How to deal with a dad who doesn't want a "planned" vacation

[Jacklynn]

My parents are coming along with my husband and I for our anniversary trip in May. My mom understands that we need to do some planning in advance, but my dad is just getting mad.

My family went to Disney World back in 2003, and we made no dining ressies the whole trip. Well okay my parents made one, but they made that the morning of, at the ticket counter or whatever. We were never turned away and we ate at places like the Sci-Fi, Teppan Edo, Shulas and several others I can't think of. My dad thinks I am being stupid for already having made our ressies for 5 of our meals. We aren't on the dining plan, but I still made 5 TS meal ressies.

He is getting frustrated and said, eat wherever you want, I'll go just go eat somewhere by myself, and I'll eat whatever I feel like that night. He doesn't realize the dining aspect is a lot different than in 2003 and even though we are going at the same time of the year, its still different.

I'm the more organized of them all, so I've done a ton of the research and stuff like that. My dad pretty much wants to wake up get on the plane and go. He doesn't get how planning makes things easier and isn't 'restricting'.

Do I just keep all of our ressies for 4, and when we get there he will realize that they were important for me to get? He doesn't want to HAVE to eat at a certain time. He wants to go with the flow. But if we go with the flow, we won't get to eat what we want to eat. We will be stuck with a lot of CS stuff, and not some of the other options WDW has to offer.

Our ADRs are for: Le Cellier, Sci-Fi, Teppan Edo, Grand Floridian Cafe and Matt and I's anniversary dinner is at California Grill.

Do I just keep the detail stuff like that from him, and let my mom know what is going on, and then when we get there tell him day to day what our food choice are? Otherwise he just freaks out saying we won't have fun if we have to be on a schedule. Which I agree, I want to go with the flow too... but just not with food lol.

What would you do? I guess he will just have to see when we get there, how lucky he is that his daughter made the ADRs haha

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Don't tell him in advance you have reservations. However, make sure you are in the correct park each day. About 15 minutes beefore your reservation time, ask him where he wants to eat and say "let's go". When you get to his intended location and he finds that he can't get in at all that evening, or will have an hor or so wait, mention that you happen to have a reservation for ten minutes from now at [wherever] and we can get in.

 

[patsal]

I deal withthis every time we vacation with my parents. What I do is set up the dinig reservations for the number that are in our party. if Dad wants to go on his own to do something he has that freedom, and if he and Mom want to go off and do thier own thing so be it. Two years ago at Christmas time He went with me to check in for the 50's Prime Time, it was very crowded and then one of the hostesses said "If you don't already have a reservation you can go ahead and get out of line becaue we are all booked up for tonight." That pretty much settled it for him and I have never heard another word about being spontanous. I print out my families itinerary and let both my parents know what park we're going to be in and what time we'll be having dinner. If they show fine, if not fine too. Life's too short to sweat the difference in touring styles! Since the dinner incident at 50's Prime Time, I've never had a problem getting him to follow my lead with the food reservations--my opinion we don't have to eat there if you can fnd us something different on that day and they have room I'll be happy to cancel my reservation and change my plans, if not at least we have a safety net.

Maybe you could tell him that --this is my safety net, I'm flexible but I want to be certain we do have a place to eat if it is very crowded.

 

[Jacklynn]

So if I have a ressie for four, and they end up not coming will it affect our seating? Like would they turn us away because we have less than we said we would?

The places I have made ressies at I really want to eat at, verses they could care less, and just want to be "care free" so they can either eat with us.... or have hamburgers... AGAIN haha

 

[Mommy Poppins]

No, you should have no problems if you show up with 2 instead of 4. If it were the other way around, it could cause more problems, but having less people doesn't really make any difference.

 

[robhawk]

We went with another family last President's week. They thought I was absolutely nuts cuz I made ADR's well in advance. By the third day they were thanking me profusely for the planning. Keep the ressies & have a great time.

Rob

 

[Pumbaa_]

It is hard for folks who haven't been in awhile to fully appreciate how dining has changed at DIsney. Between the DDP getting people to eat at TS daily and the increased crowds, planning is inportant to have the freedom to eat where you want.

Last time Dad was there was still post 9/11 crowd level. Since then crowd level has increased significantly and May F&G is a very popular time at Disney. Dad is thinking it will be like the last time. Poor Dad

I think your plan to make ressies for the places you want is a great idea. If he doens't want to, you can switch off and meet up later. Sounds more like he may realize you were right to plan so far ahead. (Maybe get him an unauthorized guide to Disney for Christmas and he can read what someone who is not you has to say about what Disney is like now

 

[Goofy Roo]

Definitely keep your reservations and don't tell your dad anything about your planning. Let him do what he wants, and you'll get to eat at the places you like.