Can You Use Disney Gift Cards at Restaurants?

We all know that a trip to Disney can get expensive fast. 

So, of course, a gift card can make the entire trip possible. 

But, can you spend that gift card on food, one of the most basic requirements of a vacation?

You can use your Disney gift cards at any Disney owned and operated restaurant as long as they accept credit cards. Thus, you can purchase food with your Disney gift card at practically any restaurant in any Disney park in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. 

At Which Restaurants Can You Spend Your Disney Gift Cards?

Now that we’ve determined that you can spend your Disney gift cards at all Disney-owned and operated restaurants, let’s take an individual look at each type of restaurant that Disney offers. 

I’ll also explain what each restaurant is and give you some tips for dining at them. 

Can You Use Disney Gift Cards at Quick-Service Restaurants?

Disney quick service restaurants come in two types: cafeteria-style and counter-order. 

Both of these options allow you to quickly purchase food so that you can easily get on with your trip. 

And luckily, you can use Disney gift cards at quick-service restaurants as long as Disney owns them. 

You’ll have plenty of options for quick-service restaurants too, when you visit Disney. 

For example, there are about 200 of these establishments in Disney World alone. 

Can You Use Disney Gift Cards at Disney Table Service Restaurants?

Yes, you can use Disney gift cards at just about any of Disney’s table service restaurants. 

Table service restaurants are traditional sit-down restaurants where you can take a break and enjoy your food. 

Eating at these places can easily enhance your trip, but you ought to reserve a table if you plan to go to a table service restaurant in a Disney park. 

Reserving ensures that you don’t have to wait too long for seating, so you can quickly get on to your next adventure. 

You should especially consider booking a reservation if you’re visiting Disney around a holiday or in mid-summer when the park is the most crowded. 

You can make reservations up to 180 days in advance. 

Can You Use Disney Gift Cards at Disney Resort Restaurants?

You can use a Disney gift card to pay for dining at virtually all restaurants in Disney resorts, including: 

• Walt Disney World Resort 
• Disneyland Resort
• Aulani, Disney Resort and Spa 
• Disney’s Vero Beach Resort 
• Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort 

Yet, you should always ask before you eat or before making a reservation to ensure you can use your gift card at that restaurant. 

Can You Use Disney Gift Cards for Food on Disney Cruises?

Yes, you can use Disney gift cards for most food on Disney cruises, including: 

• Meals at Palo, an adult-exclusive Italian restaurant on the cruise ship
• Meals when you eat at the cruise’s Culinary Adventures, which allow you to try foods that reflect the destinations you visit
• Beverage tastings, where you can experience new alcoholic beverages

Yet, paying for meals on a Disney cruise is not the same as how you would pay for food elsewhere. 

You will not pay for your food and drink as soon as you get them when you are on a Disney cruise. 

Instead, using a Key to the World card, you will add these charges to your stateroom account. 

Then, before you disembark, you will have the opportunity to pay with a Disney gift card if you want. 

You can also pay for other items on your tab, such as spa services and onboard merchandise, with your gift card. 

Can You Purchase Alcohol With Your Disney Gift Card?

Generally, yes. 

Again, you need to make sure you are buying your alcohol from a Disney-owned and operated establishment. 

For the most part, this means you can purchase alcohol with your gift card from just about any seller in Disney’s parks or their resorts. 

Also, if you are staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel, you can add your drink purchases to your MagicBand. 

Then, you can pay for your MagicBand purchases with your gift card at the hotel’s front desk. 

And as stated above, you can use your gift card to pay for beverage tastings on a Disney cruise. 

Can You Use a Disney Gift Card to Pay for Food and Drink at Disney Wine Festivals?

Disney hosts two major wine festivals. 

One of them takes place at Disneyland (Anaheim, California) in spring, while you’ll find the other at Epcot (Bay Lake, Florida) in fall. 

You can pay for food and drink at both of these festivals with Disney gift cards. 

In fact, the Epcot festival even offers a Food and Wine gift card. 

If you purchase this card, you will get a wristband to make it quick and easy to pay for items at the festival. 

Meanwhile, the Disneyland event lets you pay for a Sip and Savor Pass with a gift card. 

Is It Cheaper to Pay for Food and Drink With a Disney Gift Card?

Basically, whether it’s cheaper to pay for food and drink with a gift card depends on how much you paid for your card. 

Typically, when you buy a Disney gift card, you pay face value for it. 

Thus, if the gift card is worth $50, you will pay $50 for it, meaning you won’t get a discount. 

Yet, there are ways to buy Disney gift cards so that you can get 4-5% off or more. 

One of the best ways to get discounted Disney gift cards is from BJ’s Wholesale. 

If you are a member of BJ’s, you can get about 4% off of Disney gift cards, which will help you save money on your trip. 

Target and Sam’s Club have similar deals if you have a membership card. 

Conclusion 

For the most part, you can use your Disney gift card at just about any restaurant that resides in one of Disney’s parks, resorts, or cruise ships. 

But, you should remember that it is always best to call ahead to ensure that the restaurant you are going to accepts Disney gift cards.