Planning meals in advance--- too much?

[honeybunches]

So we are doing our first trip in a few weeks.....I mentioned to DH that I might print off the menus & make a rough draft of what we will order at each restaurant (at least for the kids, so I have a chance to look at the menu for once). He looked at me like I have totally lost it. So have I really taken it too far?

 

[Cafeen]

So we are doing our first trip in a few weeks.....I mentioned to DH that I might print off the menus & make a rough draft of what we will order at each restaurant (at least for the kids, so I have a chance to look at the menu for once). He looked at me like I have totally lost it. So have I really taken it too far?

It depends. If you just want to get an idea what you may like, then absolutely not. It's good to be informed . If you are going to make it set in stone, then, imo, yes.

I have a feeling it's more the former than the latter though . I like to look at the menus as well to get that idea of a few things I may order, and then let my gut decide when I get there. (Of course, I'm pretty picky too... so that usually limits my choices a bit).

Then again, we may not be the best group of people to ask, as most of us here are at least a little obsessed with planning these trips .

 

[thestevied]

I like to look at the menu's to help me decide which restaurants I want to visit, so don't think you're crazy.... much!

I would also look at what I might order, but as the poster above wrote, I'd leave it to the day to see what takes my fancy.

IMO though, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being organised. You will save time, and if you have a tight schedule it's not a bad idea at all. Especially picking the kids meals out to allow you a bit more time. Of course, you may still change your mind on the day anyway!!

I wouldn't force DH into deciding his meals too though, some people just like being more impulsive and I can understand that.

 

[Dizzy over Disney]

Let's see.... are you crazy ?? Hmmm.... Imagine, if you will...


You have been in a park or parks all day . You are tired, you want to sit, you are excited, you are hungry, you are thirsty. Your kids are tired, your kids want to sit, your kids are excited, your kids are hungry, your kids are thirsty. Your husband is tired, your husband wants to sit, your husband is excited, your husband is hungry, your husband is thirsty.

After all that.... you get to a restaurant and "get" to look over a menu


Get the menus... look over them thoroughly. Have a general idea of what you think everyone would like (minus the husband.. but know the menu so when he says.. I dont know what I should get.. you can make a suggestion ). It will save you so much energy. You don't have to have it written in stone. If they change their minds.. they change.. but at least you will have a good idea going in what they have to offer and and it will make YOUR life easier!

Have a magical trip!

 

[disneydreamer98]

Been there...done that! Must mean that I've lost it too!

 

[fla4fun]

I would use it as a planning tool, keeping in mind that menus are subject to change at any time. You may get your heart set on something, only to find it's been elimnated from the menu when you get there. I've seen a lot of sad and angry threads by people who were disappointed when they saw something on a site posted menu, but it wasn't on the actual menu when they got there.

Disney has been putting some of their menus online where you make dining reservations. I would hope they would be the most up to date menus available - but with Disney's track record when it comes to websites, I'd still be a little cautious. Still, I would be sure to include them in the menus I was reviewing.

 

[honeybunches]

Thanks all! Yes, definitely willing to change our minds, but it would be nice to have an idea ahead of time. However, I don't see kids meals on the menus online----is there a standard kids meal (chicken tenders, burger, popcorn shrimp, etc) at most restaurants?

As for dh, I can guess what he will order whenever possible--- alternating between club sandwich or cheeseburger. He's not very adventurous LOL

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks all! Yes, definitely willing to change our minds, but it would be nice to have an idea ahead of time. However, I don't see kids meals on the menus online----is there a standard kids meal (chicken tenders, burger, popcorn shrimp, etc) at most restaurants?

As for dh, I can guess what he will order whenever possible--- alternating between club sandwich or cheeseburger. He's not very adventurous LOL

I just thought I would add that your DH is in the majority. Those of us who plan ahead to the extent that many DISers do, are actually in the minority, but we usually have the upper hand because of it.

I always familiarize myself with the menus of the CS places we think we may go to on our trip. All I do is scan through the menus online and pick out one or two CS locations in various areas of each park, which have a few items that would appeal to us. I don't decide what we will/may be eating, but it does help to know where you can find something you will eat. For example, we don't eat burgers, hot dogs, etc, so it helps to know ahead that Caseys is not going to be one of our stops for a meal. Similarly, if we are in Tomorrowland, I know that we could find dsomething to eat at Cosmic Rays and not have to leg it over to Frontierland to Pecos Bills.

You probably have a fair idea of what your DH will and won't eat anyway. Also, it does help that on the park maps there is a brief summary under each restaurant giving a general idea of the type of meals you will find there, so dont get too intense with the planning.

Have fun! Oh, and view the online menus AFTER dinner - sometimes it can work up an appetite

 

[2 Little Mermaids]

Thanks all! Yes, definitely willing to change our minds, but it would be nice to have an idea ahead of time. However, I don't see kids meals on the menus online----is there a standard kids meal (chicken tenders, burger, popcorn shrimp, etc) at most restaurants?

As for dh, I can guess what he will order whenever possible--- alternating between club sandwich or cheeseburger. He's not very adventurous LOL

Allears.net has the kids menus. You are not crazy. I did the same thing. As a mom you know what your kids will eat. My oldest will only eat chicken nuggets or hot dogs, so I wouldn't book an ADR that doesn't have anything for her to eat. I also do it with the counter service. No point in waiting in line to find out they don't have anything for her.

 

[PHXscuba]

I would consider this a "don't ask, don't tell" situation. Don't ASK your husband to make a decision now, don't TELL him you already have.

My DH is the same way -- he will be totally into the vacation when we arrive, but (other than some big decisions) prefers not to sweat the details, especially when he knows I will.

I look over the menus before I go to be sure there will be something the kids will eat, and maybe to get an idea of what I may like since I'll be helping the kids decide. I always ask for the menu when I check in so I can have plenty of time to look it over.

PHXscuba

 

[wizzzzzard]

This year our son is now an adult on the dining plan. He's actually looking forward to having the same food as mom & dad. He never was much for the kiddie food, perferring soup or fresh veggies to nuggets and hot dogs. We did something right somewhere with him.... He likes his steak and shrimp too, don't get me wrong. Last time around, he asked when he could have what we have. This year, he can.

 

[dalt01]

print off the menus & make a rough draft of what we will order at each restaurant have I really taken it too far?

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaay but i understand it. its wierd but i would defend you on it.

 

[mistysue]

Actually, I don't think it's going too far at all especially because you probably want meals to go quickly.
We frequently decide what to eat before we go out simply because with the kids we can order everything (even including dessert) when the server takes our drink order. Then even if you end up with that one server that takes 20 minutes to check on you, you still have time to get everything. Just think of all the horror stories of people waiting and waiting for their server to check on them... so if it takes 20 minutes to order your dessert, then 10-15 to get it you just wasted a half hour of your time. If you just ordered it at the beginning usually they will time it to come to you 10-15 after you get your food. You can get into a TS location, get apps, meal and dessert all within a 30 minute span. Then you have park time. I would look over the menus and then ask for a menu to look at while you are waiting to be seated. If you wait 10 minutes for a table everybody will be ready.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

So we are doing our first trip in a few weeks.....I mentioned to DH that I might print off the menus & make a rough draft of what we will order at each restaurant (at least for the kids, so I have a chance to look at the menu for once). He looked at me like I have totally lost it. So have I really taken it too far?

First of all CONGRATULATIONS on your first trip

I have a question for you...does Mr. Honeybunches help plan the grocery list and the menus at home? If not, even more why he is thinking you have lost it

I shop, prepare, cook the meals. He enjoys & ususally helps clean up.

Likewise before going to WDW, I obsess, plan, review menu's & make ADR's. I don't tell him a lot about it other than, "would you rather do the Mexican or Canadian restuarant when we're in Epcot?" Or "would you rather eat at the Crystal Palace or go to one of the monorail resorts on our MK day?"

We understand your need to obsess. Do it among friends here Have a great trip

 

[texasgirl73]

I love going over the menus and planning what to eat. Sometimes I get exactly what I planned, sometimes I feel like something else, and sometimes I choose to trust the server (if they seem to know what they are talking about.) I even search this board for photos of specific items on the menus. It's sort of a way to "pretend" I'm already there (hey grownups can make believe too.) Waiting between vacations can be hard to do.