Narelle:
I remember feeling overwhelmed when I planning my first trip to Disney. I wish the Mom's Panel had existed then!
The good news is that it sounds like you've already decided on your dates to visit. From there, the next step is your resort and whether you want to book the Disney Dining Plan. Keep in mind that you must stay on Disney property and purchase your tickets from Disney to qualify to purchase a dining plan.
There are three tiers of the dining plan: quick service, basic, and deluxe. Click
here to see may answer to another guest that describes each and the price. It's a snapshot of the the details of the dining plans
here. If you book your vacation through a Disney-certified travel agent or directly through Disney, you can book a dining plan practically up to check-in. If you book through an online discount travel site, you'll have to book the dining plan when you make your initial booking.
Pre-purchasing the dining plan can make international travel easier at Disney, especially if you want to reduce currency exchange rates or foreign transaction fees on your credit card each time you purchase a meal. But to get the full value out of the plan, I recommend that you make any table service reservations ahead of time. You can do this up to 180-days before arrival
online. If you'd like some suggestions of restaurants to choose, feel free to come back and ask us. Then, you'll be ready for the last step of planning: making your
FastPass+ reservations for the theme parks!
Wishing y'all a magical vacation!
Whitney