Editor’s Note: We’ll be updating this post regularly as we learn more about how specialty, non-alcoholic drinks are being classified at Walt Disney World. If you’ve had experience with the plan, please comment below so we can add it to the post! Thanks, Disney food friends!
When the 2018 Disney Dining Plan details were released last June, many guests were excited to discover that alcoholic drinks would be included. For those who like to try adult beverages at Walt Disney World, this was an immediate way to bump up the value of the Disney Dining Plan!
But what about those guests who choose not to drink alcohol or who are under 21 years old (but still required to pay the adult price)? How can they maximize the 2018 Disney Dining Plan by imbibing in “specialty beverages” promised by the new DDP?
Iced Tea Lemonade Slush at Columbia Harbour House
We’re asking the same questions, so we decided to do a post here that we’ll be updating regularly as more information becomes available.
What Specialty Beverages are Included on the Disney Dining Plan?
According to the official word from Disney, specialty beverages include Artisanal Milkshakes, Fresh Smoothies, and Premium Hot Chocolate. (Guests can still get typical Soda, Coffee, and Tea as well if they opt not to select a specialty beverage.)
But what, exactly, constitutes a specialty beverage on the DDP? Are we talking bottomless milkshakes at Plaza Restaurant? Slushies at quick service locations? Capuccino? Souvenir mugs and drinks with glow cubes?
Lotus Glow Cube on Pink Lotus Beverage
The easy answer: we’re still trying to figure this one out. As we expected, reports from guests using the 2018 Disney Dining Plan show that the application of the DDP is a little inconsistent. Some guests report they were told they could select any specialty beverage up to $16, and others have been told their options were more limited.
We’ve had a number of inquiries from our readers, and we hear you! So here’s what we know — with the caveat that mileage may vary dramatically for you until the plan has worked out its evident kinks.
Artisanal Milkshakes
Artisanal Milkshakes
are typically super filling and super tasty, so we love this option! At 50s Prime Time Cafe, the PB&J Milkshake (which comes in at $7 out of pocket) has been reported to be included in the DDP. This is delicious and a fun use of the beverage part of your meal credit — and how’s a milkshake with lunch for a little nostalgia?
Peanut Butter and Jelly Milkshake
You may not think of food courts as great places to grab a milkshake, but the All-Star Resorts have been stepping up their game with cool (and kooky!) combinations — like this Behind-the-Scenes Milkshake that showed up at All-Star Movies for a while! At present, you can pick up Split Screen at World Premiere Food Court — a milkshake with a slice of cheesecake! And these babies can run upwards of $7, so for a use of a beverage credit, they’re a decent value!
All-Star Food Court Shakes
We expect diners at the All-Star food courts can apply their beverage credit for these milkshakes, as we have heard that the DDP’s alcoholic component has been used for the spiked smoothies and shakes that appeared at the food courts as well. But we can’t confirm that your experience will be the same. Let us know in the comments if you’ve had positive or negative experiences with these shakes!
We’ve professed our love for D-Luxe Burger in Disney Springs many times — and now you can consider grabbing an Artisanal Milkshake to go with your burger and fries on the quick service Disney Dining Plan! And since they come in at $7.50, these shakes are some of the best non-alcoholic values on the DDP!
Salted Caramel Shake at D-Luxe Burger
And happily, we have had confirmation from DFB reader Dave that D-Luxe Burger Artisanal Milkshakes are, in fact, DDP-approved!
Fresh Smoothies
Smoothies
come in all shapes and sizes these days (including alcoholic versions as seen at the All-Stars!), and they may be a healthier way to augment your meal.
End Zone Food Court offers several options — including the option to add protein powder! Prices range from $5.49 to $6.49. We expect these smoothies to meet DDP requirements — although we are curious about guest experiences adding protein powder.
Pineapple Orange Smoothie
Other delicious smoothie options include the Super Green Spinach Drink at Landscape of Flavors and a Mango Lassi Smoothie at Sanaa. Yum! We don’t know for sure that these are included, but, again, they seem to meet the letter of the DDP law.
Thanks to DFB reader Isabel, we can confirm that you can add the Smoothie of the Day to your meal at Pepper Market at Coronado Springs Resort (although she reports that it took a little chat with the cast member)!
And DFB reader Vanessa M. tells us that strawberry and mango smoothies are included at San Angel Inn!
Premium Hot Chocolate, Coffee, Tea, and Fountain Drinks
The other drink options on the 2018 Disney Dining Plan include Premium Hot Chocolate (most likely to be found on menus in the fall and winter), plus coffee (are we talking press pot here?), tea, and fountain drinks.
Press Pot of Coffee
In some locations, drinks may be served in specialty goblets and cups, and we have heard from guests who were able to secure a drink with an add-on like a souvenir mug, glow cube, or character clip while on the DDP. But — again — your mileage is likely to vary depending on who’s serving you and where you’re dining.
Schweitzer Slush in Souvenir mug
We hope that as 2018 unfolds, the non-alcoholic beverage option will become more precise, with consistent applications of the credits across the board. But while all of that sorts out, we will continue to update this page with information as we get it!
Click here to see details about the Disney Dining Plan! And click here to see our Disney Dining Plan FAQs!
If you’ve had experience with the 2018 Disney Dining Plan and its non-alcoholic beverage stipulation, let us know in the comments! We want to hear from you! 
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I can confirm that the artisanal shakes and ice cream floats at D-Luxe burger ARE incl as we got them on our trip in January. Strawberry gelato shake was amazingly thick, my fav!
So, when talking about milkshakes, you mention a beverage credit. Does that mean beverages are separate from meals, like snacks. It makes sense to choose an filling artisanal milkshake if it is a meal replacement, but if it’s tied to a meal, it makes less sense.
Two things to think about. First, when I was down at the end of January, I noticed breakfast cocktails were new on most food court menus. This has to be a dining plan related change. Second, I looked at specialty drinks for all the Magic Kingdom quick services, and I just couldn’t make the math work. Slushes are great, but cost about half of what it would take to make the dining plan economical.
After an argument with the server, we finally got a “smoothie of the day” with our dinner meal at Pepper Market at Coronado Springs.
Can you do a post like this for alcoholic beverages? I would love to know what fun alcoholic beverages are included as well.
Thanks, Dave! So happy to hear this!
When we were there in January there was a pretty standard set of drinks that appeared to be offered at most TS locations. Will ask next time for additional options as none of the ones included did much for us.
I think a shake or fruit Smoothie with a QS meal is a pretty good deal.
Brian, the dining plan allows an alcoholic drink with both counter service lunches and table service dinners. So, if the particular location you are eating does not have an alcoholic drink available, you may get a smoothie or a shake ($7.50-8.50)instead of a soda/water ($3-4). So, its Disney’s way of giving you a more expensive drink as a “credit” since they don’t offer alcoholic drinks at every location. So this in essence does make the meal plan more of a value just like a $12 alcoholic drink does at most other locations. We enjoyed and noticed most table service locations had the same alcoholic drinks. Most are $11-$13 ea so it does bring the cost of the meal plan down vs settling for a non-alcoholic drink.
Question, If I choose an alcoholic or specialty beverage, is that in place of a soda or water? I like some drinks, but I also like a soda with my meal. Would I have to purchase the soda seperately?
Yes, that’s right, Cindy.
Shakes and smoothies have been included with table service meals at some restaurants since at least 2014. I was able to get a milkshake as my drink at SciFi in 2014, 2015, and 2016. I didn’t have a dining plan in 2017. I got a mango lassi at Sanaa in 2015. In 2016 I got a strawberry lemonade at the Animal Kingdom Rainforest Cafe.
Would also love alcoholic version of this list. We are going in May and curious of our options.
Thanks so much, love and look forward to All Dfb posts!
I just returned from a trip to the World and had the Quick service plan for my vacation.
For the F & G festival you CANNOT go wrong getting this for your visit.
But back to the post’s subject – specialty drinks. I had no problem getting any beverage (adult) at any location throughout my visit. That includes all, parks and 3 resort hotels. If it was on the menu, I was able to use it as my drink entitlement with my counter service meal.
HOWEVER, if I was one that does not like to partake in adult beverages, besides a couple places that offered slushies I saw NOTHING that would make me feel good about the increase in the plan this year. I thought you would start to see more milkshake options (remember at Pinnochio Haus) or items that would justify the increase for those not wanting alcoholic drinks and I saw hardly anything.
I have a feeling this will be very short lived.
Mike V., thanks for the info!
What have people experienced when you have a family dining at a table service restaurant with 2 adults and 2 kids over 10, so they have adult meal credits? If the adults have say 4 glasses of wine (2 each) and the “adult” kids have 2 sodas, do they take off the 4 wine and charge you cash for the sodas since all credits are for adult meals, or do they charge you for the other 2 glasses of wine? Just curious how they approach that – basically do they take off the most expensive 4 drinks for the 4 adult dining credits?
Can you order your DDP alcoholic beverage with mobile ordering? I’ve never used mobile ordering, so wasn’t sure how they handled ID-ing people. And if so, can one of us pick up both of our alcoholic beverages with one ID?
Lindsi, you are able to order DDP alcoholic beverages with Mobile Ordering. As for picking up the drinks and the ID situation, we’ve seen mileage varies. Some guests report only being allowed to pick up two beverages per ID, while others say they’ve had no problem picking up more than that. No official word on how this works.
We’re arriving on Saturday from UK; we have never been before… so so excited but also confused at how this works with mobile ordering. Do we just select an entree and drink each? Does this then count as one QS credit each?
Keira, when you use Mobile Ordering, you make all of your selections in the app, and then you can designate the number of credits you want to apply. To take advantage of the specialty drinks and/or alcoholic drinks that are now included in DDP, you select the drinks in the app when you place your mobile order.
Thank you for this article!! Trying to understand if the “beverage credit” must be used at the time of ordering a meal, or can it be used independently? Ordering a milkshake or a smoothie with a meal is a lot of food for my family, I would hate to waste, it would be great if we could order at another time….Can someone clarify?
Jackie, the beverage credit can not be used separately from a meal.
I’m not sure why Disney advertised milk shakes as a new specialty beverage as part of the DDP. I have always been able to get milk shakes as my beverage at Sci-Fi, 50’s Prime Time or even Whispering Canyon. And they were bottomless at Whispering Canyon!
Guess they were just trying to make it seem fair to those who wouldn’t be getting adult beverages.
Hi, any chance this article can be updated to reflect 2019 info? We don’t drink alcohol, so we would really like to know what all our options are for non-alcoholic drinks with the Dining Plan. Thank you!
I’ll look into it, Lucy!
So….my husband and I are bringing 2 of our grandkids to Disney World in February 2020. One is 9 and one is 10. We did purchase the Disney Dining Plan. I just want to make sure I am understanding this correctly…. For each person, for each counter service meal and each dining meal, instead of the regular drink (soda, coffee, or tea), we can get a specialty drink, such as a smoothie, milkshake, special hot chocolate, or mocktail. Is that right? We don’t drink the alcoholic drinks, so I’m not asking about those.
Michelle, that’s correct. A specialty drink is an acceptable substitute for quick service and table service meal when available. There are some exceptions, like a loaded milkshake at Plaza Restaurant isn’t included, but generally if they’re listed on the menu as specialty drinks, you’re good to go! Have a wonderful trip!
So it seems Disney has replaced the dessert portion of the quick service meal with the specialty drink, is that correct? It will be a bummer if I chose the restaurant that does not have a non- alcohol specialty drink on the menu. I will need to be more selective in my counter choices in order to get my moneys worth. Are all menus available so I can chose those restaurants offering specialty drinks? Than you
Teddie, most restaurants are now serving some type of specialty drink, but there are menus for every Disney World restaurants. You can search the DFB Restaurant Guide here and Walt Disney World’s menus here.
Teddie, the dessert was replaced with another snack credit. The specialty drink is a supposed upgrade of the drink that was already included. Only the alcoholic drinks are an upgrade. You could already get a non-alcoholic specialty drink before the latest revamp.
Just wanted to say to be prepared to tip more ata table service meal if having an alcoholic beverage with your meal ! It is included persay but is added separately to the actual bill. Example: $110 plus $13 for beverage .
So can I clarify, if my kids all order meals that come with a water/milk, can I bag that drink up to go then still ask for a speciality milkshake for them or is that just way cheeky!! 😜
I seem to think AJ mentioned about this when ordering an adult combo meal once that comes with a soft drink ??
Lisa, you’ll get one beverage per meal with the quick service DDP. So if your kiddo orders a milk, they can’t also order a milkshake or smoothie or other specialty drink. Does that help?
How about at a Table Service meal for kids that comes with milk or apple juice? Can they have the milk and apple juice but also get a milkshake… for example Sci-Fi Dine in? And don’t TS meals come with dessert? I’m just double checking. We’ve never been to Disney on the DDP before. Thanks!
Dee, you’re correct about Table Service: entree, drink, and dessert. (In some cases a server might let you sub an appetizer for a dessert but no guarantees on that one). As for the kids’ meal: you are likely correct that you could do that. But mileage might vary depending on the cast member and how they interpret the language. It never hurts to ask (and to push to speak to a supervisor if you feel strongly about it).
any way we can get an update or video on this? i am going in may and curious myself
Laura, I’ll share your request with the team!
I’m curious if they will bring you a glass of complimentary water is you choose to go the milkshake route. I think I would choke on my food without something actually liquid to drink.
Miranda, you can get a glass of water, too.
Does the specialty cocktails included in the DDP consist of 1 alcohol only or an alcoholic beverage with more than one alcohol?
Tyson, the cocktails vary from restaurant to restaurant, but they could include more than one alcoholic component.