Dining plan or not?

[linskypens]

I have never used the dining plan before, as we made ADR's one year and we always felt pressured to be somewhere everyday at a certain time. I was thinking the new QSDP might be a better choice, but at only 10 dollars less than the regular plan, not sure if it is as good a deal?
Suggestions?

 

[spotty]

One thing to consider is that although the plan itself is only $10 less, the cost of the tip for the TS you do will be out of pocket. So if you eat a TS dinner for $80-$100 per day add another $16-$20 per day.

 

[teacher31]

Just started looking into this through the Disney site, but wasn't able to find out the exact cost per person. Does anybody know how much it is for an adult per day? And does it count the number of nights you are there or the days? We'll be there 8 nights, but 9 days. Anybody know? Thanks!

 

[Perditamarie]

The quick service dining plan is $29.99 per adult per night of your stay and includes 2 counter service meals, 2 snacks per night and 1 refillable mug for your stay. Same for kids and I believe they are $8.99 per night of your stay.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

It is based on your per night stay, but can be stretched out over the last day as well which makes it easier to use the credits up. We loved the dining plan and did use our ts credits very easily. You said you didn't like to be tied down to dining and could actually do one of the shows and use 2 TS credits up for one. We like to be a little spontaneous as well and planned a breakfast buffet one morning and the next day either evening or late afternooon another TS. That way we weren't hitting one after another. It was well worth the money we spent on it and we saved a great deal using it.

 

[jcjohns91107]

Do you really not tip wait staff at TS restaurants when using the DDP? I couldn't do that to a min. wage person.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Do you really not tip wait staff at TS restaurants when using the DDP? I couldn't do that to a min. wage person.

Umm... Even after re-reading I didn't see that here. I always tip, even if service sucks, actually. (I always hope it changes whatever is going wrong so that their day gets a bit better.)

 

[catne]

Umm... Even after re-reading I didn't see that here. I always tip, even if service sucks, actually. (I always hope it changes whatever is going wrong so that their day gets a bit better.)

Yeah, I don't get the PP's comment either - you certainly did not say anything about not tipping, nor did anyone else

That poster has also posted an entirely new thread claiming he read on "another thread" that someone says they don't tip TS...guess he's referring to his misread of this one Either has some difficulty reading, or he's just stirring the pot. (edited to add--his thread has already been locked closed)

Guess he is a new poster, so maybe just confused

 

[catne]

to OP -- guess the best answer would be do what works best for your family...But one thing we found helpful was to use all our TS for dinner - since breakfast TS messes up being at rope-drop opening; and TS lunch cuts time out of prime ride-time.

Instead, we used our snack credit for a breakfast pastry (eating early), then hit the parks for rope-drop & lots of rides in the a.m. We'd have CS for lunch wherever we were, or back at the resort if we were going to take a break. Then TS for dinner was at or on the way to the park we were going to (for ex. if we were going to MK for the night, we'd eat at a monorail resort restaurant.)

With that plan, we weren't under as much pressure during the day to be somewhere...the days were all about the parks & rides...the evening were more laid back dining & just wandering, since we'd done all the rides in the a.m.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Yeah, I don't get the PP's comment either - you certainly did not say anything about not tipping, nor did anyone else

That poster has also posted an entirely new thread claiming he read on "another thread" that someone says they don't tip TS...guess he's referring to his misread of this one Either has some difficulty reading, or he's just stirring the pot. (edited to add--his thread has already been locked closed)

Guess he is a new poster, so maybe just confused

Let's hope that is the case. I am glad the other is locked as I really don't want hate PM's. lol

 

[JanB]

What the PP meant (and what (s)he did say, I thought pretty clearly) is that your tip is not included in the $39.99 per adult per day cost of the DDP.

So if you are doing a comparison of the QS plan @ $29.99 to the DDP plan @ $39.99, then you need to add a tip to the $39.99 to determine what your real cost will be.

Tax is included in both of the plan costs, so you do not need to add that in.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

You can still avoid the tipping or minimize it if you choose the DDP by transferring your TS to a QS + 2 snacks or using 2TS for a dinner show which includes the tipping.

 

[Uncle Remus]

You can still avoid the tipping or minimize it if you choose the DDP by transferring your TS to a QS + 2 snacks or using 2TS for a dinner show which includes the tipping.

Ya know, that's a really good idea!!

 

[Faldred]

You can still avoid the tipping or minimize it if you choose the DDP by transferring your TS to a QS + 2 snacks or using 2TS for a dinner show which includes the tipping.

Converting a TS to CS + snacks is not a general practice -- it's something that's been done during "free dining" periods once or twice because of the high demand for TS tables.

You can minimize tipping by using the TS credits for "gratuity included" options, which include: CRT, dinner shows, grand gathering events, in-room dining, and pizza delivery. At ala carte TS meals, you also need not order a dessert (or appetizer, on the DxDP) even if you're entitled to it, which reduces the meal price a gratuity is traditionally based upon.