Disney Dining Plan: Restaurants Not Included & Whether They’re Worth Paying For (2027 Guide)
- Nikki Taylor
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
✨ Disney Dining Plan: Restaurants Not Included & Are They Worth Paying For?
While the Disney Dining Plan covers a wide range of restaurants across Walt Disney World, there are still several table-service restaurants and experiences that are not included. These tend to fall into a few categories: signature dining, third-party restaurants, resort exclusions, and special event-style experiences.
Below is a clear breakdown of what’s excluded, followed by a real-world discussion of whether these restaurants are actually worth paying for separately—especially for families with younger children.
✨ Signature & Fine Dining Restaurants (Not Included in the 2027 Dining Plan)
Some of Disney’s most well-known upscale dining experiences are not part of the Dining Plan for 2027:
California Grill
Victoria & Albert’s
Monsieur Paul
Space 220 Restaurant
Takumi-Tei
These restaurants are typically excluded because they are considered premium or signature dining experiences rather than standard table-service meals.
🏙️ Disney Springs Restaurants (Mostly Third-Party Dining)
Many Disney Springs restaurants are operated independently and have historically not participated in the Dining Plan. For 2026, they remain excluded, and there has been no official indication that this will change for future planning years:
AMC Dine-In Theatre
STK Steakhouse
Summer House on the Lake
Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill
Wine Bar George
While not officially confirmed beyond each planning year, these restaurants have consistently remained outside the Dining Plan, so it is unlikely they will be added in the near future.
🏨 Resort & Third-Party Hotel Exclusions
It’s also important to note that not all resort-area dining is included. One of the most notable exclusions is:
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels dining locations
Restaurants in these hotels are not part of the Disney Dining Plan because they are operated by a third-party resort group, even though they are located on Disney property.
🎆 Special Dining Experiences (Always Excluded)
In addition to restaurants, several event-style dining experiences are also not included in the Dining Plan, such as:
Celebration at the Top – Sip, Savor, Sparkle – A fireworks dining event with small plates and drinks
Dessert Parties – Ticketed experiences with reserved viewing for nighttime shows
Fireworks Dining Packages – Set-menu meals paired with reserved fireworks viewing
La Cava Experience – A guided tequila tasting at La Cava del Tequila
Seasonal Dining Packages – Limited-time holiday or event-based dining experiences
These are all considered premium add-ons rather than standard dining credits.
✨ Are These Restaurants Worth Paying for Separately?
This is where things get personal—and it really depends on your travel style, especially if you’re visiting with younger children.
💭 The reality with kids
For families with younger children, many of these excluded experiences can feel:
Too long (multi-course meals or tasting menus)
Too formal or quiet for high-energy kids
Less flexible compared to quick-service or standard table-service meals
Harder to justify in terms of time vs park enjoyment
Even the atmosphere in some signature restaurants is intentionally calm and elevated, which isn’t always ideal after a long park day with tired children.
🌟 When they are worth it
These experiences can absolutely be worth paying for separately if:
You’re doing a date night or adults-only meal
You want a special occasion experience
You value food quality and atmosphere over convenience
You’re planning for fireworks dining or views
For example, I personally did California Grill before having kids, back when it was included on the Dining Plan for 2 credits. It was one of the best dining experiences I’ve had at Disney—excellent food, relaxed pacing, and the highlight was stepping out onto the viewing platform to watch Magic Kingdom fireworks. It felt like a full experience, not just a meal.
We have created a blog on prices for the various dining packages available to you, have a look and see if it would be worth you booking one of these meals as an extra treat!
✨ My Honest Experience: Are These Restaurants Worth It With Kids?
Would I personally pay out of pocket for these restaurants with young kids?
Honestly, no—not right now. My kids are 5 and 1, and they’re just too young for this type of dining. These restaurants tend to be longer, more formal experiences, and that just doesn’t really work at this stage.
✨ Which of these restaurants would I consider with kids?
If I had to pick one, it would probably be California Grill—mainly because of the fireworks viewing. But even then, I’d say it’s something I’d save for when they’re older and can properly enjoy the experience.
✨ Did I feel like I was missing out by skipping these?
Not really. When you’re travelling with young kids, your priorities shift. Quick, easy, and fun dining usually wins over long, formal meals.
That said, if it was just me and my partner, we probably would have tried something like Space 220 Restaurant for the experience.
✨ Would I ever book these restaurants during a family trip?
Yes—but only in certain situations. For example, if we were travelling with extended family and had someone to watch the kids, I’d absolutely consider booking one as a bit of a “date night” experience.
✨ Who are these restaurants really best suited for?
In my opinion, they’re much better suited to:
Adults
Couples
Families with older children
The atmosphere tends to be quieter, more grown-up, and more formal—definitely not the typical theme park dining vibe.
✨ Final thoughts from my experience
These restaurants can be incredible experiences, but for us right now, they just don’t fit the stage of life we’re in.
👉 They’re something I’d absolutely keep in mind for a future trip—but not something I’d prioritise with young kids.
Here we have blogs on dining plans including more upmarket restaurants that are 2 credits. Which is a nice bridge between the expensive excluded restaurants and the more casual ones.
Or the table service plan if you are looking for that more family fun package
Comments