We all know how important snacks have become in Disney World and Disneyland.
With some serious innovation on Disney’s part, snacks are no longer just a between meal throwaway, but something that inspires full-blown planning sessions! The day of snacks has dawned in Disney parks!
A lot of this is due to folks wanting to get the best value for their snack credits on the Disney Dining Plan in Walt Disney World. But the newly available variety of snacks also means that it’s much easier to piece together a less expensive mini-meal than it ever has been before.
Note that in mid-2015, Disney updated the definition for a “snack” on the Disney Dining Plan. It now includes many more items, like cups of soup, plain caramel apples, two scoops or less of hand-scooped ice cream (yep, sundaes too!), any menu item listed as a side, and any single-serving, non-alcoholic beverages.
We’ve put together a lot of info about Disney snacks over the past few years, and with so many trips coming up for our readers it’s time to share them all in one place.
Hope this is helpful, and don’t forget to share your best Disney snack tips with us in the comments. I’d appreciate hearing and sharing what you’ve learned!
A classic Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar!
Best Disney Dining Plan Snack Values
When using the Disney Dining Plan, it’s important to make the most of your snack credits.
Don’t waste a credit on an inexpensive and/or less-than-stellar treat; indulge in a snack that will be memorable!
Here are our favorite ways to use a snack credit. One of our favorite tips: if you’re lucky enough to be visiting Epcot during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, use those snack credits for trying international, tapas-sized dishes.
Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival
Best Chocolate-Covered Disney Snacks
If you enjoy a snack even more once it’s dunked in chocolatey goodness, we suggest trying any of our Top 5 Chocolate Covered Snacks.
From a caramel delight at Karamell-Küche, to the iconic Mickey Ice Cream Bar, chocaholics can make the most of their snack credits (or vacation dollars) with these decadent treats.
Chocolate-Covered Sea Salt Caramel at Karamell Kuche in Epcot
Top 5 Disney Take-Home Snacks
Let’s face it. Disney departure day is a complete bummer. And I find it eases the discomfort of heading back to reality if there are some yummy treats traveling with me.
Sadly, there are some snacks that just won’t travel well (Dole Whip, I’m talking to you!); but there are some goodies that you can take home, no problem! The heavenly caramel corn from Karamell Küche will get you through a long drive or boring flight, and even ease your first day back to work.
Karamell-Küche Caramel Corn
Take this list of our Top 5 Take-Home Disney Snacks with you and stock up before leaving your resort. And don’t forget to check out our tips for taking snacks home from Disney World!
Best Disney Bedtime Snacks
With the help of all of you, we compiled a list of snacks that many of us are munching on before bedtime at Disney. Popcorn, ice cream bars, and rice krispie treats are all high on the Best Disney Bedtime Snacks list.
Mickey Rice Krispie Treats
Favorite Ice Cold Disney Snacks
When it’s time for a treat with a chill, DFB readers were most impressed with the Dole Whip. For another icy snack, Kaki Gori in Epcot’s Japan pavilion was also recommended.
Disney World Aloha Isle Dole Whip Float
So if you’re visiting during the hot summer months and you need a cold snack on a humid Florida day, go directly to our Favorite Ice Cold Disney Snacks so you can plan ahead.
Goofy’s Candy Company “Create Your Own” Snacks
There’s an extra thrill in eating a snack that was especially created just for YOU! Pick the snack, the dip, the topping, and the drizzle at Goofy’s Candy Company in Downtown Disney. Who knows what you’ll come up with?
The Create Your Own Snack option truly puts you in control of your sweet treat, and these are perfect for sharing.
Rice Krispie Treat dipped in white chocolate covered in crushed Oreos drizzled with milk chocolate at Goofy’s Candy Company
“The Best Snacks I Ever Ate in Disney”
When it’s time to make your snack choice, it often helps to know what your fellow guests find to be must-eats. So let’s sum up this Snack review with some true favorites!
We polled our readers and added in our own favorites too (of course, we have a Mickey pretzel with plastic cheese on the list). Your snack craving will likely be satisfied with any of these treats from our “The Best Thing I Ever Ate in Disney,” snacks edition!
Mickey Pretzel with Cheese
Pin it for later!
In-Depth Disney Snack Resources
Here at the DFB we’ve created two great resources to use in planning ahead for your snack purchases:
The DFB Mini-Guide to Epcot Snacks e-Book
Our detailed guide to Epcot snacks helps you to find the best eats (and treats!) in Walt Disney World’s Epcot.
You’ll see some of your old favorites as well as some snacks that you might have missed in this 150-page book! We also have ideas for snacks that can work as meals, and some of our favorite good-for-you snacks. 🙂
The DFB Mini-Guide to Magic Kingdom Snacks e-Book
Know what you’re getting BEFORE using a precious snack credit or spending your limited vacation dollars.
Whether you want sweet, salty, crunchy, healthy, or something in between, The DFB Mini-Guide to Magic Kingdom Snacks e-Book tells you where to find a snack to match your craving in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom!
We’ve packed this guide full of over 130 pages of snacks found in Disney World’s very first theme park. Dive in and enjoy!
What are your favorite Disney snacks? Let us know if we missed any (or if we covered your #1 snack!) by leaving us a comment below!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
My favorite Disney snacks are probably the Dole Whips or the rice crispy squares, but now I need to find so,e good vegan snacks. Any ideas? Or meals?
One of my favorite snacks are the smoothies from Aunty Gravities or the chocolate peanut butter cups from many of the bakeries, cafes and candy stores through out the world!
Alex — Check out our Special Diets area for ideas for vegan snacks and meals!
Jennifer — Ooh, great ideas! The chocolate peanut butter cups are awesome (and huge!).
My favorite “snack” dessert is definitely the Chocolate Mousse Cake at Kringla Bakeri og Cafe at Norway in Epcot! I have to get it every time I go to Disney. 🙂
Two of my favorite snacks are the create your own pretzel at Goofy’s Candy Co. and the caramel corn at Karamell-Küche. Both so yummy I can’t wait to get them later this year!
While at Disneyland, I love the jalapeno cheese stuffed pretzels at the cart in Frontierland (near the pin trader). So yummy! Also, if I want something sweet, a good old fashioned caramel apple is so good. During the holiday season, peppermint stick ice cream with hot fudge from Gibson Girl is the best!
Are the tips and tricks with the Five Best Snacks work well for those who are doing OOP? We aren’t doing Dining plan, so we simply look at the cost of something before deciding whether it’s worth it.
Mmmm, chocolate peanut butter cups the size of a hockey puck! I have 2 in my cupboard right now…I used some on cupcakes, thanks to suggestions I read on this site 😉 I got take home gifts for my daughter’s class, you can buy bags of 6 unicorn swirl lollipops for one Snack credit. Or the crystalized sugar pops are three in a bag. Of course we always use them on the Food and Wine festival booths, that’s a great way to eat around the world without ever taking your money out!
Love the make-your-own rice krispy treat at Goofy’s! My son chose dark chocolate, M&M minis and dark chocolate drizzle. We shared it over two days and it was so good! Not to mention it was a great deal for what we got. I loved the chocolate-caramel pineapple spear at Karamell-Kuche. Always nice to find a treat you can delude yourself into thinking might be healthy. 🙂
I am part of a family of 6 and we like to use 3 or 4 snack credits and get 3 or 4 different snacks and we all share. The snacks are good size and that way we can get a lot of different things to try. So much Disney food, so little time (and stomachs) to try it all.
Thanks for this wonderful article! I’ll be visiting Disney World the first week of December! Are the rice krispy treats REALLY crunchy??
I need the best milk-free, nut-free snacks. Any suggestions?
Anne — Two that spring to mind immediately are Disney popcorn and Dole Whips! Both are vegan and gluten free. Disney popcorn is prepared with a combination of coconut, corn, and canola oil, and are seasoned with kosher salt. Dole Whips are vegan, according to the company’s website. You can read more about Disney Popcorn here. More information about Dole Whips is available in this post.
Since Disney is committed to providing a good experience for all of its guests, you should find that staff are very knowledgeable about ingredients. If you are visiting Animal Kingdom, be sure to stop by the Gardens Kiosk for more in-depth information on food throughout the entire park, plus specialty snacks. Good luck!
Mili — I’d say they’re on par with normal Rice Krispie treats. Not too soft, not too crunchy. Just right. 🙂
Since there will be food kiosks at the Flower & Garden Festival, will we be able to use our snack credits there like we do at the Food & Wine Fest?
What are some snacks that we could get through the Disney Dining Plan that could supplement breakfast?
Is there anything in the Disney parks that is gluten free besides …salads? (which really are NOT GF). But I do love the Dole Whips. Help!
We snack our way around the world in Epcot then share so we all get a taste. Norway School Bread is a favorite.
Tigger Tails from Pooh Corner Bakery
My favorite thing I always make a point to get, is the Mickey cookies and cream ice cream sandwich . I could eat one every day for the rest of my life.
On our last day we found ourselves in EPCOT with about 12 snack credits for 4 people. We didnt try to save our snacks per se but we had been trying not to simply waste them. We couldn’t have been in a more perfect place (literally and figuratively). Since we dont drink we decided to snack our way around the world. It was awesome! Paris bakery is my favorite place to spend snack credits. Next time I just might START my trip that way instead of end it.
What is and where do I find the muffin that is shown in the title to this article???
Are you planning a snack ebook for Disneyland anytime ?
I was disappointed that most of your gluten free
Snacks are things us celiacs can buy in the
Freezer section. I know it’s possible to make a nice big
Beautiful cupcake with icing on it for us. I came excited to
Have things I couldn’t get elsewhere but felt really
Let down. Georgetown cupcake manages to make these.
What don’t your bakeries have more options for those of
Us who can’t have wheat. The best place seems to be AKL. Everywhere
Else is lacking when it comes to special dietary needs. But we have to look
At lots of beautiful things. Makes us wanna cheat and that ruins our vacation after the fact.
It’s a shame that you cannot use a snack credit for a Carmel Apple no special toppings (happened to me january 2014)
On a recent thread, I read that after making the switch to its new location, Aloha Isle is not serving vanilla or twist flavors anymore. Just thought I’d share the news.
Not sure what still qualifies as a snack on the dining plan at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie, but i remember getting Jambon Beurre or something like it a few years back as a snack on the plan. IMO, this is one of the best snacks at the park.
Hi AJ! I love reading all your tips! Question, with the new “snack credit” rules I am able to swap 1 quick serivce credit for 3 snacks. Are there certain locations where this can be done? For example, will I be able to swap 1 quick service credit for 3 snacks (done in same transaction) at an outdoor kitchen during the 2016 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival? Or am I only able to use actual “snack credits”? We are going to Disney in May, would love to use any extra quick service credits at the 2016 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival!
Juliet — Thanks for your kind words! As for your question about snack credits — While this should be possible, we know that a lot of readers had trouble actually doing it at the Food and Wine Festival last Fall. However, others were successful. Our advice is to try, preferably early in your trip so you haven’t banked a bunch of credits that you have trouble using. Unfortunately, it seems like these types of things aren’t always consistent.
Thank you Brooke! Just so I am understanding how the quick service meal exchange fro 3 snacks works in general, are there certain places, such as a restaurant listed on the Disney Dining guide? Versus a kiosk or food cart (within any of the parks)?
Juliet — You’re welcome! Normally, you’ll see menus with the Disney Dining Plan icon (the little purple square) beside menu items that are available for a snack credit. You can use snack credits in more than just restaurants; for instance, when I was questioning a cast member last spring about the new practice of exchanging a QS meal for 3 snacks, it was at the Main Street Confectionery. Basically, the only rule that we’ve encountered is that you must use the credits all at once. You can’t use them one at a time or at different locations.
Alex- You can find LOTS of Vegan options on this website: https://vegandisneyworld.com/