In March of 2025, Disney announced two major Disney Dining Plan deals, and with March 2026 upon us, we’re wondering if the company plans to run it back?
Mickey Pretzel
First, Disney Visa cardholders had exclusive access to a new limited-time deal that gave them the Disney Dining Plan for free when they booked a non-discounted 4-night, 4-day Disney World package, including a room at a select Disney World hotel and a theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option. The day after the Cardholder deal expired, Disney revealed a new deal which offered guests the Disney Dining Plan for free when they booked a non-discounted 4-night, 4-day Disney World vacation package that included a room at select Disney World hotels, as well as theme park tickets with the Disney Park Hopper option.
So, will Disney bring some form of the free Dining Plan back? Well, while obviously we don’t know for sure, but there are some indications that it may be likely.
Disney Dining Plan symbols
For starters, Disney is already offering free kids’ dining plans throughout 2026. Guests booking a room at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel and dining plan for each guest ages 10 and up on their reservation can receive FREE dining plans for kids ages 3 to 9. This offer extends through 2026 bookings and is dependent on purchasing the vacation package (which includes a hotel stay and park tickets) as well as dining plans for every other guest.
Prix-Fixe Meal at Be Our Guest Restaurant
Beyond that, Disney has offered an unprecedented amount of discounts over the last several years, and judging by Disney’s most recent earnings call — where the company revealed that “bookings are up 5% for full year weighted toward the back end” — these discounts seem to be helping the company’s Experiences division continue to rake in record profits.
Fantasy in the Sky
In fact, Disney is currently offering some major discounts, including the ability to save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels for stays most nights from May 1st to July 29th, 2026.
Standard room at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Guests can save up to 30% for stays of 5 or more consecutive nights and 25% for stays of 1 to 4 consecutive nights at Disney’s Deluxe Tier Resorts, 25% off stays of 5 or more nights and 20% or stays of 1 to 4 nights at select Disney Moderate and Value Tier Resorts, and 20% off stays of 5 or more nights and 15% off stays of 1 to 4 nights at select Moderate and Value Tier Resorts, as well as the Fort Wilderness Campground.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
While we’re not sure if Disney will bring back the exact free dining offer as last year, the success of their current discount offerings — including the free dining for kids — would seem to indicate it’s possible, and arguably likely, some kind of free dining offer will return soon. Stay tuned to DFB to find out!
2026 Dates You Should Know If You’re a Disney World Fan
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As Disney cardholder, I received a card today that invited me to book with a free dining plan starting on March 5-March 11th. These are valid for arrivals Jun 28-Oct 3, Oct 19-Oct 31 and Dec 6-21. So perhaps when early booking for Disney cardholders ends, it will be come public.