Ddp & qsdp

[lukenick1]

When is it NOT worth it???

 

[KeroKero]

Know your travel partys eating habits before deciding on if its worth it or not. If you're a group that eats 3 meals a day like clockwork then either plan will be beneficial. If the dining plan is free when you're going, then even better - but be warned, just because the plan is free doesn't mean you're actually saving money. Sometimes when there are room discounts, you actually come out better in the end.

 

[havoc315]

The qsdp is not worth it unless you are going to use all the credits for lunch and dinner, use all the snacks, plan to eat dessert with every meal, and plan to get use out of the mugs.

For the ddp -- especially for 2012, it is not worthwhile unless you want dessert with almost every meal, and plan to use the vast majority of your adult credits for above-average priced entrees. For 2011 pricing, buffets were a good deal on adult and especially kid credits. But moving forward, it no longer appears most buffets will be a good deal with adult credits, unless buffet prices rise significantly.

And with all plans -- you must be willing to sacrifice flexibility, and eat in the way the plan is designed.

You can easily eat 2 good TS meals for $52 in 2012. Might skip dessert and soda, but eat very well.
Or for $52, get just 1 ts meal, with soda and dessert, and 1 cs meal, with soda and dessert.

Heck, you can do 2 cheap ts meals for $35.. Or get the qsdp, which includes 2 cs meals.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

We've been on the DDP and QSDP 4 times, but have never paid for either plan. We always have free dining. I think if you plan on doing lots of buffets, then it is definitely worth it. Dinner at CP is $42. The DDP plan is $52. That's $10 for a snack and CS meal. But, don't forget that breakfast buffets are cheaper, so the value isn't really there. Only with dinner. And you get a refillable mug with the DDP in 2012. I don't think the QSDP is ever worth it.

 

[THEJOEL]

To me if you are doing the DDP to save money then no neither option makes sense. Both times we decided to do our trips, this year and last year we fell into the "free" dining windows. If that is a deal is still up for debate since you are paying rack rate for your rooms. The math for me worked out better with the free dining window than the PIN code I got since we did moderate last time and value this time. Trust me, I did the math.

DDP: I enjoyed it on our trip last year. The character meals made it worth every penny the ADRs on the other hand made it somewhat inconvenient. Just because I felt like I planned EVERYTHING around meal times.

QSDP: I will find out this trip. I like the idea of the refillable mugs and NO ADRs. I really enjoyed every counter service meal we had last trip. I really like the idea of the freedom of just grabbing food when you're hungry than showing up at a designated time. Looking forward to finding out this December.

The main thing I liked about the DDP/QSDP is the idea that EVERYTHING is paid in full before you arrive. Your admission, room, food and (Since I have Disney Visa rewards.) even my souvenirs. To me it really gives it the feel of an all inclusive resort.That can reduce the stress of your vacation because let's face it; Disney is expensive. The idea of handing over my KTTW card when I wanted a Dole Whip just made me smile.

For me the money isn't the issue it's the convenience.

 

[lukenick1]

Thanks.....
Sounds to me like paying out of pocket for meals is the cheaper way to go for our family.

 

[disneyworldaddict]

I was wondering if anybody knows what the cost is to upgrade from QSDP to DDP during free dining in Jan? If its $10/day pp, its only I think $3 more/day pp to stay in a Mod and get it for free. We have always used the DDP and wheile we can definately eat cheaper, we find it nice to be like an all inclusive. Of course, if they continue to raise the price that it exceeds the cost of purchasing the equivalent, it won't be worth it. For 2011, it is still a value, but its depends what the costs of restaurants will be in 2012.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I just read a post that said in 2011 it is $11 a day to upgrade from QSDP to DDP but in 2012 it will be $16 a day per person to upgrade.