Hi Monica,
The
Disney Dining Plan is simple to use and provides guests with different dining options.
You need to purchase the Disney Dining Plan as part of a Disney package. Your dining plan will be on your Key to the World card along with your park tickets. Your dining plan starts the day you arrive and ends the day you check out. Everyone on your reservation must be on the dining plan.
When you go to order a meal or snack, your credits are deducted from your card. You will receive a receipt listing how many credits were used and the remaining balance. You can use one card for all the meals as they are linked. They can also be used separately.
Depending on the plan you purchase, you will have a different configuration of meals and snacks. Counter service meals are any that you walk up to and purchase a meal like fast food. Table service means you sit down and have a server. A snack is most food items under $4 including a drink.
For children under the age of nine, I think you can not find food at a less expensive price. If you took the basic dining plan with one counter service, one table service and one snack a day, you would get a the table service meal almost for free. Also, snacks are not dictated by age so you or another adult could use the snack credit or grab a bottle of water or other drink.
If you think this is still too much food for your children, then skip it. I do think the child's portions are very reasonable sized.
Wishing you a magical vacation!
Beth