<p>It looks like the 2 first year dining options are similar with only $100 difference. Can anyone explain exactly where the meal exchanges can be used and are you limited to a certain meal? The website lists the PAV food court as one location but which food places within that can you use your exchanges? </p>
<p>I’m thinking either first year plan is more than enough. Any advice?</p>
<p>Wow that is the first time I have seen them change the meals. I would personally go for the one that is more expensive, just because you use plus dollars like crazy in my experience, and you are getting $50 for free. You can just buy bottled water etc with it if you are concerned you won’t use it all. However, the meal exchange wasn’t around when I was at UVA so I was constantly using plus dollars for all sorts of things. I would probably use less with the meal exchange and so maybe the expensive meal plan isn’t needed. It is just $100 difference and you get $50 free in return but if it is excessive then it would be wasting $200. I guess that is your parents’ call.</p>
<p>This link has more info on the meal exchange program. [Welcome</a> to CampusDish at University of Virginia!](<a href=“http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSMA/Virginia/DiningPlans/MealExchangeProgram.htm]Welcome”>http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSMA/Virginia/DiningPlans/MealExchangeProgram.htm) It also looks like you are restricted to certain hours for meal exchange, so if you are buying lunches from the pav or castle or crossroads you will need plus dollars. Or weekends! Some of the places are closed on weekends but so are some of the dining halls (or were when I was around… One of the main heated points about being forced to buy meal plans as part of a residential college and yet the dining halls were not even open all the time…)</p>