First of all you must be staying a a WDW owned Resort to get the dining plan. You must add it onto your room stay, and you must include at least one day of tickets. Your dining must be for the entire stay but you don't have to book tickets for the entire stay.
The plan is $34.99 for Adults and $9.99 for children ages 3-9. It includes 1-Table Service Restaurant, 1-Counter service Restaurant and 1-Snack (popcorn, Icecream, or drink (soft drink type).
It's a great deal. I can spen $34.00 on just one meal. The meals includes an appertizer, main course, dessert and a drink.
I wouldn't leave home with out it. You have to add it at least 48 hours before you get there. You cannot add it once you get to WDW.
Just wanted to add that I booked my package with virgin and wanted the dining plan. They charged me £27 per day adult and £13 per day child. When i realised, I asked to have it removed from my booking, which I paid the £25 admin fee for Anyway, of course I can't have the dining plan at a normal price now because my package is with virgin, not disney so they can't add it to my room ressie.
In summary: if the dining plan is important to you, check uk prices with your travel company first, or just book fly drive/ flights and book room/ park tickets with disney.
BTW, when i did my sums, i reckon I can get counter breakfast, lunch and dinner pay as I go for the same price that virgin offered me the dining plan. This means I'm getting an extra meal a day for the same money i would have paid virgin. A good result all round I think.
I can't understand why virgin are charging this much for the plan, surely they're not trying to make a profit out of booking something that doesn't cost them anything?? First choice are definitely charging me £20 x 3 and £6 x 1 which is the same price as if I'd gone through disney UK. I think someone should point this out to virgin.
Well, it made me mad too! I checked 3 times with virgin and spoke to a supervisor who told me the same thing. I even quoted the prices from disney and FC and they still stuck by their prices. i was not a happy bunny,