Help me understand free dining package

[Cameo]

We are WDW veterans but have never done a package and never used the meal plan. I am hoping to make another trip during the free dining this fall. I went to the Disney website and plugged in several scenarios. I thought you had to buy tickets for the number of days you would have the meal plan but it allows you to change the number of days for that. So does the meal plan only go buy the number of nights you are staying and not the number of days you buy a ticket for?

[Bo'sMom]

We are WDW veterans but have never done a package and never used the meal plan. I am hoping to make another trip during the free dining this fall. I went to the Disney website and plugged in several scenarios. I thought you had to buy tickets for the number of days you would have the meal plan but it allows you to change the number of days for that. So does the meal plan only go buy the number of nights you are staying and not the number of days you buy a ticket for?
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Yes, BUT you have to buy at least one base ticket for each member of your party.

[TDC Nala]

You can buy as little as a one day base ticket with your package for each party member and get the free dining package for each night of your resort stay. This is what many AP holders are doing. For me as a DVC member it was still better for me to pay for the dining plan through DVC than to book a rack rate room, even at a value, plus one day base ticket to get free dining.

All members of your party age 3 and up must purchase at least a one day base ticket, and they must all use the dining plan (no big deal if it's free).

[Cameo]

But, does each member of my party have to purchase the same number of days on their ticket? My DH actually has an AP (since we used it to get a room discount in March). We are trying to do this as a very cheap trip.

[PoohHappens]

Yes every person has to buy the same length ticket initially, so your best bet is to buy one day base tickets for everyone in your room. Then when you arrive you can pay to upgrade the tickets that need additional days and have your husband use his AP, his base one day ticket will not expire if he does not use it, you can save it for the next time you go. Hope this is clear