Hi, Kate!
Thank you for sending in your question to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
The best way to maximize the value of your
Disney Dining Plan (DDP) is to determine which
Table-Service restaurants you'd like to dine at during your stay and then use your DDP at those with the more expensive menu items. However, I would personally recommend
not using your DDP at
Signature Dining locations which require 2 meal credits per person. Even if you plan to order
the absolute most expensive entree, I don't feel this is a good use of your DDP credits. I would suggest paying out-of-pocket when dining at any Signature restaurants (such as California Grill, Citrico's, Le Cellier, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Flying Fish Cafe, Jiko, etc.). If you plan to enjoy any
Character Dining experiences, you'll definitely want to use your DDP for these meals.
You can view all the restaurant menus by following this link to
Walt Disney World Table-Service Dining Locations.
Since you'll be at Walt Disney World in October, you may want to check out a special seasonal event, the
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. You will be able to use your DDP
Snack credits to try the delicious small plates, desserts and non-alcoholic beverages offered at the Marketplace food kiosks in World Showcase. This is an excellent use of your DDP Snack credits since many of the menu selections are priced above $5.00.
I hope this helps, Kate! Please let me know if I can answer any other questions as you plan your October trip.
Kimberly