Convince Me to Keep the QSDP and not Upgrade...

[Emme]

I so want to keep the QSDP we are getting for free in May BUT we have only done the regular DP so I am a bit apprehensive. Tell me all the positives and all the great things about keeping the QSDP. I want to be totally convinced (please...lol) Thanks!!

 

[GAGirlInVA]

We loved not being tied to ADRs.

The biggest complaint I read about the Quick Service is "all those burgers." To me, that just takes some pre-planning. I only ate a burger twice. And it is because I wanted a burger twice.

Also you may find that you have trouble even getting ADR's this late. (I know your trip is 5 months away, but still.)

 

[DJFan88]

We loved not being tied to ADRs.

The biggest complaint I read about the Quick Service is "all those burgers." To me, that just takes some pre-planning. I only ate a burger twice. And it is because I wanted a burger twice.

I agree, scour through the menus and make a plan of which places you want to eat at, there is plenty of variety - chicken legs, tacos, etc., just plan. One benefit is people can grab what they want at different times too. Sometimes my hubby and I have split up if me and one kid wants one thing and him and another want one. (can use cell phones to keep in touch)

 

[DJFan88]

Oh, and by the way, we also love visiting the counter service at the different resorts, you can get stuff right there at your resort like spaghetti, pizza, need I go on?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Sorry, but I'd pay the minimal amount to upgrade. You've can still get great ADRs for May at this point. The dining, and especially, the character dining, is part of the whole WDW experience for us. The trip just isn't the same for us unless we eat at all of our favorite restauransts. Plus, when you see the characters at the restaurants, you don't have to wait in line to see them in the parks.

2012 Upgrade from the Quick Service DDP $34.99/$11.99 to Basic/Plus DDP $51.54/$15.02
$16.65 per adult 10+; $3.03 per child 3 - 9

2012 Upgrade from Quick Service DDP $34.99/$11.99 to Deluxe DDP $85.52/$23.79
$50.53 per adult 10+; $11.50 per child 3 - 9

2012 Upgrade from Basic/Plus DDP $51.54/$15.02 to Deluxe DDP $85.52/$23.79
$33.98 per adult 10+; $8.77 per child 3 - 9

 

[DJFan88]

Guess if you'r into character dining it makes sense. For my family who is not, however, this "minimal" upgrade appears (if I've interpreted the data correct, which I could've screwed up, I admit) to be about 53 extra dollars a day to a tune of $424 for the week (we go 8).

I was reading one of the posts I think it's toward the top where it was titled how much more the ddp prices are this year, and I am seriously contemplating either paying OOP or looking into if QS is worth the price. However, last time we had free dining so hoping for that. I don't believe after reading that post I would buy it myself.

I do admit the free dining was great at all those places, just saying don't know if I could justify that extra. But, we are all on different walks of life on what we can afford and what's important to us. I would rather pay for a better location if I had the extra. But, I have 2 older boys who would hide and run from the characters, so we don't do the character meals.

 

[brobrosmom]

We are doing free dining QS for the first time in January. I am looking forward to not having to worry about ADR's and having to be a certain park/place at a specific time.

 

[DJFan88]

Here is an awesome post on the dining reviews section, it's called
11 days of quick service and not 1 hamburger was eaten.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2831857

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Guess if you'r into character dining it makes sense. For my family who is not, however, this "minimal" upgrade appears (if I've interpreted the data correct, which I could've screwed up, I admit) to be about 53 extra dollars a day to a tune of $424 for the week (we go 8).

I was reading one of the posts I think it's toward the top where it was titled how much more the ddp prices are this year, and I am seriously contemplating either paying OOP or looking into if QS is worth the price. However, last time we had free dining so hoping for that. I don't believe after reading that post I would buy it myself.

I do admit the free dining was great at all those places, just saying don't know if I could justify that extra. But, we are all on different walks of life on what we can afford and what's important to us. I would rather pay for a better location if I had the extra. But, I have 2 older boys who would hide and run from the characters, so we don't do the character meals.

I don't know what your family make up is, but a family of 4, eating 1 Table Service/Character meal per day can cost anywhere from $100 to $150.00 per day, so for your $424.00, you could esentially get somewhere between $800.00 and $1,200.00 worth of free food. Throw in the CS meal and the snack and, depending on your restaurant choices, could get up to about $1,500.00 worth of free food for 8 days for your $424.00.

We are a family of 6, so paying a few extra hundred dollars to upgrade during free dining is totally worth the $1,6000.00 + worth of food we get for our 8 day vacations. But, hey, some people bring crock pots to their rooms and cook their food there, some people bring PB&Js to the parks and some people claim to "share" CS meals between 3 people. DP or free DP doesn't work for everyone, but it can be a huge money saver for some.

 

[Princess Mags]

My family and I did the qsdp last December and loved it...as for it being all burgers I only ate 1 burger all week and that was only because I felt like one as there were lots of other choices. You didn't mention what resort you are staying at but we stayed at pop and the biggest plus for us was being able to just come back and eat at our resort after a long say at the parks, which we couldn't have done if we were tied to ADRs

 

[GAGirlInVA]

Guess if you'r into character dining it makes sense. For my family who is not, however, this "minimal" upgrade appears (if I've interpreted the data correct, which I could've screwed up, I admit) to be about 53 extra dollars a day to a tune of $424 for the week (we go 8).

Plus tips for the sit down meals.

 

[Emme]

Plus tips for the sit down meals.

I am the OP and we are staying at POFQ. I was thinking of the tips too...lol! It's not the actual amount of money to upgrade it's that the QSDP is free so I wanted to keep the dining free and be happy about it . When we figured it out it's about $450 extra for us for the week to upgrade but again the QSDP is FREE so can I be happy and enjoy with that? I do love the freedom of not having ADR's too, I must admit

We are three adults so character meals are really not our thing and after reading all the great QSDP reviews we are actually feeling pretty good.

Anyone else have any imput?? Thanks!

 

[DJFan88]

I don't know what your family make up is, but a family of 4, eating 1 Table Service/Character meal per day can cost anywhere from $100 to $150.00 per day, so for your $424.00, you could esentially get somewhere between $800.00 and $1,200.00 worth of free food. Throw in the CS meal and the snack and, depending on your restaurant choices, could get up to about $1,500.00 worth of free food for 8 days for your $424.00.

We are a family of 6, so paying a few extra hundred dollars to upgrade during free dining is totally worth the $1,6000.00 + worth of food we get for our 8 day vacations. But, hey, some people bring crock pots to their rooms and cook their food there, some people bring PB&Js to the parks and some people claim to "share" CS meals between 3 people. DP or free DP doesn't work for everyone, but it can be a huge money saver for some.

WOW! Sorry if I hit a nerve. I hardly think eating the QSDP is the equivalent to bringing a crock pot or sharing a PB sandwich between 3 people. Original poster wanted some positives on QSDP and I think we are trying to provide that. I also believe my post stated that we enjoyed Free dining when it was available , but if we had to pay for an upgrade, would not be able to justify the cost. We have gone and paid OOP before and I can guarantee you that my family will have enough food to eat by paying for the regular counter service plan. That is giving plenty of food for us, and they actually give meals per person. WE don't need (or want) an extra 1600 worth of food. If you want to pay more and get your value or whatever for 1600 worth of food. Great, that is what works for you and what you have determined is an important to your family. However, our family doesn't view that our experience is diminished if we don't output more money for that. Don't fault us for that. And as far as people who have to use extreme measures to give their family a trip to disney, though I don't have to resort to those measures, I applaud them, and hope they are not offended in anyway, because I would do whatever I could too if I had to.

 

[DJFan88]

I am the OP and we are staying at POFQ. I was thinking of the tips too...lol! It's not the actual amount of money to upgrade it's that the QSDP is free so I wanted to keep the dining free and be happy about it . When we figured it out it's about $450 extra for us for the week to upgrade but again the QSDP is FREE so can I be happy and enjoy with that?
We are three adults so character meals are really not our thing and after reading all the great QSDP reviews we are actually feeling pretty good.

Anyone else have any imput?? Thanks!

Yup! Free is great, and I agree and would look forward to it, especially after researching menus and boards and having ideas in my head for each park, or resort. If Free dining is not offered for our stay, that's what I'll be doing. Enjoy!

 

[Emme]

WOW! Sorry if I hit a nerve. I hardly think eating the QSDP is the equivalent to bringing a crock pot or sharing a PB sandwich between 3 people. Original poster wanted some positives on QSDP and I think we are trying to provide that. I also believe my post stated that we enjoyed Free dining when it was available , but if we had to pay for an upgrade, would not be able to justify the cost.

Thanks!!

 

[DisneyDiana]

I thought I'd point out that you can still have a few TS meals and pay OOP. We had a few ADR's at our favorite spots when we did the free QSDP and still paid less than if we'd paid to upgrade. But again, that is what worked for us. We have done enough of the Character dining in the past. Now that my son is 9, he is not "into" the characters as he puts it. FYI, I do not eat red meat so I went 8 days on the QSDP and did not have one burger. The only meal I really repeated was the dinner salad at the food court at POR and that was only because I love salads and they were yummy!

 

[Emme]

Anyone else?? I so want to be excited for the QSDP!!

 

[Diegosmom]

Ok I have thought long and hard about this and almost upgraded many times. We go in less then 2 weeks on quick service and hopefully I will write a review about it...but here is my take.

You need to make sure you are comparing apples to apples and I dont think some people do that.

Each plan comes with a refillable mug so disregard that
Each plan comes with 1 snack a day so disregard that
Each plan comes with 1 quick service meal a day so disregard that.

1 plan has an addition quick service the other is a TS. You are getting a meal with both but the type of environment is different.

For us 2adults 1 child going for 8 nights the upgrade would be about $425. We would be doing 8 TS meals and they would all be dinner and I figured we would be tipping about $15-20 for each of these meals so even using the low of $15 times 8 meals that is an additional $120

So our total cost to upgrade would be $545. To me spending more then $500 to just get a different type of meal just wasnt worth it.

Also I have a plan for our park days but what if we decide hey 1 day at DHS was enough and we want to go to MK again today. Now I have to figure out a new ADR. Or hey we want to leave the park early or we arent hungry. Well we arent tied to an ADR.

The other thing I figured was I can still add some sit downs.

We are doing Ohana dinner which will be just under $100 (including tax and tip)
Chef de France lunch which will be no more then $65 (including tax and tip but probably less)
Then we are doing Rainforest Cafe. We bought gift cards for $15 when there was a saveology deal for them for 7.50. Mom and sissy also bought 1 for DH for xmas and I signed up for Laundry select card for $25 but you get a $25 credit plus you get $25 for your birthday month (which is Jan for me ) so total out of pocket is $47.50 (even counting mom and sissys cost) and that will be hubby getting the steak (maybe me too) and I will probably get a drink and DS will get the kids drink with the cup (all stuff not included on dinning plan)

Also with the package you get $15 to plant hollywood so we were thinking about hitting that for a light dinner one night. (probably pay additional 20-30)

And I was also considering a trip to Sci-Fi which would include steak for DH and run us about $70 (including tax and tip)

So grand total out of pocket would be $312.50...ok lets round it up just in case we order something else so $350...

That is $200 less then if we upgraded.

And we will get 16 quick service meals and 5TS meals eating exactlly how we want (often getting most expensive) and getting dessert and milk shakes and adult beverage.

On regular dinning it would be 8 quick service and 8TS...

So not only am I saving $200 but I am also getting 5 more meals

And if we decide no to Sci-Fi we save another $70 and if we skip planet Hollywood no big deal...we are still getting sit downs and we arent tied to reservation and we arent guilted into getting things we dont want. Like normally I would get a water but if its included well I'll get soda even though I really want water. Or I know hubby would order dessert cause it is included but he really isnt a dessert person...and sometimes I just want an app as my meal, or I get a meal and a side salad and DS just shares with me. Which is probably what till happen at Rainfoest cafe cause really $8 for a kids pizza, come on get real.

So I might have a different opinion when I get back but there you have it for now.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Here is an awesome post on the dining reviews section, it's called
11 days of quick service and not 1 hamburger was eaten.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2831857

Thanks for the link. That's my report.

We used the reg. DDP 6 times and have now done QSDP twice. We liked both (only paid for DDP once back in Jan. 2005).

Couple big reasons why we like QSDP-we stay at POP and it's now the inc. plan (when free); My DM got really tired of having to be tied down to ADRS-said we spent too much time deciding about/ and doing meals.; and no tipping.

When we first used DDP it inc. appetizer, entree, dessert, and tip. Great deal! I don't want to start a whole debate on tipping but there have been times when I have had to convince my DM to eat at 2 TS location when she figured out how much we would have to tip. While we woudn't have had the same caliber of meal for the tip price alone we would be able to eat a meal for the tip price alone.

For us, what makes the QSDP easier to use is the fact that we have our own (rental ) car. We go to other resorts as well as DTD to eat. Gives us a lot of flexibility. Especially since we don't spend every day in a park. Usually 5-6 days (inc. waterparks) on a 10-11 day trip.

If you decide to keep the QSDP I think you'll be happy. Just do a little research before you go and know what locations serve some of the more diverse items. I.E Salmon with couscous and broccoli at Columbia Harbor House. Good and defintely not a burger.

 

[MinaFemme]

I've never had the DDP, but I am booked for the last week of October which will probably offer free dining (if not, I will switch for an earlier time frame in the month for when it is offered). We're staying at Pop, so it will be the QSDP. I've decided to stick with that plan because: a) I LOVE the fact of getting free meals!, b) I will be with my two year old, and his meltdown and/or nap of the day may just coincide with an ADR, and that would be disappointing, and c) I have read many positive reviews about the less restrictive QSDP. I like having more freedom on my vacation.

I am definitely booking a couple of ADR's that I will pay OOP, like Chef Mickey (for his birthday dinner), Rainforest Cafe, and maybe House of Blues. I am totally okay with those few special dinners.

So I am psyched for the QSDP!