Hi Matthew!
Welcome to planDisney.
I'm very happy to answer your two questions - send in as many as you like! Congratulations on choosing the
Disney Dining Plan. It's such a great way to pay for your meals in advance (well, most of them at least). While the dining plans are very flexible in the way you plan your meals, actually using Table Service Meals for Quick Service Meals is not permitted, nor can you do this the other way around. Unfortunately, Quick Service Meals also cannot be swapped for Snacks. However, using the dining plans is a great way to budget, and if you find you still have a few Table Service Meals, have a look at this list of
table-service restaurants that accept the dining plan. As a rule (but there may be a few exceptions) character dining and signature dining require 2 Table Service Meals each, but there are many restaurants that only use 1 Table Service Meal.
At any time you can check your remaining dining plan balance on your My Disney Experience mobile app, and you will also see it on any dining receipt. If you would like a paper copy of your dining plan details (what you have used, and what is remaining) visit the Front Desk of your Disney Resort hotel where the Cast members will be happy to print a copy for you.
Your Dining and Merchandise Credit will be sent to you by email soon after you have checked in to your hotel. You can download this to your phone for easy access. As per the name, you will be able to use this for food and shopping across the whole Resort, however you please. If you run out of Quick Service meals on your dining plan, you can pay for those using this Credit.
Your Disney Gift Cards will be available for collection from Disney Springs at the
World of Disney store when you arrive. You will need to take your promotional Gift Card voucher with you, along with some form of photo ID (your UK driving licence or passport will be fine). Ask any Cast Member where you can collect your Gift Cards - it will be at a different desk to the usual check-out locations. Similar to the Dining and Merchandise Credit you can use Disney Gift Cards at most locations in the four theme parks, Disney Resort hotels, and Disney-owned restaurants and shops at Disney Springs (and a few other non-Disney places - please check at the till to be sure). You can see your
Disney Gift Card balance at any time on the website.
Please come back and visit us if you have any further questions, and you can
send me a direct question if you wish. We will be happy to help you plan your magical holiday at Walt Disney World Resort!
Sue