Disney Dining Overview • Military Disney Tips Blog

This is the Military Disney Tips Disney Dining Overview Page.

This is your one stop shop for Dining Information and Discounts.

On this page you’ll find both information and links to lots more for you to read about Disney Dining. There is also info about the very limited Military Discounts on Disney Dining.

Flame Tree Barbecue Salad, French Fries, Onion Rings, Cole Salw, and Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Cupcake

This has been a challenging year! While Walt Disney World has reopened and is slowly ramping up operations based on demand, not all dining locations have opened and most have reduced menu options available.

This is one of Military Disney Tips Topic Overview Pages. Here we provide links to pages and posts throughout the site on a single topic in order to help you find what you need!
Check out all of our other Topic Overview Pages:

Disney World Dining Overview

Note During the current operating situation there have been changes to Disney Dining.

Not all Restaurants are open at this time
The Disney Dining Plan was cancelled in 2020 and has still not restarted in 2021
Advance Dining Reservations may be made 60-days in advance vs the traditional 180-days
Mobile Order is almost manditory at Quick Service Locations
Advance Dining Reservations are suggested even more stringently (you should really make them!) at Table Service locations

See our special pages on the current situation that are linked at the top of this post!

The range of dining options at Disney World is absolutely fantastic!

There is everything available from grab and go locations, Starbucks, counter service, sit down dining, and signature dining. Something for every taste and budget.

Dining at Walt Disney World for Military Families

Disney Springs Dining, Entertainment, and Shopping area

Mobile Order at Walt Disney World Counter Service Restaurants

11 Reasons Why I Don’t Recommend the Disney Dining Plan

Unfortunately, while Disney offers great discounts on resort rooms and park tickets, they offer no discounts at all on dining!

Fear not though, there are some military and other discounts available on Disney property which you’ll find below.

20% Military Discount at the Disney Springs House of Blues

Shades of Green Dining

Shades of Green is the military owned and operated hotel on WDW property. It is one of the worldwide Armed Forces Recreation Centers.

You’ll find a good variety of restaurants at Shades of Green, they have a full service Italian restaurant, a Buffet Restaurant, a Sports Pub and several grab and go locations including a Starbucks.

Shades is a U.S. Military installation so there is no sales tax on meals, or anything else.

Shades of Green’s New Garden Gallery Breakfast Meal Plans

Shades of Green Dining Overview Page

Shades of Green’s Restaurants:

Mangino’s Bistro – Italian, Lunch and Dinner
Garden Gallery – Buffet Breakfast and Dinner (currently closed)
Evergreen’s – Sports Pub
Java Cafe – Starbucks, Ice cream, Lobby Bar
Express Cafe – Breakfast Items and Sandwiches all day (currently closed)
Chip n’ Dale’s Deli – By the Magnolia Pool Hot Dogs, wraps, and sandwiches

Disney World Military Discounts on Dining

As mentioned above Walt Disney World does not offer military discounts on food.

But there are several non-Disney locations at Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs that do offer military discounts.

There are Restaurants, Entertainment, and Merchandise locations which honor our military community with anywhere from 10% to 25% off of your bill! See the Full List Here

Disneyland Military Discounts on Dining

As mentioned above Disney does not offer military discounts on food.

But there are several non-Disney locations at Disneylands’s Downtown Disney that do offer military discounts.

With discounts from 10% to 20% off of your bill! See the Full List Here

Non-Military Discounts on Disney World Dining

Other Dining Discounts

Discounts of up to 20% are available for these programs at select Walt Disney World and Disneyland Locations.

Walt Disney World Pass Holders
Disney Visa Card Holders
Disney Vacation Club Members
Tables in Wonderland Discount Card

Members have the added benefit of receiving Disney World dining discounts at many Walt Disney World and Disneyland restaurants.

Tables in Wonderland is a Walt Disney World discount dining program open to Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club members, and Florida Residents. The membership provides a 20% discount on food and beverages (including alcohol) at many restaurants and lounges in Walt Disney World parks and hotels. Discount card purchase required.

Here is some great info on these discounts:

Links in this section go to the Disney Drink Blog, our Sister website.

The Disney Dining Plan

The Disney Dining plan is offered to Disney Resort Guests (not Shades of Green or off-site guests) who can add this option on to their room reservation.

The Disney Dining Plan essentially allows you to pre-pay for your meals while at Disney. There are several different levels of the plan from the basic to the Cadillac version.

Disney occasionally offers “Free Dining” usually in the fall. The Free Dining Plan offer requires you to pay full price for the room (no military discounts) and there is a minimum full price ticket buy required (usually 1 or 2 day tickets). Deciding if this offer is better that the Disney Armed Forces Salute room and ticket offer requires some calculation.

See all of our Disney Dining Plan content:

Planning a Disney Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused?

See Our Great Disney Discount and Planning Info:

Learn about the Disney Armed Forces Salute the best military discount that there is for Disney. See our Topic Overview Pages:

Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
Dining Overview Page
Transportation Overview Page
Technology Overview Page
Shades of Green, WDW’s Military Only Resort

Military Disney Tips' Recommended Disney Travel Agent

Ears of Experience Disney Only Travel Agency. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts!

Comments

Liz says

19 September 2021 at 22:12

Hello,
My question is on character dining. Does Disney or MWR offer any sort of benefit to reserving a character dining? We probably won’t be staying in Disney World as we have family who live in the area and that means we’d have 30 days in advance to make a reservation, right? With how fast character dinings go (from what I’ve read), is there any chance at all to go to one if you’re not staying in a Disney Resort/Shades of Green?

Also, how does it work with reserving a character meal while using Armed Forces Salute tickets? Just like reserving one of the parks where the tickets don’t have to be activated yet and just linked to your account?

Thank you.

- Steve says
  
  20 September 2021 at 10:03
  
  Hi there Liz,
  
  Disney does not offer a military discount on any of the dining provided by their company including character meals.
  
  There are non-Disney locations at WDW’s Disney Springs and Disneyland’s Downtown Disney that do.
  
  All Advance Dining Reservations may be made 60-days prior. Non-Disney Resort guests make them day-by-day 60 days prior to the desired date. Disney Resort guests can make them for their entire trip (up to 10 days worth) at 60 days prior to check in.
  
  Tickets have nothing to do with dining reservations and are not required except that for in park dining reservations you must have a ticket and currently a theme park reservation for that day.
  
Jennie Altice says

7 November 2021 at 14:08

Is there any way to book Dining reservations at Disneyland other that through the My Disney app? Also do any of the restaurants in Downtown Disney at Disneyland offer military discounts>

- Steve says
  
  7 November 2021 at 16:07
  
  Hi Jennie,
  
  You can also use the Disneyland website to make reservations.
  
  There are a few places that offer mil discounts see: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discounts/downtown-disney-military-discounts-at-disneyland-resort/
  
Denece Vincent says

3 February 2022 at 12:20

While staying at Shades of Green will I need to make my dining reservations all at 60 days ( ie: each day at 60 days out?) or can I make them 60+length of stay like I was on Disney property?

- Steve says
  
  3 February 2022 at 12:24
  
  Hi Denece,
  
  If you link your Shades of Green reservation to your My Disney Experience account, you are treated like a Disney Resort Hotel guest as far as dining reservations go. So you can make them all 60 days prior to check in.