Dining at Disney World is about to change in a big way.

We’ve seen new restaurants open, certain meal services return, and NEW dining locations announced for the future. But perhaps the biggest changes will come with the return of the Disney Dining Plan in 2024. And ahead of its return, Disney appears to be surveying some guests about their own dining experiences in the parks.

Disney has already shared that the Disney Dining Plan will be back on January 9th, 2024 and bookings start May 31st, 2023.

Get all the info on the new dining plans by signing up for our 2024 Dining Plan & daily newsletter!

The Quick Service and Standard Disney Dining Plans will be the only options to return for now, and they must be booked as part of a vacation package (you must be staying on a Vacation Package at a Disney-owned-and-operated hotel, and have purchased at least one ticket per person).

Just a few days ahead of the booking start date for vacation packages with the Dining Plan, one of our reporters was in Magic Kingdom. Following their visit, they got sent a survey by Disney asking some dining (and shopping) questions.

One of the questions asked about the overall food and beverage experience in Magic Kingdom. The newest snack spot we saw added to Magic Kingdom was Energy Bytes (the stand by TRON Lightcycle / Run), but perhaps Disney is looking to see if guests are satisfied with the overall experience or if new snacks/restaurants (or other dining changes) may be needed.

During our reporter’s recent trip, they had stopped by Westward Ho Refreshments to grab one of the BEST snacks in the park before it disappears (Wendell’s Bear Claw — we’ll miss you!).

The survey asked what parts of the dining experience had a positive impact on their time at Westward Ho. The survey also asked about what things may have had a negative impact on their overall experience at Westward Ho. Perhaps that could impact any changes made to Westward Ho in the future or to the use of the Dining Plan at that snack spot.

Disney also inquired about how much money our team member spent on food and beverages throughout the day. That information (when obtained from many guests across many parks/restaurants/park days) could give Disney some critical details about how much money people do spend in the parks on food. That can better guide them on future pricing changes (increases or decreases) on meals/snacks and maybe even pricing on the Disney Dining Plan.

It looks like Disney is also looking at just how many different menu options there are available in Magic Kingdom and whether those fit what guests want and need. Magic Kingdom can be much more limiting in terms of menu options, particularly at quick service spots, when compared to places like EPCOT. But there are some great eats available if you know where to go.

Disney is also interested in dietary needs or preferences, given the question below. If you will be visiting Disney World and have specific dietary needs or allergies, be sure to check those menus ahead of time and reach out to Disney’s special diets team with any questions or concerns.

But the survey wasn’t just curious about our eating desires, it also had some interesting questions focused on shopping.

Disney inquired about the selection and availability of merchandise in the park, which can be important if you’re looking for unique options or a good selection of goodies to bring home.

The survey also posed a question to us about what items we were looking for — including limited-time or exclusive merchandise, household items, etc. Answers to these types of questions can give Disney an idea of what items they might want to have a greater stock of or even continue to make.

Interestingly, Disney also asked about the importance of shopping during our trip. What would you say? Is shopping the highlight of your trip? An important part, but not necessarily the most important thing?

Disney also wanted to know what spots we shopped at — that can give them a better idea of just how many guests are frequenting the stores (matching survey data with other data they likely have) to understand the guest flow and where key merchandise might need to be placed to encourage purchases.

Overall, it’s an interesting survey featuring questions that could help inform Disney’s future decisions regarding food and merchandise in the parks. For now, we’re waiting on more news from Disney about the Dining Plan’s return. A full list of restaurants participating in the program and pricing details have NOT been shared but should be announced soon.

Here’s a look at what Disney says you can expect from the Standard Dining Plan:

• Everyone in the travel party will receive 1 Table-Service meal per night, 1 Quick-Service meal per night, and a
  snack/nonalcoholic drink per night of their package stay—along with 1 Resort-refillable drink mug. Meals and snacks can
  be redeemed at any time during the stay.
• For example, if you book a 4-night package with a Disney Dining Plan, each Guest in your party would receive 4 Table-Service meals, 4 Quick-Service meals, and 4 snacks or nonalcoholic beverages—which can be used at any time during your 4-night stay.

And here’s info for the Quick Service Dining Plan:

• Everyone in the travel party (ages 3 and up) will receive 2 Quick-Service meals per night, a snack/nonalcoholic drink per
  night of their package stay – along with 1 Resort-refillable drink mug. Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time
  during the stay.
• For example, if you book a 4-night package with a Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, each Guest in your party would receive 8 Quick-Service meals and 4 Snacks or Nonalcoholic Beverages—which can be used at any time during your 4-night stay.

Keep in mind that when the Dining Plan returns, Annual Passholders will be able to book rooms only and add the Dining Plan (no need to buy the full package with tickets). DVC Members will be able to add the Dining Plan to a points reservation — but Members will need to call the DVC line to do so.

We’ve got an entire FAQ about the Disney Dining Plan, and you can check it out here!

Be sure to follow along for the latest Dining Plan updates, and for critical Disney food information check out our DFB Guide. 

Our guide has full chapters on whether the Dining Plan is worth the cost, how to get the most out of the Dining Plan, and recommendations for those using the Dining Plan. It will really help you get the most bang for your buck!

Stay tuned for more news.

What do you think about the return of the Dining Plan? Tell us in the comments.

The post New Survey Could Signal Potential Dining Plan CHANGES in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.

We’ve got some good reasons you might want to avoid Orlando International Airport this weekend — make that more like 1.1 million reasons.

It’s no secret that the airport gets significantly more crowded over the holidays, the Spring Break travel season, and even throughout the summer. But Memorial Day weekend is about to see HUGE crowds coming into the airport, and we’ve got the numbers for the five days that comprise the travel weekend.

According to the Orlando International Airport, there will be over $1.1 million passengers traveling through the airport during the Memorial Day travel weekend, which extends from May 25th through May 29th. Whew — that is a LOT of people.

Here’s how it breaks down for each day: 161,842 will travel through the airport on May 25th, with May 26th having around 167, 152 people traveling through the airport. The biggest travel day is on May 26th, when the airport expects 169,659 to travel through it. Finally, May 28th will have 162,025 people going through the airport, while May 29th is expected to have 164,719.

The #MemorialDay travel period is here & we’re expecting over 1.1 million passengers through the end of May!
Top 5 busiest days:
1. May 27 – 169,659
2. May 26 – 167, 152
3. May 29 – 164,719
4. May 28 – 162,025
5. May 25 – 161,842

More info: https://t.co/re68DWHMiP pic.twitter.com/SEI4JwXgwb

— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) May 24, 2023

So what should you do if you’re traveling through the Orlando airport on those days? Well, first off, be sure to pack your patience — lines for everything could be long. You’ll also need to make sure to stay on top of your airline’s website or app to keep an eye on your flight times. Arrive at the airport at least three hours early — believe us, when it’s busy, you might need ALL of those extra hours.

You might also want to check out the special Reservation Lane that Orlando International Airport has. All you have to do is register ahead of time with the airport to book a time to go through security. Then, when you arrive at the airport, you go through security at your designated time and use an exclusive shorter line. The best part? This service is 100% free. You can reserve your spot at reserve.clearme.com.

We’ll continue to keep an eye on crowds at the airport AND at Disney World over the weekend, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more.

Learn More About Orlando International Airport’s Reservation Lane

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

 

What’s your best strategy for traveling by air during a busy holiday weekend? Share your best tips in the comments!

The post There Are 1.1 MILLION Reasons To Avoid the Orlando Airport This Weekend first appeared on the disney food blog.

My Disney Experience, the Walt Disney World Resort app, is now asking for a seating preference when you check in for a dining reservation.

Seating Preference Options

We had this menu pop up when checking in for a reservation at Garden Grill Restaurant in EPCOT. Our options were “First Available,” “Booth,” and “Table.”

A note does say “Seating preference is not guaranteed and may affect the estimated wait time displayed above.”

Options may vary at different restaurants and this feature may not yet be available at all restaurants.

How do you feel about the seating preference feature in My Disney Experience? Let us know in the comments.

The Garden Grill Restaurant

The Garden Grill Restaurant is a slow-spinning restaurant on the second floor of The Land Pavilion, steps from Awesome Planet, with views of Living With the Land. It’s family-style dining with appearances from characters like Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale.

The lunch and dinner menus are approximately the same, offering Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Harvest Feast for $55 to adults and $36 to children. Highlights of the farm-fresh menu include a harvest-inspired garden salad, grilled beef with chimichurri, and all-natural sliced turkey with gravy. Many of the vegetables in the feast are grown on-site in Living With the Land.

Read our 2020 review of Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Harvest Feast at Garden Grill. Breakfast service will resume on June 14, 2023. Check out the Garden Grill breakfast menu and pricing.

Walt Disney World Dining Plans

The Disney Dining Plan is a prepaid meal package that guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort can purchase to receive discounts on food within the resort. It was first introduced in 2005. Menus are marked throughout Walt Disney World with the Disney Dining Plan logo to indicate if an item is eligible for a dining plan.

Disney Dining Plans have not been offered since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 but will finally return in 2024.

Guests will be able to use dining plans on visits starting January 9, 2024. Bookings will open on May 31, 2023. Two packages will be offered: the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan.

Read more details about the new Disney Dining Plan packages.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post My Disney Experience Now Asking For Seating Preference When Checking in for Dining Reservations appeared first on WDW News Today.

Walt Disney World will be hosting the first-ever “Once Upon A Wish Party” during World Princess Week this August for Make-A-Wish kids and their families.

Once Upon A Wish Party

World Princess Week takes place from August 21 through 26. The Once Upon A Wish Party will be a “full day affair filled with enchanting surprises, inspiration and adventures fit for a hero or heroine.”

The ball will include tea, treats, and character meet-and-greets. Wish kids will be proclaimed royalty for the evening.

Disney and Make-A-Wish are currently in the process of delivering invitations to the event.

This week, Cast Members, Minnie Mouse, and the Make-A-Wish team visited Ventura Elementary School in Florida to let 7-year-old Scarlett know she was invited to the ball. Scarlett had wished for a “Disney Princess experience.”

“She’s going to have this super special experience and be able to go to the royal ball as a princess … I know she’s going to enjoy every single second of it,” Scarlett’s mom said. “To see her happy and completely fulfilled is every mother’s dream. It means so much that she’ll be able to experience life as a normal kid at a theme park where we don’t have to think about a lot of the medical stuff that has consumed our lives in the past.”

“Disney is the largest wish granter in the world, and over our more than 40-year relationship, we’ve granted some pretty incredible wishes together,” Leslie Motter, Make-A-Wish America President and CEO, said. “Whatever Disney does, they go all out. I can’t wait to see the new happy memories Scarlett and our other attending wish families will be able to make at what is sure to be an unforgettable event.”

World Wish Day & Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 520,000 wishes for children globally since 1980. Their wishes assist children with relieving traumatic stress, improving emotional well-being, creating a turning point in their treatment, giving strength to fight an illness, and promoting better health outcomes. This is done by providing memorable experiences and positivity in their lives.

World Wish Day is a yearly Make-A-Wish event that celebrates more than 40 years of giving life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses and bringing delight to their families. World Wish Day takes place on April 29, in honor of the first wish that inspired the creation of the nonprofit. To celebrate World Wish Day this year, Make-A-Wish America granted their 150,000th Disney wish. Disney also revealed their new upcoming Make-A-Wish license plate.

Disneyland celebrated World Wish Day by displaying a trio of new windows on Main Street, U.S.A. dedicated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This is the company’s first window dedicated to a nonprofit company.

Last year, all Make-A-Wish children were dubbed the “Godchildren” of the Disney Wish cruise ship.

Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro was appointed to the national board of directors for Make-A-Wish America earlier this year.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post Walt Disney World Hosting Make-A-Wish Ball During World Princess Week appeared first on WDW News Today.