Here are some of the basics:
As previously said, everyone in the room needs to be on the same plan.
The plan must be for every night of your stay.
There is one pool of dining credits on your room account. The system will not keep track of how many credits each person has left separately. That will be up to you to track amongst yourselves.
Unless you specifically request otherwise, every key will be able to access the dining plan credits.
You don't have to eat together. Everyone can be off on their own.
If you do all eat together, only one key is needed to charge your credits. You don't all need to show your keys. (I stood behind a woman at a quick service once who tried to show each key to the CM as she was ordering, "This person wants this, this person wants this." The CM finally explained to her that she just needed the one key.)
You can request a print-out from the Front Desk that will show everything that was charged to the dining plan, and your balance for each type of meal. It will also show which key paid for it. It will not, however, show who all ate the meal if multiple people were on the same ticket.
When you check in, you'll need to pay for the dining plan. If you want to pay part on your credit card and part on your friends, they'll allow you to do that. (Note, if you use the online check-in, it will charge the entire dining plan off to the card you enter on the web site. They can back out this transaction, but it will take time to do it. If you plan to split your payments on the dining plan, best to avoid online check-in.)
Depending on the dining plan you purchase, you'll get a certain number of meals per night of your stay. You don't need to use them one day at a time, though. If you're staying 10 nights and can somehow manage to get to 10 restaurants on the first night, you can do that.
Signature Restaurants and Diner Shows costs two meals per person. These are indicated on the meal plan restaurant list.
Not every restaurant participates in the dining plan. Consult the WDW web site, the brochure, or ask the CM when you make your reservation.
Not all meal plans can be purcased through
DVC. The only plans we can get right now are the standard plan, the quick service plan, and the deluxe plan. In other words, we cannot use plans that also include recreational activities.
Your meal credits are valid from the time you check in and get your key until midnight on the night you check out. If your room is not ready when you check in, they'll still give you your keys so you start using the dining credits. They'll call or text you later to tell you which room number the key opens.
When checking in at restaurants, always tell them you're on the dining plan - and which plan you're on. If you're doing anything "strange," make sure you tell the server, too. For example, if you have two groups at the same table that will be paying from different rooms. Or if someone will be paying cash instead of being on the plan.
If you're not sure if you can get something on the plan, ask the server. They'll let you know. (For example, alcohol is not part of the plan. You'll need to pay for that separately. But, adding a side order of mushrooms to go with your steak may be something they can do on the plan. It doesn't hurt to ask.)
