Welcome to planDisney, Jennifer. Questions about Disney dining are my favorite, so let's get yours answered!
As long as the restaurant at which you are dining is not an all-you-care-to-eat or prix-fixe establishment, it should be fine for one of the members of your party to pay cash for a light meal or appetizer while everyone else redeems one of their table service dining plan allotments. You'll just want to confirm this with your server when you arrive for your delicious meal.
The
dining plans at the resort offer such great value, and maybe more importantly, they are incredibly convenient. It makes your trip feel more all-inclusive as the majority of your meals are paid for before you even arrive at the resort. Just be sure to make your
advanced dining reservations 60 days before your arrival date at 6 a.m. EST. As a Guest staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection Hotel, you can do this for your entire vacation (up to 10 days). This is a huge advantage as you have access to dates other Guests don't! So be sure to use this useful perk.
Jennifer, make sure you're following along with
Disney Eats for any food-related announcements and tidbits to whet your appetite. If you have any other questions,
please reach out again. I'm here for you!
Good food is like music you can taste,
Matt