Season's greetings, Kari!
Welcome to planDisney, and thank you so much for sending us this holly jolly question! I am so happy to be helping you today as I can never pass up an opportunity to spread some holiday chEAR. Plus, there are so many unique offerings that you can only enjoy during the Holiday season, so let's talk about how magical your vacation can be!
After chatting with a Cast Member, it was confirmed that you would not have to pay for your
dining packages upon booking them and that payment will only be made at your dinner. Therefore, you will not have to worry about being reimbursed should your party size change! If you do need help with modifying these reservations, however, this can be done either on your
My Disney Experience account or
with a Cast Member in a chat or over the phone. Personally, I always love using the
My Disney Experience mobile app, as it is so convenient and allows you to do so much by yourself!
Now, I thought I might share some of the incredible offerings you will be able to experience on your vacation! First, although you will be eating at a delicious restaurant as part of your dining package, I still wanted to recommend that you stop by some of the food booths around the World Showcase. Indeed, not only do the
Holiday kitchens have delicious food options that are only available at that time of year, but those in your party with a sweet tooth can also participate in the
Holiday Cookie Stroll! Once you have gotten all the cookies that are part of the stroll and all of your stamps, you will be able to redeem them for a complimentary treat. If you like those activities, you will also enjoy the
Christmas Tree Stroll over at Disney Springs! Every year, Disney Springs gets magically-themed Christmas trees, and it is up to you to find them and accurately locate them on a map. The best part is this activity is free and perfect if you plan on getting some Holiday shopping done but need something to distract anyone in your party!
I hope this was helpful, Kari, and that you will have the most wonderful time on your next Disney vacation. If you have any other questions or need more recommendations, we are always happy to help. After all, as Minnie said, there's no better magic than the one we make when we're all together!
Have a happy, merry, holly jolly day,
Ariane