The dining plan has a set price per day...10 and over are adults, under 10 are children. For that price you get a counter service meal, a table service meal and a snack. if you go for 5 days you get 5 of each to be used whenever you want from the time you check in until midnight the day you check out....you can use all the snacks at one time, 3 meals at a time....whatever. Most restraunts seem to participate. You can share meals to help stretch to having 3 full meals a day. Rules are different for DVC but otherwise, Everyone on the reservation must have the plan, You must purchase this for your entire length of stay and you must have the same kind of tickets for everyone on your ressie (however if you need different kinds of tickets you can buy everyone a one day ticket and upgrade as needed when you get there). Table service meals include appetizer, entree, desert, drink - specialty drinks usually not included but some places give them to you anyway. Counter service meals include one item (a combo of say fries and a burger is one item but if it doesnt come with it then it isnt included) and a drink. Snacks seem to be changing but what I have read lately it seems to be most food that can truely be categorized as a snack under $4.