Hi, Eric! I'm going to put you on two different timelines: one is something to do
immediately. The other is something to do the
day before you leave. Make sure you brush at least twice daily in the interim.
To answer your last question first (sorry to sound all Dr. Seuss-like,) I say unto you, "you betcha!" Character dining is included as a table service credit with the Disney Dining Plan. (Only a few character dining experiences count as two credits.)
So let's talk about your two timelines.
1. IMMEDIATELY: make advanced dining reservations for your character dining experiences.
- Go to the Disney Dining & Reservations page
- To view character experiences, select "Character Dining" in the "Cuisine or Dining Experience" drop down menu
- Enter the date, time and number of guests and click "Search for a Table"
- A page will load and show you what's available
- From the page of dining availability, you'll be able to make a reservation
- Our family's favorites are Crystal Palace, Donald's Safari Breakfast, Cinderella's Royal Table, 1900 Park Fare and Chef Mickey's
2. DAY BEFORE YOU LEAVE (March 13) - check the times guide
- The Disney World times and entertainment schedule for the days of your trip will be available on Steve Soar's site by Sunday, March 13 (the day before you leave.) To find the page, Google "disney world entertainment."
- This will give you a great idea of what's going on at each park for the week you're there.
- Feel free to peruse the schedule that's available now - a lot of the daily activities tend to follow similar schedules day-to-day (especially since you'll be there in about two weeks.)