Hey, howdy, hey John! Welcome to planDisney, and thanks for bringing us your great Disney dining question. Talking about food is one of my favorite things, so you've got a friend in me!
I'm happy to report that as long as you have checked in to your Disney Resort hotel, your
Quick Service Dining Plan credits will be added to your account and ready for use at any time on your arrival day. You do not need to wait until after 3 pm. You can check in easily online at
My Disney Experience up to 60 days in advance... and then you're good to go!
How exciting that your Spring Disney World vacation is coming so soon! That's my favorite time of year to visit, and I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy the
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival during your stay. Did you know that frequently the specialty food booths offer items that are eligible to purchase with your dining plan snack credits? Just look on the posted menu for anything marked with the purple/white dining plan icon.
One last tip, since you will be using the awesome Quick Service Dining Plan. Placing your
mobile food order ahead of time in the My Disney Experience app is super slick! This has saved my family lots of time waiting in those crowded lunch and dinner time lines, and gives us a chance to easily peruse the menu and each make our choices. I often do this 30-45 minutes ahead of when we'd like to eat, while waiting in a ride queue and realizing we're getting hungry.
I hope this helps, John. Please
visit me again at planDisney if I can assist with anything else like dining location recommendations or other fun planning details.
Wishing you a magical vacation!
Tami