For those of you visiting Disney World this summer and using a dining plan, you’ll get plenty of snack credits to help stave off those between-meal, waiting-on-line-all-day hunger pangs. There are hundreds of options throughout the parks, and price doesn’t matter as long as the item is classified as a snack — because one snack credit covers one snack, whether a bottle of water or a tasty French Napoleon.
(You know which one I’d choose.)
If you’re strategic and know your options ahead of time, you can be smart about getting the best value — and best treats — for your dollar. In fact, in some cases, one snack credit can score you a treat satisfying enough to serve as a small midday meal. These are my top 10 Disney snack credit items in each park so that you can use those credits wisely.
Top: Elephant Ear pastries at Kusafiri Coffee Shop | Kelsey Bang
Note: The prices and availability of any of these items are subject to the whims of Disney World and may change at any time.
Related: 5 smart Disney Dining Plan tricks that will make your next vacation (ahem) magical.
Best Snacks at Magic Kingdom
Photo: Reed Family Magical Vacation
At the Main Street Bakery, you can use your snack credit to get Starbucks drinks — even fancy ones like a Venti Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino ($5.49). And if there’s one thing mama needs at Disney, it’s her Starbucks. Also, if you find that you need your fix while closer to another Starbucks location, you must check out this genius trick for how to find short lines at Starbucks in Disney at Reed Family Magical Vacation.
In Tomorrowland, you can find a couple of healthy(ish) snack options, like fruit smoothies made with non-fat yogurt ($4.49) and Greek-style yogurt ($4.99). If you get to the end of your day and haven’t used all of your snack credits, grab a yogurt to save on breakfast the next morning.
It may count as a snack, but you can make a light lunch out of the French Onion Soup ($5.49) at Be Our Guest in Fantasyland. Pretty genius.
Get a protein boost with the Cinnamon Glazed Almonds at the Adventureland Nut Cart ($4.75).
The one Disney snack that everyone talks about is Dole Whip ($4.99) at Aloha Isle in Adventureland. It’s pineapple flavored soft serve that is inexplicably delicious, especially if you get it as a float. The Aloha Isle menu has a couple of other options, but don’t bother. This is where you must get Dole Whip.
I’m a believer in afternoon dessert, even at Disney. One of my favorite tips is to time things so that you can sit with an Ice Cream Sundae ($5.29+) at The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street while watching a parade go by.
The Funnel Cakes with powdered sugar or cinnamon at Sleepy Hollow Inn Heart Fare & Drink ($5.69) are among the most expensive snacks in the park, but they’re big enough to share. Use another person’s snack credit for a drink to split, too, and snack mission complete.
Photo: Pam Brandon for Disney Parks Blog
You have to get Mickey-shaped food while at Disney World and our favorite is the Mickey Pretzel ($4.50), which you can find at various snack sites throughout park. Instagram worthy.
Use a snack credit to add a Baked Sweet Potato ($3.29) to your meal at Liberty Square Market. It’s enough to make a quick-service meal feel more like a table service one.
Another favorite healthier snack option is the Hummus and Chips ($4.39) at Gaston’s Tavern. The protein will boost your energy for the rest of the day, and it’s light enough that you won’t feel sick when you’re flying down Splash Mountain. At least not from the snack.
Related: The best travel snack recipes and ideas, perfect for a day in the parks.
Best Snacks at Epcot
My favorite part of Disney World is the World Showcase at Epcot, because food! My first snack is always the Churros with Caramel Sauce ($3.99) in Mexico — yum! If you love churros as much as I do, check out this full breakdown of Disney churros at Urban Tastebud Disney. It has very important info that will help guide you to the best churros in the park. Very important.
Our family likes to stroll through the different country areas using our snack credits together, that way we can all try different treats. A favorite are the Jalapeño Cheese Pretzels — pretzels stuffed with spicy cheese — at Block & Hans in America ($4.75), which are really easy to share. That is, if you can resist eating the whole thing yourself.
There are some amazing pastries at the Kringla Bakeri og Kafe and almost all of them count as snack credits. We stock up on treats from this bakery for breakfast the next morning, if we can wait that long. We usually can, because who can resist a huge Cream Puff ($3.79) for breakfast?
Another snack that’s big enough to serve as a light lunch is the Curry Chicken Pocket at Joy of Tea in China ($3.99). Also, it’s portable, so you can eat while you walk.
If you have a sweet tooth for chocolate or caramel, stop by the Caramel Kuche in Germany where they have tons of fruit and sweets dipped in chocolate and caramel. My favorite: the caramel and chocolate pineapple ($4.79).
Photo: Jonathan Boulton for Delish
If you’re looking for something to sip, grab an American Dream — a combination of strawberry and blue raspberry slushie with vanilla soft serve — at the Fife & Drum Tavern in America ($4.50). The folks at Delish agree that it’s among the best 15 foods at Epcot, a list which you must visit for meal planning purposes. Because you cannot miss these finds. (Holy hummus fries!)
For a light but decadent meal, try the Lobster Bisque at Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie in France ($4.90), which, believe it or not, counts as a snack. Impressive, because lobster.
Or choose between all of the amazing pastries at Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie…if you can. I have a hard time picking just one thing, but always manage to come out with something. My favorite tends to be the real French Napoleon ($4.25).
The sushi at Kabuki Cafe in Japan ($4.98) is actually really good and super fresh. Quite a few varieties can be purchased with a snack credit, and the snack size is a great thing to nosh on while waiting for a table to open up at one of the nicer restaurants.
Let’s be honest, you eat a lot of chicken nuggets and fries at Disney World, so when you find an unusual treat like the Green Tea Cheesecake at Katsura Grill in Japan ($4.50) it’s worth spending a snack credit…and the calories.
Related: 5 easy ways to eat healthy while traveling with kids that you may not have tried yet.
Best Snacks at Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Studios
The huge Elephant Ear pastries at Kusafiri Coffee Shop in Animal Kingdom ($4.99) are a great treat for breakfast — for the whole family. While you’re at the Animal Kingdom, don’t miss all the delicious bites Kelsey Bang recommends, as well as her tips for the absolute best time to see the animals on the safari ride.
I love finding healthy snack options, because they really do boost your energy (and morale) on an exhausting day in the park, and the Edamame snack box at Bradley Falls in Animal Kingdom ($3.99) is the perfect pick-me-up.
If you’re not hungry enough for a whole lunch, but want more than trail mix, grab an order of chicken fried rice at Yak & Yeti in Animal Kingdom ($4.99), which surprisingly counts as a snack, not a meal. The Undercover Tourist agrees and even has other suggestions on this awesome list of the most budget-friendly, filling snacks at Disney that you should check out, as well. I know that I’m adding a few of their finds to my must-try list for our next visit.
If you’re looking for a big afternoon treat, try the Ice Cream floats at Dino-Bite Snacks in Animal Kingdom ($4.49). These are especially perfect on a hot, summer day.
Don’t miss the Unicorn Lollipops at Dinosaur Store in Animal Kingdom ($3.95), because unicorns. They also make a fun souvenir for someone who wasn’t able to join you on the trip.
There are fantastic gluten-free bakery snacks at Discovery Island in Animal Kingdom, including vegan blondies ($3.39) and allergy-friendly Mini Cupcakes from famed allergy-free bakery Babycakes ($5.99, shown). In fact, you can read a super helpful review of the Babycakes treats and dairy-free ice cream available at Disney at Disney Food Blog. Yay for allergen-friendly options!
Over at Hollywood Studios, you can make your money go farther by treating yourself to a pretzel ($4.75) or churros ($3.50) at Pretzel Garden Hollywood Studios. Carb heaven.
If you’re looking for something healthier that won’t leave you feeling heavy and grumpy in the afternoon, grab a side of carrots and celery with ranch ($3.69) or mixed fruit ($3.59) at Anaheim Produce in Hollywood Studios. Sounds boring, but you’ll be amazed at how much you might crave crisp fresh produce in the middle of a junk-food fueled day at the park.
For more fun Mickey-shaped treats, head to Sweet Spells inside the Beverly Sunset Shop in Hollywood Studios. There are tons of options, but I happen to like the Mickey Gingerbread Men dipped in chocolate ($3.99). Because, when in Disney…
