Are you contemplating buying the Disney Dining Plan but aren’t sure if it’s worth it or where you should spend your credits?

Well, we will be your Fairy Godmother in the matter and help you make all your Disney dining dreams come true. We have resources on the best snack credits and the best places to use your Quick Service credits on the Disney Dining Plan. And now, we are taking a look at one credit Table Service meals (AKA sit-down meals).

Before we jump into all of the details. We want to make sure you have all the information you need when it comes to the dining plan. So here is a quick list of a few more useful posts that may help you plan your Disney World vacation with the return of the dining plan. Things are of course a bit different than they were before the closures, which can be confusing. But, we’re here to help!

• Why You Definitely Should Buy the Disney Dining Plan in 2024

• Why You Definitely Shouldn’t Buy the Disney Dining Plan in 2024

• The Disney Dining Plan Will RETURN in 2024! Everything You Need to Know

• Prices Announced for the Disney Dining Plan

What Is the Disney Dining Plan?

First, let’s start with a quick Disney Dining Plan 101. Basically, with a Disney Dining Plan, you pay a set amount to get a certain number of “credits” that you use throughout your stay. You can then redeem those credits for snacks, quick service meals, or table service meals (depending on the credit type and plan type).

It’s a way to essentially pre-pay for your Disney meals and make your vacation feel more all-inclusive. Once it’s time to pay for your actual meal in Disney World, you’ll simply use your credit to cover the cost of your food, instead of paying out-of-pocket at that time (since you’ve already paid for the Dining Plan itself).

Dining Plans are pre-purchased and added onto a Disney Vacation Package (i.e. you must be staying on a Vacation Package at a Disney-owned-and-operated hotel, and have purchased at least one theme park ticket per person), so that all you have to do when you get to Disney World is head to a restaurant on the list, eat, and scan your card. (Certain specific rules apply for Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members wanting to book a Dining Plan.)

When Will It Be Back?

Disney Dining Plans will be returning for stays starting January 9th, 2024. Bookings opened up on May 31st, 2023. For help with your booking, you can reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations — they’re Disney experts and can help you save money and stress when planning your next trip for FREE.

When it returns, only 2 plans will be coming back — the Quick Service and Standard Disney Dining Plans.

Here’s some basic information about the Quick Service Dining Plan:

• Everyone in the travel party (ages 3 and up) will receive 2 Quick Service meals per night, a snack/nonalcoholic drink per night of their package stay – along with 1 Resort-refillable drink mug.
• Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during the stay.
• For example, if you book a 4-night package with a Disney Quick Service Dining Plan, each Guest in your party would receive 8 Quick Service meals and 4 Snacks or Nonalcoholic Beverages—which can be used at any time during your 4-night stay.
• Pricing for this plan is $57.01 per adult, per day, and $23.83 per child (ages 3 to 9), per day

Here’s a look at what Disney says you can expect from the Standard Dining Plan:

• Everyone in the travel party will receive 1 Table Service meal per night, 1 Quick Service meal per night, and a snack/nonalcoholic drink per night of their package stay—along with 1 Resort-refillable drink mug.
• Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during the stay.
• For example, if you book a 4-night package with a Disney Dining Plan, each Guest in your party would receive 4 Table Service meals, 4 Quick Service meals, and 4 snacks or nonalcoholic beverages—which can be used at any time during your 4-night stay.
• Pricing for this plan is $94.28 per adult, per day and $29.69 per child (ages 3 to 9), per day.

What’s Included With a Table-Service Meal

Meals redeemed at breakfast will include:

• 1 Entrée
• 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

• 1 Full Buffet (prix-fixe) or Family-Style Meal (prix-fixe)
• 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

• 1 Entrée
• 1 Dessert
• 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

• 1 Full Buffet (If Available) or Family-Style Meal
• 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

Alcoholic Beverages

Guests 21 and older may choose either one nonalcoholic beverage or one-single serving mixed cocktail, beer or wine (where offered) as part of their meal.

A single-serving alcoholic beverage includes items such as:

• Beer or Cider
• Wine or Sangria
• Mixed Drinks and Specialty Cocktails

Nonalcoholic Beverages
Guests 10 years of age and older can choose one nonalcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) as part of their meal.

A single-serving nonalcoholic beverage includes items such as:

• Milkshakes
• Fresh Smoothies
• Premium Hot Chocolate
• Soda, Coffee or Tea

You can see the full list of restaurants that take the Disney Dining Plan here! 

Why Is It Important to Plan?

The Standard Dining Plan comes with 1 Table Service meal per night. But those Table Service credits can be used at a variety of restaurants throughout the parks and resorts, and not all of those restaurants (or their food items) are created equally. Also, some locations like Cinderella’s Royal Table will use two Table Service credits instead of one.

Also, at some spots, you may find very standard food items at relatively inexpensive prices (compared to other things), while other places may have MUCH more expensive items and/or much more high-quality (and tasty items).

Sure, you could use that Table Service credit for a basic meal at a Disney World restaurant, but what if instead, you could use it to get a much more delicious and upscale meal that qualifies for the same Table Service credit? Which gives you a better value per credit? The tastier and more high-quality one (and likely more expensive one), right? Right!

So that’s why using your Table Service credits carefully is important. The restaurants below are ones that can help you get the MOST value out of that Table Service Dining Plan credit without skimping on food quality.

Best Value One-Credit Table Service Restaurants in 2024

The Parks

Some parks and hotels are stand outs when it comes to making the most out of your Table Service credits. So today, we are just looking at the locations where we think you truly maximize your credits. Of course, there are other great places to dine in the parks but these are really going to maximize how you use your Dining Plan so you are getting the best bang for your buck.

EPCOT

Garden Grill Restaurant

In EPCOT, you will find Garden Grill Restaurant. This is a character dining location where you can meet Farmer Mickey, Chip and Dale, and Pluto. We think it’s sort of a hidden gem in terms of character dining, so it might not be too loud and crowded if you choose to dine here. That also means, you may get more time with the characters than you would at a place like Cinderella’s Royal Table or Chef Mickey’s.

The food is also served family style, so there are going to be nice, large portions for you to enjoy. Breakfast is $42 per adult and $27 per child. During breakfast, you will be served a cinnamon breakfast loaf, scrambled eggs, smoked bacon, Mickey waffles, seasonal fruit, cheesy potato casserole, and grilled flank steak with ranchero sauce. 

Lunch and Dinner costs $55 per adult and $36 per child. During these meals you will be served a garden salad, barbecue-roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, seasonal veggies, southern-style spoon bread, grilled beef with chimichurri, and berry shortcake. 

So, as you can see, using credits here is a great option. The portions sizes are nice, there’s a wide variety of food, there are classic characters for you to meet, the location isn’t too busy, and it’s a decently pricey option (meaning you’re maximizing how much monetary value you’re getting out of the dining plan).

Read our lunch Garden Grill review here!

La Hacienda de San Angel

Another great option in EPCOT is La Hacienda de San Angel. This is another location where you are going to get a good bang for your buck. Without the dining plan, Carne Asada will run you $54 and a Braised Short Rib will cost ya $48. Drinks are also rather pricey here with a margarita priced at $23 and and old fashioned priced at $28.

On top of that, the views here can be quite remarkable. If you are able to get a table near the windows at during the fireworks, you’re truly in for a treat. Just double check the showtimes, and request a window seat. Remember it isn’t guaranteed but when it’s able to happen, it’s pretty amazing!

Read our La Hacienda dinner review here.

Animal Kingdom

Tusker House Restaurant

Tusker House is another great character meal option. Here, you will be able to meet Goofy, Daisy, Donald, and Mickey in their safari gear.

This location is a buffet, so you will have a large number of options to choose from! Breakfast is $45 per adult and $29 per child. Here you will find an array of breakfast favorites along with some more rare Disney finds. For example, you can get Mickey and Simba waffles, overnight oats, zebra coffee cake, sausage, eggs, and so much more.

Lunch and dinner is $59 per adult and $28 per child. At the buffet, you’ll find options like naan and hummus, salads, green curry shrimp, braised beef, jollof rice, mashed potatoes, and much more. These aren’t your standard Disney buffet options, which can be quite refreshing if you’ve grown tired of chicken tenders.

Read our Tusker House review here!

Hotels

The Riviera

Topolino’s Terrace 

Now, let’s head over to the Riviera for character breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera. Here, we are only recommending breakfast because the location is not open for lunch and requires two dining credits at dinner.

We love dining here for breakfast because it is a unique character location. You can meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy. Each of them is dressed in a rather unique look that you won’t find anywhere else on property.

Breakfast is part of a prix-fixe menu and is $45 for adults and $29 for children. Adults can choose from options like avocado toast, sour cream waffles, and wood-fired butchers steak to name a few. Kiddos can choose from Mickey waffle dippers, fruit and yogurt, and scrambled eggs.

On top of all of that, the rooftop views from the restaurant are stunning!

Read our full Topolino’s Terrace breakfast review here!

The Polynesian

‘Ohana

Now it’s time to talk about a long time DFB favorite — ‘Ohana diner. While we love breakfast, dinner is the best options in terms of monetary value. Dinner is $59 per adult and $38 per child. Here, you will find delicious all you can eat family-style Polynesian food. Dinner includes a mixed greens salad, signature ‘Ohana bread, honey coriander chicken wings, pork dumplings tossed in a chili-garlic sauce, the ‘Ohana dinner skillet that includes the famous noodles, and bread pudding. 

This is another spot where you can potentially see fireworks from the windows if you time dinner right. The restaurant will even dim the lights and play the music to Happily Ever After as you look down upon Magic Kingdom while stuffing your face with loads of noodles. It’s a wonderful experience, really.

Read our full ‘Ohana dinner review here

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Boma

Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is another great option. Honestly, it’s a pretty safe bet for both breakfast and dinner but if you really want to maximize that credit, we suggest using it at dinner time. Boma is another buffet option and costs $54 per adults and $32 per child.

A few of the buffet options include pita with hummus and coriander, peanut or coconut rice, lamb bobotie, and butternut squash soup, along with many others.

We also love to dine here because Boma has an open kitchen. This means that you get to watch the chefs in action while you dine!

Read our full Boma dinner review here!

Disney Springs

Morimoto Asia

Now, let’s head over to Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs. We recommend this location for lunch because it’s the only one-credit option at this upscale restaurant. The good news is that the lunch and dinner menus are rather similar, so you are still getting high quality signature-meal options for one credit instead of two.

Morimoto Buri-Bop is $36 and four dumplings are $15. It can really add up to be a pretty pricey meal once you add in a $18 cocktail.

Check out our Morimoto Asia review here!

Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’

Time to talk southern food. Over at Homecomin’. This is one of those Disney spots that we simply cannot recommend enough — that’s how good the food is. To maximize your credit at lunch, order the barbecue-glazed pork chop for $37, the signature sampler for $24, and one of the $16 cocktails. 

We highly recommend brunch, but you will have to really hurry to snag a reservation — they go quickly!

Take a look at our Homecomin’ review here!

So, the biggest thing to take away here is to look at how many credits a restaurant is worth when booking. Also take a look at the pricing to really make sure that you are maximizing that credit and stretching it as far as it can go. If an option is two credits at dinner, see if it’s one credit at breakfast or lunch! Buffets will give you the opportunity to try lots of things without having to pay the hefty price. And there are plenty of character meals out that aren’t Chef Mickey’s where you can still meet classic characters like Mickey in different outfits.

We will continue to share all things Dining Plan so you know how to maximize those credits to make the plan worthwhile. If you have any questions about dining options, credits, or the plan itself, please let us know. We will do our best to get you all of the answers you need!

Are you planning to purchase the Disney Dining Plan for your next Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments below.