My favorite uses of Dining Plan credits at Disney World
The Disney Dining Plan is something that gets a lot of hate online, but if you like to splurge on dining while on vacation, the Dining Plan is actually really fun to include with your Disney World vacation package. Plus, all dining plans are free for kids ages 3-9 in 2026 when the guests on the reservation ages 10+ purchase a dining plan.
I’ve used the Dining Plan and Quick Service Dining Plan 3 times now and wanted to share some of my favorite uses of the dining and snack credits that not only give you the most value, but also are really tasty.
#1 Character Meals
If you have ever priced out character dining at Disney World you know it can get expensive very quickly. But most character meals at Disney World are 1 table service credit when using the Disney Dining Plan. This is a great use of a dining credit! Bonus: you can order a fun drink and its included in your meal (think wine, beer, a cocktail or mocktail for you and fun lemonades or other beverages for the kids)
My favorite character meals at Disney World are Topolino’s, Tusker House, Crystal Palace, Ohana and Hollywood and Vine.
Restaurants that are 2 table service credits (and I would say are not a good use of dining credits) include Akershus, Cinderella’s Royal Table, and Story Book Dining with Snow White.
Pro tip: Gratuities are not included with the Dining Plan so make sure to tip your server!
#2 My favorite Snacks using Snack Credits
I think snack credits can be the hardest to use up or to use wisely when using either dining plan at Disney World.
Here is a list of snacks I personally enjoy redeeming a snack credit for:
- Mickey Pretzel ($8.50+ tax or 1 snack credit)
- Venti Starbucks in the parks (pricing varies but this is just 1 snack credit)
- A large donut to share from Joffrey’s ($6.59+ tax or 1 snack credit)
- Wookie Cookie in Hollywood Studios ($7.49+ tax or 1 snack credit)
- Funnel Cakes from Epic Eats in Hollywood ($8.99+ tax or 1 snack credit)
- Candy from Gift Shops to bring home ($6.49+ tax or 1 snack credit)
- Shaved Ice from Japan in EPCOT ($6.50+ tax or 1 snack credit)
- Mickey Beignets at French Quarter ($7.99+ tax or 1 snack credit)
Now there are a ton of snacks to choose from so my rule of thumb of thumb is trying to use snack credits on snacks that are $7+ and paying cash for any snacks that cost less than that unless I just have snack credits to burn before going home.
#3 My Favorite Quick Service Dining Credits
Please, please, please don’t forget that a drink is included in your quick service dining credit. So when you order, make sure to order your meal and then a drink as well since why not right? A drink could be a bottled water, fountain drink, slushy, or alcoholic beverage.
I’d say my family uses the Quick Service Dining plan at Disney the most and here are our favorite places to dine and redeem a meal credit while at Disney World:
- Docking Bay 7 at Hollywood Studios (a great use of a QS meal credit!)
- Satu’li Canteen at Animal Kingdom
- Flame Tree BBQ at Animal Kingdom (The meat sampler here is $18.99 and just 1 QS dining credit and could easily be shared!)
- Columbia Harbour House at Magic Kingdom (Lobster roll or the salmon here are really good and another amazing use of a QS meal credit)
- Regal Eagle Smokehouse at Epcot
- Primo Piatto at Riviera
- And lunch or dinner at a resort’s Quick Service location
Of course there are many more to explore these are just our go-to’s after visiting Disney World over a dozen times. My rule of thumb is to pay cash for quick service breakfasts and to save our quick service meal credits for lunch or dinner as those tend to be pricier so a better use of a credit.
Pro tip: Do not use meal credits for a large pizza at your resort. You will have to redeem 2 meal credits. Well, I mean you can totally do this but just know the large pizzas are about $22 cash or will require 2 quick service dining credits.
#4 Resort Refillable Mugs
When you purchase either dining plan at Disney World, each guests ages 3+ will also get a resort refillable mug. These can be refilled your entire length of stay at any Disney World resort hotel, but not in the parks.
If you pay cash for a resort mug the cost is $22.99+tax but this is included in either dining plan.
Now you can’t remove these from the dining plan so I see them as a bonus to using the dining plan, because your girl loves some Diet Coke!
So is the dining plan at Disney World worth it?
This is the question I get all the time and I wrote another blog post about this question right here. I think yes it is worth it if you plan on splurging while at Disney World or like the feel of an all inclusive vacation. If you tend to share meals or pack your own snacks/meals then it is probably not worth it.
If you need help deciding on things just like this, I’d love to help you plan your next Disney World vacation. I’ve helped over 200 clients plan their magical trips and navigate things like the dining plan, the best resort for their family and their park plans. Learn more about my Disney vacation planning services here.
