Jill,
There are three dining plans, Quick Service, Standard, and Deluxe. Here is a quick breakdown;
For each plan, you get the following per person for each night you stay in a Disney Resort;
- Quick Service: 2 counter service meals, 2 snacks
- Standard: 1 counter service meal, 1 table service meal, 1 snack
- Deluxe: 3 table service meals, 2 snacks
You don't have to use these on any specific day or time, you can use them whenever you want. You can use these at most restaurants, though there are a few exceptions. That includes character meals.
Now I can't explain it all here, but I would recommend;
1. Review the
PDFs for each plan. They list participating restaurants and explain the plans.
2. Send me directly any follow-up question from my bio page, and I would be glad to help out.
And for the record, I think that the standard plan is a VERY good deal, for most groups, including my family. The deluxe and quick service have never worked out for me, but they are clearly good deals for the right groups.
Have a delicious vacation!