Why are ADR decisions so stressful!--vent

[mlwear]

Am I the only one that actually gets stressed over deciding on TS? And why is this? My goodness, the logical part of me says it is just food get over it. Pick a place and a time. Well, I have done that, but now I am doubting half of them.
I need to decide where to go for my BD even and can't make up my mind! First I choose Coral Reef, then think it won't be good from reviews here and other places plus we decide to invite MIL and don't want to buy her admission just for dinner that day. So, I decide to just pick a resort TS...We will be at AKL, OK Jikos, my son gets on here and sees some pics and I won't mention what this 11 year old compared it to looking like (I sort of agreed ). Then, I think CG IF we can get an ADR, but now doubt we can get a side table because of our party size (5), view less important than behavior issues with autistic DS. Kona is fine by me, it's smaller and behavior can be manager, but we are at Ohana the night before, should I move that around?
Then I have a Le Celliier issue. I am super uncomfortable eating with strangers sitting too close to me. I think I'm going to have to cancel and find somewhere else (maybe replace with Coral Reef).
My Gosh! What is wrong with me! It is just food! I know what it is, though, I'm a perfectionist and want everyone to be happy on the trip. I figure if I go through this mess now, everything will be taken care of once we are there.
--I won't this year, but about 4 years ago we decided to go to Disney despite concerns that it would be difficult for autistic son and when I discovered how much planning was needed, I cancelled the whole trip! The kids didn't know about it. At least I have gotten past that, thank goodness for the DIS!
I have a headache now, but to anyone who read this thanks for leting me get this off my chest.

 

[soxnation]

i am sitting here planning material open trying to decide how we are going to choose where to eat!!! have 3 adrs for a 5 night trip dropping one because we changed resorts need 3 more choices and a possiable breakfast for the day we leave i am with you here thinking time is ticking away and we will not have the trip of our lives if i do not perfectly choose where we are eating

 

[Va-bear]

I understand your fears about getting ADR's!!! We are going to Disney the last week of August, so I thought we had time.... BUT when I made THE call yesterday to make the full weeks reservations I knew I was glad we didn't wait any longer. We got everything we wanted - but the times were all off from what we'd hoped (though, really, the times were pretty close - SO, if you can make yourslef do it in the next few days you shoul still be in good shape!!) The nice thing is, once I made myself decide and just do it, I felt GREAT!!!! If they turn out to be the "perfect" plans it will be ok - it will help me to decide better what not to do next time! Now instead of thinking about dining I can make packing lists, etc!!!
Yeah!!!!!!

Good luck!

 

[soxnation]

have adrs for le cellier at a bad time but it was all i could get 2 weeks ago
kona cafe that i was going to change but since we will be at GF i am going to keep it
and Raglan Road
need 2 more and i am now trying to figure fireworks times in as well
any sugestions for 2 more stops we are 3 adults mom 50 sis 21 and me 23 going on free dining so having so many options is making it hard

 

[deany]

OMG, I am totally stressing over this also. I mean, it is free dining, it should be such a good thing. I am sure it will be - in the end! I have made all my ADR's but I am going to change around some days now and add a couple of them as we will pay OOP for two. Also, can't decide between WCC and CM. The big problem is those d**m picky eaters!!

 

[yankeepenny]

we will be first timers, for sept 1-7 and I made all my adrs's in april=we did not get any fantasmic/dinner anything, did not get 4 of the restaurants, so it was a good thing i had picked 15 out of the list. mind you, that was in APRIL.......
I am not doing any character meals, save for the
Garden grill, which was a backup choice, he does not yet know about that... we have no kids....
and all meal times are 7 pm
guess we did all right......

 

[lpuga80]

Forget picky eaters, we have dined at 19 different Disney full service restaurants and with they exception of the Biergarten(DD hated) everyone has liked them all. My DW and DD are the two most finicky eaters on the planet and have never had a problem finding something they enjoyed.

WCC is a blast if you like to have some fun(ask for ketchup and a large water) when you dine and CM is by far our favorite CD. If noise isn't a concern, Spoodles is a fantastic place for family dining.

Our friends who have an autistic DS(9) just got back from their 1st trip and found all of the preconceived fears were a complete non-issue. It's WDW, there simply isn't a greater or more accommodating host.

"Have a magical time"

 

[GretchGraham]

Ok everyone, all together now....deep breath in.....hold.....exhale. I think all of us Type A planners are stressed out about ADRs. I would like to tell you it gets easier, but this will be our fourth annual trip and I am just as stressed this year as I was the first year.

The truth of the matter is that you will make some missteps. Not because you didn't plan well enough, but because you can't possibly plan for every outcome (tired kids, tired adults, rain, etc). But, we have had a great time every year and we manage to laugh about the places with the bad food, terrible service, etc. Just as you can't possibly see and do everything at WDW during your vacation, you can't eat everywhere either. That just means you have to make a return trip. Preferably sooner rather than later.

The important thing about the ADRs is to MAKE THEM. I can't tell you how many families we saw in December being turned away by hosts/hostess saying they were booked. IMO anything is better than another CS for dinner.

By the way, I have an autistic daughter, so I know how difficult dining out can be. She is a terrible restaurant child, so I bring toys, candy, and her DVD player into each restaurant with us. The beauty of Disney is that there are so many children around, most people barely notice when my daughter is having a melt down. Usually, she is not the only crying/screaming child in the room Try to enjoy your trip. You deserve it.

 

[Dis31]

I totally hate sitting to close to strangers also!!! and eating and at LeCellier both times we were blessed with a booth in the rear of the restuarant it was in a little cozy area in the abck and we didnt feel like we were on top of total strangers. So dont write it off its awesome!

 

[ppony]

I'm starting to GET the stress. Years ago it didn't seem so hard to get (then) PSs at a few months notice but now there are so many people fretting about making all their ADRs on their 180 day out mark I'm beginning to worry. And even for early/mid December, the slow time people are fretting. I thought since we were going to skip Cindy's table this time sice we don't really care for it, I'd be okay with everything else and not sweat making the ressies so early...NOW I'm not so sure. My 180 day is Sunday so I better sit down and get crackin on that list. OYE! Is it REALLY that hard to get ADRs for Dec for regular places now??

 

[bluejasmine]

It is a little stressful this yr because I think there is an increase in ppl going with the free dining. I went for free dining last Aug and didnt have any problems getting any ADR anywhere I wanted at any time I wanted! I mean I got CRT on my first try!! This yr we are going back with the free dining again and I had problems getting into Le Cellier and Coral Reef.. I actually had to give up on dinner and make my ADR for lunch on both of them, we will just do our counters for that day at supper..Since you want to make an ADR for your bday where you dont need park admission for MIL might I suggest Ohana or Boma? YOu could walk around and enjoy the scenery at either resort as well..

 

[bluejasmine]

Oh another thing to think about is you can always book your ADR and then call back a few times a week or weekly right on up to your trip to see if there are cancellations if you dont like the time you originally booked.. Ive been on the phone with dining a few times where they will go "Oh a 6 just opened up must have been a cancellation" Also doesnt hurt to call dining while in WDW..Ive done that and gotten in also..

 

[mlwear]

Feeling so much better today. I still have some ADR's to work out, but am less worried about it. Glad to know that I am not the only one who has stressed out about deciding on meals!
Thanks, Dis31, for the LeCellier clarification. I posted another thread and got similar feedback and am now looking forward to going there. I think the pic I saw was maybe of just one section? Anyway...I feel OK about it, now.
Hopefully, I'll get everything worked out to everyone's satisfaction, but honestly I don't think anyone will do much complaining no matter what happens. We'll be at WDW!

 

[nurseypoo5]

no i just changed half my ADR's today for my early October trip. Its as if there are too many yummy places to pick from and only 8 days to eat. LOL

 

[debsays]

Well, I'm glad to see that I wasn't the only one who thought that the dining plan was work. I printed out all the menus of the restaurants that we were interested in. We all reviewed them then I booked our reservations. Put it away then a few days later took them out again. Big mistake. Reviewed them looked online again, printed a few more out, changed a few. Did this a few times. Last week made a few final changes and threw all the menus away and put it to rest. That's it. All done, not going back to change anymore. Phew ! Looking forward to our choices which are: LeCellier, Yacht Club Galley, Cape May, Coral Reef, Chef DeFrance, MaMa Melrose, Whispering Canyon (for DH B-day), Brown Derby and Rose Crown Pub.

 

[mom2rb]

The biggest problem is that my family is no help. At six months out I can't seem to make them care. But with the horror stories of restaurants not taking walk-ups, I don't want to wait. So I am sitting her trying to plot out our trip so that I can make ADR's first thing in the morning.

 

[mygyky]

Myabe I'm the one who did it wrong. Just picked some places that sounded good and made the reservations. Does it need to be this stressful??? I didn't want our days to revolve around restaurant reservations, so I just made 3. California Grill was the most important for the fireworks, the others were just so we could make sure we had decent meals a few times.