Hi Ken!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
This is a great question! I enjoy using the Disney Dining Plan most times I visit Walt Disney World Resort and make the most of the value and flexibility it offers across the whole resort - at the theme parks, the Disney Resort hotels and at select locations at Disney Springs. At this time, every guest within the same Resort reservation has to have the same dining plan - this can be one of three:
Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan;
Disney Dining Plan or
Disney Deluxe Dining Plan. The dining plans will provide you (per night of stay) a certain amount of Table-Service credits and/or Quick-Service credits, depending on which plan you choose, along with 2 Snack credits and a refillable drinks mug. Your refillable drinks mug can be used for unlimited refills of select fountain drinks and hot drinks such as coffee, tea and hot chocolate at the beverage stations at all the Disney Resort hotels. A good tip is if you are planning to dine at a Disney Resort hotel you could fill your mug before you arrive at the restaurant, then request a bottle of water as your drink entitlement with your meal, and take that away with you to use at the parks.
The way the dining plans work is that you are allocated a certain amount of dining credits per night of stay, and when you use them is entirely your choice - so you can use less on one day and more on another. You can completely tailor the dining plans to your needs. Some restaurants and dinner shows require two Table-Service credits each, so you would, in theory, have one less Table-Service credit for another day, but you can pay for that day's meal with cash. Always use your dining plan credits for the most costly meals, to get the very best value from them. Your dining plan can be used from time of check-in (if you use online check-in you can use it from 7.00am on your arrival day) until midnight on your day of departure, and you can view your remaining balance of credits on your
My Disney Experience account, or ask your server at any restaurant.
Please come back and visit us if you have any further questions. We will be happy to help you plan your magical vacation to Walt Disney World Resort.
Sue