Credit: DisneyWalt Disney World Resort’s rollout of the 2026 Disney Dining Plan didn’t go as planned. Just over a week into the New Year, Disney has had to reverse course and issue corrections on multiple occasions, clarifying that several restaurants that were listed as no longer participating in the program had been reinstated. Here’s what Central Florida Disney Park guests need to know.
The Disney Dining Plan
Walt Disney World Resort offers two different dining plans for guests staying at the Disney Resort hotels and visiting the Central Florida theme parks. The Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan includes two Quick-Service meals, one snack or non-alcoholic drink, and one Resort-Refillable Drink Mug per guest, per night.
The Disney Dining Plan includes one Quick-Service meal, one Table-Service meal, one snack or non-alcoholic drink, and one Resort-Refillable Drink Mug per guest, per night. The day of checkout is not included in the plan, but most guests don’t use all of their meal credits on check-in day.
Tips are not included, and an automatic gratuity charge may apply for large parties at select dining locations. Select menu items may incur an extra charge. Guests should bring a MagicBand, credit card, or additional form of payment in case additional charges apply to their meals.
Though the number of meals and snacks guests get depends on the number of nights they stay, guests can use the credits at their convenience. For example, someone with the Disney Dining Plan could do two Table-Service meals in one day, then use two Quick-Service meal credits the next day.
Meals on both plans include an entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage. Adults over 21 can substitute that drink for an alcoholic beverage, such as beer, wine, or other cocktails. Guests aged three to nine must order from the children’s menu, if available.
Select Character Dining locations and live entertainment experiences may require the use of two Table-Service credits per guest. Dining reservations are not guaranteed with the purchase of a Disney Dining Plan, and are subject to availability.
Non-alcoholic drink refills in the Resort-Refillable Mugs are available at the Disney Resort hotels for the entire length of stay. The mugs don’t work at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney Springs, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, or Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park.
Self-service beverage islands are available at every Disney Resort hotel Quick-Service location. Coca-Cola Freestyle machines are available at select Disney Resort hotels, including Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
Walt Disney World Resort used to offer a third plan, the Deluxe Dining Plan, which included multiple Table-Service meals and snacks/non-alcoholic beverages daily, plus a Resort-Refillable Drink Mug. However, this has not returned for several years.
Unused meals could previously be converted into three snacks or non-alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, this is no longer allowed. If you have extra credits, consider purchasing an adventurous additional meal for your family to try together, or try one of the Table-Service restaurants that require two credits.
First Round of Corrections
In December, guests with 2026 Disney Resort hotel packages finally had the chance to see the list of locations included in the Disney Dining Plan for the New Year. Many families waited to make advance reservations to discover whether their favorite buffet or signature dining restaurants were included in their package stay.
Initially, it seemed that numerous dining locations had been removed from the vacation package offering. As of late December, approximately 35 restaurants around the Central Florida property were not included in the 2026 plan. Then, on January 2, Walt Disney World Resort quietly re-added 20 dining locations to the package.
Other restaurants reduced their flexibility for families with Disney Dining Plans. The Patina Restaurant Group, a third-party company that operates several dining locations at EPCOT and Disney Springs, tightened availability for package holders at four of its restaurants. At Disney Springs, The Edison will only accept the plan for dinner. At EPCOT, Tutto Italia will only serve plan holders for lunch, while Via Napoli will only accept the plan at dinner.
Here, too, Walt Disney World Resort made a mistake. Initially, the official website stated that Terralina Crafted Italian at Disney Springs would only accept the Disney Dining Plan for lunch. However, they have since updated the page to reflect that the dining location will accept package holders for lunch and dinner.
Round Two: Starbucks and Landry’s
Later in January, Walt Disney World Resort re-added even more restaurants to the 2026 plan, including Starbucks and several locations owned by Landry’s.
Landry’s operates several Table-Service dining locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort, including the Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex Cafe at Disney Springs, as well as the Rainforest Cafe at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Starbucks operates two locations at Disney Springs, as well as themed coffee houses at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
More Changes Coming?
Even after multiple corrections to the 2026 Disney Dining Plan, over 20 restaurants are still missing from the list. It’s unclear whether Walt Disney World Resort will make further updates to the package.
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