Am I doing too much?

[twoDISNEYfans]

We are planning our first family vacation. Our soon-to-be daughter (due date is Feb 29th) will be 10 months old. My husband and I have been several times so this will be more of a take-our-time trip, esp with DD being so little. My DH wants to get the Delux dining that includes three meals so I have sketched out a tenative plan of our reservations. My question is, am I doing too much?

The only things we are really "planning" are our reservations everything else durring the day will basically be up to little DD. However, I wanted to take full advantage of the dining plan since it is our first time using it and wanted to get in character meals for DD to have photo ops with some characters with out keeping her in a long line. So here goes.....


Day one (check into the Poly)
Dinner at Ohanas
(watch wishes)

Day two
Breakfast at Crystal Palace
(the in line for first haircut at Barber shop on Main Street)
Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern
Dinner at Cinderellas Royal Table

Day three
Breakfast at Chef Mickeys
Snack options for Lunch
Dinner at California Grill
(Hopefully MVMCP)

Day four
Breakfast at Safari Breakfast at Tusker House
Snack options for Lunch
Dinner at Jiko
(Downtown Disney shopping)

Day five
Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare
Snack options for Lunch
Dinner at Narcoosees
(Spectro Magic Water Parade)

Day six
Breakfast at Hollywood and Vine
Lunch at Prime Time Cafe
Dinner at Hollywood Brown Derby
(Fantasmic)

Day seven
Breakfast at Askerhause Princess Buffet
Snack Options for Lunch
Dinner at Coral Reef
(Illuminations)

Day eight (check out of the Poly)
Breakfast at Ohanas

 

[lynninpa]

Just my humble opinion, yet we could never do 3 meals a day in Disney. Nor could we do a sitdown Breakfast each day. But that's just us!

 

[lynninpa]

Just wanted to point something out about the Deluxe Plan. It is not 3 meals per day, it is 3 credits per day. So, for eaxample, on your day #2, you will be using 4 credits since CRT uses 2 credits. Actually, the number of credits you have is per night, not per day, of your stay. Just wanted to point those things out as it can get a bit confusing.

Breakfast at Crystal Palace
(the in line for first haircut at Barber shop on Main Street)
Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern
Dinner at Cinderellas Royal Table

 

[twoDISNEYfans]

My husband is the bad one that picked almost entirely all of the 2 credit restaurants, thats why the majority of the days we are using our snack credits and skipping lunch.

 

[SmallWorld71]

JMHO - but I think that is an awful lot to expect of most 10 month olds. Out of my three kids there is only 1 who could have possibly made it through that kind of schedule and by day 3 he probable would have revolted. (And they all loved to eat at that age!) Many kids at that age are mobile and they will not want to sit down and eat for very long. While there is no way to know for sure if your child will be moving around at that age, I think you are setting yourself up for a lot of stress and angry glares from other diners at those signature dining places. Don't stress about it though. DH will see the light once your precious baby comes along and reality sets in. Best wishes on your upcoming arrival.

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi! I read thru your entire plan. You've picked some great restaurants!!
OK, you asked if you're "doing too much".

For my family...yes...wayyyy too much.

We just got back on Thursday from a week in WDW on the Dining Plan.
We did a table-service meal every night, & only one table-service breakfast (on Christmas Day) during the entire trip.

We are always SO FULL during our trips...we could never eat 2 table-service meals every day.

On our check-out day last week, our family of 4 still had 6 counter-service meals & 6 snack credits left. We went over to CBR for lunch before our 14 hour drive home & ate what we could. When we left WDW, we still had 2 counter-service meals left.

BTW, congrats on your DD!!

 

[CEDmom]

I can't imagine planning to eat 3 sit down meals with a baby. I think you'll find the meal plan a waste since you'll likely be grabbing counter service on some days or even skipping a meal when your DD just can't handle sitting in a high chair.

 

[noahdove]

I agree you are planning way too much.. sorry to burst you bubble, but unless you have a child that sleeps all the time or never makes a peep, then keep your schedule Go for the magic and enjoy

 

[Pakey]

I don't know if you have ever eaten at any of these signatures for dinner but most of them are going to take about 90 minutes for each meal. With a 10 month old, that's a lot of time. You will not see many diners with small children at some of these places as the dinners are done at a leisurely pace. I definitely would rethink JIKO.

Also, it's a lot of food. We tried this once and we were miserable. Not only were we stuffed to the max but we felt like we spent the entire vacation sitting and eating. The day where you are eating lunch at Prime Time and then dinner at Brown Derby is going to be a lot of food because the lunches at Prime Time are huge.

 

[mom22boys]

First off, congratulations! I am guessing this is your first. While many posters have commented on the baby not having the stamina to maintain that schedule, I will also add that you and DH probably will not have the stamina to maintain that schedule. A baby zaps a lot more energy from you than you can ever imagine. The change that a baby brings to your life cannot be understood until you actually have a baby in your life. Now before I scare you too much keep in mind the changes are wonderful.

As to how many sit down meals I would have planned, our DSs were great in the highchair, but I still wouldn't have scheduled more than one sit-down meal per day or even one every other day. Buffets might be little easier then true TS locations.

Best of luck to you. Your future DD is one lucky little one to already have you thinking of putting her needs first.

 

[mom22boys]

First off, congratulations! I am guessing this is your first. While many posters have commented on the baby not having the stamina to maintain that schedule, I will also add that you and DH probably will not have the stamina to maintain that schedule. A baby zaps a lot more energy from you than you can ever imagine. The change that a baby brings to your life cannot be understood until you actually have a baby in your life. Now before I scare you too much, keep in mind the changes are wonderful.

As to how many sit down meals I would have planned, our DSs were great in the highchair, but I still wouldn't have scheduled more than one sit-down meal per day or even one every other day. Buffets might be little easier than true TS locations.

Best of luck to you. Your future DD is one lucky little one to already have you thinking of putting her needs first.

 

[Stacy_C]

Regardless of having a baby in tow or not, there is no way my family and I could eat at all of the places you listed. We've done the basic dining plan 2 times and we got to the point of almost dreading our next meal because we were getting so full! So, in a nutshell, I think it is too much even without a baby and even more so WITH a baby.

Have a great time and CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[septbaby]

Keep in mind room service is an option on the Deluxe plan and at the Poly; perfect for a take your time vacation. Not sure of your travel plans, but maybe a nice idea for your arrival day (baby sleeps) then go see Wishes.

BTW - Never would have thought to take a little girl to a barbershop for a first haircut!

 

[tinkandpan]

It's a bit too much food and required times to sit for us.... but then add baby there is no way I would find it relaxing. I would be stressing out with having to plan on sitting down with baby for all three meals. You could luck out and have a baby like my ds who was great at sit down meals- but even then 3 times a day with DIsney excitement would be too much. You could have a child like my dd who is a serious challenge for sitting- when she's done she is done and you can't change her mind. We can only do about 40 minutes at the most- therefore the sig restauarants would be a waste in our world. Good luck and congrats!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

First off, congratulations! I am guessing this is your first. While many posters have commented on the baby not having the stamina to maintain that schedule, I will also add that you and DH probably will not have the stamina to maintain that schedule. A baby zaps a lot more energy from you than you can ever imagine. The change that a baby brings to your life cannot be understood until you actually have a baby in your life. Now before I scare you too much, keep in mind the changes are wonderful.

As to how many sit down meals I would have planned, our DSs were great in the highchair, but I still wouldn't have scheduled more than one sit-down meal per day or even one every other day. Buffets might be little easier than true TS locations.

Best of luck to you. Your future DD is one lucky little one to already have you thinking of putting her needs first.

What she said

While I see where your coming from, its just way too much. Have a great trip

 

[Colinsmom]

Yeah, way too much IMO. Plus, what happens if your baby is terrified of the characters (she wouldn't be the first)? Then you find yourself trying to reschedule all those meals on short notice, or becoming intimately familiar with all the items on the room service menu at Poly!

No one mentioned naps here. Your baby will probably be taking two naps a day at that time (if you're lucky, she'll nap in the stroller - my oldest never would) which could make it difficult to do a sit-down lunch. I find when they are sleeping in the stroller, that it is easier to grab a snack or CS meal and eat on the go.

Plus you have some late nights combined with early mornings - that's a lot for a baby, and a lot for you (she may not be sleeping through the night at that point). And you don't know if your baby will be an early riser (going to bed early) or a night owl (sleeping in).

 

[3for Me]

The three that stand out to me are CG, Narcoosee and Jiko. These are definately meals that will be better enjoyed without your little bundle of joy there with you. We have done these with our older children who have enjoyed and appreciated the atmosphere and food, yet DH and I always say that as much as we loved having them there with us, it's an experience we'd like to do one day sans kids.

Also, we have done the dining plan (in it's former state) several times in the past. Most of my family can EAT! We still found it to be waaaaayyyyy too much food by say, day four. We discussed doing the DDP this year for things like CG and Narcoossee's and still could not justify it.

I am a little concerned that you may not feel you got your money's worth with the plan because your meals are likely to include some interruptions from your new daughter. These are meals that should be savored over a glass of wine after eating light most of the day in anticipation.

I think by the time you get to some of these meals you will be full, tired and ready for bed. I would strongly consider going with the regular DP and planning to pay for some meals OOP. That way if you have to cancel due to fullness or baby needs, you will not have "wasted" your credits!

Good luck and CONGRATS on the new baby girl!

 

[dgagnon519]

plan on our last trip. I hate to be the odd ball but my kids were not satified with one ts and a cs. They wanted a sit down breakfast. We never felt over stuffed we ate what we could and did the dining plan for convenience and for the experience of disney dining. I think with a baby I agree with the others. It is tough to know how your baby will react or or feel doing 2 or 3 ts a day. I do not think it is too much in regards to you and your husband. With whatever you decide I hope you have a great time.

 

[dgagnon519]

plan on our last trip. I hate to be the odd ball but my kids were not satified with one ts and a cs. They wanted a sit down breakfast. We never felt over stuffed we ate what we could and did the dining plan for convenience and for the experience of disney dining. I think with a baby I agree with the others. It is tough to know how your baby will react or or feel doing 2 or 3 ts a day. I do not think it is too much in regards to you and your husband. With whatever you decide I hope you have a great time.

 

[Tricia1972]

I think it's great that you're planning a vacation for your DD already! It will likely be the first of many magical trips for her.

That said, I think it's asking a lot of her to sit through that many meals. Meals take from 60 min (buffet) to 120 min (Signature). I can't think of many older infants/toddlers who would enjoy the experience.

Congratulations on your upcoming arrival!