Hi Ann! Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
I have wonderful news for you! Once you purchase your
Walt Disney World Annual Pass, you will be able to see
special offers for Disney Resort hotels and make your FastPass+ selections as long as your Annual Pass is linked to your
My Disney Experience account and you are logged in, even if you haven't activated your Pass yet. Dining reservations are not linked to your annual pass, so you are able to make those reservations up to 180 days prior to your trip in September with or without tickets. You will just need to have your ticket for theme park admission for any restaurants located in the theme parks during your visit.
My suggestion is to purchase your Annual Pass and reserve your Disney Resort hotel as soon as you can, so you are able to reserve all of your dining reservations for your entire trip (up to 10 days) 180 days prior to your check-in date. Having your
Disney Resort hotel reservation in place will also give you the ability to make your
FastPass+ selections up to 60 days in advance, instead of the standard 30 days for Guests not staying on Walt Disney World Resort property.
I hope this helps with your planning, Ann! Be sure to plan some time for the
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival during your visit. It is a fun and tasty event!
Tabitha