Purchasing the Disney Dining Plan (or scoring free DDP!) for your Walt Disney World vacation can mean real value for your vacation dining — but some uses of those Disney Dining Plan credits (officially called entitlements) are better than others.
Here at the DFB, we help you make the most of your credits with videos like How to Master the Disney Dining Plan and info about the Best Uses of Quick Service Credits.
This time, it’s all about the one-credit table service Disney Dining Plan! We scour menus to try to find the monetary values, but we also consider food quality and the atmosphere in which guests dine. Because it doesn’t matter how much money you’re saving by using your credits if the restaurant’s environment and food are duds.
So here are our 2018 picks for Recommended Disney Dining Plan One Credit Values!
Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs
Easily one of the most spectacular restaurants in terms of decor and ambiance, Morimoto Asia in Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs also offers tremendous value. But the best part? The food is outstanding!
Dinner at Morimoto Asia is a signature affair and requires two DDP credits, but for 2018, lunch remains one credit — and it’s a credit very well spent! Some entrees here cost nearly $40, and there are plenty of options for alcoholic beverages if you’re looking to up your value even further.
The only bummer? Desserts here aren’t amazing, so consider asking your server if you can sub one of the terrific appetizers for the dessert. It’s not a guarantee by any means, but if you can do it, you won’t regret it!
‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
You’ve heard us rave about ‘Ohana’s atmosphere and location — a place where you’re welcomed by your “cousin,” made to feel like family, and get Cinderella Castle views to boot!
But the food is also something to celebrate here. Although not as high-end as Morimoto, ‘Ohana serves up Polynesian-inspired cuisine in portions as big as you wish, and there’s pretty much something for everyone. Dinner includes yummy sides like Pork Dumplings and Honey-Coriander Chicken Wings.
And grilled meats are served on massive skewers, which servers deliver right to your plate from the on-stage grill station. Alcoholic beverages are tasty here, including the famous Lapu Lapu (served sans pineapple to DDP diners!) and increase your value tremendously. But the real star of the show — at least for us — is the ‘Ohana Bread Pudding a la Mode. This is a dessert worth DDP-ing for!
The All-You-Care-to-Enjoy servings at ‘Ohana make this $46 dinner (and $34 breakfast!) a terrific DDP value. Views of the castle, the inviting atmosphere, and the engaging entertainment put ‘Ohana over the top.
Teppan Edo in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot
, located in the Japan Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase, is dinner with a show — a very close-up show. This is a Hibachi-style meal where diners are seated around a screaming hot grill, and the chefs perform as they cook up your proteins, veggies, rice, and noodles.
And while this hot spot is often overlooked among the World Showcase table service joints, we enjoy the food and the atmosphere. Meats are cooked and seasoned well, and this is one place where you get a sizable portion of vegetables, too.
And for $30+ per entree, it’s a monetary windfall. Between the good food and the fun show, Teppan Edo is a great value on the DDP!
Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
In the world of Disney Dining Plan credits, a buffet is almost always a good value — but Boma‘s buffet is next level. Not only is it one of the most expensive buffets in Walt Disney World (coming in at over $40 for dinner!), it’s also one of the best in terms of food quality.
Located on the lower level of Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Jambo House, aromas from Boma fill the resort. And that’s all thanks to some roasting meats and African-inspired cuisine. And did we mention the buffet features some of the best soups we’ve ever had at Walt Disney World?
Aside from expansive food options that celebrate the flavors of Africa, Boma also benefits from being a beautiful and immersive restaurant. With batiks billowing down from the ceiling and rich wood tones everywhere you look, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a safe and sheltered spot to rest, relax, and refuel — just as the name Boma suggests!
These qualities combine to make Boma a can’t-miss for DDP diners who are looking to maximize their credits and their overall dining experience.
Sanaa
But let’s not leave Animal Kingdom Lodge just yet, because Sanaa is one of our favorite spots to dine — and it’s a one-credit DDP option that provides just stellar food quality in a beautiful (and sometimes wild) setting. That’s because Sanaa overlooks one of the resort’s savannas, and diners often find themselves being accompanied by some furry and feathered friends.
The Indian-Style Bread Service (pictured above) is not to be missed here (and is worth paying out of pocket), and the entrees are complex and interesting. We love the Potjie, which includes two choices of rich, saucy meats and veg, plus rice.
And the desserts at Sanaa? Not to be missed! Across the board, they were terrific on our most recent visit. And the Spice Trade Candy Bar? Perfect in every way.
Once you’ve enjoyed a meal at Sanaa, it’s hard to believe that it’s a one-credit DDP restaurant. The food quality is top-notch, and the atmosphere is beautiful and rustic and sophisticated all at once.
Le Chefs de France in the France Pavilion at Epcot
The many restaurants of Epcot mean you can dine in pretty much any country you desire — and we desire the specialties de France, mes amis! Entrees run high — some close to $30 — and there are desserts for every palate. Some dishes are better than others, but the quality is always high.
But the best thing about Les Chefs de France is the atmosphere. With massive windows letting in lots of light and the breezy decor setting a relaxing tone, diners feel transported in a way that accents the already fantastic meal.
Buffet Restaurants at Walt Disney World
If you’ve got diners with big appetites (or diners with picky ones!), consider applying your Disney Dining Plan table service credit at a buffet. Walt Disney World offers buffets with a character spin, and we’ve got a handy guide to help you decide which one is right for you!
At the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, 1900 Park Fare provides two character experiences: various Disney friends at breakfast — often featuring Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh! — and Cinderella and her Prince Charming (plus the step-family!) at dinner! Service has been inconsistent over the years, but the strawberry soup is always a hit!
For a princess breakfast you and your kiddos won’t soon forget, make an Advance Dining Reservation at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall! Here, you’re likely to meet Snow White, Belle, Ariel, and Aurora! Breakfast here includes some American eats, plus a Norwegian-inspired smorgasbord with meats and cheeses. Lunch and dinner include the Taste of Norway and Norwegian-inspired entrees.
Chef Mickey’s is a classic buffet option located in Disney’s Contemporary Resort featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald — all typically dressed in their culinary finest! The buffet here is massive and has something for everyone, making it the perfect buffet for a family with a variety of dining needs.
And with Mickey dishing up breakfast, brunch, and dinner, this is a great buffet to sneak in during your Magic Kingdom day. Just hop on the Monorail for a break from the park, and enjoy a filling and fun meal!
If a New England-inspired buffet is more your style, head over to the Beach Club Resort, and pull up to the dock at Cape May Cafe! Breakfast here is filled with character at Minnie’s Beach Bash — including newcomer Daisy Duck! Enjoy American style eats to fuel your day!
Or hit up the (non-character) seafood buffet for dinner and seriously maximize that dining credit by digging into some snow crabs and seafood!
Check out our buffet comparisons to see which one is right for you! We take a look at Chef Mickey’s vs. Crystal Palace and at Akershus vs. Cinderella’s Royal Table! And if you want more where they come from, you gotta surf over to the DFB YouTube channel where we cover everything in the world of Disney dining!
There are so many ways to make the most of your Disney Dining Plan table service credits, from the formal to the fun (and sometimes a mix of the two!).
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Give us a shout out in the comments with your top picks for one-credit table service eats!
Tappan Edo is a favorite of mine in WS, with great food and a fun presentation. I’d really like to try Saana sometime!
Wanted to let you know that we’ve been subscribers to your YT channel for a year now and we can’t get enough of your content. We watch through the YT app on our TV, so we aren’t able to like or add comments to your videos. Your videos and articles are so thoughtfully written, upbeat and fun and we’ve showed them to any of our friends that will watch with us. We’re going through your DFB guidebook now to help plan out our next trip, and we realize just how much food and fun we missed out on our last visit! Thank you for giving us all a fresh and entertaining look into an often overlooked aspect of the Happiest Place on Earth. Keep up the great work!
The Huckaby’s: Many thanks for your feedback and compliments! The whole team was thrilled to see you’ve enjoyed the DFB Guide and YouTube channel! Thank you!
Thank you DFB-Team! Without you, I wouldn’t have booked and Advanced Reservation at Morimoto at all, becaue I had only one TS-Credit left and didn’t know what to do with it. Now I scored a great spot at Morimoto for lunch!
So thank you again for your hard work! I appreciate it very much.
Bye!
We love teppan eco, chef mickeys, cape May cafe (we haven’t tried breakfast yet) and not a one service meal but love le cellier on our last night.
Thanks for your very informative videos.
I’d also throw in Storybook dining at Artist Point as its 1 credit right now and at a tag of $55 for adults a good option for a Table Service credit.
If you eat at Yahtsman steak house ( 2 credits) What can you eat for your 2 credits? Can you swap dessert for appetizer? Can you get sides?
Lola, in our most recent experience, DDP users could select a drink, an entree, a dessert, and one side. This could vary, depending on the entrees themselves, but we chose a steak that didn’t really have a side and were able to choose one.
I really love you guys. You have the best content – hands down! But over the last six months or so, you’ve really gone downhill on grammar and typos. You don’t even know the difference between “your” and “you’re” anymore, as evidenced in this post.