To get one of the best worth from counter service credit and maximize your financial savings on the 2025 Disney Eating Plan, you’ll need to eat on the Walt Disney World eating places on this checklist. These supply probably the most ‘bang on your buck’ of fast service DDP credit as a result of they serve what can be the costliest meals, if you happen to had been paying out of pocket. (Up to date April 5, 2025.)
Whereas most counter service meals price round $13, precise costs range from a low of round $9.99 to highs of over $20. Notice that the Disney Eating Plan has eradicated the dessert from counter service meals, however has greater than offset that by including alcoholic drinks. These two elements have triggered a number of adjustments to this checklist.
Since this checklist determines Disney Eating Plan worth primarily based upon the costliest costs, it is best to not use this checklist if you happen to’re paying out of pocket. If Eating Plan worth maximization is your concern, you must also be sure to get your “cash’s price” from Desk Service meals (click on right here to see our ideas for maximizing your desk service eating at Walt Disney World)…
This checklist is calculated by taking the highest two meal and drinks accessible on the Eating Plan and including them collectively. We did this versus taking the median or imply as a result of, if you happen to’re really involved with saving as a lot cash as potential, you’re going to be ordering the costliest menu objects. Contemplating solely the highest objects is useful if you happen to’re attempting to maximise the Disney Eating Plan worth, however your mileage might range.
From there, we additional added a requirement that no less than 2 eating places from every park should make the reduce. Think about this the “Magic Kingdom Maxim,” which is completed as a result of counter service eating places at Magic Kingdom don’t serve alcohol and thus supply much less worth throughout the board. With out that rule, there wouldn’t be a single spot from Magic Kingdom.
There would as a substitute be a number of pool bars that solely have nominal meals menus. There’d even be a bunch of walk-up home windows at Disney Springs which have expensive dishes. As a substitute, we’ve filtered these out virtually fully, for the easy cause that they provide restricted menus and aren’t superb. If you’d like grocery retailer sushi and sugar water alcoholic drinks, look no additional than the pool bars, however together with these would render this checklist nugatory, so we’ve opted to exclude them.
Principally, that is an goal checklist, however with a number of guard rails in order that the outcomes are literally helpful for WDW trip planning functions and aren’t nonsensical. We’re not going to suggest anybody do their counter service meals at Oasis Pool Bar & Grill or Lottawatta Lodge simply because “The Math” dictates it.
Which different Walt Disney World counter service eating places made the checklist? Let’s have a look…
BONUS: Worth & Average Resort Meals Courts – If you happen to browse Walt Disney World menus for the Worth and Average Resort meals courts, you’ll discover an entry for nearly each single one indicating the next: “Further Rotating Number of Specialty Choices Obtainable For Dine-In.”
By and enormous, these are pricier entrees–issues like pot roast, half-chicken, braised beef, grilled salmon, braised beef, shrimp & grits. That’s a non-exhaustive checklist, and because the above quote suggests, these choices typically rotate, so there’s no level in itemizing them right here, regardless. As a basic rule, there are no less than 2 (often 3-4) of those entrees which might be costly sufficient to make this checklist when paired with alcohol.
Just a few of our favourite choices are El Mercado de Coronado at Coronado Springs, Centertown Market at Caribbean Seashore, Panorama of Flavors at Artwork of Animation, and Riverside Mill at Port Orleans Riverside (see our Evaluation of the Not-So-Secret Mega-Menu at Riverside Mill–that’s similar to what’s served on the different meals courts). Oddly sufficient, not one of the Deluxe Resorts have meals courts with comparable choices–it’s solely the decrease degree resorts.
10. Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn & Cafe – This was the Frontierland equal of Cosmic Ray’s, however Pecos Invoice now serves a menu of Mexican delicacies plus typical theme park meals. The variability alone makes it one of many higher selections within the Magic Kingdom, even when the wonderful toppings bar remains to be MIA.
From a price perspective right here, the highest selections are the Double Bacon Barbecue Cheeseburger or the Create Your Personal Bowls. The previous is fairly boring–the identical burger you will get virtually wherever, whereas the bowls are all scrumptious and filling. Truthfully, this solely makes the checklist as a result of we’re requiring 2 entries per park. With out that rule, Pecos Invoice wouldn’t crack the highest 25.
9. Columbia Harbour Home – That is our favourite counter service restaurant in Magic Kingdom, because of its stable seafood menu and really relaxed upstairs seating. Whether or not you need one thing on the more healthy aspect or a platter of fried delights, Columbia Harbour Home has obtained you lined. It’s additionally an ideal place to flee the crowds of Magic Kingdom.
The parts are hearty, the dishes style nice, and Columbia Harbour Home typically provides nice bang for buck on the Disney Eating Plan. Highlights right here embrace the Lobster Roll, Grilled Salmon, New England Seafood Boil, and Shrimp Skewer. From high to backside, the menu is formidable and satisfying–whereas additionally having fundamentals that’ll attraction to those that would like one thing aside from seafood. If Columbia Harbour Home served alcohol, it’d be close to the highest of this checklist.
8. Sundown Ranch Market/Fairfax Fare – Sundown Ranch Market is the out of doors meals courtroom close to Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster. Fairfax Fare is the principle restaurant right here, with Rosie’s All American Cafe and Catalina Eddie’s being the secondary choices. They’re like separate ordering bays in the identical huge meals courtroom–which is why we’re lumping them collectively.
The most effective worth right here on the Disney Eating Plan is Fairfax Fare, however it’s by an in depth margin. It’s additionally the spotlight, with its menu at present consisting of mashed potato waffle bowls topped with brisket, pork stomach, or hen. These bowls could appear bizarre with their waffle cones as a base, however they’re good against-all-odds. For many who need commonplace theme park fare, Rosie’s serves up burgers and sizzling canine, whereas Catalina Eddie’s provides extra of the “Nearly Pizza” that Walt Disney World company appear to like.
7. Katsura Grill – If in any respect potential, our recommendation can be to avoid wasting snack credit for EPCOT and use these to graze across the competition cubicles–there’s a cause that tops our Checklist of the Finest Disney Eating Plan Snack Credit score Makes use of. Alternatively, do a sit-down meal and burn a desk service credit score in World Showcase. Fast-service eating places are actually your worst possibility at EPCOT from a delicacies high quality and enjoyable perspective.
However, that is an goal checklist, and Katsura Grill scores a spot because of its “Osusume Really useful Menu” choices. None of those are nice values, however they’re the second-best possibility for utilizing counter service credit on the Disney Eating Plan at EPCOT.
Honorable point out right here to close by Regal Eagle Smokehouse & Craft Drafts in EPCOT’s American Journey pavilion. This not makes the reduce from an goal perspective, however the universally-appealing (nicely, no less than to carnivores) Memphis Dry-rub Pork Ribs are nonetheless extremely beneficial. This is without doubt one of the most costly entrees within the park, and offers you the selection of a aspect and garlic toast.
6. Flame Tree BBQ – This selection actually hits the ‘candy spot’ by way of worth and high quality. Additionally making our High 10 Counter Service Eating places at Walt Disney World–a listing primarily based on high quality, Flame Tree BBQ is a can’t-miss possibility if you happen to’re on the Disney Eating Plan.
The multi-meat sampler goes to supply one of the best bang on your buck, however we’d strongly suggest the St. Louis Ribs entree as a substitute. So far as snacks and sides go, the French Fries with Pulled Pork and Cheese are a stable alternative.
5. Roaring Fork – Positioned at Wilderness Lodge, we extremely suggest taking the boat to Roaring Fork for a meal and noon escape from Magic Kingdom. There are principally two causes to do that, each of that are pictured above.
On the left is the Nation-style Baked Meatloaf Served with Buttery Inexperienced Peas, Chunky Mashed Potatoes, and Gravy. On the correct is the Barbecued Brisket and Burnt Ends Served with Potato Hash, Fiery Coleslaw, and Cornbread. As for a 3rd cause, the ambiance at Wilderness Lodge is second-to-none.
4. La Cantina de San Angel – Positioned alongside the waterfront within the Mexico pavilion at EPCOT, that is one in every of Sarah’s favourite counter service spots in all of Walt Disney World. She’s a giant fan of the Arroz Bowl with Marinated Grilled Rooster and the house-made guacamole. Our daughter’s go-to “meals” at EPCOT is the aspect of normal ole black beans, together with some grilled hen. We additionally love the over-the-water seating.
None of that’s actually related to this entry, as that rice bowl is not probably the greatest makes use of of a QSDDP credit score. As a substitute, you’ll need to get the marginally dearer tacos entrees. These are tasty and prime quality, however not as filling because the Arroz Bowl. What actually places La Cantina de San Angel excessive, although, is its alcohol. There are a number of drinks which might be $14 or extra–virtually as costly because the entrees!
3. Satu’li Canteen – An objectively nice worth, and subjectively unbelievable meals. Satu’li Canteen is a part of Pandora – World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom, and the spotlight right here is the “Create-Your-Personal-Bowl” possibility, which lets you choose a protein, base, and sauce. My private favourite is the newer Ocean Moon Bowl, which options blue noodles and tuna, amongst many different colourful issues.
The opposite bowls provide the possibility to decide on among the many recent, prime quality, and scrumptious components to make one thing wholesome, heavy and decadent, or in between. (I undoubtedly go for the “unsuitable” finish of that spectrum, and love the meat with potatoes and creamy herb dressing.) In different phrases, there’s one thing for everybody with the choices at Satu’li Canteen.
Other than the Ocean Moon Bowl, the Mixture Bowl is the best way to go–each are nice values on the DDP! Demonstrating its great vary, Satu’li Canteen additionally now serves breakfast, and a few these entrees additionally qualify pretty much as good (however not nice, and positively not high 3) makes use of of QSDDP. Breakfast is seldom use of credit, however that is the uncommon exception to that–and breakfast at Satu’li Canteen tastes unbelievable.
2. Docking Bay 7 Meals & Cargo – The counter service restaurant in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has quite a few expensive entrees that make it an ideal possibility on the Disney Eating Plan. Like a number of of the eating places that make this checklist, ribs are one of many menu objects that’ll increase your worth. The 2 others are Batuuan Beef & Crispy Topato Stir-fry and the Peka Tuna Poke. All three are superior, and extremely beneficial.
Even past that, there are a number of entrees which might be good picks by way of Disney Eating Plan worth. (Plus, the meals is flat-out scrumptious–we love Docking Bay 7 Meals & Cargo!) That plus the specialty alcoholic drinks actually elevate the worth right here into the highest tier. (In contrast, close by Ronto Roasters provides scrumptious choices which might be poor makes use of of DDP credit.)
1. Well mannered Pig – One of many comparatively latest additions to Disney Springs, Well mannered Pig is one other BBQ joint. Following our most up-to-date go to right here, we contemplate Well mannered Pig a must-eat meal on the Disney Eating Plan. (Above is what we ordered. As lined in that submit, these are the 2 finest bang on your DDP credit score meals.)
The potential of this restaurant is thru the roof, and in case you have meal, it’s going to be actually good. It nonetheless doesn’t examine to the distinctive D-Luxe Burger for us, however we’re hoping Well mannered Pig finds its footing. Nonetheless, it’s an ideal place to maximise the worth of your Disney Eating Plan Fast Service credit because of the numerous costly entrees, and that’s what issues most for the needs of this submit.
Actually, when you get previous the primary few eating places on this checklist, there’s not a lot that separates the remaining Counter Service Walt Disney World eating places by way of common worth. Many eating places solely have one costly entree that places them on this checklist, and sometimes that’s a combo like the favored hen and ribs one. Simply because a restaurant isn’t on this checklist doesn’t imply you shouldn’t dine there.
Based mostly on our math, there are 11 eating places at Walt Disney World that provide roughly $30 in most complete worth plus over two-dozen extra eating places that provide $26+ in most worth, which is a reasonably good quantity. If you happen to go by common worth as a substitute of most worth, you could find a number of Counter Service eating places with over $20 in complete worth.
Which means that the distinction between the later entries on this checklist and different spots is usually solely round $1-2. With that little at stake, you actually ought to only eat the place you need if the menus for these eating places don’t look interesting. If you happen to’re in a position to hit $25 in complete worth out of your counter service meals, you’re doing fairly nicely.
You could find an entree that prices no less than $10 at each single Counter Service restaurant, and drinks are sometimes fairly shut in value at these eating places. Because of this, it’s fairly straightforward to attain no less than $20-23 in complete worth. Total, the worth variations at Counter Service eating places are much less drastic than they’re at Desk Service eating places, however you may nonetheless come out forward by consuming on the proper Counter Service eating places.
Hopefully this checklist helps you get extra bang on your buck on the Disney Eating Plan. Take a look at our Worth-Maximizing ideas for Snacks and Worth-Maximizing Suggestions for Desk Service Eating places to get much more worth out of the Disney Eating Plan! If you happen to’re planning a Disney journey, learn our different Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques and our 101 Scrumptious Walt Disney World Eating Suggestions. In case you are planning a Walt Disney World journey, be sure to additionally learn our complete Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information to profit from your expertise!
Your Ideas
What ideas do you have got for getting probably the most out of the Disney Eating Plan? Have any tricks to maximize your worth at different Counter Service eating places? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to suggestions about your experiences is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!