I'm having a mini meltdown: need outside perspectives please

[married2mm]

in 6 weeks time, our much discussed trip with dmil (85) will become a reality.

We have 8 days of ddp-(in uk= Disney dining plan...
In usa= deluxe dining plan-oops!) with various stipulations (previously posted;different thread altogether!!)


However, dh now says not to plan too much and just play it by ear

I don't have any desire to race around anywhere (and physically can't anyway)
The main component of our trip is food-dmil is a real foodie with a great appetite..

I have tentatively booked fp+ on various days-with full understanding they may/may not be utilised.

My main gripe is dh wants me to cancel 90% of our adrs.
The only ADR he definitely wants to keep is afternoon tea & possibly Sanaa.

Seriously, I need a moment.....

Any thoughts people?

 

[craigkerstiens]

Rides and FP are much easier to come by than TS dinners. If you, dmil, dh want to sit down to dinner vs deal with quick service then I'd absolutely keep them. If you start your trip and decide you don't want as many sit down meals you can always cancel greater than 24 hours out. We've occasionally done this, though more often found ourselves hunting for extra reservations.

All around it's much easier to cancel FP or dining reservations than it is to find last minute ones.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

I wouldn't cancel them now but once you're there, I will go over the next day's ADRs with your hubby and MIL the day before to see which ones they want to keep and discard. At least this will save you from scrambling to look for ADRs on the day of.

 

[BigAlsGal]

You're on the DDP and he wants you to cancel reservations? What's the point?

 

[wdwjeffc37]

Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Since you say that you MIL is a real foodie I would keep all of your ADRs. They are too hard to get at the last minute. At least you will have someplace to eat that is not a CS meal. Things have a way of working out at Disney. Just relax. Cheers!!!!!!

 

[married2mm]

Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Since you say that you MIL is a real foodie I would keep all of your ADRs. They are too hard to get at the last minute. At least you will have someplace to eat that is not a CS meal. Things have a way of working out at Disney. Just relax. Cheers!!!!!!

I've taken some deep breaths!

Trying to chill now, adrs definitely staying in place.
as a pp stated-we can always review when we're in the wonderful world of Disney.

 

[minnie mum]

With all due respect to your DH, tell him to stick it in his ear.

1. You are going during a free dining period. Same day ADRs are going to be difficult to get. Almost impossible inside most parks.

2. You've got the DDP - not prebooking your TS meals and then failing to find a same day ADR= money wasted.

3. 2 out of the 3 of you appear to want those ADRs. He's out voted.

If the three of you agree the day before a particular ADR that you want to cancel it, THEN you might begin the hunt for a substitute. But to cancel them now, with the hope of finding something at the last minute? Uh, no.

 

[bbak30]

I definitely wouldn't cancel them right now. Have a discussion each night about what you have booked for the next day and then cancel if they don't want to go.

 

[Angeejoe]

in 6 weeks time, our much discussed trip with dmil (85) will become a reality.

We have 8 days of ddp-with various stipulations (previously posted;different thread altogether!!)


However, dh now says not to plan too much and just play it by ear

I don't have any desire to race around anywhere (and physically can't anyway)
The main component of our trip is food-dmil is a real foodie with a great appetite..

I have tentatively booked fp+ on various days-with full understanding they may/may not be utilised.

My main gripe is dh wants me to cancel 90% of our adrs.
The only ADR he definitely wants to keep is afternoon tea & possibly Sanaa.

Seriously, I need a moment.....

Any thoughts people?

Why does he want to cancel? Is it MILs request? I think having ADRs would be a good idea as many restaurants have no walk up slots & if they do the wait is long. I don't think an 85 yr wants to waiting in the heat to eat.

 

[Fizban]

Famous last words (cancel all your dinner rezzies). I am not a small man and I am known to get very cranky if I get over hungry. If anyone in your group is afflicted with the same issue I would definitely keep my dining choices even if they may not get utilized. Running around either at a park or DTD trying to find a place to eat at last moment is not a great start to a good day or evening.

 

[DisTXMom]

Agree with previous posters. DH may be assuming you can walk up and get reservations on the fly. Explain to him that simply isn't the case.

 

[married2mm]

Why does he want to cancel? Is it MILs request? I think having ADRs would be a good idea as many restaurants have no walk up slots & if they do the wait is long. I don't think an 85 yr wants to waiting in the heat to eat.

I'm 46 & don't want to be waiting in the heat.
I'm cranky when hungry & can very easily turn into a female hulk!!

Dh is basically concerned it may all be too much for her..
We've had many pre wdw meetings where the basics have been explained;
But I don't think she'll really "get it" til we are there.

She's been to Florida many years ago when dfil was still with us-but never to wdw.
She's actually pretty amazing for 85.
Yes, she does have some health issues ( not surprising ) & we've just bought a wheelchair for her to either push as a walker or be pushed by dh. Whichever she wants.
i have various health issues too, so..I'm actually wondering if he's thinking potentially too much for him with both us ladies?! Too late now.

Seriously though, I'm sensible enough to know my limits.
And so us dmil at the grand age of 85.
She has some days where she's more active than others-(don't we all?!)
and will have a really early start or perk up later in the evening.

No matter what though-we still want/need to eat..
And I gave a lot of thought & consideration to the choice & times of ADR s selected.


Yes, dh can stick it-or I can hand him the reins and see how he gets on.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Its during free dining period. I wouldnt cancel anything. It will be difficult to "wing it:" as most places are booked up. Especially being on deluxe, you dont want to end up with cheeseburgers and pizza all week from quick service. Technically, you are already paying about $35 per meal....make it worth it!

Im also on deluxe during free dining. I planned breakfast and signature dinners. We have our whole day free to do what we want. I do have FPs reserved. If we make them, great, if no, oh well. My concern is my plans could change in an instant as rain will play a big factor in executing what I have planned for almost a year. MY plan is for no rain

 

[fbb]

However, dh now says not to plan too much and just play it by ear

Any thoughts people?

My thought: 8 days on the dining plan with no ADRs will give your husband an opportunity to work through the entire Nine Dragons menu.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

For me, some of it depends on which ADRs you have, and what time of day/evening you are planning on eating. Some of the restaurants at WDW are notorious for seating people well past reservation time (BOG lunch and Ohana come immediately to mind - I am sure there are others). We have had issues with being seated well past our reservation time at 1900 Park Fare, Akershus, BOG, and Tusker House.

When we had BOG lunch and dinner ressies, we had to wait at least 10 minutes past our reservation time. Although it wasn't a big deal to me, it was really annoying for my 73 year old mom. She did not enjoy waiting in the hot sun (BOG has no good waiting area) for even 10 minutes.

Some of the restaurants, like Sanaa, have wonderful places to sit and rest, both outside and inside, while you wait for a table, and I don't think that they usually run past reservation time.

Some of the worst for your situation might be park restaurants that have little or no indoor seating while you are waiting to be seated.

Having recently been there done that, I would suggest booking ressies primarily at places where you can rest comfortably in air conditioning while waiting on a table. Places like Boma, Sanaa, Cape May, Whispering Canyon - largely the resort restaurants as opposed to the park restaurants. The great things about those, too, is that they are often much easier to get than the park restaurants (which frequently, with the exception of BOG and some of the Epcot restaurants, don't have the best food for a real foodie anyway). You will probably want to have something at the parks, but be aware those can sometimes be stressful even with a reservation.

 

[married2mm]

Sorry for confusion-
We have dining plan; but not deluxe.

Off the top of my head-
(I'm being lazy;its late)


12pm-the Wave
7.30am (before church)- Olivia's
5pm-beaches & cream
11am-sci fi diner
11.15am-captains grille
11.30am-Sanaa

Remembered there's a plaza at 4pm also.

 

[Angeejoe]

I'm 46 & don't want to be waiting in the heat.
I'm cranky when hungry & can very easily turn into a female hulk!!

Dh is basically concerned it may all be too much for her..
We've had many pre wdw meetings where the basics have been explained;
But I don't think she'll really "get it" til we are there.

She's been to Florida many years ago when dfil was still with us-but never to wdw.
She's actually pretty amazing for 85.
Yes, she does have some health issues ( not surprising ) & we've just bought a wheelchair for her to either push as a walker or be pushed by dh. Whichever she wants.
i have various health issues too, so..I'm actually wondering if he's thinking potentially too much for him with both us ladies?! Too late now.

Seriously though, I'm sensible enough to know my limits.
And so us dmil at the grand age of 85.
She has some days where she's more active than others-(don't we all?!)
and will have a really early start or perk up later in the evening.

No matter what though-we still want/need to eat..
And I gave a lot of thought & consideration to the choice & times of ADR s selected.


Yes, dh can stick it-or I can hand him the reins and see how he gets on.

Don't cancel!!! Reevaluate every night, if the night before you think you're not up to the next day then cancel to avoid the fee. Remember though you will be scrambling later to eat which is no fun at WDW.

 

[JenniferinFL]

LOL, your husband sounds like mine! I would not cancel ADR's. My darling spouse decided we should cancel everything I had booked because we might not be able to go for the holiday weekend in early September. Now, he's decided, we can go after all. So, we're paying more for the room, not getting the room we wanted and not getting any of the dining we wanted to do. We don't even have our fastpasses together for a couple attractions. So, yeah, I wouldn't cancel ADR's. The only expensive ones to cancel are dessert party anyways. When our daughter got sick and we couldn't go to the brown derby last year they didn't even charge us even though we only cancelled 5 hours ahead of time. Though, that may have been because we were leaving early as well and that might have been more of an extra pixie dust moment rather than standard practice. Even so, it's free to cancel 24 hours out. I would wait till last possible minute if I had it to do over.

 

[Three cats]

Definitely don't cancel them! It's too hard to try and get something last minute, let alone when free dining is happening.

@fbb, your response made me (literally) laugh out loud...

 

[bumbershoot]

However, dh now says not to plan too much and just play it by ear

Oh you're making me faint.

My main gripe is dh wants me to cancel 90% of our adrs.

Sigh.

The only ADR he definitely wants to keep is afternoon tea

You're British? And he wants to go to an American version of tea? Have you gone there before? If not, prepare to possibly be disappointed. After going to England last year and experiencing a few versions of afternoon tea there...I'm not sure I'll ever go to WDW's version again. It's just too sad without actual clotted cream. Sigh.

No matter what though-we still want/need to eat..

Absolutely.

And now that you clarified you have the normal plan, that's ONE sit-down meal a day and ONE counter-service a day. These are not big huge dramatic plans. It makes no sense to cancel the sit-downs. The counter service can be rearranged and rethought on the fly, but not the meal where you'll be sitting, relaxing, in air conditioning...regaining the strength to perhaps do a bit more.

or I can hand him the reins and see how he gets on.

Oh please no!

I mean, let him choose some counter service places, absolutely. That actually saves steps, if you now where you're going and can work it out so your fun stuff is nearby at the time when you think you'll be hungry for that meal. But don't hand him the table services.

My thought: 8 days on the dining plan with no ADRs will give your husband an opportunity to work through the entire Nine Dragons menu.

Bwa ha ha.....