What to replace Victoria and Albert’s with, having to cancel date night

[FSU Girl]

So we discovered my baby has separation anxiety and cries hysterically with my parents. They had hoped spending a week with us would get her used to them, but she just doesn’t want anyone but me or her dad holding her. So we will have to cancel our Victoria and Alberts dinner since my parents can’t watch her and have her hysterical for 4 hours.

Sad we are losing our date night and now we are less than a month to our trip so a lot is booked up. Figure we probably won’t be able to find much for 6 people. So what should we do now for this dinner? Original plan for the kids was having them do quick service so maybe we just all do that?

We will be at Grand Floridian, should we do room service? If we do this how long does it typically take to get the food so I know how early we need to order so my toddler doesn’t get hangry.

Should we have my parents watch my 3 year old and we do a sort of date night with the baby somewhere? She’s great when she can be with me lol I take her to restaurants all the time.

 

[NicoleLarson]

As you get closer to your trip and even day of, most things will open up. I just don't even try anymore to get reservations at 60 days out. So don't loose hope! Narcoosees or Citricos are good options. Cali Grill would be a short monorail ride away. We also love Enchanted Rose, they make an outstanding French 75

 

[bdrex28]

Go to your dinner, enjoy it. Don't change anything.

Your baby will be fine.

I'm sure it feels awful, but it's normal and your baby will be better for it.

Establish routines but don't not go.

 

[FSU Girl]

Go to your dinner, enjoy it. Don't change anything.

Your baby will be fine.

I'm sure it feels awful, but it's normal and your baby will be better for it.

Establish routines but don't not go.

There’s no way we can go that dinner is very long. If it was like a normal dinner that would be like an hour maybe. But she literally wouldn’t stop crying unless I was holding her I can’t do that to her and it would be at bedtime too

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I can't offer any suggestions regarding separation anxiety but if you decide you want to change your plans, I agree don't give up hope --stuff opens up all the time -- and that both Citricos and Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian are terrific options as well as being very convenient. If willing to head over to Disney Springs, there might be more open if you look on Open Table for reservations. Boathouse can be fun for a family dinner (food and service both great) and regularly accommodates larger groups. If weather permits your toddler might like sitting outside and watching the boats as well as the rubber ducky that comes with some drinks. Room service really depends on how busy they are.

 

[vampiroth]

There’s no way we can go that dinner is very long. If it was like a normal dinner that would be like an hour maybe. But she literally wouldn’t stop crying unless I was holding her I can’t do that to her and it would be at bedtime too

I dont think most people realize that V&A will take up to 5hrs depending on the menu you choose.

I wouldn't do room service. I'd go to Flying Fish, or Bull & Bear at the Waldorf.

 

[CarolynFH]

What time does the baby go to sleep in the evening? I agree that Citricos or Narcoossee’s would be great choices, and I’d book my ADR for after she’ll be well asleep. That’s our plan for our trip in January - DGD doesn’t see us in person often enough to be comfortable without a parent around, so DD and DSiL plan to go out long after she’s asleep. Now to hope she doesn’t change her schedule in the next couple of months!

 

[FSU Girl]

What time does the baby go to sleep in the evening? I agree that Citricos or Narcoossee’s would be great choices, and I’d book my ADR for after she’ll be well asleep. That’s our plan for our trip in January - DGD doesn’t see us in person often enough to be comfortable without a parent around, so DD and DSiL plan to go out long after she’s asleep. Now to hope she doesn’t change her schedule in the next couple of months!

My baby isn’t the best sleeper and her schedule is really inconsistent. She sometimes goes to sleep at 7:30 but could be as late as 9 and no way to really know what’ll be. My 3 year old goes to bed at 7 every night so my parents could help with her for sure. But bringing the baby on date night would be ok since she’s really good at restaurants and loves people watching. If Victoria and Albert’s would let me bring her I would lol

 

[Marthasor]

My baby isn’t the best sleeper and her schedule is really inconsistent. She sometimes goes to sleep at 7:30 but could be as late as 9 and no way to really know what’ll be. My 3 year old goes to bed at 7 every night so my parents could help with her for sure. But bringing the baby on date night would be ok since she’s really good at restaurants and loves people watching. If Victoria and Albert’s would let me bring her I would lol

I would look for a reservation for 3 somewhere on the monorail line and just go enjoy your dinner with your baby. It might be nice for your 3-year old to have a special time alone with your parents? My DS was very much the same when he was little so I get it. If you want to do dinner with 6, consider Whispering Canyon at WL - not terribly romantic, but they may have a bigger table available and it might be a nice adventure to take the boat over from MK. Or maybe just head over to Ft. W, get QS and let your toddler play on the playground, visit the stables?

 

[ucf_knight]

Go to your dinner, enjoy it. Don't change anything.

Your baby will be fine.

I'm sure it feels awful, but it's normal and your baby will be better for it.

Establish routines but don't not go.

This is the correct answer.

 

[FSU Girl]

This is the correct answer.

I’m not comfortable with letting my baby cry for 4 hours straight

 

[sponica]

I’m not comfortable with letting my baby cry for 4 hours straight

Mine was like this but it wasn't separation anxiety, she just REALLY hated not being in her own crib by a certain time.

Also was she crying when you were in the house? Or were you gone and you came home to reports of her crying hysterically?

I would still be inclined to try dinner somewhere at the GF, or a drink and an appetizer at the Enchanted Rose.

 

[FSU Girl]

Mine was like this but it wasn't separation anxiety, she just REALLY hated not being in her own crib by a certain time.

Also was she crying when you were in the house? Or were you gone and you came home to reports of her crying hysterically?

I would still be inclined to try dinner somewhere at the GF, or a drink and an appetizer at the Enchanted Rose.

She would cry even if I was a foot away and my mom or dad was holding her instead of me. They figured she’d eventually calm down but she was so hysterical didn’t stop. They did discover if she was in her stroller on a walk she was ok but they can’t do that forever and if she needs something like a new diaper she would get upset again.

 

[sponica]

She would cry even if I was a foot away and my mom or dad was holding her instead of me. They figured she’d eventually calm down but she was so hysterical didn’t stop. They did discover if she was in her stroller on a walk she was ok but they can’t do that forever and if she needs something like a new diaper she would get upset again.

Yeah I'd be inclined to try it because she knew you were around and just prefers you.

Congratulations she's learned object permanence .

But the only to deal with it is to not feed into it. I'd find a reservation at the GF for you and DH. Have your parents and kids walk you to dinner, you say goodbye to the kids and then walk away. Worst case scenario, she screams in the stroller for an hour, but odds are she'll settle down.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’m not comfortable with letting my baby cry for 4 hours straight

Especially at a hotel!!! To knowingly subject every hotel room around yours to it- I thank you on behalf of your future hotel room neighbors for not trying to deal with this issue at WDW.

I would take the baby on date night and let the toddler have fun with the grands. Once the toddler tuckers out and goes to bed the grands will probably be happy to have a night off their feet.

 

[BrianL]

While I agree with some posters that being away from the baby will help her adjust in the long run and that this will need to be done, I can also understand that being away from home and staying at a hotel is probably not the best environment to be putting that to the test. You can deal with that at home at the right pace. It's unfortunate about V&A's, but hopefully you can find a nice restaurant that won't be as much of a produciton. As others have said, stuff does open up - it might even be last minute, but hopefully you can find something. Even if you take the baby, have your parents watch the other kids and go do something fun maybe. You're on the monorail loop, so maybe split up, but stay on the three resorts so you can get back together easily. I'm sure it'll work out and you'll have fun no matter what you end up doing.

 

[focusondisney]

She would cry even if I was a foot away and my mom or dad was holding her instead of me. They figured she’d eventually calm down but she was so hysterical didn’t stop.

The parent being right there but someone else holding the baby usually makes it worse. Did you try actually leaving the house & leaving her with your parents? Usually if they can’t actually see you, it will be easier for them to calm down. But that said, I would cancel date night & do something as a family. It’s not worth the stress & anxiety for all of you. You’ll have plenty of time for date nights as your kids get bigger.

 

[ucf_knight]

I’m not comfortable with letting my baby cry for 4 hours straight

If its truly that bad I'd recommend seeing a doctor for her. No baby should be doing that.

 

[aleria24]

I’m not comfortable with letting my baby cry for 4 hours straight

Your baby won't cry for 4 hours straight. Trust me. I have years of experience with this in child care. Once you get out of sight, the baby will be fine, half hour maximum. You NEED to start separating for short periods now before you completely burn out.

 

[lowlight]

Poor OP asked for suggestions on food and got unsolicited parenting advice. All 3 of mine had terrible separation anxiety so I’m not gonna chastise you. All kids are different. I used to set timers to see how long my kids could actually throw a crying fit. 4 hours seems about right, they would hyperventilate and cough till they choked because it was so frantic.

Anyhow, day of reservations open up like crazy with the new 2 hour window. I mean I saw the harder to get reservations wide open. Take your baby with you if you want, no parent is going to enjoy dinner constantly worrying about their child and their parents and neighbors in the hotel. Definitely get out though, room service at the grand is so expensive it’s just not worth it unless you are sick.