Hi, Kelly!
The best part of the Disney Dining Plan is its flexibility. Your credits are good from the day you arrive until midnight of your check-out day. Your dining credits can be used not only in the theme parks, but also at the resort hotels, Disney Springs, and restaurants located at Disney's Boardwalk.
Some of my favorite out-of-park dining Table Service experiences include Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort and Cape May Café at Disney's Beach Club Resort. For Quick Service, we always enjoy Wolfgang Puck Express in Disney Springs.
Read through the details of the
Disney Dining Plan. It has a complete list of participating restaurants which you will find helpful as it breaks the list down by location.
Once you hit your 180 day booking window, you can begin making your
dining reservations. If you need recommendations on dining locations, let me know! I have experienced so many of the great dining options and would be happy to offer suggestions.
Wishing you a magical vacation!
Cathy