Can't decide which plan

[JenniBB]

Last time we went, we got the regular dining plan, with a sit-down meal daily. I found it a hassle to have so many ressies to make for meals. I'm wondering, as we plan a trip for 2014, whether it would be better to get the QS plan and just pay cash for a couple of sit-down meals (not one every day).

 

[Disneylover99]

If that's the case why not ditch the dining plan altogether and just book and eat what you want?

Personally I love free dining, but paying for the dining plan never works out in our favour because we do pay oop for a few TS, then we end up with too many quick service credits in the end.

 

[sharonabe]

PP is correct. The QSDP is the hardest one to get your money's worth.

The plan cost almost $40 per adult next year. So if you get a $4 snack each day, the total for your two meals needs to be $18 each. Considering drinks are right at $3 and desserts are usually $4, that's actually doable for most lunch and dinners. But if any of your QS meals become breakfast or you get tired of the desserts and don't eat them, then you start losing money.

The refillable mug is not in the above equation at all, so if that is something you will use and use well, then you will probably come out ahead with the QSDP even with a breakfast or two thrown in to the mix.

 

[summermac]

If that's the case why not ditch the dining plan altogether and just book and eat what you want?

Personally I love free dining, but paying for the dining plan never works out in our favour because we do pay oop for a few TS, then we end up with too many quick service credits in the end.

Couldn't agree more with this. I just posted in another post but we didn't get DDP for our 2012 trip and we like it a LOT better than our 2009 trip w/ DDP.

IMO the QS plan is worthless (and overpriced) unless free of course

 

[morethananyonex]

I don't think we'd ever pay for a DDP again, IMO they have totally lost their value if you have to pay OOP for them. I think it's fairly difficult to save money going that route now. At best, you can make them break even. In my mind, they now work best for people who eat similarly to the plan's style and want to prepay. Free dining is another story.

Like others have said, paying cash for everything is going to be your best bet. If your priority is saving money vs prepaying for things, don't go with a dining plan.

 

[hedberg1661]

Having been to WDW so many times I love the DDP. If you plan out your meals correctly you can really save some money. This is all given the answer to this simple yes/no question? Do you normally/would you enjoy eating this much food? Whichever plan you choose you must decide if you really need/want that much food. I have done both the regular DDP and the Deluxe DDP and have used both of them to their fullest advantage. It just depends on your style of eating and roaming the parks.

Also, consider that future trips to WDW will most likely need to be planned out well ahead of time given the FP+ and MDE enhancements.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's pretty much established that the QS plan is sold as a convenience, because it's really difficult to save money on it. Most guests don't eat every lunch/dinner at the higher-cost places like Wolfgang Puck Express and not everybody wants desserts with every QS meal.

In addition, QS breakfast is one of the worst values in dining credit spending out there.

The refillable mug is a big part of the decision as to whether paying for the quick service plan will be a value for any given group. Because all you have to do is use a couple credits for breakfast, share some meals or skip a few desserts, and there goes your value on the QS plan.