use that coupon for Goofy's Kitchen, which is the highest price character meal available. The price of the package figures that in, so if you choose to eat at a different character meal, you are actually losing money with the Disney Dining Plan.
The four plan options are as follows (all prices are 2007):
Donald's Plan, 3 days of Disney Dining
Adult vouchers ($92.05 per adult):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Breakfast in the Park
3 - $5.00 Vouchers
2 - $10.00 Vouchers
1 - $15.00 Voucher
Child vouchers ($69.65 per child aged 3 - 9):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Breakfast in the Park
4 - $5.00 vouchers
2 - $10.00 vouchers
Goofy's Plan, 4 days of Disney Dining
Adult vouchers ($134.33 per adult):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Character Lunch
1 - Breakfast in the Park
3 - $5.00 Vouchers
2 - $10.00 Vouchers
2 - $15.00 Vouchers
Child vouchers ($97.03 per child aged 3 - 9):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Character Lunch
1 - Breakfast in the Park
4 - $5.00 vouchers
3 - $10.00 vouchers
Minnie's Plan, 5 days of Disney Dining
Adult vouchers ($185.25 per adult):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Character Dinner
2 - Breakfast in the Park
3 - $5.00 Vouchers
4 - $10.00 Vouchers
2 - $15.00 Vouchers
Child vouchers ($126.88 per child aged 3 - 9):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Character Dinner
2 - Breakfast in the Park
5 - $5.00 Vouchers
3 - $10.00 Vouchers
1 - $15.00 Voucher
Mickey's Plan, 6 days of Disney Dining
Adult vouchers ($215.59 per adult):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Character Lunch
1 - Character Dinner
2 - Breakfast in the Park
3 - $5.00 Vouchers
4 - $10.00 Vouchers
3 - $15.00 Vouchers
Child vouchers ($152.22 per child aged 3 - 9):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Character Lunch
1 - Character Dinner
2 - Breakfast in the Park
5 - $5.00 Vouchers
4 - $10.00 Vouchers
1 - $15.00 Voucher
People who have used the above plans do recommend that if you do decide to purchase the Disney Dining Plan, buy one for less than your total stay at the Disney Resort. For example, if you are going to be there for 5 days, the recommendation is to get the plan for 3 or 4 days. Since the vouchers are not good at Downtown Disney, you also need to consider where you plan on eating before purchasing one of the Dining Plans. If you will strictly be eating at Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure, or eating at many character meals, this may be a good plan for you. Do keep in mind the breakfast coupons though, which must be used for breakfast, only at Disneyland, and at a pre-selected restaurant.
If you do decide to purchase Disney's Dining Plan, enjoy your dining experiences, and have a great time at the Disney Resort!
For Reviews of various Disneyland Restaurants that accept the coupons be sure to read the Disneyland Dining Reviews. You can also read reviews from various California Adventure Restaurants.