How to Maximize the Disney Dining Plan

To get the absolute most value out of your Disney Dining Plan, a little strategic planning goes a long way. The golden rule is to avoid using your precious meal credits on inexpensive items. Breakfast is generally the least expensive meal of the day, so it is usually better to pay out-of-pocket for a quick morning bite and save your credits for lunch and dinner.

Here are some of the best ways to maximize your credits during your holiday:

• Target high-value entrees: When dining at Table-Service restaurants, look for the most expensive dishes on the menu, such as steak or seafood, to get the highest cash value from your credit.
• Be smart with snack credits: Do not waste snack credits on bottled water or a simple piece of fruit. Instead, use them at the Epcot festival booths, or for premium treats like giant warm cinnamon rolls and specialty sundaes.
• Book character dining: Character meals are fantastic experiences that are notoriously expensive when paying cash, making them an incredibly high-value use of a single Table-Service credit.
• Watch out for two-credit meals: Signature fine dining and certain dinner shows require two Table-Service credits per person. These rarely offer good value mathematically, so it is often better to pay cash for these and use your credits for separate one-credit meals.

Always track your remaining credits on the My Disney Experience app so you do not leave any unused value behind at the end of your magical stay!