Hi, Jennifer! For everything you will need to know about the Disney Dining Plan, click
HERE. This 6 page document is so informative. It lists participating restaurants, which are character dining locations, whether it is quick service or table service, rules for tipping, how to use your credits, and more! I have a copy printed out that I refer to over and over again. You might even want to take it with you on your vacation.
Once you decide what table service locations you would like to dine at, you can call (407)WDW-DINE to make your Advance Dining Reservations. These can be made up to 180 days in advance of your vacation.
Read through the document and let us know if you have any more questions!