Best Disney Dining Plan Snack Credit Uses
This post covers the best-value snack credit uses on the 2024 Disney Dining Plan. These include delicious Walt Disney World desserts, cupcakes, EPCOT festival snacks, Dole Whips, Starbucks specialty drinks, and more. Maximizing the ‘bang for your buck’ out of each snack credit is important for a couple of reasons, which we’ll cover in this post. (Updated June 8, 2023.)
Items that qualify as snacks for the purposes of the Disney Dining Plan are denoted by a little purple and white “DDP” symbol on the restaurant menus across property. Some items that are considered snacks in some locations aren’t considered snacks elsewhere. Make sure to consult the menu before ordering any item you deem a “snack” as Disney may not agree!
As a general matter, anything that is priced over $6.50 is a good use of a snack credit on the 2024 Disney Dining Plan. Since there are literally hundreds–if not thousands–of different ways to redeem your snack credits, that rule of thumb might actually be more helpful than this top 10 list, which shares some of the very best ways to get the most bang for your buck from DDP snack credits.
Unfortunately, the most common snacks you’ll find at Walt Disney World are poor uses of your snack credits. We cover this, and the pitfalls of using your precious credits on them, in our Worst Uses of Disney Dining Plan Credits at Walt Disney World post. (Seriously, stay away from Goofy’s Candy Company and fresh fruit…albeit for very different reasons!)
Now, you might be thinking, “who cares–is there really a bad way to use snack credits?!” The answer is an unequivocal yes. Walt Disney World’s Dining Plan is only worth the money if you use your credits in a savvy way. Otherwise, you’re better off simply paying out of pocket. The other plus side? The items that are an objectively better use of Disney Dining Plan snack credits usually taste better, too. Win win!
Snack prices are obviously lower than Table Service and Counter Service meals, so there’s generally less of a difference between high and low snack prices than there is between high and low priced meals. Nevertheless, it’s worth paying attention to snack prices if you want to maximize your total value on the Disney Dining Plan, as some EPCOT festivals have $10 items and other snacks might cost as little as a few dollars.
In other words, someone who stockpiles their snack credits and uses them strategically on the highest-dollar items can come out way ahead as compared to someone who uses them on plain coffee or bottled water. In aggregate, the difference at the extremes could actually amount as much or more of a difference than good vs. bad uses of counter or table service credits.
This list is updated annually, with the most recent refresh occurring in Summer 2023 after Walt Disney World released the List of Restaurants on the 2024 Disney Dining Plan. While it includes a lot of locations, this is presumably incomplete and will include more third parties once Walt Disney World finalizes contracts with them.
Even without this list, we have a pretty good idea of what will be offered as a snack credit on the 2024 Disney Dining Plan because, oddly enough, Walt Disney World has continued to put the snack credit icon next to would-be eligible items during the last 3 years while the DDP has been on hiatus. This has happened without fail for every EPCOT festival and menu update and, frankly, we don’t really know why. Either way, it should offer at least insight into what will be eligible for snack credit redemptions in 2024.
Additionally, Walt Disney World revealed that it’s reducing the number of snack credits on the Disney Dining Plans from 2 to 1 per night. This is a hugely negative and disappointing change, especially for those who are adept at saving and strategically using snack credits. It’s also not a huge shock, as a lot of guests wasted snack credits–or raced against the clock at the last minute to use their extra credits on pre-packaged treats to take home. (I’d hazard a guess that over half of Mickey Mouse Rice Krispies Treats and Goofy’s Candy Co. products were previously “purchased” with spare snack credits.)
With that explainer out of the way, let’s delve into the top 10 uses of snack credits on the 2024 Disney Dining Plan…
TBD. Ice Cream – For several years, one of the chart-toppers for snack credit value was Ample Hills Creamery, which had by far the best ice cream at Walt Disney World. Unfortunately, that never reopened post-closure and is now gone for good (and too soon).
Fortunately, several other ice cream shops have opened since then, with the most notable options being Salt & Straw at Disney Springs, Gelateria Toscana in EPCOT’s Italy pavilion, and BoardWalk Ice Cream (the direct successor to Ample Hills). At present, none of these are listed as accepting the 2024 Disney Dining Plan, but we expect that to change for at least one–and possibly all three.
If any of them do accept the DDP, it’s likely that only the small cups, cones, and ice cream sandwiches will be eligible as snacks on the Disney Dining Plan. Even so, those will be an exceptional uses of a snack credit. We’ll keep you posted!
10. Zebra Domes – These bad boys can be elusive. Sometimes, you can find them on the Boma buffet at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Sometimes, you can find them for sale at Mara. More reliably, they’re available over at Kidani Village’s Johari Treasures.
If you’re eating at Boma, get them there for “free.” If you’re not eating at Boma, use a snack credit to get them at the counter service restaurants or marketplaces in Animal Kingdom Lodge. Honestly, they’re kind of a borderline recommendation based on price, but a top tier pick given their deliciousness!
9. Funnel Cakes – Objectively speaking, the funnel cake carts around Walt Disney World are one of the best uses of snack credits outside of Epcot festivals. These are all typically over $7 in price, and included on the Disney Dining Plan as snack credits. Occasionally, you’ll find a seasonal offering that’s excluded, but that’s a rarity.
Subjectively speaking, we think Walt Disney World funnel cakes can be very hit or miss in terms of quality. We aren’t willing to take this gamble when paying out of pocket, but with a snack credit, it can be worth the “risk.”
8. Animal Kingdom’s Savory Snack Stands – Animal Kingdom has been upping its snack game, adding and restoring a ton of items that are so heavy or huge that they’re essentially meal replacements.
One such item is Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Shrimp and Sweet Chili Sauce or Pulled Pork. Both are tasty, but we recommend the pulled pork. In fact, Animal Kingdom is probably the best option for savory snacks that offer a good use of Disney Dining Plan credits.
There are a variety of other pricey options that are also inventive and ambitious, so keep your eye out while you roam Animal Kingdom! Additionally, consult our Best Snacks at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Not all of those offer great bang for buck on the Disney Dining Plan, but they are all delicious!
7. EPCOT Bakeries – Epcot has two stellar bakeries (and several other good snack stops–just read our Snacking Around the World in EPCOT post for other locations) in the World Showcase. Actually, Epcot has 3 of the 5 Top Bakeries at Walt Disney World.
The top 2 are Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie and our #1 bakery, Kringla Bakeri og Kafe. There are about a dozen items in these bakeries that each exceed $6, which qualifies them as reasonably good values. Several other items are even more expensive and are thus excellent values as a result. It also doesn’t hurt that just about everything at these bakeries is delicious!
6. “Homemade” Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches – These are not the ice cream sandwiches that you can find at various ice cream carts every 10 feet in Walt Disney World (I really think there might be more of them than there are DVC kiosks!).
These, for lack of a better term, are “homemade” right in front of you with freshly baked cookies and hand scooped ice cream at only a few locations in Walt Disney World.
5. Blue or Green Milk – These are the specialty drinks in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, that come in both non-alcoholic and alcoholic varieties (only the former is available as a snack credit). Blue and Green Milk are basically Walt Disney World’s latest attempt at an iconic drink to rival Butterbeer in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Everyone who has tried these drinks seems to have a very strong opinion, with many being quite negative. I generally like both of them, but view them as more of a fun novelty to try (and probably split) while in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge than a drink I crave and want to order often. I also think they’re overpriced when paying out of pocket, and subject to a ‘Star Wars surcharge.’ That’s not an issue when using DDP snack credits, and thus we highly recommend grabbing one of each flavor to taste-test among your party.
4. Magic Kingdom Floats & Swirls – You’ve undoubtedly heard of the Dole Whip, but have you tried its more elaborate counterpart at Aloha Isle, the Tropical Serenade? Are you familiar with the Citrus Swirl or “I Lava You Float” at Sunshine Tree Terrace, or other ice cream concoctions at Magic Kingdom?!
Check out our Best Magic Kingdom Snacks & Dessert List for our subjective favorites and more. In fact, most of the items on that lengthy list are also good uses of snack credits on the Disney Dining Plan! (That also includes the worst of list–the Mickey Pretzel, Cinnamon Roll, etc.)
3. Gourmet Cupcakes – Pretty much any specialty cupcakes available at Walt Disney World is going to induce mild sticker shock, but if you’ve got snack credits to burn, those ~$7 cupcakes don’t sting quite as much.
For the most part, these cupcakes live up to the hype. While the whole cupcake trend is a bit played out, Walt Disney World still has some excellent options that we highly recommend!
2. Novelty Drinks – As we cover in our Guide to Starbucks at Walt Disney World, almost every specialty drink on the menu at the 5 in-park and 2 Disney Springs Starbucks locations count as snack credits on the Disney Dining Plan. This includes the more elaborate ones that can cost over $7 each, special themed drinks, and even secret menu items.
This means that you can order the Baby Yoda Frappuccino at Disney’s Hollywood Studios before you head into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This is technically a “secret menu” drink at the Walt Disney World Starbucks locations, but it’s so popular (and absolutely fantastic!) that the baristas are all well-antiquated with it. This and other specialty drinks at Starbucks are all spectacular uses of Disney Dining Plan snack credits.
Beyond Starbucks, there are countless options throughout Walt Disney World, but another we have in mind here is the Night Blossom – Non-Alcoholic Specialty Beverage with layers of Apple and Desert Pear Limeade topped with Passion Fruit Boba Balls at Pongu Pongu in Pandora – World of Avatar.
For a snack credit, you can get a “normal” cup, but not the Souvenir Mug with Glowing Unadelta Seed. Don’t lose too much sleep over not getting the souvenir cup, as the it is poorly made and might not even survive your trip home.
1. EPCOT Festival Kiosk Snack Portions – If you’re visiting during one of Epcot’s three big annual festivals, read no further than #1 on this list. During the these events, you should be using ALL of your snack credits at the temporary kiosks set up.
The most popular of these is EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival (late July through November), but more the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts actually provided more bang for buck, and the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival has expanded its food offerings in recent years, too. Then there’s the EPCOT International Festival of Holidays, which also has a strong food presence. These events run almost uninterrupted for most of the year, leaving only a portion of the summer without any festivals at EPCOT.
To see just how far you can stretch your credits, check out our EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Booth Menus post which includes food photos & reviews for every single snack at the event, and also discusses good uses of Disney Dining Plan credits.
Normally, if a snack exceeds around $7, it is excluded from snack credit status, making those $8+ items a great use of snack credits! Let’s just hope Disney doesn’t wise up to this wonderful use of snack credits anytime soon, and start excluding these foods from Snack Credit “status.”
If this list doesn’t activate your sweet tooth, I don’t know what will. This just scratches the surface of value-maximizing snacks (and snacks in general) at Walt Disney World. Remember that while value is important, ordering snacks you enjoy is even more important (which is why you’ll often see us with the cheap School Bread from Norway instead of expensive snacks)!
Hopefully this list helps you get more bang for your buck on the Disney Dining Plan. Check out our Value-Maximizing tips for Counter Service restaurants and Value-Maximizing Tips for Table Service Restaurants to get even more value out of the Disney Dining Plan!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What tips do you have for getting the most out of the Disney Dining Plan? Have any specific Walt Disney World snack items you recommend to maximize your value on the Disney Dining Plan? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
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Starbucks are well acquainted with the Baby Yoda Frappuccino. I wouldn’t call the baristas outdated.
Tom, Where are all of the homemade ice cream sandwiches found around the parks? Life goals?
Thank you for all your articles they were most helpful when we visited for the first tine in August 2019. Coming from Australia we needed to maximize the few days we had in the park. We are lucky to be able to come over again in November for a 60th birthday at the park. We didn’t get a meal plan last time but thought we would get it this time. I have read up on all your articles on the meal plans and wanted to ask. On the Disney World website all the items at Gaston’s Tavern are listed as snacks eg the Fruit and Cheese Picnic Platter and the Smoked Turkey and Ham and Swiss Sandwiches (all $8+). Can these be redeemed with the credits?
Is the baby Yoda included with the drink?
The Baby Yoda Frappuccino at Starbucks is soooo good! Perfect cherry on the top after visiting Galaxy’s Edge and doing Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance!
Any snacks you recommend that are not sweets? Our trip doesn’t coincide with one of the Epcot festivals, but I’m wondering if there are other more food-oriented choices you like.
Hello Tom. It has been a pleasure reading all of your articles. I have used your experience so many times on my trips. My question to you is I recently found out I’m diabetic and I am planning my next trip for this Christmas. I have the TS dining plan which includes a dessert. Can the dessert be substituted or do all restaurants have a sugar free option. Thank you for all the information.
All restaurants will have a sugar-free option, or if they do not, the chef will be able to create something for you! Disney is exceptional at catering to dietary restrictions.
Sorry this is off-topic but wasn’t sure where to ask. Can anyone tell me what Disney World quick service restaurants have hot water available to self-serve? Apparently the employees are not allowed to give out hot water anymore. We bring our own cups and instant coffee but couldn’t find hot water anywhere so far except The Land Pavilion. Would love your tips!
Alright friends, we’re heading to Disney in November and getting the Disney Dining Plan. We’re planning to use snack credits for breakfast on at least 4 days and probably lunch on 2 days. Can you give me some recommendations on the best breakfast and/or lunch items that qualify as Snacks?? I love the post, but the focus is more on “snacks” & value – I’m going more for filling food that can replace a meal…
Thanks!
Check out DFB guide on YouTube. I think they have a video on this.
Melissa’s suggestion of checking out DFB’s video is good. They update it almost monthly, if not seasonally for sure. Using the snack credits for breakfast isn’t a bad idea, as long as you’re okay with a really high sugar content breakfast. I think one of their #1 recommendations is a Mickey shaped cinnamon roll which is approx. the size of the real character’s head (LOL) and can (and probably should, as far as diabetes is concerned) be shared between a few of you. I think I remember them saying they were available at all the Starbucks locations at the various parks.
We’re going in the beginning of December and are kind of in the same boat as you are, with wanting to use our snack credits for an actual meal. In our case we plan to use them on the Festival of the Holidays booths at Epcot.
Gastons in Magic Kingdom has HUGE cinnamon rolls….literally cover the whole plate.
Chili at Columbia Harbour house counts as a snack and is very filling.
Two things…
Aristocrepes at Disney Springs
Ghirardelli’s staff are really helpful at getting you the most possible take home chocolate from your remaining snack) quick service credits
Has anyone had an item clearly marked for the DP been told by a CM that it doesn’t qualify and the sign must be wrong bc it feeds more than 2ppl? I recently purchased a container of Jungle Punch Cotton Candy from a stand just outside of The Festival of the Lion King. The price sign had the individual items listed along with the Dining plan logo if it qualifies. It had the logo, but, I the CM who rang me out said it didn’t qualify bc it feed more than 2 or 3 people. He said if the sign said it qualified, it must be wrong and would need to be changed.
I noticed on the Disney dining site that several of the higher priced snack places aren’t accepting dining plans for 2019. Examples are funnel cake stands, Hollywood scoops, the plaza, Cheshire cafe, etc. Do you have any more info about this?
Also notice that Gastons and Sleepy Hollow are not included in dining plan
First time family here going in Jan 2019, kids are 11 and 9. Character meal experiences aren’t a priority. Honestly, neither is sit-down dining. Staying 3 nights at Contemporary and 3 at Beach Club. I’m trying to figure out if the Quick-Service plan is enough food to feed us every day (can 2 snacks serve as lunch?) or if we’ll need more. $54ish a day for adults doesn’t seem worth it if I’m still going to have to buy lunch. $26 a day for the kids definitely seems more worth it. My kids can eat. Any thoughts from you pros?
Hi Bryan,
I’m sure you’ve had some replies already but I thought I’d just add my opinion. For me, the snack credits are better off being used for breakfast if you choose to take the Quick Service plan. The jumbo Mickey cinnamon roll, for example, is amazing and very filling as a breakfast and only uses one snack credit. It just depends whether you mind having counter service for both main meals (you didn’t seem to mind having it for dinner). If you do, make sure to maximise the value of what you order in any restaurant so that you get the true worth out of the plan. There are some great quick service restaurants at Disney – Be Our Guest at lunchtime is fab, if you can get in!
Hope this helps!
Yes you definitely could do this if you really don’t care about the restaurant table service dining, and there are some great quick service meals! For example, I really like the Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom and it’s a great value as a Quick Service restaurant (be sure to use the mobile app to place your order – you’ll spend a lot less time in line). Then you can definitely do breakfast for 2 snack credits each, like a hot soft pretzel and something to go along with it. However, you may want to buy a drink out of pocket, or bring a water bottle that you can refill, or your refillable drink mugs (but the key is to know exactly where you can get them refilled around the parks). Enjoy!
Over 10 qualifies as an adult so you will pay adult dining plan cost for that child. We had to do that last trip and it stunk.
Regarding vegetarian desserts, many cake products at Disney are made with lard, which is an animal product that vegetarians and vegans would not eat, unless of course they don’t ask or just suspend their diet at Disney
Thanks Sharon – our next trip will be our first as more strict vegetarians and I wouldn’t have thought about this.
The pretzels at WDW are vegan friendly, I think that’s what my daughter basically lived on when we went to DL.
I love the Pastries at the Joffrey’s kiosks, the apple fritter is fantastic and enormous (even the doughnut twist with glaze) both on the snack credit, problem is they fill you up and when on a dining plan you may only use 1 out of the 2 dining plan meals allocation that day!
Great post and provides a few ideas next time I am there
Don’t forget that meal credit can be used to get three snacks. So make sure that any meal credits left over on your last day are used up on goodies to take home. I tend to go to the bakery on Main Street when I’m leaving and get three cakes to eat on the plane and when I get home. The only caveat is that you have to get the three snacks at the same time.
Hi Tom! Love your blog! Just a note though about #10 – according to Touring Plans, Erin McKenna’s is no longer participating in the Dining Plan. (They updated their page in July 2018) I was pretty bummed to learn of this myself as I had definitely planned on a cupcake or 5…
Would love to see another Disney Spring’s snack credit recommendation on your list though. I’m finding info on Disney Springs snacks are hard to find.
I was disappointed to see that Gaston’s Tavern, any place that sells the homemade ice cream sandwiches, sunshine terrace (citrus swirl), sleepy hollow, and many other places I like to get snacks are not accepting dining plans in 2018. At least according to the Disney website. Is this new?
Just used snack credits for cinnamon roll and Le fou’s Brew today
These restaurants aren’t on the plan for meals, but they have ddp snacks. Check out the menus on touring plan which show ddp snacks available at places that are not on the dining plan.
What about the strawberry and whipped cream waffles at Sleepy Hollow? HUGE and a Great Value, No?
I agree!! Definitely a value! and the French Onion Soup at BOG is a snack credit too!!
Is anything called a snack on a Disney menu a snack? The baked macaroni and cheese with pulled pork at the Eight Spoon Cafe in Animal Kingdom seems more like a meal.
Regarding your comment that Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC is vegan, but that most good desserts don’t have meat in them, you are confusing vegan with vegetarian. In addition to meat, vegans don’t eat dairy, eggs, or honey. Since I am not a vegan, I am not sure if that is a complete list, but it is enough to show you that your statement was misguided, because, as it turns out, you didn’t know what you thought you did.
As it turns out, my comment was a joke, which was pretty clear by the context (and accompanying parenthetical).
I understood the humor of BBQ ribs ice cream, but still thought the comment might be misleading for some. Obviously, I was wrong. Please excuse my opinion.
Sorry – my response to your comment was probably a bit harsh. You definitely make a good point in case it was not clear from my post. 🙂