You’re at Disney Springs and you’re in the mood for a snack but aren’t sure what’s going to give you the best bang for your buck on the Disney Dining Plan. But, like all the Disney parks, there are almost too many options to choose from. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place because, in today’s blog, we’re going over the 10 best Disney Springs snack credits for you and your family. Let’s get started!
Read more: Disney Springs Map Disney World
What is the Disney Dining Plan?
First and foremost, let’s get familiar with the Disney Dining Plan. As of date, there are four different dining plans Disney guests can choose from. These include:
- Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan – Guests can enjoy 2 casual meals at over 100 quick service locations across the parks. Families are entitled to 2 quick service meals per night of stay, one resort refillable beverage mug and 2 snacks and/or non-alcoholic drinks per night of stay.
- Disney Dining Plan – Guests can enjoy one quick service and table service meal per day, including a character meal. Families are entitled to 2 snacks and/or non-alcoholic drinks per night of stay and one resort refillable beverage mug.
- Disney Deluxe Dining Plan – Guests can enjoy three meal credits per day, including quick service, table service and signature dining locations and dinner shows. Families are entitled to 2 snacks and/or non-alcoholic drinks per night of stay and one resort refillable beverage.
- Disney Dining Plan Plus – this new dining plan allows guests to customize their dining experience with options for both table and quick service meal credits.
Guests can either book a Walt Disney World vacation package that already includes the dining plan or can add it on at a later date.
How to Use Your Disney Dining Plan
To use your Disney dining plan, you would first need to review what restaurants are participating in your selected plan. When you’re at your chosen dining location, you can use your MagicBand to redeem your snacks and meals. Don’t forget to keep track of how many credits you’ve used and what you have left over. To review this, you can login to your My Disney Experience app and click on “My Plans” and then “Check Dining Plan” or by asking a Cast Member at Guest Relations or at your resort.
Read more: Insider Disney Dining Plan Tips & Tricks
Update on the Disney Dining Plan in 2021
Because so many dining locations are still closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Disney has temporarily suspended the dining plan and hasn’t released any update yet as to when it will be back. However, the team here at WDW Vacation Tips is optimistic that it will be returning sooner rather than later. While Disney CEO, Bob Chapek hopes that the theme parks will be operating as normal come 2022, Disney has already started to loosen up their COVID-19 efforts. Modified park hopping returned in January of this year, and in April, guests can now take maskless photos while outside and socially distant from other parties. Not to mention, the refillable mug service, which was temporarily suspended has reopened at certain locations this month. With Disney’s 50th celebration happening in October and increased limits on park capacity, we have a feeling that more and more dining locations will reopen, and with it, more opportunities for guests to add a Disney dining plan to their vacation.
With all that out of the way, let’s talk about what Disney considers a snack credit – and where you can find them at Disney Springs.
What is a Disney Snack Credit?
A Disney snack credit is just that – a credit for a variety of different snacks you can grab around the parks. The most common Disney snacks, of course, include things like popcorn, Mickey pretzels and ice cream but those items are fairly inexpensive to begin with so are they really worth using a snack credit on?
In most cases, a snack credit is valued around $5. Disney is very specific as to what kinds of food they consider to be a snack credit, including where they are available. Signs are always posted at dining locations to help you establish what you can use your credits on. If you’re unsure, you can always ask the Cast Member at the location for further clarification.
Read more: Snacks that will Maximize the Value of the Disney Dining Plan
Snack Credit Options at Disney Springs
Unlike the parks, Disney Springs is home to a wide variety of different restaurants (over 60) including snack services and food carts. Fortunately, Disney Springs is also where you’ll probably get the most bang for your buck out of your snack credits. Here are the top 10 best snack credit options you’ll find at Disney Springs:
- Bubble Waffles & Sweet Crêpes from AristoCrêpes
Unique, tasty and only $8.99, these bubble waffles and sweet crêpes will be a hit with your whole family. These crêpes and waffles come in two forms: bubble and sweet. Guests who want to try the bubble waffles can have them topped with either strawberries or salted caramel, whereas the sweet ones come in s’mores, banana and hazelnut and strawberry flavors. You’ll find AristoCrêpes in the Marketplace.
- Mickey Mousse Cake at Amarette’s Patisserie
Located in Town Center near World of Disney, Amarette’s Patisserie serves up some of the most unique treats and sweets you’ll find in all of Walt Disney World. Most notably, Amarette’s Patisserie is famous for their Mickey Mousse Cake – a chocolate chiffon cake with white chocolate mousse. This signature pastry sells for $9.00.
- A Speciality Drink from Starbucks
If you’re a Starbucks fiend like me, then there’s nothing you enjoy more than grabbing an iced coffee while you walk around and take in the sights of Disney Springs. Disney Springs is home to two Starbucks locations – one near the exit of Aerophile – the balloon in the West Side that takes guests 400 feet up in the air for an 8-minute ride – and another in the Marketplace.
Depending on what you get, a drink from Starbucks can cost you anywhere from $2.45 – $6.65. Guests can also order a drink off of their Secret Menu. To do this, you would need to order by providing the barista a list of ingredients. We’re big fans of the Mrs. Potts Tea Latte, which is a London Fog latte with oat milk and brown sugar syrup and topping!
Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Starbucks at Disney World
- Brownie from Earl of Sandwich
Priced at $2.59, the brownies from Earl of Sandwich in the Marketplace are a sweet treat chocolate lovers will love. While we ordinarily wouldn’t advocate for using a snack credit on something so cheap, these are a tasty treat if you’re on the go or already grabbing a bite to eat here and want a cheap snack for you or your child to enjoy later. These brownies are moist and chewy and it’s one of the few places in all of Disney that you can actually purchase a delicious brownie. Furthermore, because you can use your Disney snack credits anyway you please, this becomes a pretty inexpensive snack when everything is totaled up, especially if you’re buying for a family of four. This is why it made our list of the best snacks to use a snack credit on.
Read more: Earl of Sandwich Disney Springs Review
- Gelato from Vivoli il Gelato
This isn’t your regular ice cream – this is hand-crafted Italian gelato that is out of this world. With irresistible flavors such as banana, cannoli and salted caramel, Vivoli il Gelato is a quick dining location in the Landing that you must stop at on your next visit to Disney Springs. Depending on size, a cup of gelato will cost you anywhere from $5.75-$7.75.
- Goofy’s Candy Company
Character apples, candy, rice krispy treats – Goofy’s Candy Company in Disney Springs’ Marketplace is a one-stop-shop for all things sweet. While it may not be worth using a Disney snack credit on a bag of candy you can find at most areas around Walt Disney World, you should spend it on making a custom item such as the Mickey Krispy Rice treat. This is something your kid will love and it adds that extra bit of magic to a regular candy purchase.
- Uniquely Flavored Churros from Sunshine Churros
Churros are a staple at Disneyland, and they’re quickly becoming a staple at Disney Springs, too. With two locations in the Marketplace and on the West Side, Sunshine Churros have a unique menu the entire family will love. First, all of their churros are HUGE, and you’ll probably get full eating one of them. Guests can purchase a uniquely flavored churro for $5.25 or choose to buy a dipped one at $6.25. The regular churros come in an assortment of flavors such as salted caramel, apple cinnamon, fruity pebbles (my favorite!), cinnamon and watermelon. The dipped churros come in either hazelnut or milk chocolate.
- Dole Whip from Marketplace Snacks
Of course, Dole Whip is making our list – it’s not a trip to Walt Disney World without it! Stop over at Marketplace Snacks in the Marketplace for a cup of dole whip, dole whip float or bowl of dole whip nachos (waffle cone “chips” topped with strawberry sauce, fresh pineapple, mango boba pearls and sprinkles). Like other areas on property that sell dole whip, a cup will set you back $4.99, a float will cost $5.99 and the nachos will cost you $8.99.
- Poke Bowls from YeSake
Located in the West Side of Disney Springs, this eatery is severely underrated and we’re not sure why. At YeSake, guests can create their own Poke Bowls for $10 as well as speciality slushies for only $8.00. Guests can choose from a variety of different proteins such as salmon, grilled chicken, ahi tuna and sliced beef. They also offer tofu as a vegetarian alternative. This is the perfect midday snack that will keep you full without making you feel sluggish for the rest of the day. It’s a hidden gem our team definitely recommends!
- A Cup of Poutine from The Daily Poutine
French fry fans will love the poutine from the Daily Poutine located in the Town Center. Usually topped with your choice of gravy, cheese curds, queso, mozzarella or pulled pork, these french fries pack a ton of flavor. They come in a variety of flavors such as the classic poutine, Italian poutine, Latin poutine, French poutine and more. They cost anywhere from $9.49-$9.99 and could easily be split between two people if you’re just looking for something quick and tasty to hold you over until dinner.
Honorable Mention: It has not yet been released as to whether or not guests will be able to use their Disney snack credits at the new Everglazed Donuts. Due to this location’s popularity, we think it will be included when the Disney Dining Plan comes back. The same goes for the brand new Gideon’s Bakehouse. Be sure to follow along with our Facebook group and our Instagram account for the latest updates on the Disney Dining Plan!
Final Thoughts
When using the Disney Dining Plan, a good rule of thumb is to keep your snack purchases as close to $5 as you can in order to get the best value. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to Disney. Just remember, the dining plan is meant to make your vacation more enjoyable. While it is important to make sure you’re getting the most value out of your plan, don’t use it at the expense of treating yourself to an item you’d really enjoy. Just because something is a little under $5 doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it. This is your vacation — eat everything you want and have a great time!
As a self-proclaimed Mouseketeer, Courtney Dercqu is a fan of all things Disney. Between decorating her desk with souvenirs from the park, to making unique mouse ears and having a dedicated Disney Instagram, Courtney is a true believer in the magic of a Walt Disney World vacation. Having had more than 200 articles published on various content, Courtney’s excited to share her knowledge and experience with everyone! Be sure to follow her on Instagram for all the Disney magic.
