If you’re eating counter service at your resort hotel and have the resort’s Rapid Fill mugs (see page 36), use the soft drink portion of your counter-service credit on a bottled beverage from the Grab-n-Go, and save it for later.

On the Basic Dining Plan, it matters little if you dine at a la carte or buffet/ character table-service restaurants—the value of each meal is similar.

At counter-service spots you can convert your non-alcoholic drink into a snack item or a snack credit to be used later—ask at check-out. You can also substitute a single Quick Service meal for up to three snack items.

Disney tracks your dining credit balance by computer, but watch your meal credits carefully. Each meal receipt lists the number of credits you have remaining, but there can be errors. Your resort’s Lobby Concierge can print out a detailed accounting. Note the credits you’ve used (and plan to use) on our Dining Worksheet on page 268 or in the LIVE! Guide Tools.

Your entire travel party’s credits are grouped together by type (adult and child) so you can use your credits as you wish. You can also pay for someone else’s meal with your credits, and, if you’re on the Deluxe dining plan, you can use any child meal entitlements for adult entrees.

You may exchange two table-service credits for selected dinner shows, Signature Dining, in-room dining, and pizza delivery—one pizza serves two adults. The average values (and quality) of many one-credit table-service restaurants are nearly as high as Signature Dining experiences, which can mean you’ll get far more bang for your buck by avoiding the Signature establishments altogether.

Eateries participating in the Dining Plan can change at any time. You can download the most recent list of eateries at Disney’s web site and/or request one at 407-WDW-DINE.

Leftover snack credits? Use them to buy snacks for the trip home.

Here are some “secret numbers”—these are the average values of adult meals based on our calculations (includes tax and 18% gratuity):