Hi there, Jennifer!
The various
Disney Dining Plans are a very popular part of many
Walt Disney World vacations. In order to be eligible to purchase a dining plan, you do have to be staying at a
Walt Disney World resort hotel and purchase the dining plan as part of a
Magic Your Way Vacation Package. The package combines your hotel stay, theme park passes, and the dining plan. The plans are not available at Disney Springs area hotels.
The way the
Quick Service Dining Plan works is that each member of your party in your room will get 2 quick service meals and 2 snacks for each night of your stay at your hotel. The credits can be used by presenting your resort
MagicBand and telling them how many meal credits or snack credits you are using.
All of the credits are on your account at check-in and can be used however you'd like to use them. Some people may use three quick service credits per day, opting to pay for a sit down meal or another meal separately.
Also, keep an eye on the special offers at your hotel. They do occasionally offer free buffet breakfast with their packages, and I have seen a kids eat free offer in the past few months.
Have so much fun planning, Jennifer!
Anna