Since it was released in 2019, Disney+ has quickly become a much-loved entertainment fixture for Disney shows and movies, old and new, in many homes — more than 150 million households, to be exact.
But its relevance in the Disney ecosystem goes far beyond watching "Frozen II" (again). In the last year or so, Disney+ has been trending toward being a must-have for trips to Disney's theme parks, including Disney World.
We've seen previous discounts on Disney resort hotel stays and Disney cruises for Disney+ subscribers. Currently, Disney+ can save you hundreds of dollars on your next Disney World vacation with a free dining package available exclusively to subscribers.
Related: The best credit cards for your Disney vacation
Disney+ basics
Aside from the park-related discounts, Disney+ is great for travelers who might find themselves on a plane without good (or any) Wi-Fi for hours. With most Disney+ plans, you can use the mobile app to download as many Disney+ shows and movies as your device can handle. This means your family members can watch all their favorites on the go without connecting to Wi-Fi.
Related: 5 ways using an authorized Disney vacation planner will improve your trip
You can download shows on up to 10 devices and stream up to four at a time, so you can load all your kids' devices with shows to watch during your next flight or road trip. There's also an option for kid profiles that limit your child to shows rated TV-7FV and G.
Using Disney+ to get free dining at Disney World
The cost of meals, snacks and Mickey ice cream bars can account for a significant portion of your Disney budget, and Disney dining plans offer a convenient way to prepay for your meals and snacks.
If you are paying for a Disney dining plan, we usually recommend doing some math to determine if the plan makes sense for you. Disney is offering the Disney Dining Plan to Disney+ subscribers for free for stays with arrivals on most nights between July 1 and Sept. 30. This offer applies to four-night, four-day nondiscounted vacation packages that include a hotel stay and theme park tickets with the Park Hopper option.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
Related: The return of all-day park hopping and the other major changes coming to Disney World in 2024
A family of four can save as much as $248 per day with this offer or nearly $1,000 over the course of a vacation. It'll give your vacation an all-inclusive feel by not having to pull out your wallet every time you order a meal.
There are two versions of the dining plan: the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan. Here's a quick breakdown of what's included with each plan:
Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan
- Two quick-service meals per night stayed
- A snack or nonalcoholic drink per night stayed
- One refillable drink mug with unlimited refills at your resort
Full details on the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan are available here.
Disney Dining Plan
- One table-service meal per night stayed
- One quick-service meal per night stayed
- A snack or nonalcoholic drink per night stayed
- One refillable drink mug with unlimited refills at your resort
Full details on the Disney Dining Plan are available here.
Which plan you'll receive depends on which hotel you choose. Disney Value and Moderate hotels receive the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan; Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa hotels receive the Disney Dining Plan. If you stay at a Value or Moderate resort, you can pay a fee to upgrade to the Disney Dining Plan.
You can get all the details and book the offer here or contact an authorized Disney vacation planner. Their services are entirely free, and they can help you with all aspects of your vacation, including booking your prepaid dining reservations that are included with this special offer.
There are instances where you can save more money with one of Disney's hotel promotions, which is one of the many reasons we recommend working with an authorized Disney vacation planner. They can review the details of your trip and determine which special offer will save you the most money.
The best credit cards for Disney+
There are a few ways to save on your Disney+ subscription.
The base price for Disney+ is $7.99 per month with ads, $13.99 per month without ads or $139.99 per year. You can also bundle it with Hulu and ESPN+ for an additional cost.
Luckily, a few credit cards can help you eliminate or reduce out-of-pocket costs for the streaming service.
The Disney Premier Visa Card gives you $14.99 back in statement credits for up to three consecutive months when you buy the Disney+ bundle. American Express also occasionally has an Amex Offer that issues cardholders a monthly $7.99 statement credit for up to six months of Disney+ charges. What's more, The Platinum Card® from American Express regularly provides up to $20 per month in digital entertainment credit that you can use toward Disney+, among other eligible services (enrollment is required).
Related: How to use the Amex Platinum digital entertainment credit
If you don't have any of the above cards that offer statement credits for Disney+ or would rather use a different card for Disney+ charges, there are other cards to consider.
Some of the best cards for streaming services include:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Earn 3 points per dollar spent on select streaming services, including Apple Music, Disney+, ESPN+, Fubo TV, Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, SiriusXM, Sling, Spotify, Vudu and YouTube TV.
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Get 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services (enrollment is required).
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Get 4% cash back on select streaming services.
Even if you don't have any of these cards, eligible Verizon account holders, can save $8.99 per month on a Disney+ bundle.
The information for the Capital One Savor card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
For years now, Disney+ has been an affordable way to help keep the family entertained both at home and on the road. More recently, it's become an increasingly valuable tool to save money in Disney parks and even occasionally while on board a Disney cruise.
If you're looking to go to Disney World later this year, consider how much you can save with this monthly streaming service.
Application link: Unlock Disney in-park perks and discounts with the Disney Visa Card.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
