Maximizing Counter Service Credit Value on the 2013 Disney Dining Plan

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Eating at the most expensive Counter Service restaurants in Walt Disney World is the best way to maximize your value on the 2013 Disney Dining Plan, especially if you’re on the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan, as those are the only meals you get! If value maximization is your concern, you should also make sure to get your “money’s worth” from Table Service meals (click here to see our tips for maximizing your table service dining at Walt Disney World). While most Counter Service combos are priced right around $10, there are some places you can eat and combos you can purchase that give you a lot more bang for your buck!

This list calculated the most expensive meals by taking the highest combo, dessert, and beverage available on the Dining Plan and adding them together. We did this as opposed to taking the median or mean since, if you’re truly concerned with saving as much money as possible, you’re going to be ordering more expensive menu items. We feel considering only the more expensive menu items is most helpful to Guests looking to maximize the Disney Dining Plan value, but your mileage may vary.

Additionally, since this list contemplates only expensive items, this list is completely objective. If a restaurant “scored” better thanks to its pricier options, it’s on the list, regardless of whether I think its food stinks. It’s very important to consider quality of food, not just prices, when determining where you want to eat. You’re not really getting more “value” for your money if you eat expensive food that you don’t like!

This list is updated yearly, with prices adjusted and restaurants shuffled around the list, bounced, or added as costs change. Prices have consistently increased by about 5% since 2011. For 2013, Be Our Guest Restaurant and Katsura Grill joined the list, bumping Riverside Mill and La Cantina de San Angel.

1. Wolfgang Puck Express – We’ve never eaten at Wolfgang Puck Express at Disney (we don’t eat at restaurants that can be found in the “outside world” at Disney) ourselves so I cannot comment on the quality of the food, but Wolfgang Puck Express once again takes the top spot for “2013 Best Disney Dining Plan Value” for Counter Service restaurants. It’s a great place to maximize the value of your Disney Dining Plan Quick Service credits thanks to the many expensive entrees, especially the salmon and pasta dishes! Total Value: $25.90.

2. Pepper Market – As of the start of 2013, Pepper Market is once again a full-time food court (instead of doing a lunch buffet). This restaurant at Coronado Springs has a lot of options (possibly because of the large convention space?) and a lot of them are expensive. A few of the Chef’s station combos are priced at $14.99 and many options are priced at $13.99 or above. Each of these combos are served with two sides, making them not only a good value from the perspective of price, but also from the perspective of what you get for your money. Just don’t order the 14″ pizzas, as those require two credits, and as such, are a poor value. Total Value: $24.93.

3. Tangierine Cafe – One of the most unique, and arguably one of the best Counter Service restaurants at Walt Disney World, you really can’t go wrong with anything here. To maximize your value, try the Mediterranean Sliders Combo, which is the most expensive entree (and is very filling!). Total Value: $22.97.

4. Fairfax Fare - We’re a bit surprised to see this smaller Disney’s Hollywood Studios Counter Service restaurant make the list, but thanks to the Chicken and Spareribs combo, this restaurant ranks highly. Everything else here is fairly average in price, so unless you’re ordering that combo, don’t expect great value here. Total Value: $22.48.

5. Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe – This is the restaurant that inspired this whole series of posts. When we first booked the Disney Dining Plan in 2007, I wanted to maximize value, and saw the 1/2 Chicken and BBQ Rib Combination (served with delicious Mashed Potatoes) on the All Ears menu. After that, I strove to find the best “deals” on other menus. Less experienced at the time, I only found Tangierine Cafe and Sunshine Seasons at the time as the other “best values,” but we made up for that by eating at Cosmic Ray’s many, many times that trip! In my experience, the 1/2 Chicken and Rib combo can be hit or miss taste-wise. Sometimes it’s dry and/or rubbery, sometimes it’s flavorful and delicious.  Total Value: $21.77.

6. Cooke’s of Dublin – Cooke’s moves up several spots in 2013. It’s another Downtown Disney restaurant, and another restaurant at which we haven’t eaten. (The only place we’ve eaten at Downtown Disney, for what it’s worth, is Earl of Sandwich, which is awesome.) The Georges Bank Atlantic Scallops offer the best value here. Total Value: $20.45.

7. Katsura Grill – This fairly new restaurant joins the list thanks mostly to its sushi combos, but an above-average dessert also helps give it the bump. Some dishes at Katsura Grill have large portions, especially the pricier “combos,” but many dishes are large by virtue of containing a large amount of rice. Katsura Grill is fairly divisive. While we like Japanese cuisine, we don’t care for Katsura Grill. We think it’s very Americanized and bland–but we know a lot of people who love it! Total Value: $20.24.

8. Be Our Guest Restaurant (Lunch Only) - Right now this lavishly themed restaurant in New Fantasyland is inundated by crowds, but if you’re to bear the wait to get in, you’ll find interesting food (for Fantasyland) and somewhat expensive options. It’s somewhere you should eat regardless of whether you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, as it’s like an attraction in itself, but that’s doubly true if you’re on the Disney Dining, as you can get some bang for your buck!Total Value: $20.07.

9. Sunshine Seasons – If you’ve ever read this site, it may not be surprising to hear that we’re pretty happy to see Sunshine Seasons make this list. Everything at “The Grill” is above $10, plus the (amazingly decadent) desserts are $3.99 or so. Our top picks include the Oak-fired Rotisserie Half Chicken and the Key Lime Pie. Total Value: $20.07.

10. Everything Pop – Okay, so unless you’re staying at Pop Century or you really like tie-dyed cheese cake, chances are, you’re not going to head to the Pop Century food court to use a Quick Service credit, even if it does offer good value. If you do head over here, the you’ll have to get the Pecan Tart å la mode instead of the tie-dyed cheesecake. Probably not a sacrifice many people will want to make!  Total Value: $20.06.

Really, once you get past the first five restaurants on this list, there’s not much that separates the remaining Counter Service Walt Disney World restaurants. Much like the New York Strip Steaks being the cornerstone of the Table Service list, “Combos” (usually chicken and ribs) seem to be pretty common on this list. Just because a restaurant isn’t on this list doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dine there, either. After #10 on this list, you can find a lot of Counter Service restaurants with $18-19 in “total value,” meaning the difference between #6 on this list and not being on this list is sometimes only around $1-2. With that little at stake, you really ought to just eat where you want if the menus for these restaurants don’t look appealing!

You can find an entree that costs at least $9 at almost every Counter Service restaurant, and desserts and drinks are typically pretty close in price at these restaurants. Overall, the price differences at Counter Service restaurants are less drastic than they are at Table Service restaurants, but you can still come out pretty far ahead by eating at the right Counter Service restaurants.

Hopefully this list helps you get more bang for your buck on the Disney Dining Plan. Check out our Value-Maximizing tips for Snacks and Value-Maximizing Tips for Table Service Restaurants to get even more value out of the Disney Dining Plan!

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Your Thoughts…

What tips do you have for getting the most out of the Disney Dining Plan? If you have any tips to maximize your value at other Counter Service restaurants, please share them in the comments!

36 Responses to “Maximizing Counter Service Credit Value on the 2013 Disney Dining Plan”

1. Chris Thompson says:

   September 12, 2011 at 10:36 pm

   Where are those tacos in the second photo from? They look better than any I’ve seen

   Reply
2. Scott G. says:

   September 12, 2011 at 10:52 pm

   I’m pretty sure that’s La Cantina de San Angel in Mexico in Epcot. Great food. Here’s the menu: http://bit.ly/pDmcPn

   Reply
3. Candace says:

   September 13, 2011 at 2:28 am

   I love reading your reviews and trip reports – thank you so much! Just as an fyi though, the Earl of Sandwich does have locations in the real world.

   Reply
4. Magicalmom1015 says:

   September 13, 2011 at 9:08 am

   I have heard that Flametree in Animal Kingdom has great food. I’d like to hear other opinions.

   Reply
   • Chris F. says:

     September 13, 2011 at 10:58 am

     I’ll vouch for Flame Tree. I always make it a point to stop off for some ribs there and have never been disappointed. Not a bad selection of sauces either. Not the best, but certainly nothing to sneeze at.

     The kicker though is the ambience. Any of the early seats you can take will be great, with ponds, lush jungle foliage, and great Disney theming, but make a point to wander to a table all the way in the back, towards the water, and get an outstanding view of Everest across the water.

     Reply
   • Katie says:

     September 13, 2011 at 3:28 pm

     We always make a point of having lunch at Flametree BBQ on our AK day. It has great food and we love the ambiance.

     Reply
     • Tom Bricker says:

       September 13, 2011 at 6:18 pm

       Flame Tree BBQ is awesome. I don’t think you’ll find many people who don’t like it!
     • Heidi says:

       September 13, 2011 at 6:44 pm

       I am one of the few people who does NOT like Flametree BBQ. I found the food to be dry…corn muffin, baked beans and chicken…all of it was dry. My son’s chicken leg was shriveled to virtually a bone with skin attached. However, I found most revolting the birds! What some people refer to as “ambiance” I call a health hazard. Birds were attacking our table and dropping feathers on our food. YUCK. Sorry, I definitely wanted to like it. Much prefer Pizzafari…which gets a bad rap on its own.
   • Robert says:

     March 30, 2012 at 9:50 am

     I don’t care HOW Flametree stacks up in the “value” department – it WINS the TASTE category with NO CONTENDERS EVEN CLOSE!!

     Reply
     • Tom Bricker says:

       March 30, 2012 at 11:01 am

       Big thumbs up to this. It’s my FAVORITE restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I wish I could have added it to the ‘best value’ list (and it was very close, like #11, 12, or 13, I think), but it just didn’t quite make the cut!
5. Deb. C says:

   September 16, 2011 at 8:50 am

   Wolfgang Puck Express is wonderful…some of the best food on Disney property! The servings are so big that you could easily share and get more bang for your dining bucks. I’ve even used a counter service credit for breakfast (something I don’t normally do) and I’m going back to do it again. Another favorite of mine is Contempo Cafe in the Contemporary. Their honey lime grilled chicken with house made chips is amazing.

   Reply
   • BethG says:

     September 17, 2011 at 1:46 pm

     I totally agree with Deb. Wolfgang Puck Express is absolutely delicious and that applies to whatever meal you’re eating (breakfast, lunch and dinner). A very close second in quality and “bang for dining buck” is the Earl of Sandwich. Two fabulous eateries that we try to eat at numerous times each visit.

     Reply
   • Gael says:

     May 10, 2012 at 12:40 am

     Love the gourmet pizzas at Wolfgang Puck Express! We could have split a meal, but we ended up taking pizza with us to snack on later. It’s an excellent, high-value use of counter service credits. Also can’t get enough of Earl of Sandwich, but I would never use DDP credits. The Earl is the best value on Disney property.

     Reply
6. Bob says:

   January 30, 2012 at 2:03 pm

   Great Post! It’s nice to see some one else think the way I do. I am surprised not to see FlameTree BBQ not on the list. It is another one that you can get excellent value for a credit. I started doing this a number of years ago as I take my band to WDW for Magic Music Days performances. As part of the MMD package, you can purchase meal coupons for meals in the park. We paid $14 a piece for the coupons on our March 2011 trip. Every meal I used the coupon on totaled close to, if not exceeding $20. Definitely received my moneys worth!

   Reply
7. Tyler says:

   April 10, 2012 at 1:10 am

   I enjoy your articles, but you should put up the places where you get the food from the imgages, they all look so good haha.

   Reply
8. Jay says:

   June 18, 2012 at 4:06 am

   The problem with some of the selections in your article is that the price does not include tip. Most counter service offerings do not require a tip but some, for example, Wolfgang Puck do. This makes them less cost effective overall.

   Reply
   • Disney Mom says:

     January 15, 2013 at 3:23 pm

     Wolfgang Puck is a quick service. Normally we do not tip for quick service, but they do bring you your food, refills and dessert. I’m not sure that tips are expected, but we usually give a little something to the person providing us with the great service. It certainly is a lot less than what you are expected to pay at a sit down meal. Well worth it I might add.

     Reply
9. Lisa says:

   July 17, 2012 at 12:16 pm

   Where can I find a list of the menus and prices for the quick service meals. I am trying to decide whether to get the plan or not – I don’t want to eat desserts and rarely drink soda so I think it will be a waste for us. Just wanting to check out the prices and I can’t find anything!

   Reply
   • Tom Bricker says:

     July 17, 2012 at 12:22 pm

     I recommend checking out TouringPlans’ menus: http://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/dining/menus

     Reply
10. Brandy says:

    January 3, 2013 at 2:11 pm

    What about Be our Guest? Isn’t it a higher priced quick service for lunch?

    Reply
    • Brandy says:

      January 3, 2013 at 2:14 pm

      Oh, I’m sorry. I missed the part about this being published last Feb!

      Reply
11. Amy says:

    January 3, 2013 at 6:09 pm

    I totally agree with Cookes of Dublin, their fish and chips is a great value – hugh piece of fish.
    I would also like to add that the All Star Music resort has nightly meals that are QS. One of which is a roasted 1/2 Chicken, potatoes, green beans, and a roll. Excellent meal — for two!

    Reply
12. Jennifer Hardy says:

    January 4, 2013 at 2:07 pm

    I LOVE Wolfgang Puck and Sunshine Seasons!

    Reply
    • Tom Bricker says:

      January 4, 2013 at 5:23 pm

      Sunshine Seasons is the one restaurant we eat at one time per trip…at least!

      Reply
13. Chirstian says:

    January 5, 2013 at 12:56 am

    Great list Tom. Did this Plan at the Cast Member rate last month. Best: Be Our Guest Braised Pork for lunch. Meat & Potatoes in a bowl = no complaints from me. Worst: Everything Pop’s “Mom’s Night Out” Fried Chicken. Silly me for expecting Disneyland’s Plaza Inn’s fried chicken here.

    Reply
    • Tom Bricker says:

      January 6, 2013 at 4:42 pm

      Yeah, that one is on you. No other fried chicken compares to Disneyland’s Plaza Inn fried chicken. NONE. That is the stuff of legends!

      Reply
14. Disney Mom says:

    January 15, 2013 at 3:21 pm

    I have to say I am a big fan of Wolgang Puck Express in Downtown Disney. Not only are there fantastic menu choices, the food is great, and you certainly do get to use your Disney Dining Plan to your benefit. We go there every year we visit Disney, sometimes more than once or twice..and have no complaints. Love Love the food there

    Reply
    • Tom Bricker says:

      January 16, 2013 at 10:26 am

      It sounds like a lot of people love it! Maybe someday we’ll give it a try…

      Reply
15. Tonya says:

    February 4, 2013 at 11:48 am

    Tangerine Cafe is wonderful if you love Mediterranean food!

    Reply
16. Nicole says:

    February 5, 2013 at 4:58 pm

    We love Wolfgang Puck Express,we eat there three or four times a trip. Have never used a dining credit for it but love the place. Last year we were heading there after we parked by Disney Quest. I know it is on the other side of DTD but we like the walk. We passed a group of about 8 adults who seemed to be racking their brains about where to eat. I walked up to them and asked if they had tried Express yet. And when they asked how the food was I told them it was our fourth trip in a few days. Also showed them on my phone what the menu looked like and told them we were heading there if they wanted to follow. They did and they loved it.. The service there is amazing as well. I had been very sick on our last trip and was not eating alot, when we went the one night all I bought was a bowl of soup . The rest of the family was loving the meatloaf and the kids loved the mac and cheese. The waiter noticed that I had emptyed the bowl very fast. It was amazing soup. Then I noticed that I had not ordered my tea, and still did not have much of a voice. The waiter asked how things were my husband had to tell him for me that I loved the soup it was the most I had eaten in a few days. I tried to tell him but I sounded like a frog. In a few min later he was back with more soup and a very large to go cup of hot tea with lemon for me. No charge at all. This is why we go back as much as we do.. It is the little things that make you keep going back..

    Reply
17. Gaby says:

    February 15, 2013 at 5:54 pm

    You mentioned that the 2013 free dining plan dates have already been released. When are they?

    Reply
    • Tom Bricker says:

      February 18, 2013 at 10:49 am

      The ones that have been released are bounceback only. General public ones should be out around July.

      Reply
    • Terri says:

      May 8, 2013 at 10:04 am

      Disney Visa Card holders free dining came out yesterday. Free dining if booked between Sept 2-25. It was leaked the FD for the public will be announced May 9!

      Reply
      • Tom Bricker says:

        May 15, 2013 at 10:32 am

        This is correct, and the general public offer is now available, as well! Thanks for the heads up!
18. Robin says:

    April 4, 2013 at 7:42 pm

    We always eat at Port Orleans Riverside. There is quite a variety to choose from and if you bring your resort mug, you can also get a bottled drink with your meal. The desserts are great too, including ice cream and a yummy apple dumpling.

    Reply
19. Brian says:

    May 6, 2013 at 1:51 pm

    Tom,
    Great site! We did the Disney Dining Plan last year and were able to order adult meals with our child credits for the QS. I know it’s frowned upon, but our hotel check-in host informed it was possible. In fact, she guided us to go this route since the kids meals were said to be quite poor. Does Disney still group the Adult/Child credits together for 2013?

    Reply