Hi, Kelly!
Thanks so much for sending your question to us at Disney Parks Moms Panel!
My family and I just returned from a most magical stay at
Walt Disney World Resort where we thoroughly enjoyed dining around the World using our
Disney Dining Plan. You are going to love the freedom of choice your plan affords you throughout your stay, too!
Basically, your Disney Dining Plan is connected to your Walt Disney World Resort hotel reservation, not your park ticket; while you may use those Dining Plan entitlements at many restaurants and kiosks that are located in Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, you may also use them at many locations in Walt Disney World Resort hotels, water parks, and at
Disney Springs.
Guests on a Disney Dining Plan receive their allotment of snack and meal entitlements based on nights of stay. So, if you are staying ten nights at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you'll have ten sets of meals/snacks that you can enjoy in any combination throughout your vacation. All entitlements expire at midnight on the evening of checkout.
If you'd like to track your entitlement usage, the number remaining will be printed on your dining receipts. However, I prefer to keep an eye on entitlement balances by using the
My Disney Experience mobile app. Just open the app, click on "Resort Hotel", and you'll be able to see how many entitlements--of each variety--remain in your account. It's so helpful!
Have fun planning your use of those delicious entitlements, Kelly! If you'd like some suggestions regarding our favorites, send us another question. We love to help!
Andrea