Dining Plan - Counter service desserts question

[ajcolorado]

I'm trying to decide whether or not the quick plan is a good value for our family and I saw a review on another site and that person said they would never do the dining plan again. They said that desserts at the counter-service were limited to puddings. It sounded like "snack-pack" type pudding cups. Is this something new? For example, are the lovely desserts at Starring Rolls not included?

Is there a price limit for desserts? I was looking at menus and saw one place that offered 2 desserts: marbled cheesecake for $3.29 or a chocolate chip cookie for $1.99. Would you have a choice with the dining plan?

Also, kid's meals seem to be $4.99 almost everywhere and it says something like: Chicken tenders with grapes and applesauce and a choice of beverages. Then it says a cookie can be substituted. Is this the dessert option for kids on the dining plan or can you do a $4.99 meal + a $1.79 cookie?

We've used the dining plan several times in the past but it seems like things may be more restrictive now? Is this accurate?

Thank you.

 

[DbleTheFun]

WOW, I cant imagine that the deserts at QS have changed that much... sure there are a few CS that dont have great deserts, but there are also some that are simply outstanding! (Wolfgang Express Creme Brule... YUMMY)... I am hoping that this was simply someone not favoring the desert options they encountered, and that Disney hasnt changed the desert component of the DP.

 

[carmie3377]

Also, kid's meals seem to be $4.99 almost everywhere and it says something like: Chicken tenders with grapes and applesauce and a choice of beverages. Then it says a cookie can be substituted. Is this the dessert option for kids on the dining plan or can you do a $4.99 meal + a $1.79 cookie?


Thank you.

The cookie must replace one of the sides, at least it was that way last year. You would think that it would be in addition to since the plan states entree or combo meal AND dessert. However, none of the places let DD have a cookie in addition to her kid's meal. She had to replace the grapes, applesauce, ect.

 

[TillyMarigold]

At every QS place we went to, any dessert on the menu was included (for adults, we don't have kids).

At most of them, it was two of the following: chocolate cake, carrot cake, apple crumble; with one other option besides those two (also most places will let you get either a bottle of water or some fruit instead). Liberty Inn had a particularly yummy Rocky Road Chocolate Brownie Mousse which was chocolate mousse with brownie bits, chopped walnuts, and marshmallows in it. WPE has creme brulee, as some mentioned. I didn't even see a pudding cup as an option anywhere, although I know I've seen photos of it. Let's see, I had the apple crumb once, the mousse once, one chocolate cake, a cookie with Picnic in the Park, and the creme brulee once. DH had the apple crumb once, chocolate cake once, carrot cake once, the cookie, and a bottle of water. Those are the only QS meals I remember (we had some QS breakfasts as well).

We didn't eat lunch at Starring Rolls so I can't tell you what the options were there. I can tell you that a bagel or a muffin are each a snack credit though.

 

[vinotinto]

On counter service restaurants, we were allowed to order any desserts for the adults, but for the kids, desserts were limited (grapes was a popular desser, along with cookie).

 

[Pumbaa_]

The cookie must replace one of the sides, at least it was that way last year. You would think that it would be in addition to since the plan states entree or combo meal AND dessert. However, none of the places let DD have a cookie in addition to her kid's meal. She had to replace the grapes, applesauce, ect.

FOr the kids meals, one of the sides IS dessert... you tell the child enjoy your grapes sweetie while i have chocolate cake mmmmmmm

Folks are reporting that many have been able to get a bottle of water or a piece of fruit for the dessert at CS locations. Now that I like!

 

[Oz-kateer]

FOr the kids meals, one of the sides IS dessert... you tell the child enjoy your grapes sweetie while i have chocolate cake mmmmmmm

Folks are reporting that many have been able to get a bottle of water or a piece of fruit for the dessert at CS locations. Now that I like!

Hear hear! I was travelling with my 6 year old and we split the adults dessert just about every time. Or he ended up eating it himself if I wasn't in the mood. There were no desserts for kids. A cookie isn't a dessert and try telling a 6 year old that grapes, or applesauce is a dessert!

 

[2Tiggies]

This often comes up and the main problem is the way the Dining Plan leaflet explains what you can get with the kids meals. Intentionally designed to be confusing? We'll never know, but it's working....

What is really amusing though is how there are just as many threads where people are voicing their disapproval that Disney "shoves dessert down our throats twice a day" but then we want to find a way to get an extra one for the kids! Human nature is a funny thing. I agree Oz-Kateer: No point telling the kids that grapes are a dessert - I've tried that at home and got a "look", like I was the joker of the year!

They are quite flexible though. I have also had a lot of success getting water/another drink/fruit for dessert and although it varies from one CS to another, I don't think my request was ever refused. Oh, and that was this year.

Personally, I think the desserts are great. Don't forget to get Baklava at the Tangierine Cafe in Epcot..... YUM!

 

[chocolateMinnie]

We used the ddp for the first time this last trip. Our desserts were mainly good and here are some examples;

Magic Kingdom Bakery - any pastry
Tangierine Cafe - limited to Baklava only
French Patisserie at EPCOT (not sure if this is the name) - any cream cake/creme brulee or pastry (co-incidentally you can forget the sandwich here and also choose two desserts instead for a counter service meal.)
Earl of Sandwich at DTD - any lower price dessert or side - as four of us we had one fruit cup, one chocolate mousse, one strawberry shortcake and one coleslaw
Pepper Market at CSR - any bakery item, not gateaux etc. but any category 1 or 2 bakery item.
The worst place IMHO was at DHS where most places seem to offer a chocolate brownie or carrot cake option, both were pre-packed yuck.

We stayed at CSR and ate a couple of times at the pool. Not sure if this applies to all pool bars but they don't offer a specific child's meal and so you can order any counter service meal for all your party, the dessert here was either oreos or lays chips. We were happy with this as we took them into the parks as fanny pack snacks the following day.

Mostly the kid's desserts were included in the meal and were rubbish but we were so full that we were happy to split.

I did find that it was very hard to search out healthy options of the DDP - good excuse to upgrade to DXDP for our trip next year.

 

[ajcolorado]

I did find that it was very hard to search out healthy options of the DDP - good excuse to upgrade to DXDP for our trip next year.

I saw this article about heathy quick service options - not that I'm trying to undermine your upgrade to the deluxe plan: http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/article-healthyfoodchoices.php

 

[chocolateMinnie]

I saw this article about heathy quick service options - not that I'm trying to undermine your upgrade to the deluxe plan: http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/article-healthyfoodchoices.php

Thanks I saw it too. I think it depends how you eat, now we are self-confessed hogs when on any holiday. We eat a huge and I mean massive breakfast, snack during the day and then a huge dinner.

Having always paid oop we have never really eaten many CS meals and really they are fine but don't fit with us.

I'm lucky in that dd and ds love their fruit and veg. DD and DS have kind of got used to the fact that veg as we know it here is non-existant in Florida and that they have to go for fruit and salad. If we have table service they have three or four plates of fruit and salad/veg before going for meat, potatoes and desserts. With the counter service the fruit portions wouldn't make a plate nevermind three and the healthy choices of salads etc wouldn't feed the greedy chocolateminnie family without adding snacks to fill them up.

I do agree we are perhaps not the average eating family but I missed my salad and fruit hit although admittedly it did save us about $600!!!

Thought as I'd done DDP and OOP now I'd do the decent thing and see just how difficult it is to consume 21 table service credits in a week and work out the net difference in weight gain. All in the name of science of course.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Tangierine Cafe - limited to Baklava only

Yep - since the day the current Disney Dining Plan started, this has never changed.

 

[MissBritt]

According to the menus I have read, CHH and CR are pretty limited, too. Anyone have any insight? We do actually want dessert for dessert.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

Starring Rolls big desserts are included. We just got a huge fudge filled butterfinger cupcake for our dessert.

At most places, the dessert options are very rich carrot cake or chocolate cake...both tasty. Yogurt or bottled water is also available as a dessert at a lot of places. We never had any pudding cups this last time. I think those are an option with the kids meals though.

Wolfgang Puck express in Downtown Disney also had cookies, brownies, and creme brulee as options.

Keep in mind that you also have snack credits if you want more elaborate desserts at the bakeries. Children's snack credits are the same as anyone else's and can be used for bakery items, soft pretzels, popsicles, ice creams, etc.

As far as the value for QS plan. I think it's a wash for adults and you save a bit for children.

 

[TillyMarigold]

According to the menus I have read, CHH and CR are pretty limited, too. Anyone have any insight? We do actually want dessert for dessert.

When we were there in September, CHH had the chocolate cake, carrot cake, and apple crumb. They *may* have had a cookie option as well, but I'm not sure. As I said, 3 dessert options seemed pretty standard to me everywhere.

I had the apple crumb, DH had the chocolate cake, and that surprised me because I was expecting him to order carrot cake because he loves it. So that's how I know they had those three. We liked each other's desserts so much that later in the trip he ordered the apple crumb and I ordered the chocolate cake.

There are pictures in my dining report, it was the first place we ate.

 

[MissBritt]

When we were there in September, CHH had the chocolate cake, carrot cake, and apple crumb. They *may* have had a cookie option as well, but I'm not sure. As I said, 3 dessert options seemed pretty standard to me everywhere.

I had the apple crumb, DH had the chocolate cake, and that surprised me because I was expecting him to order carrot cake because he loves it. So that's how I know they had those three. We liked each other's desserts so much that later in the trip he ordered the apple crumb and I ordered the chocolate cake.

There are pictures in my dining report, it was the first place we ate.

Thanks so much! The apple crumble sounds great.