Hi Heather!
Thanks for visiting the Moms Panel with your great question.
You can indeed choose to 'upgrade' the Disney Dining Plan within a Special Offer vacation package!
Simply reserve online and then call in to speak with a Cast Member at (407) 939-7675. Alternatively, you can reserve the package by phone and request the upgrade during the initial reservation process. You will only pay the difference between the 'free' Dining Plan package that was included with your offer, and the actual price of the plan that best suits your family. Depending on the offer and the resort you choose, you can upgrade from the Quick Service Plan to the Disney Dining Plan, or from the Regular Plan to the Deluxe Plan. Either way, you'll simply pay the difference with your Magic Your Way Vacation Package balance.
If you are already certain of the travel dates you're hoping for, I'd recommend that you go ahead and reserve as far in advance as you can. This way, you can begin making payments to your package as you wish. As soon as a
Special Offer becomes available for your vacation dates, simply call in and advise the Cast Member that you have an existing reservation and would like to switch to the Special Offer (let them know the name of the offer you're looking to change over to). The Cast Member will check availability for you and make the necessary changes to your reservation coding, transferring all existing payments over to the new reservation. It's that simple!
If you have additional questions, please write me back Heather! I'd love to hear from you again soon!
Wishing you a simply Magical time as you begin planning your Fall 2013 Walt Disney World vacation!
Kirsten