Disney World 2024 Free Dining Versus the Disney Armed Forces Salute Discounts

Walt Disney World has released their “Free Dining” Offer for select travel dates in July through September 2024.

But this offer is only for Disney+ Subscribers!

These recent Disney+ only offers are Disney’s attempt to boost Disney+ subscriptions… Offer a Theme Park discount that is only available to Disney+ subscribers to get people to sign up.

I’m often asked if “Free Dining” is a better deal than the Disney Armed Forces Salute.

Each year when Disney World announces their Free Dining Offer, readers will ask, “Is “Free Dining” better than using the Disney Armed Forces Salute for me?”

To this I always have to reply, Maybe…

I’m also asked, “Can I combine “Free Dining” with the Disney Armed Forces Salute Room discount?”

Sorry, The Answer to that question is No You Can’t!

You will have to choose one or the other.

So Which Is Right For You?

It Depends.

Sorry, but there is no cut and dry, easy answer. Every family’s situation is different!

There are many variables such as, the number in your party including the number of adults vs kids (3-9), the length of your vacation, your Disney Resort level desired (value, moderate, deluxe), and your eating habits while on vacation (amount of food, quality of food, and time you want to spend eating (i.e. quick service versus table service).

The reason I can’t just give a straight and easy answer as to which is cheaper is that no two families and their Disney vacation plans are the same.

Everyone interested in which of these two offers is cheaper would be best has to run the numbers based on their individual party and vacation plans.

In this post I’ll walk you through the process.

2024 WDW “Free Dining” Specifics

Walt Disney World has released the Free Dining Plan discount for select dates in June, July, August, and September 2020.

Free Dining is currently available for the following arrival dates:

• For arrivals most nights from July 1, 2024 to September 30, 2024

You must check in on an eligible date. The plan will be available for your whole stay.

A minimum 4-night, non-discounted package of room and tickets is required!

Guests booking at the following Disney Resorts get the Quick Service dining plan for free.

• 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
• 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

Guests booking at the Following Disney Resorts and DVC properties get the Standard dinning plan for free.

• 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 – Jambo House
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• 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

The available number of rooms for this promotion tends to go fast. 

The offer excludes the following room types:

• 3-bedroom villas
• Campsites
• Cabins at Copper Creek Villas
• Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Bungalows at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows,

To get “Free Dining” you must book a minimum stay of 4 nights to a maximum stay of 14 nights at a Disney-owned resort at the Full Price Non-Discounted (military or otherwise) Rate!

You also need to purchase AT LEAST a 4-day Magic Your Way Disney World ticket with the Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus Option!

Important Details:

• Proof of Disney+ subscription required. (to even book)
• The number of packages allocated for this offer is limited.
• Everyone in the same room must be on the same package.
• Advance package reservations are required.
• Theme park tickets are valid for admission beginning on date of check-in and must be used within a limited number of days, depending on length of stay and ticket.
• Some Table-Service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase.
• US residents must be 18+ to subscribe to Disney+. Canadian residents must be 18+ or the age of the majority in their jurisdiction to subscribe to Disney+. Void where prohibited.
• The Disney+ subscriber must stay in the room.
• Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion.
• Offer excludes the following room types: 3-Bedroom Villas, The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Bungalows at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.
• Dining plan excludes gratuities.
• Children ages 3 to 9 must order from a children’s menu, where available.
• Theme park reservations may be required based on admission type.

NOTE: Shades of Green is not a Disney Resort and does not participate in Free or Paid Disney Dining Plans!

So is “Free Dining” for you?

The Expert Says:

Amy at Ears of Experience, my recommended Disney travel agent says:

Generally speaking larger parties and or those staying for longer periods of time will save with the free dining deal. Those taking shorter trips are better off with the Disney Armed Forces Salute.”

So, is “Free Dining” a money saver or money pit for your family?

Bottom Line

You will need to compare the price for the Free Dining Plan Offer plus any additional food and drinks that you will have to buy to the price of a Disney Armed Forces Salute room, tickets, and all the food needed on your trip to find which is lower.

Read on to see how.

Run The Numbers

The only way to decide which offer is right for you is to run the numbers both ways and compare.

Armed Forces Salute Cost

First figure how much it will cost to use the Disney Armed Forces Salute. You’ll figure the cost of: Tickets, Room, and Food.

Tickets

Disney’s Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets offer 4, 5, and 6 day tickets at at a big discount off the regular gate prices. You are allowed up to 6 of these tickets and they may be used back to back for longer stays. Longer stays or large parties may require additional (or switching entirely to) Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets.

There are many rules for the Salute offer including an exception to the 6 ticket rule for large direct families. See our full page of Disney Armed Forces Salute information.

See What’s the Right Military Ticket for me?

• Determine what type and how many Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets that you will need
• Determine if Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets or Shades of Green Stars and Stripes Passes are needed.
• Enter the Total Cost of your tickets

Room

Disney’s Armed Forces Salute offers up to 30%-40% off their full price room rates for up to 3 rooms. The only way to find out the exact price for a room using the Salute discount is to call Disney and get a quote for the exact dates, resort, and room type that you desire.

Note Salute rates are not always available for all room types as Disney only offers a certain amount per day at each resort. As rooms fill Disney decreases the discount amount before canceling it altogether. See our How Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts Work post for more.

You’ll need to call Disney or have your Travel Agent do so in order to determine the actual Military Salute discount that is available to you.

Food

Here is the hard part… You’ll need to figure what it would cost you to eat on your vacation if you did not have the Free Dining Offer.

You can do this one of two ways. Which depends on whether you would use the Paid Disney Dining Plan or pay a la carte.

Be sure to include any tips at table service locations that you would use, whether figuring a la carte or Disney Dining Plan. Tips are not included in the Dining Plan.

Disney Dining Plan (For more info on the DDP see my overview)

Here you will get the price of the paid dining plan to add to your Salute room and tickets – to compare to the Free Dining Plan offer.

– Those using the Quick Service Dining Plan would pay $57.01 per night (ages 10+) and $28..83 per night (ages 3-9).

– Those using the Regular Service Dining Plan would pay $94.28 per night (ages 10+) and $29.69 per night (ages 3-9).

– If you think you’d purchase any additional meals, snacks, or extra alcoholic beverages on top of what is included in the Dining Plan add these in too (hint you will have too). See the a la carte section next for how to do this.

A La Carte

If you won’t be using a paid Dining Plan you’ll need to figure all of your food cost. To figure your cost this way you will need to figure the daily cost for how you think your family will actually eat while at Disney World.

For those using the dining plan you will need additional food! Figure the price of what you’ll need also.

I recommend using the menus at AllEars.net as I do. Just select the items your family would eat at each meal at the restaurants you think you’d like to eat at and total it up. Remember to include drinks, snacks, alcoholic beverages, special meals/dining experiences, and tips at Table Service restaurants.

Disney Armed Forces Salute Total – Combine the cost for Tickets, Room, and Food, this is your Armed Forces Salute total cost that you’ll use to compare to the Free Dining Offer price.

Free Dining Cost

Package Price

You can check the package price online or you or your Travel Agent can call Disney to get this price

Tickets

You must buy full price tickets as part of your package!

Though not mentioned this year, in the past a minimum of 4-Day full priced General Public Magic Your Way Hopper tickets are required for each person on the reservation age 3 and up in order to qualify for Free Dining. These will be part of the package price.

For 2024 you may be able to just do the 4 days and do a military option for longer trips (if it is cost effective based on your specifics) or you may be required to but tickets to match your room reservation. Disney has not said yet.

So if you only have to buy 4-day full priced tickets, then what?

You have several Options depending on the length of your trip:

• You can just do 4 park day Park Hoppers
• Or you can do 4 park days and have the 4  water park and more extras if you upgrade
• You can go all in and buy full price tickets for your entire stay
  • This is the most expensive option
• You can mix your full price 4-day tickets with Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets or Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets. Price out all options, combining tickets is often more expensive

Food

Included in the offer:

Quick Service Dining Plan or the Standard Dining Plan is included

Tips are not included in the Dining Plan, be sure to include any tips that you will need to pay at table service locations.

DDP Food Extras

The Disney Dining Plan will not cover all of your eating needs while on vacation! Remember to figure in the cost of extra drinks, snacks, alcoholic beverages, as well as special meals/dining experiences that go over and beyond what is included in the DDP.

Make Sure You’ll Use the Plan Wisely!

The Disney Dining Plan is not really a cost saving product. It is actually often the opposite. You must closely monitor your meal/snack credit usage in order to not lose money with the paid plans.

This is also the case with the free one. Even if you get the plan for “Free,” if you waste credits you’l be reducing your savings!

To read about being careful with the plans see 11 Reasons Why I Don’t Recommend the Disney Dining Plan.

Compare The Totals

Now that you have your two totals, you can compare to see which option, Walt Disney World “Free Dining” or the Disney Armed Forces Salute would be best for your party.

Well, we sure covered a lot of ground here, let me know if I missed anything or if you have questions or comments in the comment section below!

Would you rather have someone else worry about all of this for you?

If you need help on how to save the most with these various discounts, I recommend Ears of Experience. 

Ears of Experience is a military family owned small business that only makes Disney reservations so they truly are experts. You’ll pay no more through them than you would direct with Disney.

Use this link to request assistance from Ears of Experience with your vacation.

• Back to Basics Posts - A great place to start, offering basic topics!
• 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

The Mouse Experts is a travel booking company specializing in Disney vacations. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts!