The words "free" and "Disney" are about as rare of a combination as you can get in today's economy, but Disney recently announced one of their biggest and best deals for 2025, and it begins tomorrow. A free Disney Dining Plan sounds good on paper, but all magic comes at a price.
Last year, Disney brought back the Dining Plan option after a season of post-COVID changes wracked the parks. The question is, how good is this new deal for guests this year?
Eating the Cost
Speaking as someone who tends to travel "Han Solo style," the Disney Dining plan doesn't have too much appeal to me. However, parties of three or more might want to pay attention, as food costs can truly eat into your fun budget.
The official announcement from the Disney Parks Blog shared the following information,
"From Jan. 2 to Feb. 10, 2025, you can get a free dining plan with the purchase of a non-discounted 3-night, 3-day (at minimum) Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel and a ticket with a Park Hopper option. "
The announcement also stated, "This offer is available for most arrivals starting May 27 through Jun. 26, and Jul. 7 through Aug. 6, 2025." That's great for fans looking to save some money on their next trip, but there are other factors to take into account.
Even if you're a solo traveler like yours truly, a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort will easily run you around $2,000, even on a good day. That's also not including travel and other necessities. Additionally, the offer only comes as part of a non-discounted package deal. So, if you were planning on using any sort of perks along with it, forget about it.
That all being said, considering that Disney's prime audience consists of families with children, this deal might be more of a lure for larger parties looking to shake off the post-Christmas crash. At the end of the day, it all depends on who's coming along for the ride.
Fans looking for more deals from Disney itself should keep checking out the Disney Parks Blog for further details.