Disney Eats 101: What Can I Get For A Snack Credit

January 5, 2019

My clients often ask me what is considered a snack credit at Walt Disney World, and whenever they use this phrasing it reminds me of one of my favorite overheard in Walt Disney World moments.

There are few things I like better in this world than drinking and snacking around the World Showcase at Epcot. We always add the Park Hopper option to our park tickets mainly so that we can spend two or three hours each day enjoying the ware of a couple more pavilions. One evening we found ourselves relaxing for a while in the Germany pavilion before a dining reservation next door in Italy (Epcot geography is much different than your standard map).

I was sent to find a table and grab beers from the Bier cart while my wife stood in line at Karamel Küche. I was enjoying the night air, the Schöfferhoffer grapefruit beer, and the wafting aromas of sweet caramel drifting from the shop and wondering exactly how many treats my wife was picking out, when I heard the voice of man who was definitely on his fourth or fifth pavilion of the day say to the German cast member at the Bier cart,

“I need two Schöfferhoffers, and one of those giant pretzels you have. I’m gonna use a snack credit for the pretzel.”

“Sorry,” said the cast member, “the pretzel is not considered a snack credit.”

“Well, what’s it considered, then?”

“It’s considered ten dollars.”

I don’t know if it was the fact that my own beer was empty, that it was day five of our Walt Disney World vacation so I was reaching that level of magic overloaded sleep deprived joyous delirium, or the very efficient and matter of fact German tone and phrasing of an incredibly patient cast member who probably had to field that same question all day long, but “it’s considered ten dollars” sent me into a fit of giggles.

I wasn’t quite sure why the guy got upset. Ten dollars for a giant pretzel isn’t outrageous to me – we have one of a similar size at my local pub here in Minneapolis, and it’s $11.99. But there is often misunderstanding for those who utilize one of the Walt Disney World Dining Plans – what is considered a snack credit? The answer is simple: look for the symbol! What symbol? This one:

All snack credit eligible items will have this symbol beside it on the menu. No symbol, no snack credit. Simple, right?

Regardless of which dining plan (quick service, table service, or deluxe) you elect to add to your Walt Disney World vacation package, each member of your travel party will receive two snack credits per night of your stay to use as you see fit. As a general rule, snacks are normally most beverages, desserts, or sides that are under $7.50 at any counter service and kiosk location in the theme parks, Disney Springs, and the on-site Walt Disney World Resorts. Anything considered a snack will have the purple snack logo listed next to it on the menu.

At first glance, two snacks a day doesn’t seem like a lot, but it adds up. For instance, on our last ten-night summer trip, the three of us had a total of sixty snack credits to use during our vacation. Wow! Here are my two pieces of advice to maximize the value of your credits.

Do not get the banana.

You can absolutely get a banana, which will run you about $2.50, as a snack credit. But instead of a banana, how about a pineapple upside down cake from Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom, which would set you back $6.99? Each of those is one of your snack credits.

My personal favorite way to spend my credits is at one of the four festivals at Epcot. The International Flower & Garden Festival, Food & Wine, Festival of the Holidays, and Festival of the Arts have at least fifteen event-specific outdoor kitchens (Food & Wine has over thirty!) with a wide array of food and drinks. And all of the food options are snack credits!

Get the banana.

I know, I know, this is counterintuitive since I just told you to not get the banana. But a $2.50 banana is a much better value than not using the credit at all. You do not want to be the woman I overheard in the shop at Wilderness Lodge one evening who walked right up to the cast member and said, “I have thirty-two snack credits to use before we leave tomorrow morning. What can I get for them?” If you do end up being that person, however, some advice- most prepackaged snacks (including candy) count as a snack credit so why not help Santa out with the stockings this year?

You can check your dining credit remaining credits at any time on your My Disney Experience app. If you find yourself not using your credits, start getting those bananas or bottled water. Many of the shops also have packaged candy options for snack credits that you can take home with you. My favorite option, however? Head to an ice cream seller and tell them you’ll buy Mickey Bars for the next ten people in line. Spread the magic!

By the way, even though the giant pretzel in Germany is not considered a snack credit, the Mickey pretzel is!

photo credits: Giant Pretzel – Tiffany Harmon. Mickey Pretzel – Missy Graner. Snacks in a Basket- Jill Bivins

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Disney Eats 101: What Can I Get For A Snack Credit 4

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