Hi Robert!
Great question! Thanks for choosing to visit the Moms Panel to ask it!
How you will be able to use your Disney Dining Plan will depend largely upon how you are planning to book your
Magic Your Way Vacation Packages for your travel party.
Are you planning to be booking several resort rooms which will be linked together in the reservation system, or a larger, suite accommodation that can accommodate your entire travel party, for the duration of your stay under one reservation? If so, the dining plan for the entire travel party will be linked together under 1 common plan and you WILL be able to continue using the departing adults' credits after they have left. The credits are determined based on the number of nights of resort stay, and the number of guests, but not specifically attached to the individual guests. Any 1 Key to The World Card will access the 'pool' of credits associated with your group's Disney Dining Plan.
If you will have several rooms booked for your group and each are booked separately, when the 3 adult guests depart and check out of their room (assuming that they have booked a separate room that will not be required beyond their check out date), their dining plan credits will have been only for the length of their stay and will expire at midnight on the day that they check out. You will find this information listed under the 'Using Your Meals' section on page 1 of the
2012 Disney Dining Plan.
I hope that answers your question Robert!
Please feel free to visit me again if I can clarify anything further for you or if you have additional questions regarding the booking of your group's Magic Your Way Package or The Disney Dining Plan!
Wishing you a Magical time at Walt Disney World!
Kirsten