How not to overplan

[katsmom4]

I am a self admitted over planner. On other trips I have planned to the last minute all of our trips wanting to experience everything we possibly could! This time is different. My husband has MS and we are going to Disney in July to celebrate our daughter's High School graduation. I know Florida in July and MS is not a good combo but that this was the best time for all of us to go. We scrutinized all the resorts to find the best one we thought for his comfort level. We normally stay at the POP but we are doing BWV studio this time. We also added several more days to our trip with the Park Hopper so we would have extra time and possible rest periods. We are doing Disney Dining plan, which is where I am stressing! We have "tentatively" planned where to go on what days and I feel that I need to book places for us to eat but have no idea where we will actually be or how he will feel on any given day!

So after my long winded diarrhea of the mouth, I guess I am asking advice, suggestions, experiences as to how to plan dining reservations when things are "up in the air".

 

[lanejudy]

My family actually skips the dining plan most trips for that very reason -- we want flexibility without being tied down to a specific time and location for ADRs. When we do TS meals, we like to do either breakfast because our mornings are more predictable (plans haven't gone awry yet) or a late lunch to use that as a rest break. Dinner is more apt to be at a resort so we don't have to be in a specific park. We also don't park-hop, so I would never hop just for an ADR, though I know several people hop for just that reason; I guess that's just personal preference but I find hopping to be tiring.

I suggest you look over the TS restaurants together and decide if there are any "must-do" locations and then plan from there. If you only have a couple of must-do's, then you might consider dropping the DDP. You can put the value of the DDP on a gift card and get the same convenience of pre-paid without feeling tied down to ADRs. If you do go with the DDP and make ADRs, be aware of the cancellation policy; there is no fee if only part of your party shows up (you and DD while DH rests at your room), and they may waive the fee if you completely cancel for medical reasons.

Congrats to your DD and enjoy your vacation!

 

[Hoodie]

We usually draft a tentative schedule and use our TS for mid-day/lunch breaks. That way if we have a late start, we still can make lunch and if we are wiped out, we don't have to wait around for dinner reservations. I think this last trip we planned most between 1 and 2:30 - held us over for a light dinner as well.

Have a fun trip!

 

[loves to dive]

We eat at TS almost every night but never book an ADR in advance. We just hop on MDE while we are in the parks and look to see what is available and go from there. It's one of the reasons we no longer use the dining plan, we don't like being tied down to a schedule. I would probably suggest in your case you cancel the dining plan as there may be days he just doesn't feel like going out to eat at a TS restaurant.

 

[gap2368]

I am a self admitted over planner. On other trips I have planned to the last minute all of our trips wanting to experience everything we possibly could! This time is different. My husband has MS and we are going to Disney in July to celebrate our daughter's High School graduation. I know Florida in July and MS is not a good combo but that this was the best time for all of us to go. We scrutinized all the resorts to find the best one we thought for his comfort level. We normally stay at the POP but we are doing BWV studio this time. We also added several more days to our trip with the Park Hopper so we would have extra time and possible rest periods. We are doing Disney Dining plan, which is where I am stressing! We have "tentatively" planned where to go on what days and I feel that I need to book places for us to eat but have no idea where we will actually be or how he will feel on any given day!

So after my long winded diarrhea of the mouth, I guess I am asking advice, suggestions, experiences as to how to plan dining reservations when things are "up in the air".

I would not do the Dining plan as that will make you have to be tied down to doing X about if dining. I would go with out it pick 2 or 3 of your favorite and do those ( space them out ) then I would pick what park you want to go to and have 3 FP for that park kinda of to gather so one day have all your FP better 11-3 another day it might be 3-7 this way if your DH need to rest he can head back to the hotel and rest and not feel is misses his FP I would not plane on being in the park room rope from to close but maybe just plane for a morning in the park and then out by 2pm for some resting at the hotel then maybe a latish diner some where ( even if it is not an ADR) if you can try for a day that is truly a down day do not plan a thing but just sleep in pool time. maybe this day your DD can go shopping at Disney springs or go look at another hotel just take things slow this day.

I find I love the vacation where I do not plan to much and just go with what I feel at the time ( and I am a big planner so I now here you are coming form)

 

[katsmom4]

If you only have a couple of must-do's, then you might consider dropping the DDP. You can put the value of the DDP on a gift card and get the same convenience of pre-paid without feeling tied down to ADRs. If you do go with the DDP and make ADRs, be aware of the cancellation policy; there is no fee if only part of your party shows up (you and DD while DH rests at your room), and they may waive the fee if you completely cancel for medical reasons.

Like this idea! not sure if DH will go for it! He is a strong advocate for it but if I bring up your suggestion he may go for it. Makes so much sense!!

I would go with out it pick 2 or 3 of your favorite and do those ( space them out ) then I would pick what park you want to go to and have 3 FP for that park kinda of to gather so one day have all your FP better 11-3 another day it might be 3-7

My DH has always been a rope drop to fireworks kinda guy. This is going to be a tough trip but I so appreciate your suggestions.

Thanks again!!