Welcome to planDisney, Fabiola!
I am so glad that you asked this question--it'a good one!
When we visit
Walt Disney World, we love adding a
Disney Dining Plan to our reservation for so many reasons. These plans are such a smart way to prepay for your dining while visiting--I'm sure you'll love it, too!
When guests add a Disney Dining Plan to their WDW hotel package, that Dining Plan begins on the first night of stay. Not to worry about a late arrival, though, because all of your Dining Plan meals and snacks are good for your length of stay. It's like having a meal account with the total number of meals and snacks in the account from the moment you arrive. They don't expire until midnight of the day you checkout, too, so a nice meal on that last day might be a great way to wrap up your visit deliciously--while included in your plan. This is true for both the
Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan as well as the
Disney Dining Plan that includes both Quick-Service and Table-Service meals.
So, if you're on the Disney Dining Plan and you choose to start your day with a magically royal princess breakfast at Epcot's
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall then sit down to a delicious dinner at
San Angel Inn Restaurante later that night, you'll use two of your Table-Service meals that day. No worries. So easy!
We often arrive to WDW late in the evening, so we're happy to have the flexibility to use that first night's Table-Service and Quick-Service meals later in the trip. In fact, I'll sometimes book a
Disney Signature Dining reservation that requires 2 Table-Service Meals when this happens--especially if we'll be flying home very early on our last day, making it impossible to use that extra Table-Service meal that day. On our last trip, my husband and I arrived in WDW at 11:00 p.m., too, so I used that extra TS Meal at
Yachtsman Steakhouse two days later. Oh, my goodness. So. Darn. Good!
Oh! And don't forget about snacks! All of your snacks can be used whenever you'd like during your stay, so if you have not used all of your Dining Plan snacks, consider picking up some portable treats for your trip back home. We've got some favorite spots to spend snack credits on everything from fresh pastries, to decadent cookies, fudge squares, and even a Mickey-shaped Pretzel. These definitely help to take the sting out of leaving The Most Magical Place on Earth.
Fabiola, I think you'll love the flexibility of a Disney Dining Plan for your upcoming visit, too. As you plan your upcoming trip, be sure to send additional questions our way. We love to help!
Andrea H