Disney World Dining Card Promo for Military Families

Walt Disney World just announced a Disney Dining Plan Substitute for 2023!

This new, never seen before offer seems to be taking the place of the Free Dining Offers of years past (at least for now).

As I did in the past for the Free Dining Offers, I’ll try to guide you in your decision making process as to whether using this general public Dining Card Promo is right for you, or is using the military discounts that are available the right choice.

The Basic Offer

First, let’s lay out all of the offer details.

Disney World is offering a “Free” Dining Promo Card worth up to $750 when you purchase a vacation package that includes:

• A room at a select Disney Resorts or Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts
• Theme park ticket(s)

This offer is valid for arrivals most nights 25 June to 14 September 2023.

A 4 night minimum stay is required as are a minimum of 4-day full price park tickets.

You are able to book this offer starting 5 January 2023.

Offer Details

This offer differs extensively from the old Free Disney Dining in many ways.

The benefit offered is a dollar value per room versus the meal or snack credits per person of the old system.

The number of guests in the room does not matter!

So higher resort categories with fewer guests in the room will make out better than whole families in a value resort!

Unlike the meal and snack credits which were limited in use to each meal, meal type, or snacks, the value on these cards may be used at any time. You could use it all on 1 or 2 big meals!

Guests will be issued a digital Disney Dining Card upon check in.

The dining card number and bar code will be emailed to the email on file in the My Disney Experience account that is linked to the resort reservation. You may use the bar code from the email on your smart phone or add it to your Apple or Google wallet. You cannot use the Dining Card via your Magic Band as it cannot be linked to My Disney Experience.

The amount loaded on the card will be based on the check in date, resort category, and number of nights.

For arrivals 1 July to 10 July and 1 August to 14 September 2023 the following amounts will be loaded on the card:

• Value Resorts – $50 per night
• Moderate Resorts – $100 per night
• Deluxe Resorts and Villas – $150 per night

For arrivals 25 to  30 June and 11 to 31 July 2023 the following amounts will be loaded on the card:

• Value Resorts – $35 per night
• Moderate Resorts – $75 per night
• Deluxe Resorts and Villas – $125 per night

Funds on the card can only be used at food and beverage locations at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and other U.S. Disney Resort Locations at the time of purchase, in person or via mobile order.

You can’t use the funds towards merchandise,  your room charges (even if the room charges are for food), or anything else.

You can use your digital Disney Dining Promo Card just like a gift card when paying for your order.

Funds on the card expire on 30 September 2023.

So this card could be used on multiple trips in that timeframe if you don’t use it up on the initial trip.

You can check your balance.

Your balance remaining will show at the bottom of each receipt, or you can ask at participating dining locations, by calling (877) 650-4327, or online at Disney Gift Card.

The number of packages available for this offer is limited.

Book soon if you are interested!

The amount loaded on the card will not be adjusted.

Eligible Dining Locations

Most WDW dining locations accept the Dining Card. It’s shorter to list those that don’t.

Excluded locations:

• Merchandise locations and candy kitchens
• Dining locations at Walt Disney World Swan Hotel, Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel and Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Hotel
• Dining locations at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
• Dining locations at Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels
• Dining locations at Walt Disney World Official Hotels at Bonnet Creek
• Dining locations at Walt Disney World Gateway Hotels

Though Disney did not list it, Shades of Green’s dining locations would also be excluded.

Eligible Resorts

Deluxe Resorts

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

DVC Resort Villas

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Moderate Resorts:

• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

Value Resorts:

• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Is the Disney World Dining Card Promo the Way to Go?

Maybe! Maybe Not!

Determining if it is or not will require calculation and time on the phone with Disney. There’s no other way!

Just like the old Free Dining Offers, this one might or might not save you more cash. Whether it does or not depends on your specific variables. There is no stock answer.

But as I mentioned above, the amount of money Disney gives you does not depend on the number of people in your party. The more people in your room the less valuable the amount on the card becomes towards your trips total meals. Going by myself on a research trip and getting $400 added to my card at a moderate would be different than a family of 4 doing the same stay and getting the same $400.

In order to determine what is right for you, you will need to price it both ways, with the Dining Card Offer and with the available Military Discounts.

• Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets
• Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets

And this post on deciding which is right if needed.

Next price the same vacation with the Dining Promo Card Offer. 

You can do this online at disneyworld.com or by calling (which would take longer). Your quote will include paying the full price for your room and full price for your tickets.

Get quotes that mach the military ones you already have.

Over to you

Please let me know any questions or comments that you have in the comment section below!

I recommend using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner (travel agent)! Doing so can take the stress out of planning a Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Disney Cruise Line Vacation, which can be a complicated and overwhelming task. You have probably seen elsewhere on the site that I recommend Ears of Experience as my preferred Authorized Disney Vacation Planners. They will do all the work for you!

Ears of Experience - Military Disney Tips' Recommended Disney Only Travel Agent.

• Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
• The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide 
• Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist 
• Disney Military Tickets – Your Start to Finish Guide

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