Disney’s Magic Your Way Package with the Quick Service Dining Plan can be a good value -- IF you plan and use the options carefully. Click on the link above to see what's included in the Quick Service Dining Plan.

Please note that all information below is subject to change at any time.

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Helpful Tips for Making the Most of the Dining Plans

• All of the meal credits for everyone in your party are "pooled" in the sense that any member of the party has access to all of the credits assigned to the entire party. For instance, if you have a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids) and stay for 5 nights, you'll have a "pool" of 40 table service credits to use (20 adult credits, 20 child credits).

• You can use the meal credits whenever you want during the vacation. If you want to eat one meal one day and three meals the next day, no problem.

• If you have kids aged 9 and under, be aware that since October 2006, the kids' meals have changed and there have been some complaints about this. It appears this is primarily a result of an attempt on Disney's part to meet dietary guidelines for food that is marketed to children. The new kids' selections are supposed to be "healthier" but some people say their kids don't like them. See below for specifics on this issue.

• If you don't want the drink that is included with your quick service meal, take a bottle of water to go.

• Fresh fruit can be used as a dessert, so if you don't want dessert when eating a quick service meal, take a banana or apple to go and use it as a snack later in the day.

• Any leftover snacks or quick service meals can be used to pack a lunch for the trip home. Your resort's food court has packable food.

• If you have snack credits left over at the end of your vacation, many of the quick service restaurants offer Mickey-shaped rice krispy treats on a stick that you can get with snack credits. These make cute gifts to take home for friends and family -- or you can eat 'em on the plane!

• MouseSavers.com reader Christie B. says she learned "we could use our snack credits to buy German, Swiss and Belgian chocolate bars in the candy store in Germany at Epcot. On our last day we used all of our remaining snacks at the candy store on Main St in the Magic Kingdom. After eating all we could, we brought pounds of homemade fudge, candy apples, truffles, etc. to friends and family back home. Don't think all your snacks have to be used at the carts -- we found out several stores had included items."

Thanks to Heather G and Small World Vacations for suggestions.

Getting the Most Value for Your Counter Service Meal Credits

• Disney's Value and Moderate resort food courts tend to have the greatest selection of high-end quick service food selections. Pop Century's Everything Pop Food Court is probably the top choice when it comes to resort counter service options. Everything Pop has a great selection, including flatbreads (pizzas), grill items, Italian and Asian options.

• Among the Deluxe resorts, the best and most innovative quick service food is at Mara in Animal Kingdom Lodge and Captain Cook's Snack Company at the Polynesian. Roaring Fork Snacks at Wilderness Lodge has some nice sandwich and salad options. Other than that, the quick service options at the Deluxe resorts are mediocre at best, with a heavy emphasis on standard fare like burgers and chicken strips.

• As noted in the "Helpful Tips" section, kids' quick service selections can be very limited. At some pizza locations, the kids' menu doesn't include pizza and at some burger locations, kids can't get a burger! At some locations, the only side orders listed for kids are carrot sticks, grapes and applesauce and all the drinks are "healthy" (milk, juice, water), but I'm told you can usually substitute french fries and soda if you wish. Some kids' meals include sugar-free jello as the only possible dessert, while other kids' meals do not include a dessert at all. (Meanwhile, adults can often get ice cream, cake or pie with their meal at the same location.) There are some ways around these problems:

  • A few quick service locations don't have a kids' menu. That means you can order any combo or entree on the menu with a child credit. These locations are: Casey's Corner at Magic Kingdom; Toy Story Pizza Planet, Catalina Eddie's and Toluca Legs Turkey Company at Disney's Hollywood Studios; Sommerfest at Epcot (Germany) and Yorkshire County Fish Shop at Epcot (UK)

  • You can buy your two adult meals at a location offering meals the adults like, then go to another location that has better kids' options and buy their meals there.

  • Complain to Disney, preferably in writing.

• If you are on the regular Dining Plan, you may want to consider sharing quick service meals. For instance, a family of four might try ordering two adult quick service meals and sharing the food, possibly supplementing the meal by paying out of pocket for a few a la carte items (like extra side orders or drinks). If this works for you, you may be able to stretch your quick service meals to cover two meals a day. Some of the best locations for this strategy:

  • Cosmic Ray's at Magic Kingdom - Half Chicken & Barbecue Ribs Combo meal can easily be shared by two people with moderate appetites

  • Sunshine Seasons at Epcot (Future World) - there's an Asian combo that allows you to pick two entrees and two sides, plus they have a much more extensive selection of desserts than most counter service locations

  • If you like chicken, the following restaurants offer a half chicken meal, which can serve two people who aren't big eaters: Flame Tree Barbecue at Animal Kingdom; Cosmic Ray's at Magic Kingdom; Mara at Animal Kingdom Lodge

What Can You Get With Snack Credits?

Disney generally defines a "snack" on the Disney Dining Plan as a single serving item under $4 (pre-tax) that is edible, non-alcoholic, non-merchandise and non-souvenir. Some items that you might think would be included under this definition are excluded, but not many.

Snacks can be redeemed at quick service, theme park shop, resort shop or snack cart locations. Qualifying locations display a "dining plan" logo on their menus indicating items for which you can use your snack credits.

Among the items usually available with Dining Plan snack credits:

• ice cream novelty
• frozen fruit bar
• box of popcorn
• piece of fruit
• snack-sized bag of chips
• nachos
• bakery items
• fudge
• caramel apples
• Mickey rice krispy treats
• bottled soft drinks
• bottled Powerade
• bottled water
• bottled fruit juice
• plain or flavored milk

Also, during the Food & Wine Festival, snack credits can be redeemed for most "tasting portions" offered in the booths around World Showcase.

Thanks to Sue Pisaturo of Small World Vacations for updated information.

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