Traveling in October - no kids. Dining plan? Less expensive resort? - Not value. What do I need to know.

[DebMcDonald]

My husband and I are traveling to watch our daughter run with her XC team at the ESPN area. This is our first time traveling without kids, and she didn't want us to stay at her same resort so now we're looking to book travel October 9-13th. Please tell me everything I need to know. The last time we visited our child was 2, she's now 16 so any and all help appreciated. We do have a our plane tickets, but that's all. We've never stayed inside Disney.