2026 Benefit? Free Dining for Kids?

[atots]

I saw someone post this on Facebook and tried it myself last night and this morning. Go in and start a package reservation, I chose 12/31/2025-1/6/2026, added my party (2 adults, 2 kids under 10), picked a random hotel (value and moderate both worked, didn't try deluxe yet), when I get to the dining page, it says that in 2026, kids eat free with adult purchase of a dining plan. Makes me hopeful that some 2026 announcements will be coming out soon!

I am definitely on the US site and not the UK site, their promotion is different (and better). The discount isn't actually applying to my package yet, I'm guessing either because of the 12/31 start date or because this isn't really rolled out yet. When I click learn more, I get an error that the page is missing. It will be curious to see if they offer any other promos, because otherwise it's probably not worth it with 1-2 kids. And doesn't benefit anyone with no kids/older kids.

 

[ellbell]

That's a pretty lousy benefit tbh. Only people going with children between the ages of 3 and 10 will get it and it has a pretty expensive requirement to go with it. I don't see that one even creating as many visits as the free waterpark entrance day of checkin.

 

[atots]

Well, no longer a random website glitch, the benefit was announced for 2026. Can't wait to book my trip when reservations open tomorrow! And it says it can be combined with other offers so better than nothing

 

[focusondisney]

https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/free-disney-world-dining-plan-offering-for-kids-2026/

 

[Pyxie]

That's a pretty lousy benefit tbh. Only people going with children between the ages of 3 and 10 will get it and it has a pretty expensive requirement to go with it. I don't see that one even creating as many visits as the free waterpark entrance day of checkin.

It may not push people to book who weren't already planning on it, but it may drive more people towards purchasing a dining plan (even if it only saves them a little bit).

TBH, I don't think the free water park drove many bookings either. It was just kind of a nice perk to have for people who were planning on going anyway.

 

[ellbell]

It may not push people to book who weren't already planning on it, but it may drive more people towards purchasing a dining plan (even if it only saves them a little bit).

TBH, I don't think the free water park drove many bookings either. It was just kind of a nice perk to have for people who were planning on going anyway.

The difference being is this "perk" isn't even available to a huge number of guests. At least with the waterparks people could try to adjust their arrival time or book a split stay if they wanted to try to use it.

 

[Mommb]

The difference being is this "perk" isn't even available to a huge number of guests. At least with the waterparks people could try to adjust their arrival time or book a split stay if they wanted to try to use it.

It's the same as discounts for military members or Florida/California residents -- some perks apply to everyone, and some apply to specific populations. People within those populations get some benefit without significant effects on the people who don't qualify.

The waterpark perk actually does seem to have affected people who didn't qualify (people who hadn't checked into a resort on a particular day) by filling up the park to the extent that guests couldn't enter the parking lot on some days. While "free" dining for kids may lead to some increase in restaurant reservations, most families who use it would have eaten in restaurants anyhow.

 

[ellbell]

It's the same as discounts for military members or Florida/California residents -- some perks apply to everyone, and some apply to specific populations. People within those populations get some benefit without significant effects on the people who don't qualify.

The waterpark perk actually does seem to have affected people who didn't qualify (people who hadn't checked into a resort on a particular day) by filling up the park to the extent that guests couldn't enter the parking lot on some days. While "free" dining for kids may lead to some increase in restaurant reservations, most families who use it would have eaten in restaurants anyhow.

It's the same as discounts for military members or Florida/California residents -- some perks apply to everyone, and some apply to specific populations. People within those populations get some benefit without significant effects on the people who don't qualify.

The waterpark perk actually does seem to have affected people who didn't qualify (people who hadn't checked into a resort on a particular day) by filling up the park to the extent that guests couldn't enter the parking lot on some days. While "free" dining for kids may lead to some increase in restaurant reservations, most families who use it would have eaten in restaurants anyhow.

They could have taken a resort bus. It's still a difference and not a great perk.

 

[Brian Noble]

It's brilliant.

It specifically targets families who are less likely to visit Epic/Universal than those with older children, and may convert some of them to frequent visitors. It locks those families in to eating at WDW every day, further decreasing the chances they will stray off-property.

Discounts are not meant to reward guests. They are meant to drive business in particular ways.

 

[ellbell]

It's brilliant.

It specifically targets families who are less likely to visit Epic/Universal than those with older children, and may convert some of them to frequent visitors. It locks those families in to eating at WDW every day, further decreasing the chances they will stray off-property.

Discounts are not meant to reward guests. They are meant to drive business in particular ways.

It's a good thing that as a guest of Disney world without small children I'm still allowed to have an opinion. It's a pretty lousy "perk".

 

[Brian Noble]

It's lousy for you.

It's also lousy for me, as it happens. I am generally a solo adult. From time to time, my adult (adult-adult, not Disney-adult) children come with me.

But it's not a perk. It's a promotion. Its goal is to attract specific customers to the business. You and I are not in that group of specfic customers. It's reasonable to be disappointed by that, but that doesn't mean it's "pretty lousy".

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

My only quibble is I wish a DVC stay made us eligible for the DDP discount. I have three eligible children — would love to take advantage of a program we otherwise wouldn’t consider!

 

[SL6827]

My only quibble is I wish a DVC stay made us eligible for the DDP discount. I have three eligible children — would love to take advantage of a program we otherwise wouldn’t consider!

I don't think Disney has ever done this for a DVC reservation. They want you to pay full price for the rooms to get this discount. But I think they are doing this for the UK guest?

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

I don't think Disney has ever done this for a DVC reservation. They want you to pay full price for the rooms to get this discount. But I think they are doing this for the UK guest?

One can dream!

 

[SL6827]

One can dream!

Ya!!!

 

[MISCdisney21]

Might have to do some calculations. 3 kids in that age range so might be something for us and give us chance to have character meals normally we wouldn’t pay for

 

[bluezy]

I don't think Disney has ever done this for a DVC reservation. They want you to pay full price for the rooms to get this discount. But I think they are doing this for the UK guest?

The "important information" about this discount on the Disney website indicates that this promotion can be combined with "select discounts and promotions". So it sounds like people will possibly be able to have a discounted room *and* get free dining for kids 3-9 when the rest of the party purchases the dining plan. I don't remember that happening before.

 

[atots]

My only quibble is I wish a DVC stay made us eligible for the DDP discount. I have three eligible children — would love to take advantage of a program we otherwise wouldn’t consider!

The way this offer is phrased and the fact that the free water park was for everyone, I'm going to go in tomorrow and see if there's any way this could apply with a DVC reservation. Probably not, but I'm going to hold out hope until tomorrow

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

The way this offer is phrased and the fact that the free water park was for everyone, I'm going to go in tomorrow and see if there's any way this could apply with a DVC reservation. Probably not, but I'm going to hold out hope until tomorrow

Let us know what you find out!

 

[Boosterman]

I can confirm that Free Dining plan for Kids applies to DVC point stays for 2026.