DDP or DQSP or nothing at all what ever will I do???? HELP!!

[bobbieh76]

Ok, this is our third trip to Disney since 2008 and I am super excited I feel like I finally know my way around and don't need to plan as much as I did in the past! However, I am freaking out over what to do about the dining plan!

We are going May 9-13 this year! In previous years we took advantage of the DDP, the first year because it was our first trip and we didn't plan on ever going again the second time because we took my 16 year old nephew who could eat you out of house and home and we went to mostly buffets and gave him some of our extra snacks and QS credits!

This time I don't know what to do. My husband absolute HATES the food at disney, he would be happy if I let him order a pizza every night from papa johns.. I thought the food was just OK, I really liked Chef Mickey's breakfast and Akershurs but the dinners were not that great IMO! I was satisfied with the QS meals I had as well...

BTW my kids actually got BORED at all the character meals and were like "OH hey, I've see you before whats up... where's my food" speaking of kids and food my son is ASD and he is EXTREMLY picky, like nothing at Disney made him happy PERIOD! (as far as food goes )

So this year we are going My PICKY husband, me that is not so picky, my daughter that is not so picky, and my super picky son. Along with my mother who is diabetic and her husband.

My mom does not care to do the dining plan again (she went with us last time) and her husband agreed. But I am trying to decide what we should do?

As of right now I have one TS booked at Chef Mickey's since we all agreed we liked the breakfast there... but I figured we might try to do the rest of our meals OOP QS and maybe take stuff with us to eat in the room for breakfast (staying at a moderate)???

What do you guys think? Would it be worth it for us to do the QS?? The only thing I am worried about is cost OOP b/c my kids loved the "treats" it kept them from wanting a toy at every stop, I kept them happy with ice cream etc!!

HELP!!! I just cannot decide.. one minute I think we will be fine OOP.. the next minute I think OH NO look at those prices for QS food!!! UGH!!!


ANY suggestions are greatly appreciated!!!

 

[blessedby3]

We like the CS dining plan, but can usually come out cheaper paying oop and splitting meals. BUT.... if you buy lots of snacks for the kids, you may come out better paying for the CS plan to get 2 snacks per person per day (plus you get the mug free). We dont care for WDW food (TS dining) either, so we mainly eat CS whether on the plan or not. We have found that we can get the CS plan and pay oop for 2 TS (breakfast) and still come out cheaper than the regular plan and have extra meals.

 

[havoc315]

Unless totally maximized, the QSDP is not a significant cost savings. I think it's about $35 per person now? So if you do a $15 CS lunch, and a $15 CS dinner, and a 2 snacks at $3 each.... You have saved a whole $1. Plus gotten the refillable mug.
If you do a CS breakfast-- that only runs about $9. Add in a CS lunch or dinner, for about $15... You have lost money, even after factoring in snacks.

Personally, I assign zero value to the mug -- we simply wouldn't use it.

So unless you really think those mugs are so great, (We don't plan on hanging out at the food court sipping soda), the QSDP may save you a few pennies, or may actually cost you more than simply paying OOP.

I believe the unofficial guide basically says that the QSDP does not offer any value, unless you drink gallons of soda.

 

[KungFoomF]

If you really want to save money then bring your own snacks. Also, eat offsite if you have a car. Eating onsite, even at a counter, is going the most expensive route. And since you are in a moderate you will most likely have a refrigerator. You can definitely have breakfast covered.

A large part of many people's enjoyment is eating at the restaurants, but it sounds like no one likes it so don't do it.

 

[LegoMom3]

I have been a HUGE fan of the DDP in the past, but have opted to NOT get it on our next trip. Our last several trips were in Sept. and we got the Free Dining plan, so of course we used it. This time we're going in May. I decided straight away that I didn't want the regular plan. I just don't want to mess with being tied to ADRs on this trip. We booked Chef Mickey's (DH's favorite!) as our one OOP "big" meal that week. As others have said, the QSDP doesn't usually end up saving you much, and I simply decided that I wanted the freedom to order what I wanted, not what was dictated by the plan. I don't often want dessert, so a typical lunch for me is a sandwich/entree with a drink, and then some hours later I'll get a snack as my "dessert." So for me, this time around, I want the flexibility of NOT being on the dining plan. My food budget is just about what we would pay for the plan, but again, I have the freedom to order whatever.

.

 

[bobbieh76]

Thanks everyone for your input! You have put my fears at ease!!!
I think I am doing the right thing by not getting DDP or DQSP... I am sure that we can save money, I didn't realize it is that expensive!

Legomom looks like we'll be there at the same time!


We are going to do one TS breakfast at Chef Mickey's then the rest we will do QS or in room!

 

[LegoMom3]

Thanks everyone for your input! You have put my fears at ease!!!
I think I am doing the right thing by not getting DDP or DQSP... I am sure that we can save money, I didn't realize it is that expensive!

Legomom looks like we'll be there at the same time!


We are going to do one TS breakfast at Chef Mickey's then the rest we will do QS or in room!

Well how COOL!! I can't wait, and it's coming up pretty quick!

.

 

[Deb123]

We LOVE the QS plan, and we utilize them mugs like crazy! It cuts down on the stress of the kids wanting this snack or that. We use one of our snacks with our refillable mugs for breakfast, and then usually use the other one for a late night snack. I don't have to cringe when my kids want the "most expensive" thing on the QS menu-and they usually do-lol! The QS plan just makes our trips so much more enjoyable, and my DH happy! It is So worth it to us! I never have to pull out a dime as far as meals go the whole time, and that is Great!

 

[boufa]

Well, this is a similar decision that I am looking at. Here is how I see it, taking info account some of the info that I have read on this post.

First cost. Sure it is pricey, but I have looked at the earlier post about losing money, or maybe saving a $1 and came to the conclusion of.... unless I am going to radically attack the food cost on my own (sharing meals etc) then cost is not a factor. The place where I am going to lose some money is that it is based on each nights stay. I will be getting in late the first night and leaving early the last day. So I have 6 days worth of food credits for 5 days in the parks.

The advantage to me is that it will allow my wallet to go on vacation. No it might not save me any money (and may be a fraction of an amount more) but I will be able to say yes to snacks, and meal choices without worrying about the cost. Standing in the most expensive place on earth, it is hard not to worry about how much we have spent on the vacation, and not be concerned that maybe I can cut a few cents here and there...every time I go into a food location.

I know that once that check clears the bank for my reservation, I have spent all of the money that I need to spend to make the vacation successful, I don't have to look at my cash or cringe every time I take out my credit card to pay for a meal, it is sort of like a budgeting tool.... now if only they had a souvenir plan!

 

[DCDisney]

When we have opted to go without the DDP my kids worried about the snack credits too so instead I just bought them a Disney gift card that they could use just for junk. They have gift cards now that you can put a picture on so we did one of each kid eating a Mickey bar and that made it easy to know whose was whose.

I think going OOP makes much more sense for you. If you wanted to do a few TS meals we really like 50's Prime time when paying OOP. The food is always good and the prices are reasonable. The servings are large too. My kids liked sharing the adult fried chicken meal instead of having kids meals which is a nice benefit of not being on the ddp. We also really like Earl of Sandwich in DTD which is so inexpensive it doesn't work well for the dining plans. In terms of pizza delivery consider ordering Giordano's. It's REAL Chicago deep dish pizza and so delicious!

 

[bobbieh76]

I have decided to do it OOP.. I will put our credit card on our room key and I will keep track of what we spend that way!!

I am going to bring stuff from home for some snacks and I will let the kids get some snacks! We will eat mostly CS meals and since we will have the car my husband can go off site and eat if he is going to be picky!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas I appreciate it!

 

[Tara922c]

I would say, in your case, skip the DDP all together. If you all have access to a car, there are tasty places outside of Disney that would satisfy your crew at a lower cost. You DH sounds like my mom. The only way I could ever get her to come to Disney is if we have a car because she thinks the food is horrible. As far as oop snack cost, how about making your kids snack coupons? You can make them a coupon book with two snacks per number of days that you are there.

 

[bobbieh76]

I would say, in your case, skip the DDP all together. If you all have access to a car, there are tasty places outside of Disney that would satisfy your crew at a lower cost. You DH sounds like my mom. The only way I could ever get her to come to Disney is if we have a car because she thinks the food is horrible. As far as oop snack cost, how about making your kids snack coupons? You can make them a coupon book with two snacks per number of days that you are there.

LOVE the snack coupon idea!! I plan on also bringing some snacks but I figure in May it will be warm an ice cream a day is going to be a must!