Y’all, the Disney Dining Plan is RETURNING.

Ok, not until 2024, but that means you have plenty of time to master it before your trip. It can be a little confusing, but that’s why we’re here to help. Today, we’re talking about the number one rule that everybody forgets when using the DDP and how to use it to your advantage.

Trying to figure out how to use your Dining Plan credits can be challenging. But, did you know that you can use Disney Dining Plan credits at EPCOT’s festivals?

EPCOT currently has four festivals throughout the year: Festival of the Arts, Flower and Garden Festival, Food and Wine Festival, and Festival of the Holidays.

While you’re making your way around the World Showcase during one of these festivals, you can use your Snack Credits at the Outdoor Kitchens! This can be a great way to spend those credits since some of those items can be a bit pricey at around $8 or $9.

But wait, how is one snack credit per day going to help you taste your way around the festival? Good news — you can use your credits on whichever day you want! So, for example, if you have a 4-night package with 4 Table-Service Meals, 4 Quick-Service meals, and 4 snacks or non-alcoholic beverages, you can use those credits at any time during your stay

That means you could use all four of your Snack Credits on the day you visit EPCOT if you wanted to. This could be a great use of those credits if you wanted to sample as many food items as possible around the festival.

One more way you can get the best bang for your buck during the festivals is by trading in your Quick-service credits. In the past, Disney would let you trade in one Quick-Service Credit for three Snack Credits! It required you to request this trade with a Cast Member, and it wasn’t an official rule so they didn’t always honor the swap, but it might be worth checking on.

Lastly, don’t forget that alcohol is included in the Disney Dining Plan. Each meal includes a beverage, and if you’re 21 or older, you can choose a beer, wine, or cocktail! Unfortunately, you can’t use a snack credit to get an alcoholic drink at the Outdoor Kitchens, but keep this in mind for when you use your Quick-Service Meal or Table-Service Meal Credits.

As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news!

Get your guide to maximizing the DDP here!

What questions do you still have about the Disney Dining Plan? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The One Rule Everyone Forgets About the Disney Dining Plan first appeared on the disney food blog.