Disney Announces Free Meals for Kids — 4 Reasons It May Not Be a Great Deal
Written by
Chris Adam
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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The announcement from Walt Disney World that kids can eat free in 2026 is likely exciting news for thousands of budget-conscious families. After all — as anyone who’s gone to Disney can tell you — it can cost a pretty penny to enjoy a vacation at the Florida resort.
But before you book your trip and start planning — perhaps thinking about the big savings you’ll see thanks to free meals for kids — below are some reasons to keep that may not make this arrangement such a great deal.
Also here’s why Disney has become unaffordable for the middle class.
You Need To Purchase Certain Items
Let’s start with some of the basic requirements for earning those free meals for your kids. According to the announcement from Disney, you can get a free dining plan for kids with the purchase of a Travel Company package for you and your kids. In the case of this promotion, the term “kid” refers to a child aged 3 to 9.
In order to secure that free dining plan, your Travel Company package must include a room at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel and a dining plan for each of your guests who’re ages 10 and up.
You Must Prepay for Lots of Meals
If you’re a family of four, with two adults, a teenager and one child under 9, that means you’ll need to purchase three dining plans to qualify for the free one. In general, and based on current pricing information from Disney, you can expect to pay about $100 per day for an adult dining plan.
It’s important to keep in mind that this is the amount for the Disney Dining Plan. There’s also a cheaper Quick-Service Dining Plan that’ll likely run you around $60 per day.
You Pay for a Disney Resort Room
Even if you end up saving money with the free kids meals, those savings may be swallowed up by another requirement of this deal. You must stay at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel.
As you might guess, some of these resorts can be pricey. For instance, according to Orlando Parks Guy, you could easily spend more than $2,000 per night. However, there are some value options and you might be able to secure a room for under $200 per night.
You Lose Some Flexibility in Your Travel
One final reason this promotion may not be a great deal for your family trip is that it requires planning. You must book ahead and remember to meet all the requirements.
In addition, you may find that you’re spending more on meals than you otherwise would have if you didn’t have dining plans for adults and teens. For instance, if you’re truly a value traveler, you might eat outside the park to save money and stay at a less-expensive hotel outside of Disney.
In the end, you may not find the free kids meals offer really helps your family save much money. As noted by one traveler for Business Insider, who went to Disney with one other person, they would have saved $100 by paying out of pocket for their meals instead of using the dining plan.
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