talk to me about quick service dining plan

[mandypta]

I've book the quick service plan for my family in March. We discussed the regular plan (with I think 1 TS, and 1 CS meal??), but figured we'd need ADR for the TS meals - and my kids do not do schedules very well. Well, that's not accurate - they schedule ok, but don't do the "rush rush rush" thing very well. Trying to make it on time for reservations if they're involved in something would set us up for meltdowns, I'm afraid.

My *only* reservation about QS, is if we'll have enough variety. We're flying in late afternoon on a Sunday, and out early the following Saturday. We're only planning on being in the parks for 5 days.

I'm trying to figure out how to best use the plan. We do want to do TS at least once (which we will pay out of pocket for), and will likely keep breakfast grab-and-go stuff in our room, so I'm not thinking we'll even need to use credits for breakfast much (if at all).

I don't have enough of a plan to formulate any specific questions right now - so if you could just throw out your experiences with the QSDP, that would be great.

 

[ReneeA]

Where are you staying? Many of the resorts have good food courts with a variety of meals.

I would also research menus for counter service restaurants and find some that you find interesting. We go for longer trips (8-10 nights) and don't eat burgers and fries at all using the DDP.

 

[THEJOEL]

We did the regular DDP on our first trip, but we went with the QSDP this time. Since our trip is a month out I can't tell you a full experience but I can tell you why we did.
The main reason we went QS this time was NO ADRs. When we had 1 TS per day it felt like we planned our day around what ever ressie we had that day. Plus you lose up to 2 hours of touring time to eat.
We tried several QS location on our last trip and honestly the variety was really good, the only burger I ate in an 8 day trip last time was at TS and it was at Sci-Fi. I had seared tuna, fish and chips, wood fired pizzas and sushi all from QS locations.
Do some research on here and allears.net and look at QS location menus. That way you get an idea of what the menus look like and can get an idea of the places you would like to try. Also check the sticky on the top of this section on child menus FAQs and approved snacks.
If you do decide to pay OOP for a TS meal I would do a character meals for your kiddos. That way they can have one on one time with their favs.
Have fun!

 

[LlamaMamaof2]

Just back from a 7 night stay with quick service for the first time. Have had the other dining in the past but didn't want ADR's with kids this go round. We were at Pop Century and went to parks each day.

I brought cereal cups for breakfast and we used snack credits for milk each morning. We had a big variety of quick service at the resort and in the parks. At Pop there was salmon every night and blackened chicken sandwiches. There was shrimp low mein, pasta, pizza, burgers, great turket sandwiches, and many more to choose from. Kids were all the basics and my kids like the pasta plain the most.

In the parks, Harbour House in MK has a great variety, fish and shrimp. The place in tomorrowland had roasted chicken. There is a great counter service in the Land at Epcot that has a lot of fresh food and vegtables too. I think you will be surprised at the variety you can find. Of course, you can get burgers and hot dogs every day too!

I will say we were sick of desserts a couple of days in. At the food court we would always get fruit bowls for desserts. 2 desserts a day adds up. The kids meals now have Dannimals crush cups as an option and my kids at them at every meal. At restrauntasouras (?) in Animal Kingdom the kids meals come in a sand bucket too.

 

[amyr1]

Take a look at the menu's for several CS places. I think you will find quite a bit of variety.

On our last trip we had CS at least once per day. After 10 days I had ONE hamburger and ONE chicken strips. I had no problem finding salads, pizza, pasta, and even some seafood.

I highly recommend WolfGang Puck's Express in Downtown Disney. This was one of the best CS places around.

Amy

 

[3boys4me]

We tried the QS plan earlier this year and I loved it. So much so that we are doing it again next week. It was so nice not having to get to ADR's or planning our park days around our reservations. I only ate the same thing twice if I wanted to. There is really a big variety at the CS places. Like other people said, look at the menus to get a good idea of all of the different choices in the parks.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

We just got back from 10 days with QSDP and there is a good variety to be had if you are not a picky eater. If you like a wide variety of foods you can find good choices in almost every park and resort food court. It was a bit harder for me to find a variety because I am vegetarian. I ate a lot of salads and pizza.

All Star Music food court has a good variety at dinner. They have make your own salads where you can add Chicken, Salmon or Steak and you pick all your own toppings and dressing and they toss it right in front of you. I got that about 3 times and got Salmon for it and just told them to put it on the side on a little plate and then I gave that to my DD who loves Salmon.

In Epcot I think it is, you can even get Chinese Food in the Land food court. Or I may be confused on my locations. We ate so many different places.

We also went to Coronado Springs food court Pepper Market because it is basically a table service type place where you are seated and you have a waiter get your drinks but you still have to go get your own food and they stamp your card and you pay when you leave. They have a good variety of foods too. BBQ RIbs, roasted Chicken, Fajitas, Sub sandwiches, Pizza.

Try Mara at AKL also. GO right before dark and have dinner at Mara (CS) and then after dinner go let the kids look through night vision goggles at the animals. You don't have to be staying there to do that.

POR has a good food court too. They have a make your own pasta thing there like the make your own salad thing.

It was easier for us to toot around from place to place eating because we had a car and could just hop in the car and drive ourselves around. If we were relying on buses we would have pretty much only eaten at the resort every night.

Each park has different types of food.

If you have an IPhone they have a WDW Dining app that came in very handy while we were there. It was an awesome little app. It helped me locate a funnel cake from where I was standing in the park, it tells you which location you can find the snack at and how many yards away from it you are and what part of the park it is in. You can ask it what is near you or you can search by snack or certain type of food. I think it cost $2 but it was worth it to help us locate what we were looking for. Especially when we were hunting for smoothies. =)

 

[Neesy228]

I think you'll find plenty of variety. We did the QSDP and had no problems. (My son was super thrilled to have his own refillable mug. )

Epcot is particularly expansive in options. Most of the hotels have decent to excellent food courts and there is always Wolfgang Pucks Express and Earl of Sandwich in DTD for those non-park days. I don't think you'll have any problems - especially if you're going to throw in a table service here and there.

Have a great trip!

 

[Dizneydaz]

We got back about 3 weeks ago and did the QSDP for the 2nd time after doing the reg. DDP 5 times before that. I love not having to make, and keep, ADRs. And my DM really liked it. We had it for 11 nights so with the 3 of us we had 66 SC and CS credits to use. We didn't have one single hamburger or chicken nuggets.

I have just started working on my Dining Trip Report which will have much infor as well as photos (yes I'm one of those who take pix of their food!)

We were in the park 4 days and did the waterparks for 2 more. We had a rental car so we were able to go to other resorts and DTD very easily. We stayed at POP but had excellent meals at both The Contempo and POFQ. The Contempo Cafe was one of our favorite finds. Food cooked to order and delish! (though POP has better desserts!). We tried Capt. Cooks at Poly again but decided we don't really care for it but the view of the fireworks from the beach is pretty awesome!

DTD has WPE, Earl of Sandwich, and Cookes of Dublin which are all very good.

Even if you eat in the parks you will find a good selection. Another item we enjoyed for the first time this year was the taco salad at Pecos Bills. We ended up having this twice. With all the toppings you can add to it it's a substantial meal! Onion rings are available at PB as a SC! (check out my siggie for link to list of all SC available). Also good at MK was the Salmon, broccoli, and couscous at Columbia Harbor House.

You should have plenty of options. Where are you staying?

 

[tms295psu]

I've never used the Dining Plans... but would like to try the QS this next trip.

Can someone clarify if you can use QS credits for any Entree on the QS menu's or is there a limited selection of the menu available to use credits for??

I've looked up some menu's and there seems to be a ton of variety, as long as they don't have restrictions to what is QS redemable...

 

[Dizneydaz]

I've never used the Dining Plans... but would like to try the QS this next trip.

Can someone clarify if you can use QS credits for any Entree on the QS menu's or is there a limited selection of the menu available to use credits for??

I've looked up some menu's and there seems to be a ton of variety, as long as they don't have restrictions to what is QS redemable...

No restrictions on which entree you can order. As long as the location accepts the DDP you can order any entree, beverage, and dessert (except at breakfast).

At WPE there was a sign letting you know exactly what you could order with the DDP.

 

[princesssunshine320]

We have the DDP for free in August of 2012! However, we don't like being tied down to reservations...wondering if we can use TS credits for QS credits??? Thanks!

 

[Dizneydaz]

We have the DDP for free in August of 2012! However, we don't like being tied down to reservations...wondering if we can use TS credits for QS credits??? Thanks!

Don't count on it. There have been reports in the past during some free DDP periods when guests couldn't get a TS ADR that Disney allowed them to exchange TS for CS but I think it is mostly done at the resorts. They seem to have more flexibility.

If you don't want to do a sit-down meal perhaps you could use some TS for something to-go?

 

[TDC Nala]

If you don't want to do a sit-down meal perhaps you could use some TS for something to-go?

Disney TS restaurants generally don't take to-go orders.

 

[bakerworld]

I've book the quick service plan for my family in March. We discussed the regular plan (with I think 1 TS, and 1 CS meal??), but figured we'd need ADR for the TS meals - and my kids do not do schedules very well. Well, that's not accurate - they schedule ok, but don't do the "rush rush rush" thing very well. Trying to make it on time for reservations if they're involved in something would set us up for meltdowns, I'm afraid.

My *only* reservation about QS, is if we'll have enough variety. We're flying in late afternoon on a Sunday, and out early the following Saturday. We're only planning on being in the parks for 5 days.

I'm trying to figure out how to best use the plan. We do want to do TS at least once (which we will pay out of pocket for), and will likely keep breakfast grab-and-go stuff in our room, so I'm not thinking we'll even need to use credits for breakfast much (if at all).

I don't have enough of a plan to formulate any specific questions right now - so if you could just throw out your experiences with the QSDP, that would be great.

The Contemporary's quick service is awesome - place your order via the computer touch screen (which the kids love) and they give your a number and deliver to your table. The food is good - haven't had a bad thing from them yet. POR & CBR both wonderful quick service altho you have to wait for the food (at least you did the last I was there )

MK - Harbor House (YUM) HS - Pizza Plaza Epcot - America

 

[Juliet25]

We've used the QSDP the past few times and will be using it again on our 8 night trip. Even as a vegetarian, I find the variety acceptable. EPCOT is the best for cs, as others have mentioned. Traveling with kids, I much prefer this option. Nothing ruins a day more than hungry, cranky kids! I'm pretty disappointed in the dropping of the second snack, but at least the price hasn't risen.

 

[I Love Pluto]

The quick service plan matches our personalities. We don't survive well with schedules, and this plan provides the freedom to go to any counter service that we happen to be near that day.

We get Park hopper tickets, so this plan "goes where we do".