Hi Lesley!
Welcome to planDisney.
It's always a pleasure to assist my fellow guests from the UK, and I'm very happy to help with this question.
The Dining & Merchandise Credit was an early booking deal offered by the Walt Disney Travel Company, and other UK tour operators, last year for holiday packages in 2024. It was available for select dates of the year, with variable amounts depending on your dates and choice of Disney Resort hotel.
As you have qualified for $36 each day, you will receive the
total amount on the day you arrive at your Disney Resort hotel, and it will be emailed to you soon after you have checked in. Then you can store it on your phone for easy access, and will simply need to show the bar code to the Cast Member at the point of purchase, who can also advise you of your updated balance remaining.
This was a great offer as you can use this Dining & Merchandise Credit however you please, across the whole of Walt Disney World Resort! You can use it for buying essential souvenirs, or spend it all on dining, at the four theme parks (Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios or Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park), water parks (Disney's Typhoon Lagoon or Disney's Blizzard Beach, whichever is open),
Disney Springs, or at the Disney Resort hotels. If you wish to spend the whole amount on dining, or a little each day on gifts and snacks, you absolutely can! Please check if any non-Disney-owned shops or restaurants (at Disney Springs) will accept your credit before you make your purchase.
If you love shopping, I highly recommend the
World of Disney (at Disney Springs) - the largest Disney store in the world! They have so much on offer - clothes, plush toys, Star Wars merchandise, Mickey Ears, homewares, jewellery, and more.
Tren-D (also at Disney Springs) is another favourite of mine, along with Sprinkles (cupcakes!) and
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop for the best coffee and ice cream sundaes around. I always visit the Emporium in Magic Kingdom Park, and Creations Shop in EPCOT, and I love Mickey's of Hollywood and Keystone Clothiers at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Please come back and visit us again if you have any further questions, or you can
send me a direct question. We are always happy to help you plan your magical holiday to Walt Disney World.
Sue