How does the dinning plans work?

[jondvl]

I am not sure how the dinning plans work. When you have a meal, are the meals paid for from your plan or do you just save a percentage on your meals and have to pay a bill at the end of your vacation?

Some places make it sound that way others make sound like when you get a dinning plan the cost is put on a card and then the meals are charged to that card.

I am so confused.

 

[Faldred]

If you are on one of the Disney Dining plans, you receive a block of "credits" to use at specified restaurants throughout the WDW complex. Each time you get a meal from one of those places, you may "pay" for the meal using one of your credits.

The types of credits you receive, what you can get for them, and the participating restaurants are discussed in more detail here.

If you order more than your plan allotment (such as ordering an appetizer on the "basic" dining plan), you will need to pay for those extras. Gratuities at table service restaurants are not included in the dining plan (with limited exceptions), and those would have to be paid for out of pocket as well.

Alternatively, annual pass holders and Florida residents can purchase a special pass called a "Tables In Wonderland" card, which offers a flat 20% discount on all food an beverages at a variety of locations, though more limited than the dining plan restaurants.