Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Nadine!
My family loves using the
Disney Dining Plan when we're on vacation at Walt Disney World Resort. We really like how it fits into our budget and also how easy and convenient it is to use while we're there. Recently, it's become even more convenient to use the Dining Plan because it has been integrated with
Mobile Ordering and you can now use your credits to pay for Quick-Service meals and Snacks when you order through the
My Disney Experience app. The app even tells you which items qualify as a Snack credit, so it makes it so much easier to get your Dole Whip fix in!
One of my favorite ways to use my Snack credits to try different dishes around World Showcase at
Epcot. You'll be visiting during the
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and using my credits to try a whole bunch of delicious things at the Global Marketplaces is one of the best ways to spend a day. When you're at Epcot and your feet need a break, you can use a Friendship Boat to get from the Germany Pavilion area to the Morocco Pavilion area and back again! It's not the quickest way to get from one side to the other, but it's certainly a breezy, relaxing ride.
To answer the final part of your question, when you're ready to leave Epcot and head out from the International Gateway entrance, it's a pretty short walk back to
Disney's Beach Club Resort. Anytime I've made that walk, it's never taken me longer than 10 minutes walking at a very leisurely pace. Since you'll be downloading the My Disney Experience app anyway to take advantage of Mobile Ordering, you can also use it to get convenient step-by-step directions to wherever you want to go. When you search for a location using an app, tap on "Get Directions" to be shown the quickest way to walk there and how long it should take you.
I hope this answers your questions, Nadine, and please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help you plan your magical vacation.
Jessica