Hi Michelle,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I am delighted to answer this dining plan question!
The
Disney Deluxe Dining Plan is my family's favorite dining plan because we love the flexibility it affords. First, if you have not done so already, I suggest that you calculate the number of meal entitlements you will receive for the duration of your stay. Remember that meal entitlements are calculated per night of stay. So, if you are staying for 6 nights, each person 3-years old and over in your party on the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan will receive 18 meal entitlements for the entire stay. You can use them in whichever order you choose.
If you started with 18 meal entitlements and you only use one meal entitlement on the first night, you would still have 17 remaining meal entitlements to use. Since you cannot receive credit for unused meal entitlements, I suggest that you consider doing one or two signature dining experiences. When we use the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan, we always plan one or two signature dining experiences. California Grill and Cinderella's Royal Table, for example, both require two meal entitlements per person. We always save one meal entitlement for our last day so that we can eat breakfast on the day we checkout.
Michelle, I always create a chart with all of our dining reservations and the number of meal entitlements required. Doing so helps me to make sure I have accounted for all of our meal entitlements prior to checkout!
Magic, memories and Minnie Mouse hugs,
Donyell