The Crucial Detail About Disney's Standard Dining Plan You Might Miss

While we've been told for ages that there's no such thing as a free lunch, it's kind of annoying when even prepaid meals require extra dough. For example, if you're planning a holiday to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, you might be tempted to add one of Disney's much-touted dining plans to your package. After all, they promise value for money without skimping on quality, flexibility, or choice, letting you "enjoy peace of mind with prepaid meals and snacks" throughout your trip. But there's one crucial caveat: In Disney's world, "prepaid" comes with strings attached — a mandatory 18% tip for larger groups.

Disney's standard dining plan is pitched as the sweet spot between convenience and indulgence. The idea is simple: grab a quick meal when you're on the move, and opt for table service when you want to slow down and savor the experience. The plan allows guests access to any of the 170 food and beverage areas in the park, and also includes one drink per meal. It seems perfect, especially if you're traveling in a large group. However, especially relevant to large groups, is one of the points mentioned in the fine print: "Gratuities are not included ... An 18% gratuity will automatically be added to your bill for parties of 6 or more." That's almost a fifth of your food budget, on top of what you've already paid.

On paper, Disney's standard dining plan seems straightforward. In practice, however, the system is layered with stipulations. For example, some restaurants, menu items, or even special dining experiences cost more than one credit. There are also eateries that are really hard to get into and need to be booked in advance, forcing groups to juggle allocations carefully to avoiding pay anything extra out of pocket. The dining plan has so many moving parts that there are entire blogs and forums dedicated to helping travelers maximize the value out of prepaid credits. We even have a dining guide for Disney's Magic Kingdom.

There are other drawbacks, too. As many Disney visitors note, the dining plan has to be purchased for everyone in your party. This could be a good deal for a ravenous teenager, but wasteful for lighter eaters. It also creates pressure to consume more than you normally would to get your money's worth. Chasing value often means choosing the priciest entree even if something else sounded better, ordering alcoholic drinks you didn't want, or selecting desserts you weren't in the mood for.

Disney does seem to be paying attention, however. Starting 2026, children under 10 are expected to receive the same dining plan as the rest of their group at no extra cost, resulting in a saving of $30 per child, daily. That makes the plan more attractive for families, but for groups without kids (or without much appetite), there are also cheaper dining options available. So, sticking to pay-as-you-go is the smarter choice — we won't charge you 18% for that tip.