Anyone else choosing not to upgrade from QSDP at value resorts?

[Disney Ron]

We are staying at POP in Sept. and aren't upgrading from the QSDP. With a 3 and 5 yo we like to eat when everyone is hungry whether it's 4:00 in the afternoon or 7:00 at night.

 

[momto2inKC]

We are staying at a mod, so we had to take the regular plan. I'm really wanting the QS again though. We might downgrade to Pop so we can. I just loved the QS last time, loved not having to deal with ADR's and making last minute decisions on what park to go to that day. With the new credit card guarantee it makes being spontaneous a bit harder.

 

[beroh2253]

This will be our first QSDP, we always had the regular DDP other years, but since the Food and Wine Fest is going on at this time we though not upgrading would give us more time at the Festival instead of running off for Diners we had ADR's for like we had done previous times. I just wish they didn't drop one of the Snack credits per day.

 

[NoodlesMom]

That extra snack credit was very nice. I will definitley miss that. Last time I did Qsdp we did have snack credits left over so mabey this time we'll have just enough.

 

[Scornelius]

I'm going with my weight-obsessed mother, 85 year old grandma and 3 year old picky son. We'd planned on upgrading to the DxDD, but thats $820 and I know even if we keep every ADR I have scheduled, eating what we actually want and paying OOP will be cheaper. So I'll be calling later today to drop it back down to the QSDP. If you could have an appetizer OR dessert on the DDP, we'd probably choose that.

 

[Dizneydaz]

This year will be our third year using QSDP and we won't be upgrading. While I enjoyed the regular DDP I really enjoy having QSDP and not having to make ADRs. The last time I used the regular DDP was before the change to 180 days out. I'm so glad I don't have to make those plans.

I will miss the 2nd snack though. I also miss a few of our favorite TS places, but not enough to upgrade or pay OOP.

And as much as I like not having to make ADRs my DM72 really likes it. She really hated having ADRs even though we honestly only kept about 50-60% of the ones we made (we always canceled those we didn't need but now with the CC penalty that's another thing I don't have to worry about.) There were times on the DDP when we had to hurry to make our ADRs when we would have preferred to eat later. Now we can eat when we want. And eating at WPE makes us not miss doing TS so much.

 

[KELLY]

We just downgraded from CSR to POP. We have done the QSDP the last 2 years so this will be number 3. The thought of making to adr's with fast passes was sort of stressing me out. We kept 2 of the meals but may still cancle one of them.

As much as I really wanted to stay at a moderate this year in the end it saved me 545.00 plus tips. Which I'm guessing would have been around 200.00 since we were at CSR and you need to leave at tip in the pepper Market. Plus we added the WP option to our tickets and are still saving that much. That is also with the 50.00 change fee since I'm under my 45 day mark. The refund on my package was 490.00 and the room only was around 55.00. That is alot of money know that I think about it.

 

[raraavis]

we're staying at POP and definitely not upgrading. this will be our first real disney vacation (i say "real" because all of the other times i have been to disney it was for a quick 1 or 2 days). this time we are staying 7 nights/8 days. i am not experienced with all things disney at all and already am swamped trying to learn all about the parks, transportation, parades, etc. i don't want to add researching restaurants and trying to reserve tables. plus, i want to maximize my time for disney experiences, not food. i'm perfectly happy with pizza or a hamburger or a hot dog. i actually prefer this food when going to theme parks because i eat better at home (i.e., food i'm likely to get at a TS).

maybe after a few trips once we have experienced a lot of disney, we will feel ok with taking time out to sit down and eat.

 

[KELLY]

we're staying at POP and definitely not upgrading. this will be our first real disney vacation (i say "real" because all of the other times i have been to disney it was for a quick 1 or 2 days). this time we are staying 7 nights/8 days. i am not experienced with all things disney at all and already am swamped trying to learn all about the parks, transportation, parades, etc. i don't want to add researching restaurants and trying to reserve tables. plus, i want to maximize my time for disney experiences, not food. i'm perfectly happy with pizza or a hamburger or a hot dog. i actually prefer this food when going to theme parks because i eat better at home (i.e., food i'm likely to get at a TS).

maybe after a few trips once we have experienced a lot of disney, we will feel ok with taking time out to sit down and eat.

I have done the QSDP a couple of times. You won't Have to eat just those 3 things that is for sure. There is a lot of variety. Some of my favorites are the chicken pam at pop the flatbread and turkey cabbittas.

 

[jenlov]

We are NOT upgrading. The cost to upgrade plus the tips on 8 people would kill me. Plus, having to make ADR's, waiting for a table, all 9 of us getting served and eating....way too much time. We love the QSDP. It's perfect for us. And I dare say, we did not eat ONE hot dog the entire time, and only pizza and burgers once....all on QSDP. I loosely planned our meals ahead of time so that we would not be eating the same thing all the time. And by loosely, I mean that I have researched which place serves what and which park it's in. So, for MK, I know we'll be eating at Cosmic Rays (lots of choices for all), Pecos Bill, and Be Our Guest (for lunch). There's so many good places to eat at without having to resort to "fast food" QSDP. Wolfgang Puck Express is an absolute MUST, and I will probably be begging my husband to eat there at least 2 or 3 times while we're there. LOL! So good! Pepper Market at CSR is great too. There are great options at Epcot as well. And I *may or may not* be planning a few of our meals based on the dessert choices alone.

 

[MuchLovedMama]

We are not upgrading. It wasn't worth the cost of almost $400 for us. We've found some really good counter services over the years to keep us content. We will pay out of pocket for 1 meal which is Trex but other that still makes it way more cost-friendly for us.

We do have family and friends going with us and they did choose to upgrade but we won't be.

 

[nooneshome]

We have never upgraded. I can't stand to be tied down to ADRs. QSDP is plenty of food. Maybe not so much now that there is only one snack credit per day.

 

[icesk8abc]

Last time we went during free dining, we stayed at POP so we had the QSDP. My brother-in-law is a huge eater and he never went hungry. There are a few places where portions are smaller, but with plenty of people eating in a given restaurant, you can see what you are getting into before you order.

We have the regular dining plan this time around (staying at Port Orleans Riverside) and being tied down with ADRs is a concern. Since my parents are coming with us and there are no small children along, the slower pace will be fine. In the future though, I wouldn't necessarily upgrade the plan. We enjoyed the quick service and there was plenty of variety.

 

[jimjenkids]

so far as of today, we have free QS and I am trying to figure out if the ADRs we have are worth paying OPP or upgrading....we are a family of 6, so we get hit hard with gratuity.....I am thinking that we may keep xmas day ADR but otherwise just do counter service.....

 

[KittyKat1978]

I also decided against upgrading. If I go to any TS I will pay OOP and have the extra QS to use for breakfast.

 

[jenlov]

so far as of today, we have free QS and I am trying to figure out if the ADRs we have are worth paying OPP or upgrading....we are a family of 6, so we get hit hard with gratuity.....I am thinking that we may keep xmas day ADR but otherwise just do counter service.....

I would figure up what you would be spending OOP total for all your ADR's, including tips if you do your ADR's planned. Then, figure out what it would cost your to upgrade your dining plan, including tips again b/c even though your TS would be free, you'll still be paying tips on the valued amount of your meal (for us, that would be more than we normally spend on a meal to begin with). See which will be cheaper for you. If you have several ADR's, you'd probably be ok upgrading. If you're only thinking of doing one ADR, you'll most definitely come out cheaper keeping your free QS and only doing your 1 ADR.

 

[jimjenkids]

I would figure up what you would be spending OOP total for all your ADR's, including tips if you do your ADR's planned. Then, figure out what it would cost your to upgrade your dining plan, including tips again b/c even though your TS would be free, you'll still be paying tips on the valued amount of your meal (for us, that would be more than we normally spend on a meal to begin with). See which will be cheaper for you. If you have several ADR's, you'd probably be ok upgrading. If you're only thinking of doing one ADR, you'll most definitely come out cheaper keeping your free QS and only doing your 1 ADR.

sat down with the kids and DH tonight.....looks like we will NOT be upgrading....my ine DS about had a fit when I talked about all the table service places to eat if we upgraded and then reminded us of how he has to make weight when we return,....not to forget they tend to not like to sit still even at their ages now! Looks to be the only table service will be on xmas day-more for DH and myself and the fact we want it.....just knowing the food is taken care of is nice.....the price upgrade would be more than we would spend in tips and OPP for the reservations-looks like I will be canceling the resi for primetime and garden grill! they are not a must for us......

 

[navywifetill2002]

We're staying at ASMo in Sept and we paid to upgrade. DH isn't a fan of theme park vacations so he said this may be a one time trip and I wanted to eat at CRT and do lots of character meals for DD3 (DH wanted Boma). Our OOP for our 7 TS was $668 (all fixed price places) and it didn't cost anything close to that to upgrade.

 

[disneynewbee]

I went back and forth on whether or not to upgrade for the longest time and I'm still unsure of my decision. We are staying at POP and in the end I did decide to upgrade. The fact that the regular plan now has the cups included and the quick service lost one snack was a big factor we took into consideration. I was really looking forward to not being tied to adrs this trip but in the end we ended up scheduling them any way. Our youngest dd was only 1 on our last trip so she hasn't had the character meal experience yet (or at least that she remembers) and she is 4 now so she is the perfect age for these meals. After talking to dh he really wanted her to experience a few of them and so once I calculated it it was just better to upgrade. I am excited to see her with the characters at meals but I hope future trips will be quick service. I've never had a meal I absolutely loved at Disney so qs would be fine with me.

 

[Valgoof]

I have had this debate with myself all week. I upgraded, but I think I will call and switch it. We did all CS OOP last year and it was fine. I wanted to do TS this year, so I booked all my ADRs at the 180 day. Got Le Cellier lunch and Ohana dinner. DH's one request is Tutto Italia and DB wants RainForest Cafe (no we don't have one near us). My must have is LC, although it will make me sad to drop Ohana, but with all the mixed reviews and the amount of time it will take up, I think I will be okay not going there. Every time I decide to stick with QSDP, I read a great review of 50's PT or WCC, and I change my mind again. But I know, we wouldn't get dessert normally at a TS, maybe order one and share. And at RFC, I think we would get a couple appetizers to share and not do entree/dessert. Sorry for the length of the post, just trying to talk it all out.