Free Dining for Kids in 2026 with the Disney Dining Plan!

If you’ve been dreaming of a magical Disney World vacation with your little ones, 2026 just might be your year. Disney just announced a brand-new offer that has me (and my fellow Disney planning fans) doing a happy dance around Cinderella Castle!

Starting April 22, 2025, you can officially book your 2026 Walt Disney World vacation — and there’s a seriously sweet deal on the table:

🎈 Kids ages 3–9 get the Disney Dining Plan FREE when staying at a Disney Resort hotel — as long as the adults in the party purchase a dining plan as part of their vacation package.

Yes, you read that right. FREE dining for the kiddos for all of 2026. 🍕🍓🥪🧃👑

Let’s break it down and talk about why this could be a big win for your family—and why now is a perfect time to plan ahead.

Free Dining CAN save families a lot of money, depending on the rules Disney sets around each specific Free Dining offer. And most of us, when we hear FREE anything in relation to Disney, we get excited! A Walt Disney World vacation is an expensive vacation, there is no getting around that. And any offer that can potentially save you money is OF COURSE something we want to look at.

But it is important to remember that Free Dining is not always the best deal for every family. Let’s take a look at what this particular offer, 2026 Kids Eat Free with the Disney Dining Plan, really means.

🏰 Why This Free Dining Plan Offer MIGHT be a Game-Changer for Families

As a Disney travel planner who’s helped lots of families make their Disney dreams come true, I can tell you this: dining costs add up fast, especially with little ones who want their Mickey waffles and then some!

With this 2026 offer:

      • Kids (ages 3–9) get a full Disney dining plan for free

      • To take advantage of this offer, each adult will need to purchase a dining plan with their vacation package

      • Pro: You’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing meals and snacks have been “prepaid” with your vacation package

      • You can make advance dining reservations, use Mobile Order, and skip the stress of budgeting food during your trip

Whether your kids love character breakfasts, classic burgers, or Disney’s famous chicken tenders, they’ll be covered — and that means you could potentially save hundreds of dollars over the course of your stay.

Things to consider:

    1. Free Dining is Back. Disney Dining Plan. Quick Service. Kids Dining.
      Photo: Disney Parks
      •  How your children like to eat. If your children are good “eaters” and like to eat a normal children’s portion at most meals, you definitely would have to budget for their meals as part of your vacation budgeting. However, if your kid(s) are extremely light eaters, or mainly eat off of mom and dad’s plates, you may not need to budget as much for their meals. 
      • How many children under 9 you have. Another important factor to consider when evaluating this particular FREE Dining offer: how many members of your family actually qualify? For example, if you are a family of five, with 2 adults and 3 children, you could potentially get free dining for all three children. As long as all three children are under the age of 10. But if that same family of five is 2 adults and three kids, but the kids are aged 6, 10 and 12–you’d be buying the regular dining plan for 4 family members and getting a FREE dining plan for 1 family member.  As you can see, the ages of your children will have a significant impact on how much you could potentially save with this offer. AND, how much you might have to spend to GET that offer.
      • How YOU like to eat on vacation: Just as important as your children’s eating habits are YOUR habits. Are you a light eater? Do you have a big appetite? Do you and your spouse often split entrees? Conversely, do you each always order a different entree so you can try new things and share them? Are you a vegetarian? Do you eat at least 2 meals every day? All of these questions can have an impact on whether the Dining Plan is a good fit for your family. Remember, one of the caveats for this newest Free Dining offer is that each adult in the vacation package must purchase a dining plan. So if there are two adults in your family, you will be purchasing the dining plan for EACH of you. Which can be TERRIFIC, don’t get me wrong. But if you often share entrees or skip meals? Maybe not.
    • Disney World Summer Savings. Chef Mickey's Character Dining
      Chef Mickey’s Photo: Disney Parks
       
      • How you like to budget for your vacations. Do you prefer to know as many costs up front as possible, and fully pay for as much of your trip as you can before you leave home? Or are you more comfortable paying up front for your lodging, travel costs and park tickets, but prefer to bring money with you on vacation to cover meals, snacks and beverages? Some families prefer to prepay for their entire vacation, feeling more relaxed during the trip because they know they already paid for it. Other families prefer to put “during vacation” expenses on credit cards to pay off AFTER vacation. And there are others that bring cash on vacation for food and incidentals, and when the cash runs out, they’re done. Everyone has a slightly different approach to finances for vacations. Whether the dining plan or any FREE dining plan is a good fit for your family depends a lot on how YOU prefer to approach your vacation budget.
      • Does your family snack? Now, this may SEEM like a silly question–but for some families, this is a REAL sticking point. When you get any of the Dining Plans, every person on the plans (including free dining plans) will get 1 snack credit per day. You can use these on things like Mickey Bars, chips, even bottled water. BUT any unused snack credit goes to waste–and essentially costs you $4-$6. If your family snacks, you will likely have no trouble using all your snack credits. But if your family DOESN’T snack, you may be paying for something you won’t use.
Disney Dining Plan. Free Dining. Snacks.
Photo: Disney Parks
      • Do you qualify for any other kinds of discounts at Disney World for your 2026 vacation? Sometimes, there are deeper discounts available for members of the military, Florida residents or annual passholders.
      • FREE Dining isn’t REALLY free. We all know that in today’s world, nothing is ever really free. You are paying for the “free” thing somewhere else. In the case of Disney Free Dining, how much Kids Free Dining in 2026 will benefit you really depends on what other discounts you may qualify for, and whether or not the Dining Plan is a good fit for your family.

If you’d like to talk through any of these questions, feel free to reach out to me. I can explore all available discounts for your vacation, and help you to determine if Free Dining For Kids in 2026 is truly a great deal for YOU. 

Bonus: When you work with an authorized Disney Vacation Planner like me, we monitor future discounts as they become available. If Disney releases a new discount that could save you money before your final payment is made, your planner can update your vacation package to apply that discount!


🌟 More Perks of Staying at a Disney Resort in 2026

This free dining plan for kids is amazing on its own, but it’s only one part of the magic you get when you stay at a Disney Resort hotel in 2026. Check out these other included perks:

 

🚍 Free Transportation
Hop on the Skyliner, monorail, boats, or buses to get to the parks with ease (no car seats required!).

Walt Disney World Transportation, Free Dining for Kids in 2026

🅿️ Free Parking
At your resort, the theme parks, and even the water parks.

🎢 Early Theme Park Entry
Disney Resort guests can enter every park 30 minutes early every day. That means lower crowds and shorter lines — yes, please!

🌙 Extended Evening Hours
If you’re staying at a Deluxe Resort, you’ll get access to extra evening time in select parks on select days.

🍽️ Early Access to Dining & Lightning Lane Reservations
You’ll be first in line to book your must-do meals and experiences like Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or Oga’s Cantina.

🏖️ NEW! Free Water Park Admission
Starting in 2025, Resort guests can enjoy complimentary access to a Disney water park on their check-in day. Talk about a splashy start to your vacation!

Disney Water Parks, Free Dining for Kids in 2026
Photo: Disney Parks

🎈 Resort-Only Fun
From poolside games and movies under the stars to surprise character visits, Disney resorts are full of magic even when you’re not in the parks.


📅 When Can I Book My 2026 Vacation?

Mark your calendar! Vacation packages for travel dates through October 2026 go live on April 22, 2025. (November and December 2026 dates will open up a little later.)

Already itching to go sooner? I can help you explore current special offers for 2025 too — including discounted room rates and limited-time ticket deals.

Walt Disney World Family Vacation, Free Dining for Kids in 2026
Photo: Disney Parks

🧚‍♀️ Ready to Plan a Magical Trip Where Your Kids Dine for Free?

I’d love to help you book the perfect Disney World vacation for 2026 — with all the perks, none of the stress. We’ll choose the right resort, dining plan, and park tickets for your family, and I’ll make sure you don’t miss a thing. We’ll evaluate your unique family situation and how you like to travel, dine and budget. We’ll review the available promotions and determine if Free Dining for Kids in 2026 is the best deal for YOUR family, or if there is another offer that would be better for you.

✨ Let’s make some magical memories — and save some pixie dust dollars while we’re at it.


 

 

 

Ready to plan your next Magical Adventure? Email me today for a no-obligation quote!

Disney World Summer Saving Deals!

Disney World SUMMER SAVINGS ALERT! Disney Just Dropped AMAZING New Deals for Summer 2025!

If you are thinking about visiting Disney World this summer, I have some absolutely FANTASTIC news that has me doing happy dances around my living room! Disney World just released their Summer 2025 special offers, and wow, are there some incredible savings to be had!

I literally dropped everything to bring you this breaking news because these deals are TOO GOOD to wait! Let’s break down all the magical ways you can save on your summer Disney adventure!

FREE DINING IS BACK!

Yes, you read that correctly! The most beloved Disney deal of all time has returned in all its glory! When you book a 4-night, 4-day Disney World package with a room at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels and theme park tickets with Park Hopper, you’ll get a FREE dining plan!

Free Dining is BACK. Disney World Summer Savings.
Image: Disney Parks

This offer is available for arrivals on most nights during these date ranges:

June 29 to September 30, 2025
October 20 to November 1, 2025
December 6 to December 22, 2025

If you’ve never experienced the joy of free dining, let me tell you – there’s something extraordinarily liberating about ordering whatever your heart desires without thinking about the price! Mickey waffles for breakfast? Yes! Signature dining experience? Absolutely!

Disney World Summer Savings. Chef Mickey's Character Dining
Chef Mickey’s                                                                                                                           Photo: Disney Parks

A couple of notes: Notice that Park Hopper tickets are required to get Free Dining this time around. Park Hopper tickets are significantly pricier than one park per day tickets, so that may impact how much value you could get from this particular package. While so many of us LOVE Free Dining, it’s not ALWAYS the best deal. I am happy to help you figure out if this is the RIGHT deal for you. Also, you can check out this previous post for more details on things to consider when evaluating whether Free Dining is a good fit for you.

HALF-PRICE TICKETS FOR KIDS!

Traveling with little ones? Here’s a deal that will make your wallet very happy! Children ages 3 to 9 can get 3-day or longer standard theme park tickets for 50% OFF! This special pricing applies to tickets with start dates from May 27 through September 20, 2025.

DIsney World Summer Savings 2025
Photo: Disney Parks

With all the new kid-focused experiences coming this summer (have you heard about the new kid zones and character interactions?), this deal couldn’t have come at a better time!

BUDGET-FRIENDLY 3-DAY, 3-PARK SPECIAL TICKET 🎫

If you’re looking to maximize fun while minimizing costs, check out this specially priced ticket option! For just $89 per day (total starting at $267 plus tax), you can get a 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket valid for admission to:

Disney’s Hollywood Studios
EPCOT
Disney’s Animal Kingdom

This is PERFECT for first-time visitors who want to experience a variety of parks without the premium price of Magic Kingdom admission. And trust me, these three parks alone have enough amazement to fill several days of adventure–just make sure that you understand that if you want to visit Magic Kingdom, you will need to purchase an additional park ticket for Magic Kingdom separately. (Currently, pricing for a one day ticket to Magic Kingdom ranges from $139 – $164 for most of the days this summer.)

New Adults-Only Lounge at EPCOT GEO-82 Spaceship Earth
Photo: Brooke Hudson

SAVE UP TO 30% ON RESORT ROOMS

Planning a longer Disney getaway? You’ll be rewarded with bigger savings! Stay 5 consecutive nights or longer at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels between August 1 and October 11, 2025, and you can save up to 30% off room rates!

Even if you can’t stay quite that long, Disney is still offering savings for shorter stays during the same period. This is a fantastic way to experience the immersive storytelling that makes staying on Disney property so special!

Choosing where to stay on your Disney vacation. Disney's Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort Photo: Disney Parks

Let me help you figure out the best offer for your vacation! Drop me an email today.

FLORIDA RESIDENTS: EVEN BIGGER SAVINGS! 🌴

My Florida friends, Disney hasn’t forgotten about you! Florida residents can save up to 35% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when staying 4 consecutive nights or longer between August 1 and October 11, 2025.

And yes, there are savings for shorter stays too! Just remember that your credit card or payment method must have a Florida billing address to qualify. (Disney is really tightening up the rules on Florida resident discounts!)

Art of Animation Resort
Photo: Disney Parks

Annual Passholders, there’s a similar offer available for you as well! Email me today with the dates you want to travel, and I’ll provide a no obligation quote for you.

Insider Tips for Maximizing These Deals:

    • Book ASAP! These offers have limited availability, especially for the most popular resorts and dates.
    • Be flexible with dates if possible. Try different arrival dates to find the best availability.
    • Consider value season travel. Late August and September typically have lower crowds and better availability for deals.
    • Don’t forget about Early Theme Park Entry! As a Disney Resort guest, you’ll get into the parks 30 minutes early every day – a HUGE advantage and in my opinion, adds a lot of value to your vacation. Of course, that does require you be willing to get up and get to the parks early! It’s less of an advantage if you’d rather sleep in on vacation!
    • Use the savings to splurge on special experiences. Maybe a dessert party with fireworks viewing? Or that character meal you’ve been eyeing?
Disney World Summer Savings 2025. Topolino Terrace Character Breakfast
Topolino Terrace Character Breakfast                                                                        Photo: Linda Harkness

Disney Summer Savings 2025

Which of these amazing deals has you reaching for your credit card? I’m definitely tempted. Mom and I are going down in May for the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, but some of these deals are really selling me on a quick mid-summer trip! (Especially with Universal’s new Epic Universe park opening at the end of May. Disney for 3-4 days and a quick hop over to Epic Universe…sounds like it could be a plan.)

Let me know in the comments which offer you are most tempted by.  And of course, if you have any questions about any of these deals, I’m always happy to help plan your perfect vacation!

 

 

 

 

EPCOT, Les Chefs de Paris, Cocktails in France
There’s nothing I love more than helping plan a magical vacation. Email me today for a free, no obligation quote.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. If you’re planning a summer Disney trip, be sure to check out my recent post about all the SPECTACULAR kid-focused activities coming to Walt Disney World this summer!