Free dining or OOP? what is the best option for mother/daughter trip?

[twoplustwins]

I am trying to plan a mother/daughter trip. She has been going back and forth between WDW and Universal. I think she has decided WDW because we can see and do more and stay longer for the same amount of money. My question is . . . is free dining the cheapest way for us to go? We will need to stay onsite. I was thinking FD @ a value for 5 nights. We may possibly upgrade to DDP because she is wanting some character meals. She will be a Disney "adult" by then. I am not sure OOP would be cheaper. Any thoughts?

 

[DIS_MERI]

If you are going to stay at a value and eat character meals anyway, then free dining is hard to beat as long as you have at least 2 people. For our recent trip, we had an adult, a disney adult and 2 kids and it saved us tons. Have fun!

 

[K&KMom]

I was trying to figure out if the QSDP would be a good deal for our family (2012 trip), and this is what I determined:

1) I have one child who will be "adult" status, but she does not come close to eating the amount of food that would be in an adult meal. Plus, she does not drink soda, preferring water, so the refillable mug is not a great "add on" for her.
2) I can't imagine our family wanting to eat a dessert at every meal. I suppose, depending on the dessert, you could take it with you and eat it as a snack later, but who knows if that would be possible.
3) we will probably only do two, maybe three sit-down meals during our 5 days in the parks.

I looked up several menus posted online and tried to overestimate how much it would cost out-of-pocket, and this is what I came up with:

* Total for our family would be $700 for the QSDP, and only includes 2 counter service meals and 1 snack per day
* Regular dining plan would be $1059 for our family.
* My generous estimates for 3 meals per day, including 3 sit-down meals, plus 2 snacks per day, was about $650.

Hope this helps your planning!

 

[2ofUs]

THe above information by K&KMOM is certainly helpful, but may not apply in your instance as you are wanting to do a few character meals. Once you toss those into the cost mix (and assuming the both of you drink sodas), you may find the DDP to be cost effective.

You indicated FD in your earlier post, which I interpret as meaning 'free dining' which is definately less expensive that buying the QS plan as the upgrade to DDP is around $10-$11 per adult per day.

The value resorts can offer good rates, but in a busy season you are going to pay $150 or so per night rack rate for free dining. But, unless you got a pin code or find reduced pricing for room-only, you'd have to pay that anyway, free dining or not.

As 2 adults, DH and I have done room-only and bought DDP as well as using the FD offers, and found both to be cost effective for us. When/if we book a signature dining, my DH uses the meal credits (2) and I simply buy an appetizer OOP and drink water (my drink of choice anyway) and he shares his desert w/me. We have certainly NEVER gone hungry.

Just look over the character meal options as well as other meals you might chose and see if the cost OOP meets or exceeds the QS or DDP upgrade and you'll have your answer.

I did a mother/son 10 day trip in Sep 2009 for my son's first visit, which was also his 42 birthday! We stayed at POP and had no problems with transport at all. With our free dining/upgrade we had some great meals and great times! Enjoy your trip.

 

[hope59]

Am new at checking these posts. I tried to find what OOP was but can't. Could someone please explain? Thanks from a dummy!

 

[Granfan]

OOP = out of pocket- It means paying out of pocket.

 

[hope59]

Thanks that makes sense! Sorry to be such a dummy! I guess we have to stick to the dining plan as my husband would have a coronary over paying as we go!

 

[MAD4EEYORE]

OP it would cost you 100 to upgrade to DDP But you would lose the refillable mugs. If you bought the mugs OOP it would be about 130. What are the character meals she is wanting to do? Are they breakfast or lunch/dinner?

Last year my DD(9) wanted to do Akershus breakfast and 1900 dinner with Cinderella. Those 2 meals were over what it would be to upgrade. So for us it was worth it. I did go ahead and pay OOP for the mugs.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm not sure why the prior poster assumed $150 a night rack rate for a value, but that's only during a peak season. I would estimate $100 a night. You might even do a little better if you get a standard (non-preferred) room.

We do the same thing for mother/daughter trips. I look for the cheapest way to accomplish what we want, which is maximum park time (so no need for an expensive room just to sleep in) and lots of character meals. With several character meals, the dining plan is going to be the way to go. Sooooooo........

Assuming you want the dining plan.......... a value resort with free dining and upgrade to the regular dining plan is the only way to go. I have done this several times. Our most recent mother/daughter trip was last December and my trip report is linked in my signature.

Have an awesome time. Go out and make some magical memories!

 

[twoplustwins]

I'm not sure why the prior poster assumed $150 a night rack rate for a value, but that's only during a peak season. I would estimate $100 a night. You might even do a little better if you get a standard (non-preferred) room.

We do the same thing for mother/daughter trips. I look for the cheapest way to accomplish what we want, which is maximum park time (so no need for an expensive room just to sleep in) and lots of character meals. With several character meals, the dining plan is going to be the way to go. Sooooooo........

Assuming you want the dining plan.......... a value resort with free dining and upgrade to the regular dining plan is the only way to go. I have done this several times. Our most recent mother/daughter trip was last December and my trip report is linked in my signature.

Have an awesome time. Go out and make some magical memories!

thanks! I think you are right. I've tried to price meals out separately and staying at a value and upgrading to DDP will be less expensive.

 

[MAD4EEYORE]

I'm not sure why the prior poster assumed $150 a night rack rate for a value, but that's only during a peak season. I would estimate $100 a night. You might even do a little better if you get a standard (non-preferred) room.

We do the same thing for mother/daughter trips. I look for the cheapest way to accomplish what we want, which is maximum park time (so no need for an expensive room just to sleep in) and lots of character meals. With several character meals, the dining plan is going to be the way to go. Sooooooo........

Assuming you want the dining plan.......... a value resort with free dining and upgrade to the regular dining plan is the only way to go. I have done this several times. Our most recent mother/daughter trip was last December and my trip report is linked in my signature.

Have an awesome time. Go out and make some magical memories!

I wasn't talking about the prices of a room. OP asked if it was better to get the free dining in a value and pay oop for a few charcter meals or up grade to the DDP. With free dining to upgrade is about 100.00. Sorry for any confusion.