Hi Ashley! Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
You do not need to pay off your vacation before making dining reservations! Dining reservations can be made starting 180 days before you arrive and for the length of your stay. When making your dining reservations, you will need to make reservations to include all of the people that wish to dine with you, even if they are not on the Disney Dining Plan and are not in your immediate travel party.
I always try to book my
dining reservations online first. Sometimes the system doesn’t always seem to work right away so then I will call the dining phone reservation phone line. I think it is a matter of personal preference and I would recommend doing what you feel most comfortable with!
If you are on the dinning plan, entitlements are only valid at select Walt Disney World restaurants. If you do choose to make your reservation online, there is an option to show only the restaurants that participate in the Disney dining plan.
Traveling during the holiday season is my favorite time of year to travel. Be sure to follow the
Disney Parks Blog for all of the up to date happenings during the holiday season! I hope that you have a magical vacation!
~Heather~