Hi Ashley,
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel. It's nice to greet a fellow North Carolinian! More importantly, welcome to the wonderful world of the Deluxe Dining Plan! This is now my family's favorite
Dining Plan. As you have indicated, you will receive three meal credits and two snack credits per person on the dining plan. Meal and snack credits are multiplied per night of stay. So, for an eight night stay, you will receive 24 meals and 16 snacks per person. Do not forget that you will also get a resort refillable mug with your dining plan!
Here is the beauty of the dining plan. I am almost doing a Minnie Mouse clap while sharing this info. When you check-in, you will receive an allotment of all of your meal and snack credits. So you can use them on whichever days you choose! We normally eat dinner on the first day we arrive and breakfast on the last day. We use all other meal credits in between those days. Plus, you can use your Table-Service credits to eat at signature restaurants that require two Table-Service Credits. A few of our favorite restaurants that require two Table-Service credits are
California Grill and
Cinderella's Royal Table.
Remember that you can certainly dine at Quick-Service restaurants. We did so when taking in some pool time at the resort. The first time we used the Deluxe Dining Plan, I also had not factored in the additional money we would spend on tips at Table-Service restaurants. That is my only cautionary note. Our service was fantastic, so we tipped accordingly.
Happy Planning!
-Donyell