Here's a Way to Save Money on Your Families Next Disney Holiday - Free Dining and Drinks is back!
- Helena
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
When I was seven, my parents took me to Disneyland Paris. I can still picture myself in front of the castle, absolutely wide-eyed, clutching my Mickey Mouse Magician's Hat, and feeling like I’d stepped into another world. That trip was over twenty years ago, and yet I still remember it so clearly. The "It's A Small World Ride", The Dumbo ride, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, I even kept the hat for the next 10 years!
That’s why I think Disney holidays matter so much for families. They’re not cheap, in fact, they’ve only gotten more expensive over the years, but the memories last a lifetime. Which is why I wanted to flag this: Virgin Atlantic Holidays have brought back the Free Disney Dining & Drinks package for 2026.
Why Has Disney Got So Expensive?
Over the past decade, costs for a Walt Disney World holiday have risen steadily:
Tickets: A one-day base ticket used to be under $100, but now varies with date and park — often well over $150 per person. Multiply that by several days and a family of four is into the thousands before even leaving the UK.
FastPass replaced by Genie+: What used to be free skip-the-line access now costs extra per person, per day. Popular rides like Rise of the Resistance require separate “Individual Lightning Lane” purchases.
Food: Dining in the parks isn’t cheap. A sit-down meal for a family of four can easily top $100, and even quick-service meals add up when multiplied by 10–14 days.
Hotels: Staying on-site is part of the Disney magic, but prices for rooms have gone up too, especially at the more popular resorts.
All in all, a “standard” family Disney trip that once felt achievable now feels out of reach for many.
That’s why these kinds of deals matter. Having meals included (which can save a family thousands), tickets bundled in, and a bit of money off the room, it all makes a big difference.
Why Families Still Choose Disney
Despite the costs, Disney remains one of the best family destinations in the world, and here’s why:
All ages are covered: Toddlers can meet Mickey, teens can ride Space Mountain, and adults can enjoy fine dining or EPCOT’s festivals, all in the same trip.
Immersive storytelling: Each park is designed to pull you into different worlds — Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge feels like stepping into the movies, while Magic Kingdom still holds that timeless fairy-tale magic.
Convenience: Staying at a Disney resort means transport, tickets, meals, and extras are all handled, making it easier to just relax and enjoy.
Memories that stick: Ask anyone who’s been, and they’ll tell you, it’s the small moments (meeting a princess, seeing fireworks together, riding Dumbo as a family) that stay with you for decades.
For parents, it’s knowing that your kids will remember this trip when they’re grown up, like I remember mine.
What’s Included in the Virgin Atlantic Holidays Offer
This is what makes the 2026 Free Disney Dining & Drinks package stand out:
Free Disney Dining & Drinks (worth up to £1,159 per person*)
14-Day Disney Magic Ticket for the price of 7 (exclusive to the UK)
Free Memory Maker with every Magic Ticket (worth $200)
£100 saving per room when you use promo code FREEDINING
ATOL protection and Virgin Atlantic flights included
Low deposit and flexible payment plans
As far as I can tell, this specific Free Dining & Drinks package is only available via Virgin Atlantic Holidays for UK guests.
Virgin Atlantic Holidays: Free Disney Dining Plans Explained
The dining plan you’ll receive depends on the Disney Resort Hotel you book with Virgin Atlantic Holidays:
1. Disney Deluxe Resorts – Free Disney Dining Plan
Stay in a Disney Deluxe Resort or Deluxe Villa with Virgin Atlantic Holidays and receive the Disney Dining Plan free.
What’s included (per person, per night):
1 Table-Service Meal
1 Quick-Service Meal
1 Snack or drink
1 alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink with each meal
Resort refillable mug
Redeemable at 170+ dining locations
2. Disney Moderate Resorts – Free Quick-Service Dining Plan
Book a Disney Moderate Resort Hotel with Virgin Atlantic Holidays and get the Quick-Service Dining Plan free.
What’s included (per person, per night):
2 Quick-Service Meals
1 Snack or drink
1 alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink with each meal
Resort refillable mug
Redeemable at 90+ dining locations
3. Disney Value Resorts – Free Quick-Service Meal
When you stay at a Disney Value Resort Hotel with Virgin Atlantic Holidays, you’ll enjoy one free Quick-Service Meal per night.
What’s included (per person, per night):
1 Quick-Service Meal
1 alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink
Redeemable at 90+ dining locations
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14-Day Disney Magic Ticket for the Price of 7
Every qualifying Virgin Atlantic Holidays package includes the exclusive UK-only Disney Magic Ticket.
Ticket perks include:
14 days of access for the price of 7!
Unlimited park hopping between all 4 Walt Disney World Theme Parks
Access to Disney’s Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon Water Park*
Free Memory Maker (worth $200) included
Easy ticket access via your Virgin Atlantic Holidays booking portal
When Can You Travel?
Virgin Atlantic Holidays’ Free Disney Dining & Drinks offer is valid for arrivals:
7 January – 30 March 2026
13 April – 7 October 2026
22 October – 19 December 2026
(Excludes certain suites, club level rooms, and selected villa categories. Blackout dates apply.)
How to Book with Virgin Atlantic Holidays
Choose your preferred Disney Resort Hotel (Value, Moderate, or Deluxe).
Add your Disney Magic Ticket and Virgin Atlantic flights.
Enter code FREEDINING at checkout to save an extra £100 per room.
This is a limited time offer and you will need to book with Virgin Atlantic Holidays by 5th November 2025 to secure your free dining and drinks package for 2026!
Free Disney Dining & Drinks is Back with Virgin Atlantic Holidays for 2026: Final Thoughts
Let's not beat about the bush Disney has become expensive, bordering on extortionate. Regular families are almost being priced out of this holiday opportunity, there’s no hiding from it. For many families, it really does feel out of reach. But when an offer like this comes along, it can be the difference between “maybe one day” and actually going.
If you’ve been dreaming about it, 2026 could be the year. Because while the rides and parks are incredible, what really matters is the memory you and your family bring home.
I know my parents made sacrifices to take me when I was little, and I’ll never forget it. That’s the power of a Disney holiday.
Helena
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