[nancyk]

O.K. so here's the deal... Some relatives (not close, second cousins) are going to WDW April 29th for a week. She (the mom) recently lost her husband who was doing a tour in Afghanistan. (Much needed time as a family.)She is taking her 18 month old son, her 8 year old daughter, & her 16 year old daughter, as well as her mom. They have asked me for some advice, but they kind of did so after they booked every thing. They don't seem to want to book any ADR's! She says that their life has been to hectic lately & doesn't want to be committed to MORE "appointments". I'm trying to convince her to make some ADR's since she has already paid for the meal plan. If she had asked me before she booked, I think would have told her not to get the meal plan, since I think it's great but only if you are willing to do alittle planning.

Does she really need to book her meals, or am I being OCD about this planning thing?

[alicefan]

First of all, I am so, so sorry to hear about your cousins husband. What a tragedy.

Second, we have gone to WDW without ADR's and have been fine. Sometimes calling to get into a resturant last minute works and sometimes it doesn't. I wouldn't recommend it if there is a place they really want to go, though. Since they probably aren't that into the planning because they are obviously grieving right now, maybe you could plan a few things for them so they have some options. Maybe you could recommend a few places and make the ADR's for them and when they get there, they can play it by ear?

Quick Edit - I must have missed the part about the meal plan. Since they paid for it I would try to urge them to get reservations so they don't lose money. I know that in their frame of mind right now, that is probably the last thing they care about, but still. They paid for sit downs so they may as well get them.

[alicefan]

If you do wind up helping her, I would suggest ADR's in each park and maybe a couple in monorail accessible resturants so they don't have to think too much about how they are going to get around.

[nancyk]

She is coming over tomorrow to let me help her pick ONE sit-down. She says it would be nice to have ONE booked meal. I'm really going to try & convince her to do more than that. I was thinking that maybe I will try & convince her to try some breakfast sitdowns, since that may feel less like she's stopping her day for a booking.
I hope it's not too late to try & get her in with the princesses in Epcot. I just know the 9 year old would love that.

[missymouse]

I'm pretty OCD about my Disney planning, so maybe my opinion is a little biased, but everything I read is that, because of the dining plan, if you don't book your sit-downs, you'll have a really hard time getting into a restaurant! We do a lot of breakfasts, and it does take the pressure off of the rest of the day. I hope you can help her out--have fun planning!!

[nancyk]

I actually intend to show her this thread to try & convince her to book at least a few sitdowns.

[Dana]

I think she should book a few....seriously. She may run into a busy time and have a hard time getting a table. I would rather know I am eating at least one table service a day....she can do whatever else she wants with no schedule. Convince her to book the ADRs.

[nancyk]

Thanks Dana I'll work on it. Wish me luck.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by nancyk

Thanks Dana I'll work on it. Wish me luck.

You could make them for her as a surprise....yeah...that will work out. Seriously, talk sense into her. Tell her what she could be up against with trying to get a good table place. She will be miserable once there if she is waiting an hour or so to get something to eat or worse yet...not able to get a table.

[nancyk]

You know, I actually thought of doing that! Can you book the pricesses in Epcot without a credit card?

[Dana]

Originally Posted by nancyk

You know, I actually thought of doing that! Can you book the pricesses in Epcot without a credit card?

No, you can't book it without a CC number. They only charge it if you don't show. If you are on the dining plan, they don't charge you a deposit.

[nancyk]

Oh well, I'll have to really have a talk with her to convince her to do some bookings.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by nancyk

Oh well, I'll have to really have a talk with her to convince her to do some bookings.

Tell her that you know they are booking out....you know with your secret mousebuzz info..lol

[iluvwdw]

I am SO SORRY to hear about your cousins husband. That is just so sad. I can understand them wanting to take time together as a family.

What resort are they staying at? Is it a place with a TS restaurant? Maybe they can AT LEAST book a dinner there!

Since they are going in April, it tends to get a little busy (right? ). I would URGE them to book a meal each day if they paid for the Dining Plan. If they just want to wing it, can they CANCEL the Dining Plan and pay OOP? Is it too late for that? If they don't make some plans, they might be locked out of certain restaurants and end up LOSING money from the DDP.

Good luck convincing! Do a search on ADRs here at MouseBuzz and show her how SERIOUSLY we all take it! Warn her that people book 180 days out!!!!!! She's only a month out right now. And I highly doubt any princess meal is still available...sorry.

[Dopey]

Normally I would say wing it, we used to and it was fine. But having the meal plan and a couple of grad nights scheduled right then --that's an awful risk to take.
I would urge her to listen to what alicefanny said up there!