DDP for couple in their 20s

[pkpope]

So i am a life-long WDW-goer, and life-long WDW food-lover! I am 21 and my boyfriend is 20, we are locals and go to disney for 1 weekend every month. I find that my biggest stressor while at disney is all the money we spend on food. Even though we bring breakfast items and snacks ourselves, I find that we can spend about $300 every weekend easily. Combined with staying on property once a month, that’s adding up. My family never did the dining plan while I was growing up, however it’s looking more and more appealing for my budget.

Next month we are staying at AKL and going to MK saturday evening, and EPCOT on Sunday. I am interested in trying to counter-service dining plan as we are not planning on any sit-down dining on the trip.

Is this actually a value? Or will we end up not being full and spending the extra cash anyways?

Thanks in advance for all responses!

 

[sharonabe]

Next month we are staying at AKL and going to MK saturday evening, and EPCOT on Sunday. I am interested in trying to counter-service dining plan as we are not planning on any sit-down dining on the trip.

Is this actually a value? Or will we end up not being full and spending the extra cash anyways?

What do you plan on eating? Do you have certain QS places in mind? You only get an entree and drink (can be alcoholic), and you need to spend about $20 for each meal, along with two $5 snacks to break even with the QSDP.

 

[pkpope]

What do you plan on eating? Do you have certain QS places in mind? You only get an entree and drink (can be alcoholic), and you need to spend about $20 for each meal, along with two $5 snacks to break even with the QSDP.

We’re hoping to be a bit spontaneous with specific places- however I know we’ll have lunch at the QS in Mexico on Sunday and use our snack credits for the flower and garden booths. I’ve found some great snack options at MK but we’re not set on where to use our QS entrees at MK. We’ll probably use both of his entrees at MK since they don’t serve alcohol anyways and he’s only 20. Whereas I’ll use both of mine at EPCOT on Sunday to get use out of the included specialty drinks (I love the frozen margs).

 

[Lilsia]

I think you are the best person to answer that. Since you go so often and know what you usually eat, figure out what it costs you OOP and compare that with the cost of the dining plan. If you find yourself ordering more food to get the "value" out of it then it is not worth it. For us, the dining plan never comes out cheaper with the way we eat.

 

[pkpope]

I think you are the best person to answer that. Since you go so often and know what you usually eat, figure out what it costs you OOP and compare that with the cost of the dining plan. If you find yourself ordering more food to get the "value" out of it then it is not worth it. For us, the dining plan never comes out cheaper with the way we eat.

Then maybe we will try it so we can compare the two options so we know for the future

 

[Lilsia]

Or you can look up the prices for the stuff you usually buy and add it up that way. Since you know how much the DDP will cost.

 

[supersnoop]

The QS plan is the worst value. Add the fact that your boyfriend won’t get the alcoholic beverage benefit and I’d say it’s a sure loser. You’d have to really stretch to make it worth the money.

As for the stress of spending a lot on food; all the plan will do is either limit you to specific food choices or only cover a small portion of what you eat. The QS pla. Is not going to cover $300 worth of dining over one weekend.

 

[sharonabe]

We’re hoping to be a bit spontaneous with specific places- however I know we’ll have lunch at the QS in Mexico on Sunday and use our snack credits for the flower and garden booths. I’ve found some great snack options at MK but we’re not set on where to use our QS entrees at MK. We’ll probably use both of his entrees at MK since they don’t serve alcohol anyways and he’s only 20. Whereas I’ll use both of mine at EPCOT on Sunday to get use out of the included specialty drinks (I love the frozen margs).

Just so you know, the credits are not tied to you individually, they are pooled to the room. You can't go to a restaurant and say, "we're using MY credits, so we want two alcoholic drinks." There are varying reports as to whether you have to show ID to get the alcoholic drink. Some have and some haven't.

 

[BrookieM2001]

DH and I usually spend 15ish for a QS meal per person. That was before the alcohol was added, and since we dont usually want alcohol at lunch, which is when we eat our QS, we didn't figure that into the cost. We also estimate $5 each for snacks because we tend to order expensive cupcakes instead of cheap things like popcorn. That all being said, i think the best way to figure it out is to look at the menus for QS places you enjoy in the parks and estimate the cost of items you enjoy. Also, obviously you need to be sure you wont decide to splurge for a TS meal because that will make you plan a huge waste, of course. This trip, the DDP wouldn't have been worth the cost for us as a couple, but it more than made up that lack for our children so its a good financial decision for us. But to decide this, we just checked some menus and made some guestimates.

 

[rwdavis2]

The QS plan is the worst value. Add the fact that your boyfriend won’t get the alcoholic beverage benefit and I’d say it’s a sure loser. You’d have to really stretch to make it worth the money.

As for the stress of spending a lot on food; all the plan will do is either limit you to specific food choices or only cover a small portion of what you eat. The QS pla. Is not going to cover $300 worth of dining over one weekend.

This was also mentioned when the Dis Podcast compared plans that the QS Plan was the worst value. Just keep in mind none of the plans are designed to save you money except under specific circumstances. IMHO, WDW charges a lot for food so you may just have to get used to it.

 

[powellrj]

If you are getting the dining plan so your meals are prepaid, why not get a WDW gift card with what you would have paid and then that way you have more freedom as to how you spend your food budget.

 

[Colleen27]

Two thoughts:

First, the QSDP is, as others have pointed out, the hardest plan to get value from. I'd go so far as to say the primary reason it exists now is for the free dining promo offer, because it gives Disney a way to offer a lower-value "free" plan to guests of less expensive resorts during that promotion. The higher snack value at the Flower & Garden booths will help but it may still be a stretch to save with the plan.

Second, for two young adults spontaneous dining doesn't necessarily have to mean quick service. Many of Disney's lounges have really good menu options, they don't require/take ADRs, and they don't accept any dining plans. So on an adult trip, I wouldn't want to eliminate those options by opting in to a dining package that isn't likely to save money anyway.