Best Use Of Quick Service Dining Credits 2024
By Tyler Braun
The Disney Dining Plans are back! But are they worth the money, or are you better off paying for meals as you go? Let’s take a look!
The Polite Pig in Disney Springs is a great quick service option!
What is the Quick-Service Dining Plan?
In short, the dining plans are prepaid meal plans. Without getting too much into the weeds too much in this post, there are essentially two options: Disney’s Quick-Service Dining Plan and The Disney Dining Plan. We’ll circle around into the Disney Dining Plan in another Post.
Walt Disney World has two basic types of restaurants; "Quick-Service" (walk-up or counter-service restaurants) and "Table-Service" (sit-down restaurants, where you’ll have a server, etc. This also includes Character Dining). The Dining Plans offer credits for those restaurants.
In a nutshell, Disney’s Quick-Service Dining Plan includes (2) Quick-Service meals per person/per night, (1) snack per person/per night, and (1) Refillable Mug per person that can be used throughout the duration of your stay at your Disney Resort hotel.
The Quick-Service meals generally come with an entree, one side, and a drink. The snack credits can be used on lots of different things, from a bottle of water, to fresh fruit, to a Mickey Ice Cream Bar or pretzel! Adults 21 and over can order an alcoholic beverage with their meal when available and that’s included as well! That fact does make the dining plans a bit of a better value, if you choose to order alcoholic beverages with your meals (more on this below).
By selecting any of the Disney Dining Plans you can actually save 10% - 20% on your dining costs, especially if you eat some of the more expensive options on the menu. I personally love the ability to go to the restaurant of my choice and know I can order nearly anything I want off the menu and it's all included! And by having everything paid for before you leave home, it makes your trip feel more “all-inclusive”, so the only thing you have to pull your wallet out for once you’re in Walt Disney World is for souvenirs! It also makes it easier to budget for your vacation because you’ll know before you even arrive how much you’ll be spending on food.
Should I get the Quick-Service Dining Plan?
As for whether or not you should go for the dining plan, it's not necessarily an easy answer. It varies from family to family depending on how you eat, and the answer will be different for everyone. Disney Dining Plans can indeed save you 10%-20% on your meal costs, but I always say that the Disney Dining Plans CAN save you money, but they may not be the least expensive option.
A fun Disney secret! During peak times at La Cantina San Angel the patio will fill up quickly so sometimes cast members open portion of the dining room inside La Hacienda San Angel for additional seating!
That may seem like a contradiction in terms, but allow me to explain. If you're a “foodie” and you plan on eating more expensive items off the menus in Walt Disney World, the meal plan is probably worth it. If you don't plan on having the more expensive items on the menu at each sitting, then you'll probably save money by skipping the dining plan.
Disney’s Quick-Service Dining Plan costs $57 per adult, per night, and $24 per child, per night. Although we can’t have an exact number (the cost of the refillable mug makes this difficult since it’s for the length of stay, so an 8-night stay and a 3-night stay makes the cost of the mug quite different per day), if you break it down, for adults, Quick-Service meal credits are worth roughly $23, and the snack credits are worth about $6. The actual Quick-Service Meals (which include a drink) can cost between $14 - $35 depending on which restaurant you’re visiting and what meal you chose. Snacks can range from around $2 to $10.
So in the end, the dining plans can save you money, or they can cost you more, but you just have to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Remember that the $14 wrap and the $28 rotisserie chicken meal are both 1 Quick-Service Credit.
A family of 4 going for a week can easily save over $100 on the dining plan, but you’ll have to get more expensive items, and generally order wine or beer with your meals for the adults. That quickly makes the cost go up and so you’ll end up saving a decent amount of money. A soda may cost $4.50, but beer, wine, or a cocktail may cost $9 - $17.
Best Use of a Quick-Service Dining Credit
Ok, now to why we’re all really here! Let’s assume you’ve decided that Disney’s Quick-Service Dining Plan is right for you and you’re now looking to get the best bang for your buck. What are the best uses of a credit on the Disney’s Quick-Service Dining Plan? Below are my top five options in all of Walt Disney World! Now, it should go without saying, but don’t order something you don’t want just to make your meal, “worth the credit”. Order food you like, but if you do indeed enjoy these options, they’re a great use of a credit!
Pepe by José Andrés in Disney Springs
Celebrity Chef José Andrés has a great walk-up restaurant in Disney Springs serving flautas, sandwiches, burgers, and more!
Meal: Super Flauta - Jamón ($18.00) Super Flauta - Fresh Cured Chorizo Sausage, Manchego Cheese, and Grated Tomato ($17.00)
Drink: Granizado de Sangria ($12.00), Cigar City Jai Alai ($9.00)
Total Cost: $26 - $30
Savings from $23 Quick-Service Credit: $3-$7
Docking Bay 7 has some of the best Quick Service food and best theming!
Docking Bay 7 in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
This deal is out of this world! (Sorry, couldn’t help myself). Gone are the days of “theme park food” being a choice between a floppy hamburger or soggy slice of pizza. Here you can get a smoky braised beef stir fry or even tune poke! And, they’re both great use of a credit!
Meal: Batuuan Beef & Crispy Topato Stir-Fry ($18.99) or Peke Tune Poke ($18.49)
Drink: Takodana Quencher ($17.00), Gold Squadron Lager ($14.50) or Moof Juice (non alcoholic- $5.99)
Total Cost: $27 - $36
Savings from $23 Quick-Service Credit: $2-$13
La Cantina de San Angel in Epcot
This fan favorite in Epcot is always a hit with great items from tacos to Arroz con Pollo bowls! Add in that there is a fantastic view of World Showcase Lagoon and this is a “must-do” each time we’re in Epcot!
Meal: Tacos de Barbacoa ($16) or Arroz con Pollo Bowl ($14.75)
Drink: Top Shelf" Clásica on the Rocks ($18.00), Tulum Craft Lager ($13.00)
Total Cost: $25 - $34
Savings from $23 Quick-Service Credit: $2-$11
There are few restaurants that have opened in Walt Disney World in the last few years that I like as much as I like Polite Pig! Everything I’ve had here is top notch. It was a great addition to Disney Springs, and a fantastic use of a Quick-Service credit.
Meal: Half Chicken ($19) Cedar Plank Salmon ($26.00), USDA Prime Brisket ($22.00) or Polite Pork Shoulder ($18.00)
Drink: Ravenous Pig Five Points IPA($9.00), Polite Pig Red ($13.00) or any Small Batch Cocktail ($12.00)
Total Cost: $27 - $39
Savings from $23 Quick-Service Credit: $4-$16
Flame Tree Barbecue never fails me! It’s always delicious!
Flame Tree BBQ in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
This is my favorite Quick-Service restaurant in all of Walt Disney World, and it also just so happens to be a great use of a Quick-Service dining credit! The ribs, chicken and pulled pork sampler platter is delicious! Add in a beer or specialty drink, and this is a great use of a Quick-Service credit!
Meal: Ribs, Chicken & Pulled Pork Sampler ($18.99)
Drink: Safari Amber Beer ($11.25), Bubbling Pink Lagoon with Vodka ($14.00), or Bubbling Pink Lagoon with Glow Cube (non alcoholic- $8.99)
Total Cost: $28 - $33
Savings from $23 Quick-Service Credit: $5-$10
What’s the verdict?
So should you go with Disney’s Quick-Service Dining Plan or not? That is up to you and your family! For me, on top of potentially saving money on the dining plan, the biggest benefit is to have everything paid for in advance. Having a Disney feel more “all-inclusive” is a huge selling point for me on the Quick-Service Dining Plan!
If you have more questions or would like to talk more in detail with an expert Walt Disney World planner, contact the incredible agents at People Mover Travel!
They are true experts in all things Walt Disney World, and best of all, it’s a completely free service! You will have a professional Walt Disney World vacation planner working with you to make sure you have the best possible vacation! They can help you decide if a Disney Dining Plan is a good option for you, and even help book your dining reservations.
FAQ’s
Q: How do I know how many credits I have left?
A: You can monitor how many credits your family has left on the dining plan using the My Disney Experience app.
Q: Can I use Mobile Order with the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan?
A: Yes, you can use Mobile Order on the My Disney Experience App even with Disney’s Quick-Service Dining Plan.
Q: What is the resort refillable mug?
A: The resort refillable mug ($22 each if you were to buy them outright), gives you unlimited soft drinks, coffee, and tea at any of the Walt Disney World resorts. They are only refillable in the resorts, however, not in the parks, so that’s something to factor in. But, given the fact that a cup of coffee is about $4, and a fountain soda is $4.50, if you’re someone who drinks 2-3 cups of coffee in the morning, or a few sodas throughout the day, you’ll make it worth your while in just a couple days.
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