? about paying for DDP or QSDP...

[kerri0616]

So, we have the 4/3 deal booked. I'm torn between eating as low budget as possible and sharing lots of CS meals OR adding one of the Dining Plans.

I know that if I add a dining plan, I have to call a certain number of days before my trip begins. Here's my question...when do I have to pay for the dining plan?

What I would like to do is add a dining plan to my ressie. Then when I get there in mid-March, I would like to apply the $200 gift card to the cost of the plan and then I will pay the balance due at that point.

Is this possible? Or will they require me to put the entire cost of the DDP on my credit card whenever I call????

Thanks!

KJ

 

[deide71]

Unfortunately you can not apply the GC to the cost of your DP. The balance of your package is due at 45 days from your vacation. If you get the basic Dp (with the 1 TS per day) you can use the GC toward tips for your TS meals. Alternately you could purchase the QS dining plan and use the $200 GC toward any table service meals.

But honestly the basic DP with one TS per day is only $10 more per day for adults and $2 more per day for children. I feel it is the better value if you do decide to purchase a dining plan.

Likely the cheapest option is no pre-purchased dining plan, eating just quick service meals, and using the $200 GC toward your food.

HTH

 

[kerri0616]

Thank you!

That does help quite a bit!

KJ

 

[MakinMagicforBunky]

I'm doing a 'low budget' trip too. Original plan was to have garden grocer deliver food and we'd do a shared CS meal in the parks (using the $200 credit) and have the rest of our food back at the hotel. I started crunching numbers and it's actually working in our favor both in $ and convenience to have the QSP.

I didn't want to be tied down by ressies for TS, which is what led me to eating in the room to begin with, so the cost difference between DDP and QSP isn't significant for me, but we'll enjoy the convenience of park food and use the $200 credit for one TS (Chef Mickey's!) and our souvies and other extras.

It's only myself and an 8yo, so we've been studying the CS menus to figure out where we want to eat and he's happy with the plans so far, it's not chicken and pizza every day, so I'm happy too!

Good luck!

 

[Tromba]

But honestly the basic DP with one TS per day is only $10 more per day for adults and $2 more per day for children. I feel it is the better value if you do decide to purchase a dining plan.

HTH

Don't believe those that tell you that the DDP is "only" $10 and $2 more than the QSDP. Gratuities are added to each TS meal at the rate of 18%. My family of four cannot get out of a table service restaurant for under $100 at Disney. So that's at least $18 extra for each TS meal. For our upcoming 11-day trip in June that would be around $200 extra and above the $10 and $2. There goes your $200 gift card! We are doing the QSDP because when you factor in the tips, the QSDP IS a better value.

Tromba

 

[Sandisw]

That was one of the ways I looked at it too. We did the Free Dining a few years ago, when tips were included. Now that they are not, it dilutes the value for us. While we loved most of our TS meals, we didn't like the lack of flexibility.

This time, we are doing QSDP. I figured the difference between regular DP and QSDP for my family of 5, for 5 days is $250.00. We plan to take that money and use it to give us an additional 1 TS meal as a family and 1TS meal for my husband and I to enjoy alone (kids will be DS20, DD16, DD13). Of course, the mugs are a real value for us as well. I drink at least 3 cups of coffee before heading out to the parks in the AM (I know, I know...)!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

That is exactly why I am going with the quick service too, because of the tips, that would tack at least another 150 to our trip.

 

[blessedby3]

Yep, the added cost of the tips is something to consider when factoring the price difference of the 2 plans. We are also doing the CS dining plan because of the cost difference and the time we would have to spend at sit down places- too much for us on both counts.

 

[YayDisney!]

I just wanted to agree with most here. I just returned from a long weekend in WDW with my DD and my mom. We paid for the DDP for our trip - and enjoyed eating everywhere - but I realized during and after this trip that the QSP will fit my family (DH, DD & me) better. I enjoy the rest period and the food at all sit-down restaurants, but I also really enjoy many of the quick service. After 8 visits to WDW, we've done almost all of the restaurants and while they are fun and delicious, they are also loosing some of their appeal to our family. Some of the quick service locations are just as good - or sometimes better - than the table service restaurants. And, we would not be wasting our time traveling to and from the restaurants, plus tacking on the additional $20-$25 tip each meal for just the 3 of us to eat at a sit-down restaurant.

So, if we are able to visit again in June, we will be trying the QSP for the first time, as I see it as a tremendous value from the DDP, where you still have to add the tip on top of the cost. We have found many quick service locations that offer the rest and relaxation we are seeking for meal time, but also the tasty food and choices we enjoy. (I may have to allow for one reservation at Boma...just because we love it and it is so unique.)

 

[Faldred]

I'm going 4/3 on Deluxe -- I'm expecting that the $200 rebate card will roughly offset the gratuities on the TS meals (excepting CRT and HDDR, which have gratuity included) for the week, and have factored that into budgeting accordingly.