booking after free dining offer - go for 2014 or wait ?

[princessjodiebo]

We are looking to go next october but wont be in a position to book anything til jan, feb time

It would probably only be for 10 days to co-incide with half term and MNSSHP
and would probably only want qsdp as we wont be there that long plus for us it works best with time and not having to budget for tips etc

In previous experience will there be any offers to encourage people to book still for 2014 or do i try and convince myself to wait maybe an extra 6 months and go for may 2015 when they may have free dining again ?

 

[Elise79]

They may well have a room discount or you can always book through Disney US who release their discounts much closer to travel

 

[thebadger]

When we booked earlier this year the dining plan was free for October 2014. that was a full DDP, not deluxe but the full one.

A friend of mine does Disney every year and said using the QSDP would be very hard to do and give you limited choice.

Hope this helps, have you thought about asking a travel agent to check on your behalf?

 

[queendisney]

When we booked earlier this year the dining plan was free for October 2014. that was a full DDP, not deluxe but the full one.

A friend of mine does Disney every year and said using the QSDP would be very hard to do and give you limited choice.

Hope this helps, have you thought about asking a travel agent to check on your behalf?

With all due respect that's incorrect! The QSDP offers LOTS of choice and is very easy to do. We also do Disney every year and have never found a lack of choice. To us the QSDP works very well as we have no need to plan every day 6 months out do get our reservations and then plan to be in those places or have to get to those places for the set times! If you look at the QSDP menu's you will see that there is more then just burgers, chicken, hot dogs and fries. There are fantastic salads, noodle dishes, pasta dishes etc. To say there is limited choice imo is total rubbish.

 

[wayneg]

There is no way we would do a holiday only having QSDDP, part of our holiday is a TS meal each evening but as said it is not a limited offering, there is far more to Disney QSDDP than burgers and fries.

 

[Cinderella]

I only just booked with the free dining because we definitely want to stay at WL and our dates are quite rigid. In the past I have just waited for the US discounts at the resorts. You might want to do that, as the discount often works out to be a better deal than the dining plan, and when discounts are available they will be posted on the US boards here. If trying to get a discount through the US system seems a bit daunting, it might be worth using Dreams Unlimited to book your room.

Someone mentioned that the quick service dining plan is the only one available if you book a moderate resort. During the booking process you can pay extra to upgrade to the regular dining plan. In the past, you could get the regular dining plan when booking a moderate resort if you booked through the US booking site. If the dining plan is important to you it is worth checking to see if this is still the case.

 

[thebadger]

With all due respect that's incorrect! The QSDP offers LOTS of choice and is very easy to do. We also do Disney every year and have never found a lack of choice. To us the QSDP works very well as we have no need to plan every day 6 months out do get our reservations and then plan to be in those places or have to get to those places for the set times! If you look at the QSDP menu's you will see that there is more then just burgers, chicken, hot dogs and fries. There are fantastic salads, noodle dishes, pasta dishes etc. To say there is limited choice imo is total rubbish.

I was only repeating what I was told and will stand corrected if it's what you as an individual prefers to do. For us as a family when looking on the Disney site at places where we as a family would want to eat and I don't mean signature restaurants we decided that the DDP would be best for us as a family and I wouldn't "knock" anyone for using the QSDP. This is our first trip and we want character dining, table service meals and sometimes in our plan we hope to be in a specific place at a hopeful specific time, you never know we may find that we need a different plan on our next trip.

But each to there own and all that as my dear old ma says.....

 

[2Tiggies]

For us as a family when looking on the Disney site at places where we as a family would want to eat and I don't mean signature restaurants we decided that the DDP would be best for us as a family and I wouldn't "knock" anyone for using the QSDP. This is our first trip and we want character dining, table service meals and sometimes in our plan we hope to be in a specific place at a hopeful specific time, you never know we may find that we need a different plan on our next trip.

It sounds like you have made the right decision for your holiday, to cater for your needs. I think Vanda was simply pointing out that there is a misconception among many that QSDP leaves you with typical fast food, and surprisingly, this is very far from the truth.

The advantage you will have on your trip is being able to do the TS you want and still have your CS credit for another meal each day and I would urge you to look into the menus so that you can get the best of what is to offer by knowing where to go in each park. I don't know how old your children are but if they are at an age where they can read, this is something that gave my own DD many hours of enjoyment in planning trips in the past.

We are testament to the fact that your needs and wants do change as your children get older or as you start wanting slightly different experiences from the parks. Up until DD turned 10 we did plenty character meals and thoroughly enjoyed them. I didn't like being tied down by meal times so with the exception of once, we actually booked with QSDP and paid out of pocket for our TS meals. Now that DD is classed as an adult this is not a very cost effective move, so we will only do one or two next year.

Like Vanda, we love the QSDP. Make sure you get the most of it by doing some reading up before hand. You'll have a great time

 

[thebadger]

When we travel our oldest will be 16 and our youngest 7. I have had some input from them regards where they want to go but it appears that its all up to me

But I have been thoroughly checking menus although I'm not looking for maximum value for money its more whats on offer for everyone on the menu and while doing so checking reviews on here, trip adviser & the unofficial guide.

Having some time to kill I checked the first 5 places we are hoping to go when eating out and not one of them accepted the QSDP, and these places are T Rex, Plaza, Rainforest cafe, Paradiso 37 & Tuskers (breakfast) out of interest what establishments that are "recommended" accept the QSDP?

 

[edinburghlass]

Wolfgangpuck Express, meatloaf wrapped in bacon with mash is to die for

 

[2Tiggies]

But I have been thoroughly checking menus although I'm not looking for maximum value for money its more whats on offer for everyone on the menu and while doing so checking reviews on here, trip adviser & the unofficial guide.

You'll be absolutely fine and you are approaching it the right way IMO: I want to eat what I want to eat, not feel I have to eat what costs the most (which is usually something I don't care for anyway).

Having some time to kill I checked the first 5 places we are hoping to go when eating out and not one of them accepted the QSDP, and these places are T Rex, Plaza, Rainforest cafe, Paradiso 37 & Tuskers (breakfast) out of interest what establishments that are "recommended" accept the QSDP?

These are Table Service (TS) restaurants so you need a TS credit, not a QS credit for them. Rainforrest and T-Rex, I'm not sure that they actually take the DDP in any form (?) Not eaten there so I have no idea but certainly the Tusker house and Plaza do accept DDP, but it must be a TS credit. You can't switch/trade/interchange different kinds of credits and need to use TS at at TS restaurant and CS at a CS restaurant. You might be allowed to use a TS for a counter service meal if you get to the end of your trip and want to use them but they won't let you do it the other way round.

 

[Elise79]

When we travel our oldest will be 16 and our youngest 7. I have had some input from them regards where they want to go but it appears that its all up to me But I have been thoroughly checking menus although I'm not looking for maximum value for money its more whats on offer for everyone on the menu and while doing so checking reviews on here, trip adviser & the unofficial guide. Having some time to kill I checked the first 5 places we are hoping to go when eating out and not one of them accepted the QSDP, and these places are T Rex, Plaza, Rainforest cafe, Paradiso 37 & Tuskers (breakfast) out of interest what establishments that are "recommended" accept the QSDP?

If you want that many TS meals then you are doing the right thing.

IMO I wouldn't do both Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex.

My favourite places for QS credits would be:
Earl of Sandwich (DTD)
Wolfgang Puck Express (DTD)
Trails End to go (Fort Wilderness)
Comtempo Cafe (Contemporary)

Others like the food courts at POR and AoA however we have never tried them.

 

[wayneg]

Wulfgang Puck Express has to be top of most peoples list, you can easily get $20+pp value from 1 QS credit. Its like halfway between QS & TS.
We like both POR & POFQ food courts, make your own pasta is massive for 1 QS credit, I like my food but I can't eat a whole portion.
New food court at AofA has different things to elsewhere.
There are lots of good places for QS DDP.

 

[flortlebap]

RFC and T Rex both accepted TS credits the last two years so hopefully they will again next year

 

[Laurafoster]

Some of my favourite QS locations are:

Columbia Harbour House
Capt Cooks at the Polynesian
Pepper Market at the Contempory
Yak and Yeti counter service in Animal Kingdom.

Im not a big hotdog/burger person and i find the places above offer something a little different.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

Yak and Yeti counter service in Animal Kingdom.

OMG !! their Beef Lo Mein is to die for

 

[Elise79]

Some of my favourite QS locations are:
Columbia Harbour House
Capt Cooks at the Polynesian
Pepper Market at the Contempory
Yak and Yeti counter service in Animal Kingdom. Im not a big hotdog/burger person and i find the places above offer something a little different.

Pepper Market is at Coronado Springs and I had forgotten about that it's another really good place to spend CS credits.

Columbia Harbour House is great too

Other ones I forgot:
Sunshine Seasons (Epcot)
Most of the World Showcase countries excluding UK & America

 

[ashearer]

As others have said Wolfgangs,earl of sandwich are great. We also liked Liberty inn at epcot,Flame tree barbeque at AK and Pecos Bills at MK. We stayed at YC and really loved the Boardwalk Bakery.you could use quick service for or if you just fancied a cake a snack credit and has a refill station for refillable mugs but might not be handy unless your staying in Boardwalk/Epcot area but if you're spending an afternoon at Epcot I would recommend going over there at night and eating here(even just a cake!) and strolling around, there are street entertainers and then pop over and sit on beach in front of YC(movies are shown here every night ) and kids get to toast marshmallows at 6.30. Although we were staying at YC they never asked for MB to be scanned for these .

 

[WiganTony]

We are looking to go next october but wont be in a position to book anything til jan, feb time

It would probably only be for 10 days to co-incide with half term and MNSSHP
and would probably only want qsdp as we wont be there that long plus for us it works best with time and not having to budget for tips etc

In previous experience will there be any offers to encourage people to book still for 2014 or do i try and convince myself to wait maybe an extra 6 months and go for may 2015 when they may have free dining again ?

As some replies have mentioned, it may be possible that the UK offer could return but with QSDP for the moderate/deluxe resorts. If these do not materialise, than there is some historical information about release dates for the USA free dining and other room discounts here, which may be useful to bear in mind for next year.

 

[Cinderella]

Definitely good value for QS credits in World Showcase - especially Morocco and Mexico pavillions. Also Flame Tree Barbeque, AK - the pulled pork sandwiches are amazing.