Top 10 Disney Dining Mistakes Rookies Make

Planning for a Disney vacation takes a lot of hard work and dedication. It’s almost a science. You have to book certain things at certain times. You have to research. It’s not simple, but it’s definitely fun. If you’re a newbie, this may all seem very overwhelming. But fear not, we’re here to make sure you do not fail. Hopefully you can learn from other’s mistakes, because here are the top ten Disney dining mistakes rookies make.

10. Not Researching The Disney Dining Plan

Whether you want to do the DDP or not, it’s still extremely helpful to research it. Sometimes it’s not necessarily worth it for your family to use it. Sometimes it is. You just have to do your research.

9. Under Booking (Disney Dining Plan)

If you booked the Standard Disney Dining Plan, Disney Deluxe Dining Plan, Disney Premium Dining Plan, or the Disney Platinum Dining Plan, you will need to make reservations for table service meals. I find that it is easier to make all the reservations before you go. You want to make sure you use all your credits or else they go to waste!

8. Not Getting The Biggest Bang For Your Buck (Disney Dining Plan)

There are definitely places where you get more bang for your buck than others. For example, you can use your credit for a steak dinner at Chefs de France for around $36, or you can get a cheeseburger at the Grand Floridian Café for less than $20. Since you already paid for the dining plan, you might as well get the steak!

7. Not Reading Reviews

It’s true, even at Disney World there are restaurants that are better than others. I like to read reviews so that I know what to expect. Some restaurants are said to be very noisy, and you may want a quieter setting.

6. Not Taking The Whole Family Into Consideration

This is a big one, especially if you are traveling with a large group. Some restaurants are not kid friendly and some are very kid friendly. You just have to think about what’s best for your family.

5. Not Planning Around Transportation

Disney transportation is always something to be taken into consideration if you are staying on Disney property and don’t have a car. If you have dinner reservations at Animal Kingdom Lodge, yet are spending the day at Magic Kingdom, make sure you leave enough time for traveling. Or plan them on different days.

4. Not Comparing Restaurants/Prices

There are restaurants that offer similar experiences, but with a large difference in price. For example, Cinderella’s Royal Table and Akershus Royal Banquet both offer character meals with the princesses. But Cinderella’s Royal Table is a lot more expensive and harder to get into. Or you may like both experiences, but prefer one type of food over the other, take everything into consideration!

3. Waiting Too Long To Book

If you wait too long to make your reservations, you may not get the ones you want. You are able to begin booking up to 180 days in advance, so I suggest taking full advantage of that!

Bonus Tip!

BONUS TIP: Consider planning and booking your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can trust like Mickey Travels. They’ll help you get the best Disney travel deal, share expert advice and their services are totally FREE! It’s genius! Discover More >

2. Overbooking

Sometimes we get so excited that we book every single reservation we’ve ever wanted. Usually two or more table service meals a day are too much, so limit it to just the ones you really want.

1. Not Looking at the Menu

This is a big one for anyone, but especially for the picky eaters in the group. If there’s not at least one thing on the menu that you’d order, you might want to think of somewhere else to go!

Planning a Disney vacation can seem stressful and overwhelming, but with a little planning and research it can be a breeze! Have you made any of these rookie dining mistakes?

BONUS TIP: Consider planning and booking your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can trust like Mickey Travels. They’ll help you get the best price for your vacation, share expert advice and their services are totally FREE! It’s genius!