Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Judy! I’m so glad to hEAR you asking these awesome questions leading up to your magical family vacation. You’ll be on your way to Walt Disney World Resort before you know it, passing under those magical Mickey and Minnie arches on the highway.
You’re completely on the right track with your credits question about the
Disney Dining Plan. All of your dining credits are in a “bucket” of sorts… you can use them whenever or however you want to. If you saved up all your snack credits for your last day, you can go tasting in Epcot, or do as I do and stop into
Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Confectionary and check out with lots of rice krispy treats! You can also “downgrade” a quick service credit into snack credits, too. You will do this at the register. And yes, if you find yourself at a walk up or table and want to pay out of pocket with a gift card, you can do that. Waitstaff or Cast Members will ask you if you are using the Dining Plan before taking your order. You can simply say that you aren’t using it at this time, and show your preferred form of payment.
If I can help you fill your tummy and recommend my favorite QS or TS locations in the Parks and Resorts, please let me know. I need a Mickey Pretzel after all this tasty talk! ~ Lindsey P.