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Disney World Vacation Packages vs. Annual Pass Discounts

Quite a few MouseSavers.com readers have asked me whether it's really worthwhile to book a Walt Disney World vacation package just so that you can buy the Dining Plan add-on. The answer is, "it depends."

Usually if you book a Disney World vacation package, you'll be paying "rack rate" (full price) for the hotel room portion of the package. (Occasionally there are good package discounts.) While the Dining Plan can be a good value in some situations, any savings are offset by the lack of discounts on the hotel room.

You may save a lot of money by purchasing one Annual Pass and taking advantage of the many Annual Passholder discounts. Those most likely to benefit from this strategy include families, those staying 5 days or longer and/or those staying at Disney's Deluxe resorts.

Here's an example of how the savings can add up. Both of the 2005 examples below are for a family of four (2 adults, 1 child age 6 and one child age 11) taking a one-week vacation at Walt Disney World.

Vacation Type

7-Night Magic Your Way Vacation Package Plus Dining (2005)

7-Night Vacation with Components Booked Separately, Using Annual Passholder Discounts (2005)

Items Included
  • 7 nights at Wilderness Lodge (standard view room, Regular season)
  • 7-Day Magic Your Way Tickets with Park Hopper Option
  • Dining Plan (one full-service meal, one counter-service meal and one snack per person per day, at selected WDW restaurants)
  • Additional meals (extra cost on top of package)
  • 7 nights at Wilderness Lodge (standard view room, Regular season)
  • One adult Annual Pass
  • 7-Day Magic Your Way Tickets with Park Hopper Option for the rest of the family
  • 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners and 7 snacks per person
Cost of Room $1865.40 (rack rate) $1084.90 (Annual Passholder discount applied - note that this discount is not always available)
Cost of Tickets

3 Adult MYW Tickets with Park Hopper Option (advance purchase) = $712.50

1 Child MYW Ticket with Park Hopper Option (advance purchase) = $198.09

Total ticket cost = $910.59

1 Adult Annual Pass = $420.68

2 Adult MYW Tickets with Park Hopper Option (advance purchase) = $475.00

1 Child MYW Ticket with Park Hopper Option (advance purchase) = $198.09

Total ticket cost = $1093.77

Cost of Dining

Dining plan = $805.00

  • 2 Character breakfasts
  • 7 counter-service lunches
  • 2 full-service dinners
  • 1 buffet dinner
  • 1 dinner show (dinner show uses two full-service meal options)
  • 7 in-park snacks: popcorn, soda, bottled water or ice cream bar

Additional meals not included in meal plan = $286.00*

Per-meal or per-snack costs listed below cover the entire family of four.

  • 2 full-service breakfasts at the hotel @ $50 each
  • 3 counter-service breakfasts at the hotel and/or in the parks @ $28 each
  • 3 counter-service dinners @ $34 each

Total meal expense = $1091.00

Per-meal or per-snack costs listed below cover the entire family of four.

  • 2 Character breakfasts (1 @ $68, 1 @ $82)
  • 2 full-service breakfasts at the hotel @ $50 each
  • 3 counter-service breakfasts at the hotel and/or in the parks @ $28 each
  • 7 counter-service lunches @ $34 each
  • 2 full-service dinners @ $90 each
  • 1 buffet dinner @ $70
  • 1 dinner show @ $151
  • 3 counter-service dinners @ $34 each
  • 7 in-park snacks such as popcorn, soda, bottled water or ice cream bar @ $10 each

Total meal expense* = $1145.00

Total Cost

= $3870.83 Total**

= $3323.67 Total

Advantages It's easy and requires minimal thought. Just contact your travel agent and book it.
  • Your vacation may cost less: in this example, you could save over $500 as compared with a vacation package.
  • Still pretty easy: your travel agent can book room and tickets for you.
  • Dining is totally flexible. You can choose where and when to eat, and in some cases you'll get a 10% Annual Passholder discount. Plus, if you are able to join Disney's Dining Experience before your trip, you might save as much as 20% on many of your meals.
  • You qualify for a lot of other Annual Passholder discounts. Click here for a list.
  • If you return to Walt Disney World within a year, the Annual Pass will still be valid. That's one less ticket to buy on your next trip.
Disadvantages
  • Your vacation may cost more: in this example, the vacation package cost over $500 more than the alternative.
  • Dining plan is not totally flexible. If you want to try restaurants that are not on the plan, you're out of luck. Snack options are limited.
  • Dining plan isn't always a good deal, unless you plan ahead carefully and pick specific restaurants and items that provide the best value.
  • Dining plan can be a hassle. You have to stay on top of how many meals and snacks you've used during your vacation, so that you don't end up wasting any.

Annual Passholder discounts at the Disney resorts are NOT guaranteed and frequently are not offered during peak holiday periods. To see historical information about when these discounts have been offered in the past, click here.

*When calculating the cost of meals, I used average prices for an entree or combo meal and drink per person (plus a dessert with each dinner), including tax and 15% tip if applicable. I assumed children would order from the kids' menu. I did not apply any Annual Passholder or Disney Dining Experience meal discounts.

**The price of a Disney vacation package almost always varies by at least a few dollars from the total "rack rate" cost of the components. Generally the discrepancy favors Disney. I call this "Mickey Mouse math." The total here is based on an actual vacation package quote, plus the cost of the additional meals.

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