Free Dine Plan 2025: Walt Disney World Resort Special Update for December 30, 2024

Writer’s Note, News & Views

Well, I thought our last Walt Disney World Resort Update was going to be the last of 2024, but Disney let us know that it was making a new Free Dining Plan offer today for bookings starting January 2, 2025, for certain summertime stays, so here we are with one last limited edition Update to close out 2024. Have a happy and safe New Year!

Oh, and for anyone that happens to be visiting Walt Disney World Resort today, December 30, and/or tomorrow, December 31, the last minute details of this year’s fireworks and operating hours have been posted on My Disney Experience. As a Sorcerer Annual Passholder, my pass is blocked; IncrediPass-holders without a park reservation may still be able to find one at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for today or tomorrow, but, of course, the parks sometimes pause park hopping on extremely busy days. In any event, if you are planning to be in the parks, be sure to check the app for limitations and the special additional added entertainment offerings like the DJ dance parties around EPCOT:

“Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks will be shown on December 30 and 31, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. and 11:50 p.m. at Magic Kingdom. Historically, this show has been presented with both perimeter fireworks and a “mirror” launch position in Seven Seas Lagoon which means that if you are in the area, perimeter roads may be closed and Ferryboats and other Seven Seas Lagoon watercraft traffic may be limited around the time of the shows.

“Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration” will be the year’s “bon voyage” New Year’s countdown fireworks at EPCOT starting at 11:54 p.m. on December 31, 2024. “Luminous: The Symphony of Us” is also scheduled at 6:30 p.m. on December 31, 2024.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have a rare fireworks show on December 31, 2024, near Center Stage (in front of The Chinese Theater) at midnight. Starting at 6:00 p.m. a DJ jam fest will play throughout the night and count down to the New Year. “Fantasmic!” is scheduled at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on December 31, 2024. “Wonderful World of Animation” is not scheduled to be shown on The Chinese Theater on December 31, 2024.

For the December 31, 2024, (New Year’s Eve operating day) , Magic Kingdom and EPCOT will close at 1 a.m., Disney’s Hollywood Studios will close at midnight, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will close at 8 p.m.

How to Get a Free Dining Plan in 2025

Dining plans have long been the subject of interest of Walt Disney World Resort visitors, and they made their post-pandemic return earlier this year. Every now and then, Disney offers resort packages that include “free” dining plans, and to start off 2025, Disney has a new offer that becomes available for booking January 2, 2025, for travel dates starting in the summer.

From January 2 to February 10, 2025, you can get a free dining plan with the purchase of a non-discounted 3-night, 3-day (at minimum) Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel and a park ticket with a Park Hopper option. The offer is available for most arrivals starting May 27 through June 26, and July 7 through August 6, 2025. Visit DisneyWorld.com/dineoffer on January 2, 2025, for more details.

Remember that Disney has two dining plan options, the Quick Service Dining Plan and the Dining Plan. Each plan includes a certain number of meals and snacks based on the number of nights the room is booked. Guests of Disney Resort hotels can purchase dining plans as part of a vacation package before their trip, and the same option must be purchased for every guest on the room reservation. On the convenience side, purchasing dining plans allows guests to pre-budget for meals. Whether any particular dining package represents a “savings” over purchasing meals around the Resort really depends upon what your travel party decides to eat and drink during their stay. There is no refund for unused dining credits from a dining plan at the end of the guests’ stay.

Dining Plan Info — Infographics courtesy Disney.

Even when a dining package is “free” with a non-discounted room package (like the new 2025 summertime offer), you still may want to consider whether other discounted room packages without the included dining plan suits your overall budget better. On January 2, Disney will announce other 2025 discount offers, including deals on select Disney Resort hotel rooms. DisneyWorld.com/SpecialOffers already has discount offers available for some stays through June 30, 2025, and more offers will be posted there on January 2, 2025.

Resort Reservations, Ticket Advice & Special Offers

Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Walt Disney World Resort Update.

The current Florida resident theme park ticket offer is available on this page of DisneyWorld.com which starts at $119 plus tax for a one day ticket and can be as low as $72/day plus tax for a four day ticket (before the various add-ons). As a date-based ticket, the first date of use has to be selected when purchased and users of a Florida resident ticket will be required to provide proof of residency either at the time of purchase or at a park ticket window prior to first use.

Details and more special offers are available on this page of DisneyWorld.com.

Various packages are now posted for stays through June 30, 2025, and Military Discounts are now posted for the whole year as well.

MousePlanet’s travel partner, Get Away Today, can help you with your Walt Disney World Resort vacation, and has access to the latest special offers, all at no additional cost to you.

Get Away Today’s Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages can now be booked completely on its website! No cumbersome quotes needed! Simply compare all your favorite Walt Disney World Resort hotels and Get Away Today’s hand selected off-property hotels in a few clicks, and then customize for your included tickets for your vacation.

Get Away Today’s Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages now have the option to add Layaway Plans, which allow you to pay the total balance up to eight days prior to travel. You can also add their popular “Peace of Mind Plan” when booking a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, which allows any reschedules and cancellations up to five days prior to travel with no penalty.

When booking with Get Away Today, all Walt Disney World Resort on-site packages include Get Away Today’s e-concierge, which includes its Best Price Guarantee, Dining Reservation Reminders, access to their Concierge Team email for help before and during your vacation, and more.

Looking to go beyond Walt Disney World Resort when visiting Central Florida? Check out Get Away Today’s Universal Orlando Resort ticket offers and resort package stay offers too. Right now, for example, you can get 2 days free with a 2-Park, 3-Day ticket for 5 days of fun when you book with Get Away Today! Enjoy all of the thrills, entertainment and fun that Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure has to offer for as low as $62 per day. Upgrade to a 3-Park ticket to experience Universal Volcano Bay water theme park (which may be closed on some dates). This offer is valid for travel now – April 16, 2025.

Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or a travel agency like MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Today! As always, we remind our readers that Walt Disney World Resort theme park tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Florida or eligible for U.S. Military Personnel benefits. Historically, non-Florida residents tend to benefit the most by purchasing tickets in advance (and, of course, being mindful of the rules relevant to those tickets). Don’t get scammed! Never buy tickets from an unofficial or secondary outlet, such as through eBay or Craigslist. Never rent or purchase tickets from people approaching you outside Disney property stating they have remaining days or leftover tickets. This practice is against the terms of use for Walt Disney World Theme Park admissions, and may result in denial of entry. There is no way to determine if these tickets are valid until you try to use them to enter the parks.