Welcome Home, Catherine!
Thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your excellent question about
Disney Dining Plans.
You are correct, you can begin using dining credits as soon as you check-in to your
Walt Disney World Resort hotel. You will be happy to know that all unused meals, snacks and the ability to use your refillable mug expire at midnight on your package Disney Resort hotel reservation checkout date. In other words, if you check out and still have credits left, you can continue to use those credits until midnight. This is great news for you because you are not leaving until later in the day. Hip hip hooray!
I find
this Disney Dining Plan page to be the best source of easy-to-comprehend information on the different Disney Dining Plan options. On this page you will also find information on how to keep track of dining credits, how to make reservations, gratuities, and additional charges.
Catherine, if you have any additional questions please visit the Disney Parks Moms Panel again. We are always here to help you eat your way around “the World”!
With a Sprinkling of Pixie Dust,
Priscila