Top 5 Disney Dining Plan One-Credit Table-Service Values for 2012

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From the Disney Food blog...

Top 5 Disney Dining Plan One-Credit Table-Service Values for 2012

Mar 29th, 2012 by Kim.

Now that you’ve booked your 2012 Disney World vacation, it’s time to make your Advance Dining Reservations. Which restaurants are credit-worthy?

The vacation package add-on called the Disney Dining Plan is a meal plan with a set price in exchange for a certain number of credits. Many table-service meals in Disney World cost one credit, but are you getting the best value?

Stick to the one-credit restaurants, order the most expensive meal on the menu, and maximize your savings! Let’s get to my top picks for best value at “one table-service credit” Walt Disney World restaurants. I think some of them will surprise you!

Criteria Used

When we looked at values, our main criteria was price. These restaurants offer a great bang for your buck when paying with the Disney Dining Plan.

We also looked at enjoyment level and food quality, but these criteria were secondary and tertiary to cost. Note that these aren’t necessarily our favorite restaurants, but they are good values for one Disney Dining Plan credit.

Tutto Italia

Tucked into the Italian pavilion at Epcot, Tutto Italia Ristorante boasts regional cuisines from Italy in an Old World setting. Table service is attentive, although the fine-dining atmosphere can lead to longer waits.

This restaurant serves up a Roasted Rack and Leg of Lamb ($34) as an entree. End your meal with Copetta Sotto Boscue, a dessert specialty comprised of berries, zabaglione cream, gelato, and chocolate sauce, which has an out-of-pocket price of $14. When both of these items are ordered, Tutto Italia becomes quite possibly your best one-credit table-service value in Walt Disney World.

There’s also a Veal Roast which would run you $31 out-of-pocket but… perfectly worth one dining credit!

Veal

Tutto Italia is closed for refurbishment until the end of April, 2012. When it re-opens, guests will find new carpet, lighting, furniture, and decor. Plus, there will be the new Gusto Wine Bar for your sipping pleasure!

Kouzzina by Cat Cora

Kouzzina, a Boardwalk Resort, specializes in Mediterranean-style cuisine by Celebrity Chef, Cat Cora. The lobby shelves are even filled with her family photos! Your table-service credit goes far here when you order the Wood-Grilled Steak with its $34 price tag. And the extremely welcoming staff makes the value even better!

Flank steak and crushed garlic potatoes

For dessert, we’re recommending the Baklava — a walnut and cinnamon pastry accompanied by pistachio gelato ($9.49).

San Angel Inn Restaurante

Underneath twilight lighting inside the pyramid of Epcot’s Mexico pavilion, San Angel Inn provides a fun place to dine for a romantic meal or a family dinner.

Sample the cuisine by ordering the Traditional Mexican Dinner ($34), then savor a delicious dessert priced $7-8.

Newly Updated San Angel Inn in Epcot

After your meal, try on a sombrero at the indoor village!

Photo Source: Scott Sanders

Les Chefs de France

Attentive service and delicious French cuisine can be found in a cozy corner of Epcot’s France pavilion at Les Chefs de France. We love the window tables for a true Parisian experience.

And if you time your visit just right, you’ll be entertained by the adorable Chef Remy.

On recent visits, the entrees have been consistently delectable and the desserts absolutely divine!

Profiteroles

Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted with an oven-fresh baguette! Price-wise, dinner entrees run between $26-$35, and desserts all run over $7 each. You’ll get the best trade-in value with your dining plan credit when ordering the Grilled Tenderloin of Beef ($35).

Rainforest Cafe

The eats at this restaurant can really stretch your vacation budget. If you have kids that are begging to dine with the audio-animatronic animals, Rainforest Cafe is a great choice for your table-service dining credit.

Seafood lovers and landlubbers will find plenty of entree choices! Out-of-pockets guests will pay about $38 for the Primal Steak with Coconut Shrimp making this a great value for your table-service credit! With two locations (Downtown Disney Marketplace and Animal Kingdom), it’s easy to work this restaurant into your itinerary.

For dessert, try the Tribal Cheesecake (an $8 value)!

Honorable Mentions

You’ll get a pricey entree and wonderful dessert for $40-41 when paying cash at these honorable mention restaurants at Walt Disney World:

Dining at the dinner buffets at Cape May Cafe, 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey’s, and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall are a great use of your table-service credits.

Sit-down meals at Whispering Canyon Cafe, Coral Reef, and Le Cellier (lunch only) should also be on your radar when seeking out the best values for your Disney Dining Plan credits.

What Do You Think?

What would your picks be for getting the most out of your DDP one-credit meals? Looking forward to hearing from you in the comments section below! You can see our 2011 picks here!

*For purposes of comparison, the standard dining plan will cost adults $51.54 per night per adult (ages 10 and up) and $15.02 per night per child (3-9) during value and regular seasons. The same plan will cost adults $53.54 per night, and kids $16.02 per night during peak season.

For more of our favorites, check out our Best Disney World Restaurants series! For more Disney Dining Plan details, check out our Disney Dining Plan Pages.

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012/03/29/top-5-disney-dining-plan-one-credit-table-service-values-for-2012/

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Wow, that's a lot of food every night of your vacation!!!

When we go for the FREE dining plan and stay at a Value (we pay the upgrade), we much prefer to dine at Signature Restaurants every Other evening, then use our counter services. Otherwise, we'd never use the counter service up!!

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

That's what happened to us last time we did DDP. We did just a couple of signature dining meals, and there was just too much food (and we're not slouches in the eating dept)!

The last day we had 6 or 7 QS credits left and a bunch of snack credits too.

We ended up using the QS credits to "buy lunch" for a few friends, and bought sodas for the ride home at the Trading Post with the snack credits.

[MicknMin...Holly 54]

Wow, that's a lot of food every night of your vacation!!!

When we go for the FREE dining plan and stay at a Value (we pay the upgrade), we much prefer to dine at Signature Restaurants every Other evening, then use our counter services. Otherwise, we'd never use the counter service up!!

That's what we do too, Carol. The last trip as only four nights, so we ate at the Yachtsman's Steakhouse (Toby's favorite) one night and then Narcoosee's (my favorite) another night. Since we weren't staying at the Fort, we just ate fast food the other nights. I could never eat a big meal every night on vacation!