Hey there, Natalie, and welcome back to planDisney!
Grandparents are angels here on Earth, and I'm so excited for you and for your grandkids that y'all get to spend time together at the Walt Disney World Resort. When my grandmother was still with us, there was no greater show of her love than keeping the family fed, and it sounds like you and she have that in common.
You don't have to have the
Disney Dining Plan to book
Advanced Dining Reservations without prepaying. In fact, most restaurants on Disney property don't require a payment in advance to make reservations at all. While you do place a card on file, that's just to hold the reservation and hold you to the cancellation policy, which does incur a fee for late cancellations and no shows. Usually, prepaid experiences include dinner shows like
Hoop-Dee-Do Musical Revue and special dining events. But don't worry. Any dining that you choose will clearly state that it requires prepayment when you go to book it.
Pro-tip: Even without prepayment to think about, I'd still strongly recommend making your Advanced Dining Reservations as soon as 60 days before your arrival date.
Natalie, I hope I've been able to clear up any confusion. Enjoy this time with your grandkids and give them an extra squeeze like my grandmother would have given me. If you have any other questions,
come on back. I'm happy to help!
Happy planning!
Taylor