This checklist ranks the perfect desk service eating places at Walt Disney World for maximizing the worth of your credit on the 2024 Disney Eating Plan. Even should you’re visiting throughout Free Eating, you need to get as a lot bang on your buck as doable and this covers the highest makes use of of probably the most priceless credit. (Up to date June 4, 2023.)
In a nutshell, the Walt Disney World desk service eating places that provide the perfect ‘worth maximization’ of Disney Eating Plan credit are those serving the costliest meals. The pricier the menus, the better financial savings on the DDP. That additionally implies that this checklist is a horrible useful resource should you’re paying out of pocket. It’s principally the precise reverse of our common checklist of the Prime 10 Greatest Worth Desk Service Eating places at Walt Disney World.
Primarily, this checklist is an goal useful resource rating the perfect 1-credit desk service eating places at Walt Disney World. If a restaurant ranked higher because of its pricier choices, it’s on the checklist, no matter whether or not we predict its meals stinks. When truly planning the place YOU need to dine in your journey, it’s crucial to think about high quality of meals, not simply costs, when figuring out the place you need to eat. We thus advocate weighing these “worth maximization” lists we’ve got together with our subjective Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations when making your Advance Eating Reservations.
The entries on this checklist are calculated by taking the best entree, dessert, and beverage and including them collectively (tax and tip usually are not included). We did this versus taking the median or imply since, should you’re really involved with saving as a lot cash as doable, you’re going to be ordering costlier menu gadgets.
Alcoholic drinks are included on the 2024 Disney Eating Plan, which was a change made a number of years in the past. This has had a minor influence on the rankings, albeit to a lesser diploma than our Greatest Counter Service Values on the Disney Eating Plan. One factor to remember is that there are a handful of Magic Kingdom eating places that don’t serve alcohol, so should you’re chasing the perfect worth, these few eating places ought to be averted.
As a normal precept, there are just a few tips about what you need to and mustn’t eat to maximise your desk service credit on the Disney Eating Plan. Three simple guidelines of thumb are that character eating, steaks, and seafood will work out in your favor. On the different finish of the spectrum, vegetarian or plant-based dishes are a poor use of credit.
You also needs to keep away from Signature Eating places if you need the perfect worth. This implies you’ll need to skip Citricos, Narcoossee’s, Tiffins, Brown Derby, Be Our Visitor Restaurant, and each different 2-credit Signature Restaurant. This contains Cinderella’s Royal Desk, the flagship princess meal at Magic Kingdom.
Sadly, it additionally means skipping Akershus Royal Banquet Corridor at EPCOT and Story Ebook Eating at Artist Level with Snow White. Beforehand, each of those eating places have been in our prime 5 on this checklist–and you continue to may discover them on different, outdated sources. Sadly, these have been elevated to 2-credit standing for the 2024 Disney Eating Plan and are not a terrific–and even good–worth because of this.
Regardless of their greater menu costs, two-credit “Signature” Eating usually are not nearly as good of a worth on account of its price of two credit, so you’ll not discover any two-credit eating places on this checklist. Let me reiterate this, as some readers have requested about them: the entire price of meal at a Signature Restaurant is $100 per particular person, it’s nonetheless not a greater worth than a 1-credit restaurant with a complete price of $60 per particular person. (It’s simple arithmetic: $60 x 2 = $120 > $100.)
Lastly, we need to stress that these rankings are very tenuous for 2024. In response to reader requests for suggestions, this checklist has been up to date for the primary time in over 3 years and is correct as of June 2023. After all, there’s nonetheless roughly half a 12 months earlier than the 2024 Disney Eating Plan is offered and can be utilized, and rather a lot can change between every now and then.
Particularly, we need to draw your consideration to the World Showcase eating places on this checklist (all of them), in addition to Disney Springs eating places. Just a few of those make the lower on account of 1-2 costly menu gadgets. If previous precedent is any indication, it’s doable–if not possible–that a few of these can be eliminated or excluded from the 2024 Disney Eating Plan. If that occurs, these rankings might change.
Alternatively, the entire character meals, buffets, and prix fixe eating places that make the checklist now nearly assuredly will make the ultimate lower for greatest use of desk service credit on the 2024 Disney Eating Plan. For a way the remainder of the checklist adjustments, test again on January 9, 2024 for our subsequent replace!
N/A. 1900 Park Fare (Briefly Unavailable) – The restaurant with character(s) at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and just like the lodge itself, that is arguably the flagship character eating expertise in all of Walt Disney World. Whereas earlier meals are extra eclectic within the characters featured, dinner is a Cinderella-bration. The meal is named the “Cinderella’s Fortunately Ever After Dinner,” and each characters that seems is from that animated basic.
Due to seasonal pricing, 1900 Park Fare is (probably) top-of-the-line values on the Disney Eating Plan. Past that, it’s additionally among the many greatest character meals at Walt Disney World by way of delicacies. There’s one thing for everybody, from crowd-pleasing fare for youths to dishes with a world aptitude for adults. In case your youngsters are into Cinderella however you need barely extra impressed delicacies, it is a nice possibility.
As famous above, 1900 Park Fare is briefly unavailable because it has nonetheless not reopened following the closure. Nonetheless, the primary constructing and foyer of Grand Floridian are slated to be reimagined in Summer season and Fall 2023, and our expectation is that 1900 Park Fare will reopen by Christmas 2023. If that’s the case, it’ll take part within the 2024 Disney Eating Plan, and nearly actually make the highest 10. If not, we’ll take away it from the checklist.
10. Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood – Is there any shock {that a} restaurant with each steak and seafood–the 2 most costly forms of entrees on any Walt Disney World restaurant menus–makes this checklist? If something, the large shock ought to be that Toledo doesn’t rank greater.
For these unfamiliar with it, Toledo is the rooftop restaurant that opened final 12 months on the new Gran Destino Tower. Not solely is it a terrific use of Disney Eating Plan credit by way of bang for buck, it’s a terrific restaurant, interval. We love this restaurant, and extremely advocate certainly one of Toledo’s a number of spectacular steaks.
9. Through Napoli – It is a difficult one. Through Napoli has constructed a sterling popularity on its wonderful pizza pies, however should you order certainly one of these, the worth is below-average on the Disney Eating Plan. As an alternative, you need to look to the normal Italian menu decisions, and select one of many $40+ choices.
Then, it’s worthwhile to pair that with a pleasant glass of wine and one of many costlier desserts. Then–and solely then–is Through Napoli a terrific worth on the Eating Plan. The excellent news, although, is that Through Napoli is a nice restaurant alternative it doesn’t matter what you order!
8. Cooks De France – Cooks de France has a number of costly entrees, however the costliest is the Filet de boeuf grille, sauce au poivre vert Gratin Dauphinois et haricots verts. The marginally cheaper Duck can also be a terrific entree alternative for maximizing worth (and it tastes nice).
We expect Cooks de France is okay, however it’s a well-liked restaurant amongst different Disney followers. Though not presently listed as being an eligible restaurant on the 2024 Disney Eating Plan, Cooks de France normally a last-minute addition to the checklist. We count on the identical to be true as soon as once more. (If not, there aren’t any scarcity of different World Showcase eating places on this checklist!)
7. Tutto Italia – One other World Showcase possibility within the Italy pavilion, Tutto Italia might or might not make the checklist for the 2024 Disney Eating Plan. The menu right here adjustments rather a lot, and we strongly suspect that has been dictated by the DDP up to now (particularly Free Eating). It looks like when that’s being supplied, just a few of the $40+ gadgets usually are not on the menu.
If the Manzo Brasato, Bistecca, or swordfish are on the menu, it is a very excessive rating restaurant because of these and glorious Italian decadent desserts and overpriced alcohol. If these gadgets usually are not on the menu, Tutto Italia may fall proper off the checklist, relying upon what’s on the menu.
6. Backyard Grill (Lunch or Dinner) – Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Harvest Feast hasn’t modified a lot in the previous couple of years, however regardless of that, it has inched its method up this checklist thanks to cost will increase.
The meals right here doesn’t fairly compete with newer character meals at Walt Disney World, however the all-you-can-eat fare is each approachable and crowd-pleasing, and we favor Backyard Grill to Chef Mickey’s, each of which rank greater right here.
5. ‘Ohana (Dinner) – We expect ‘Ohana is one of the overrated eating places at Walt Disney World. We additionally suppose it’s a must-do for first-timers. That may appear troublesome to reconcile, however ‘Ohana is a Walt Disney World establishment for good purpose. That purpose shouldn’t be the meals. It’s additionally not the costs. (Though the meals does style rather a lot higher should you’re circuitously paying for it out of pocket!)
Somewhat, as a result of dinner at ‘Ohana is the muse for a “core reminiscence,” to borrow a line from Inside Out. Longtime followers preserve coming again to ‘Ohana as a result of it’s an emotional expertise evoking all kinds of nostalgia and fond recollections. There’s additionally one thing to be stated for the precise environment, with the fireworks, views of Cinderella Fortress, and Electrical Water Pageant. Then there’s the communal power and vibe that sure, in truth, ‘Ohana does imply household, within the immortal knowledge of Lilo & Sew. For all of those causes, we advocate ‘Ohana to these on the Disney Eating Plan.
4. Chef Mickey’s (Dinner) – One in every of our absolute least favourite meals at Walt Disney World, Chef Mickey’s makes the checklist as a result of it’s an goal one, not as a result of we need to see it right here. The meals is undeniably terrible–if it might probably even be referred to as meals. Past that, the ambiance is loud and the decor is dated.
Nonetheless, fantastic character interactions right here will probably redeem Chef Mickey’s within the eyes of many households, and in case your youngsters are choosy eaters, they may similar to the meals. Chef Mickey’s makes use of seasonal pricing, and through busier occasions of 12 months, it’s one of many best possible makes use of of a Disney Eating Plan credit score should you’re going for worth.
3. San Angel Inn Restaurante – That is certainly one of two desk service eating places on the Mexico pavilion in World Showcase at EPCOT. San Angel Inn Restaurante is the one inside the pavilion, overlooking the Gran Fiesta Tour boat trip. Principally, it’s the Walt Disney World equal of the enduring Blue Bayou Restaurant Blue Bayou (for these unfamiliar, Blue Bayou overlooks Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean).
Regardless of this, San Angel Inn has a poor popularity amongst many Walt Disney World followers, criticized for its bland and fundamental delicacies. We expect that’s excessively harsh–however need to admit that the ambiance has all the time been distinctive and the meals has been far lower than distinctive. In any case, you actually can’t go incorrect with the Carne Asada at San Angel, which is a Mexican twist on the New York Strip. As long as you order that–and solely that–it’s a terrific use of Disney Eating Plan credit. (It’s additionally a surprisingly scrumptious steak!)
2. Minnie’s Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine (Fantasmic Dinner Package deal) – That is one I’m hesitant to incorporate as a result of the Fantasmic eating bundle isn’t one thing some individuals need (with out the bundle, this wouldn’t be on the highest half of the checklist), nevertheless it does present worth–and we extremely advocate the reimagined Fantasmic.
Along with that, we additionally suppose that Minnie’s Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine is definitely fairly underrated. Regardless of being a “fundamental” buffet with underwhelming theming, the meals is kind of good and the character interactions are top-tier. We’re big followers of the seasonal buffets right here, significantly Minnie’s Vacation Dine and Minnie’s Halloween Dine. You can also’t go incorrect with Minnie’s Springtime Dine.
1. Teppan Edo – That is the teppanyaki-style steakhouse within the Japan pavilion of World Showcase at EPCOT. Teppan Edo is positioned on the second flooring of the the Mitsukoshi Division Retailer adjoining to Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya (previously Tokyo Eating).
Teppan Edo has been top-of-the-line goal values on the Disney Eating Plan for years, nevertheless it seems poised to assert the #1 spot on account of huge menu value will increase, specifically on the Hotate (ocean water scallops) and, to a lesser extent, the varied steaks. The Hotate has been a menu staple for not less than the final decade, so we doubt it’ll be eliminated, however the portion measurement might lower or it may very well be excluded from the 2024 Disney Eating Plan. Regardless, Teppan Edo is a robust decide that lands a spot within the prime 10 even with out the Hotate!
So there you might have it–the highest Desk Service eating places on the Disney Eating Plan should you’re seeking to maximize the worth of your credit. As you possibly can see from the numerous caveats on this checklist, we aren’t huge followers of some spots on this checklist. Goal price and subjective worth undoubtedly aren’t the identical. We occur to care extra concerning the latter, but when the previous is extra vital, that’s your name!
Lastly, it’s price noting that the distinction between a “nice” worth restaurant and an “solely okay” one can come right down to (actually) a few menu gadgets. All it takes is one high-priced steak or seafood dish; should you gained’t order these, a terrific restaurant can fall to the great or center tier.
Furthermore, eating places which have costly cocktails or glasses of wine additionally carry out higher than spots with fundamental beers or normal alcoholic drinks. After that, the worth of desserts is the most important issue right here (starting from excessive costs of $7 all the way in which to $14) and whether or not or not the restaurant serves smoothies, shakes, or another form of specialty non-alcoholic drink that’s included on the Eating Plan.
Bear in mind to all the time contemplate whether or not a selected restaurant or dish appeals to you earlier than making your Advance Eating Reservations. Whereas worth maximization will be enjoyable, it shouldn’t be the ‘end-all, be-all’ of your Disney trip planning. Consuming belongings you like is much extra vital!
Hopefully this checklist helps you get extra bang on your buck on the Disney Eating Plan. Try our Greatest Counter Service Credit score Makes use of on the Disney Eating Plan and Most Price-Efficient Disney Snacks weblog posts to get much more worth out of the Disney Eating Plan! Planning a Disney journey? Learn our different Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations and our 101 Scrumptious Walt Disney World Eating Suggestions. If you’re planning a Walt Disney World journey, ensure to additionally learn our complete Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information to take advantage of your expertise!
Your Ideas
What suggestions do you might have for getting probably the most out of the Disney Eating Plan? Any favourite eating places or menu suggestions for taking advantage of the Disney Eating Plan? Do you make a degree of maximizing your worth even when benefiting from the Free Eating promotion? If in case you have any tricks to maximize your worth at different Desk Service eating places or any questions concerning the Disney Eating Plan, please share them within the feedback!