Anyone just eat quick service while here?

[Mickfarland4]

We have two young kids and I am thinking it would 1. be much cheaper since we won't have to tip and 2. much quicker than table service for our kids. They do behave well in resturaunts and Dh and I do enjoy an evening beer with dinner though. Idk which to do!! quickservice or regular dining plan? I don't want to do oop because I am horrible at saving money and love the idea of our food being paid in full up front!

 

[greengeen]

We always did QS when our kids were younger and it worked great. It's just easier and cheaper when the kids are young and restless. We never do DDP because it's cheaper OOP. Not sure what DDP has to do with not being good at saving money? We just charge meals to our Disney Rewards Visa and pay off the next month.

Also, we always bring or buy some wine to enjoy in the hotel, or we pick up a few drinks in Epcot while we tour. Never had a problem fitting in adult beverages. Especially since we use Disney transportation or walk, so no designated driver needed.

 

[kaybird]

We have done the QSDP several times. Like you, we love having the meals all pre-paid, and find the offerings great. I've said it before, have NEVER had a hamburger at Disney, and the QS salmon rivals Artist's Point!

 

[babydoll65]

We did the qsd the last trip and loved. Hate being tied down to a reservation and ate alot at the pepper market in Coronado springs. They even offer a steak on the qs plan.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

We've been eating only QS for a few years. My kids do not like sitting down to eat at WDW, they are always in a rush to get to the next attraction.
We find there is a lot of varied choices and it comes out cheaper eating only QS, with the occasional TS thrown in about once or twice every few trips.

 

[pieface]

Most of the time we eat q.s. they have a good selection it's fast and you save on tips. Don't want to sound cheap but when you are on a budget you have to save where you can. Love Columbia Harbor House, Pecos Bills, and cosmic rays in magic kingdom. A.K. flame tree barbecue, Epcot the lands restaurant, and quick Chinese. H.S. not great selection but the commissary is not bad

 

[darnheather]

How old are they? Do you plan on doing any character meals? Have you looked over QS menus for each place you'll be to make sure you'll be happy eating those things each day?

 

[dmoore718]

We have done the QS DP when our kids were little as well and thought it was perfect. They were scared of characters at that age anyway. We enjoyed being able to eat when we want and we tried a bunch of new QS places and did not eat burgers everyday. I think it's a good choice. I also don't want to pay OOP. I like having some sort of DDP so that it's all paid for up front. Also, we go when there is either free dining or, this year, Stay Play Dine so we got a deal on it and that made it even sweeter.

 

[Pixiedust74]

I always do QS. This year is a rarity because I will be doing TWO table service meals.

Downtown Disney has some awesome QS, and I've done fine-but bear in mind I'm on the autism spectrum and only eat about 10 things to begin with

If you are going in late Sept/Oct. all the Food and Wine stuff is Quick Service.

 

[dmoore718]

Pixiedust....I live in Philly so very close to you and I went to WCU!!!!!

LOVE the QS at DTD too!

 

[arielmomma]

We've done just QS before and it worked out well for us. Like a PP said, we never had a hamburger.

My only complaint are the kids meals. How old are your children? While we were able to find some good meal choices, it was only b/c we did our research ahead of time. My kids don't like the typical "kid" foods. I often ended up sharing meals with my son, but that wasn't a big deal b/c the adult meals are huge. (I wasn't going to eat 1/2 a chicken on my own anyway!). So it all worked out fine. Just take a look at the kid choices ahead of time if you have children under 10.

Have a great trip!

 

[Mickfarland4]

We always did QS when our kids were younger and it worked great. It's just easier and cheaper when the kids are young and restless. We never do DDP because it's cheaper OOP. Not sure what DDP has to do with not being good at saving money? We just charge meals to our Disney Rewards Visa and pay off the next month.

Also, we always bring or buy some wine to enjoy in the hotel, or we pick up a few drinks in Epcot while we tour. Never had a problem fitting in adult beverages. Especially since we use Disney transportation or walk, so no designated driver needed.

If we pay oop there is a chance we won't save enough money! I hate to admit it but, it's true! We are horrible savers and if I book a dining plan I have to pay for it. Does that make sense?

 

[Mickfarland4]

How old are they? Do you plan on doing any character meals? Have you looked over QS menus for each place you'll be to make sure you'll be happy eating those things each day?

they will be 3 and 6. They are both boys so character meals do not really appeal since Handy Manny is going to be gone! I was going to do that one. I have not looked yet at the qs menus. A while ago I looked at the table service menus to see where we would eat so I'll have to see about that.

 

[lucyem]

If we pay oop there is a chance we won't save enough money! I hate to admit it but, it's true! We are horrible savers and if I book a dining plan I have to pay for it. Does that make sense?

Instead of buying the dining plan, buy some Disney Gift cards. That way you don't have to worry about saving the money and the food is covered. Plus anything left over is a bonus.

We eat very few TS on property anymore. We have favorite CS in each park. We find it easier & cheaper.

 

[Nohal]

When our kids were young we always did counter service with a charachter meal thrown in here and there. This was way before the dining plan was even on the drawing board. Never felt like we just ate hamburgers. Fast forward to the last 10 years. It is now DH & myself going every year with a few in between that the grown kids come. For the last few years (since they started giving free dining in Sept.) we have had the DDP. This year we only have the free QSDP as we are staying in a value. We considered upgrading but decided that we would keep with the QSDP. I am looking forward to eating when I want and not being tied down with ADRs. There were many times that we weren't hungry but had and ADR that we had to go to. Also you need to plan your day around your ADR's which is hard if you have young children. As far as paying in advance a lot of people buy Disney gift cards at Target and use those for their dining. You can even buy re loadable gift cards at Walmart and keep adding to it as you have the money. The reloadable can still be used at home if you have money left on it. This may be a better way to go than paying for the dining plan.

 

[Greenfield1984]

We always use the QSDP and love it! This October is the first time we're doing the DDP since our honeymoon and that's only because my in-laws are coming along and I want it to be a little more "special" for them.

As much as I'm looking forward to trying out new restaurants I'm having a hard time having to decide which QS places to get rid of to make room for the TS restaurants (especially at Epcot!!)

 

[DJWMom]

We're only doing one ts meal on our 7 day trip in Sept, so we got the QS DDP, and we're paying for the ts meal oop. We're all "eat when your body tells you you're hungry" type of people, so I didnt want to make a bunch of ADRs only to find that my kids are hungry an hour before that, fill up and then dont eat at the restaurant (or spend that time hungry and whiney!) or none of us are hungry when its time to sit down. With qs we can eat whenever the mood strikes us.

 

[weswife]

We love the DP! Its great to just swipe the card, I like knowing I have it paid for before we go. We have done the DP every year except the first trip, we did not think we would spend that much $$$ on food. Over the years my kids have went to every character meal, some they have repeated. I am thinking of the QSP this year, we enjoy QS dining.

 

[Mickfarland4]

Thank you for all your responses! Buying gift cards at Target is a great option that I forgot about and I have the Red card!! That may be the way to go for me as DS is picky and likes some more grown up foods like chicken wings and steak and kids meals may not offer them! Thanks again! Each week I should go buy some gift cards and then apply it toward my bill! Then if we decided we want to go someplace to sit down we can fly by the seat of our pants and see what has openings!

 

[Dizneydaz]

Our last 3 trips have been exclusively QS. Prior to that we did TS and CS. While I miss having TS meals I don't miss the hassle of having to make ADRs 180 days out.

We have had some great CS meals, the last 3 trips, especially at DTD.