okay, I have another question!

[smilesx4]

when does free dining start and end? We usually get to the hotel at check in and spend the first night at downtown Disney, the next 3 days are at parks and the last day we sleep in, let the kids swim while we check out and then leave early afternoon.

will we have it only the days we are at the parks?

 

[catne]

your dining plan (free or not) starts when you check in...the credits are "attached" to your room key card so once you have that you have the credits going for you whether or not you're in a park.

You get credits based on the number of NIGHTS you're staying in the Disney hotel, not number of days you're on Disney property. I'm trying to count from your description, it looks like you're there for 4 nights. If that's correct, then each person will get 4 TS, 4 CS & 4 Snacks (adults getting adult credits, kids 3-9 getting child credits.)

You can use those credits in or out of the parks. You can stretch those credits out over the five days you're there. The dining plan credits expire at midnight on the day you check out.

 

[Mickey country]

If you always do DTD the day you arrive, I would eat @ Wolf gang Puck's Express that night, using 1 CS. Then you would have 4 TS meals left. You could do a 2pt. meal one day and have two other 1 pt. meals other days, or you could do a 1pt. everyday, and have a great late character breakfast on your check out day. Lots of possibilities!