This checklist ranks one of the best desk service eating places at Walt Disney World for maximizing the worth of your credit on the 2024-2025 Disney Eating Plans. Even in the event you’re visiting throughout Free Eating, you need to get as a lot bang in your buck as potential and this covers the highest makes use of of probably the most useful credit. (Up to date August 24, 2024.)
In a nutshell, the Walt Disney World desk service eating places that supply one of the best ‘worth maximization’ of Disney Eating Plan credit are those serving the most costly meals. The pricier the menus, the larger financial savings on the DDP. That additionally signifies that this checklist is a horrible useful resource in the event you’re paying out of pocket. It’s mainly the precise reverse of our common checklist of the High 10 Greatest Worth Desk Service Eating places at Walt Disney World.
Primarily, this checklist is an goal useful resource rating one of the best 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 expect its meals stinks. When really 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 very best entree, dessert, and beverage and including them collectively (tax and tip are usually not included). We did this versus taking the median or imply since, in the event you’re actually involved with saving as a lot cash as potential, you’re going to be ordering dearer menu gadgets.
Alcoholic drinks are included on the 2024 and 2025 Disney Eating Plans, which was a change made a number of years in the past. This has had a minor impression 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 in the event you’re chasing one of the best worth, these few eating places must be averted.
As a basic precept, there are a number of pointers about what it’s best to and mustn’t eat to maximise your desk service credit on the Disney Eating Plan. Three straightforward 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 must also keep away from Signature Eating places in order for you one of the best 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 2024-2025 Disney Eating Plan and are not an excellent–and even good–worth consequently.
Regardless of their increased menu costs, two-credit “Signature” Eating are usually not nearly as good of a price as a consequence 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 overall price of meal at a Signature Restaurant is $100 per individual, it’s nonetheless not a greater worth than a 1-credit restaurant with a complete price of $60 per individual. (It’s simple arithmetic: $60 x 2 = $120 > $100.)
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 must be that Toledo doesn’t rank increased.
For these unfamiliar with it, Toledo is the rooftop restaurant at Gran Destino Tower. Not solely is it an excellent use of Disney Eating Plan credit by way of bang for buck, it’s an excellent restaurant, interval. Toledo is likely one of the few locations at Walt Disney World that acquired Michelin Information recognition, which not even Victoria & Albert’s, Monsieur Paul, or Takumi-Tei have been capable of accomplish. We love this restaurant, and extremely advocate certainly one of Toledo’s a number of spectacular steaks.
9. By way of Napoli – It is a difficult one. By way of Napoli has constructed a sterling popularity on its superb pizza pies, however in the event you order certainly one of these, the worth is below-average on the Disney Eating Plan. As an alternative, it’s a must to look to the normal Italian menu decisions, and select one of many $40+ choices.
Then, it is advisable to pair that with a pleasant glass of wine and one of many dearer desserts. Then–and solely then–is By way of Napoli an excellent worth on the Eating Plan. The excellent news, although, is that By way of Napoli is a nice restaurant selection it doesn’t matter what you order!
8. Cooks De France – Cooks de France has a number of costly entrees, however the most costly is the Filet de boeuf grille, sauce au poivre vert Gratin Dauphinois et haricots verts. The marginally cheaper Duck can also be an excellent entree selection for maximizing worth (and it tastes nice).
We expect Cooks de France is sweet, however doesn’t fairly dwell as much as the hype. It’s a extremely popular restaurant amongst Walt Disney World friends, which generally is a double-edged sword. The restaurant tries to show tables over as shortly as potential to seat everybody, making effectivity the secret right here, which might result in inconsistent meals and streamlined meals prep. Cooks de France remains to be value giving a strive, simply don’t go in anticipating tremendous French eating.
7. Tutto Italia – One other World Showcase choice within the Italy pavilion, Tutto Italia might or might not make the checklist for the Disney Eating Plan relying upon while you dine right here. The menu right here modifications rather a lot, and we strongly suspect that has been dictated by the DDP up to now (particularly Free Eating). It looks as if when that’s being provided, a number of of the $40+ gadgets are usually not on the menu.
If the Manzo Brasato, Bistecca, or swordfish are on the menu, this can be a very excessive rating restaurant because of these and glorious Italian decadent desserts and overpriced alcohol. If these gadgets are usually 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 few years, however regardless of that, it has inched its means 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 choose Backyard Grill to Chef Mickey’s, each of which rank increased right here.
5. ‘Ohana (Dinner) – We expect ‘Ohana is one of the vital overrated eating places at Walt Disney World. We additionally suppose it’s a must-do for first-timers. Which may appear troublesome to reconcile, however ‘Ohana is a Walt Disney World establishment for good motive. That motive isn’t the meals. It’s additionally not the costs. (Though the meals does style rather a lot higher in the event you’re in a roundabout way paying for it out of pocket!)
Relatively, as a result of dinner at ‘Ohana is the inspiration 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 ambiance, with the fireworks, views of Cinderella Fortress, and Electrical Water Pageant. Then there’s the communal power and vibe that sure, actually, ‘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.
T4. Chef Mickey’s (Dinner) – Certainly one 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 terrible, however hey, a minimum of you’ll be able to “take pleasure in” plenty of it? 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 children are choosy eaters, they could identical to the meals. Truthfully, although it’s not nearly as good of a use of DDP credit (objectively talking), we’re extra inclined to advocate breakfast at Chef Mickey’s as a result of it’s subjectively superior.
T4. 1900 Park Fare (Dinner) – The Grand Floridian Resort is Walt Disney World’s flagship resort, and it lastly has a befitting character eating expertise with the reimagined 1900 Park Fare. That’s a controversial assertion amongst Disney followers, a lot of whom are nostalgic for the earlier solid of characters. Whereas we agree with them on that, the whole lot else–meals, ambiance, and total expertise–is best on the Want Makers Enchanted Dinner at 1900 Park Fare.
Objectively talking, dinner prices greater than breakfast, therefore solely dinner making the reduce right here. Dinner can also be subjectively superior–and considerably so. Our evaluation of breakfast concluded with such a tepid endorsement. The delicacies caliber is the distinction maker–the whole lot else is identical between the 2 meals.
Carried by delicacies high quality, the Want Makers Enchanted Dinner at 1900 Park Fare reaches the identical excessive bar as character eating experiences at Topolino’s Terrace and Artist Level, managing to realize each prime quality and excessive amount (of meals). So far as the meals goes, dinner at 1900 Park Fare is the #1 character buffet at Walt Disney World. Even when paying out of pocket (as we’ve got when eating right here), we’re reasonably spend the additional cash for the higher dinner. That’s doubly true in the event you’re on the Disney Eating Plan, as each meals are 1-credit, making dinner the plain and straightforward choose–and one that provides distinctive worth for cash.
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. Mainly, 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 primary 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 flawed 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 an excellent use of Disney Eating Plan credit. (It’s additionally a surprisingly scrumptious steak!)
2. Minnie’s Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine (Fantasmic Dinner Bundle) – That is one I’m hesitant to incorporate as a result of the Fantasmic eating package deal isn’t one thing some individuals need (with out the package deal, this wouldn’t be on the highest half of the checklist), but it surely does present worth–and we extremely advocate the reimagined Fantasmic.
Not solely that, however Minnie’s Seasonal Dine is a good use of a Disney Eating Plan credit score, regardless, it’s simply the Fantasmic package deal that places it excessive (with out that add-on, it nonetheless makes the checklist–however not this excessive). That’s a distinction with the EPCOT live performance or Candlelight Processional eating package deal, all of which require 2-credits and thus are poor values consequently.
It looks as if solely a matter of time earlier than this modifications and Fantasmic eating packages additionally require two credit. In August 2024, costs elevated pretty considerably on these, to the purpose that there’s not a ton of daylight between pricing on among the Fantasmic packages and Candlelight Processional packages at EPCOT. However for now, these sill provide nice bang-for-buck.
Then there’s the large one: Minnie’s Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine is definitely fairly underrated. Regardless of being a “primary” buffet with underwhelming theming, the meals is kind of good and the character interactions are top-tier. We’re enormous followers of the seasonal buffets right here, notably Minnie’s Vacation Dine and Minnie’s Halloween Dine. You can also’t go flawed 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 situated 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, and it claims the #1 spot as a consequence of large menu value will increase, and a wide range of steak and seafood entrees which might be expensive. One other change that has helped push Teppan Edo excessive is the addition of the expensive Yuzu Mousse Cake; beforehand, the dessert menu solely had cheap choices.
After all, entrees are the star of the present at Teppan Edo. The assorted steaks, combos, and the Hotate have all been menu staples for a minimum of the final decade. Accordingly, we doubt these will likely be eliminated, however the portion sizes may lower or sure gadgets could possibly be excluded from the 2025 Disney Eating Plan. Regardless, Teppan Edo is a powerful choose that lands a spot within the prime 10 even with out the Hotate!
So there you could have it–the highest Desk Service eating places on the Disney Eating Plan in the event you’re seeking to maximize the worth of your credit. As you’ll be able to see from the numerous caveats on this checklist, we aren’t huge followers of some spots on this checklist. Goal price and subjective worth positively aren’t the identical. We occur to care extra concerning the latter, but when the previous is extra essential, that’s your name!
Lastly, it’s value 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; in the event you received’t order these, an excellent 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 primary beers or normal alcoholic drinks. After that, the value of desserts is the largest issue right here (starting from excessive costs of $7 all the best way 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.
Keep in mind to all the time contemplate whether or not a specific restaurant or dish appeals to you earlier than making your Advance Eating Reservations. Whereas worth maximization might be enjoyable, it shouldn’t be the ‘end-all, be-all’ of your Disney trip planning. Consuming belongings you like is much extra essential!
Hopefully this checklist helps you get extra bang in your buck on the Disney Eating Plan. Take a look at our Greatest Counter Service Credit score Makes use of on the Disney Eating Plan and Most Value-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 Ideas. If you’re planning a Walt Disney World journey, ensure to additionally learn our complete Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information to benefit from your expertise!
Your Ideas
What suggestions do you could 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 profiting from the Free Eating promotion? When 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!