Aloha, Jenna!
We're so glad you surfed over to planDisney with your question today. Let's float through all the details together.
Though you'll need a credit card on file to make
advance dining reservations, you can certainly use an alternate form of payment at the end of your meal at most locations. The exceptions are pre-paid meals like Cinderella's Royal Table, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, or other experiences that require full payment at the time of booking.
As indicated in the cancellation policy, "the credit card provided at the time of reservation will automatically be charged a per-person fee if you don’t show up for your reservation or fail to cancel in accordance with the policy, or if you fail to modify in accordance with the policy and then need to cancel." I recommend reviewing the
list of experiences that do not accept modifications or have an alternate cancellation window here, so you know what to expect before booking.
That being said, you can certainly plan to enjoy a delicious family-style meal at
'Ohana and use a
Disney Gift Card to check out at the end of your experience. You can even request to split your bill between a few different payment methods if your gift card balance won't cover the full balance, or you are traveling with a group that wants to cover their portion.
My family enjoyed 'Ohana's delicious Best Friends Breakfast a few years back, but we still have dinner (and those famed ‘Ohana Noodles) on our "must eat" list for a future visit. You are sure to enjoy whichever menu you choose, but keep in mind that Characters do not appear at dinner.
Jenna, I hope this helped smooth the waters as you prepare for your fast-approaching magical adventure! If you have any more questions, our planDisney 'Ohana is always here to ride the next wave with you.
Magic and memories,
Amy