Help! Free Dining plan. Would you upgrade to DDP?

[Monique990308]

Hi everyone! We are headed back to WDW for our second trip and my 4 year old sons first trip in Nov. We got free QSDP at AOA. We were originally supposed to stay at POR but there was no availability for our stay.

I can't decided if I want to upgrade to the regular Dining plan or not. It would be 3 adults since my oldest will be 13 and 2 children ages 9 and 4. For an 8 night stay, the upgrade cost is $445. I think I am doing my math right and for about $450 including tips, we could pay for our Tusker House Breakfast, Crystal Palace Breakfast and Ohana Dinner. Do you think it would better idea to do that and keep the QSDP or just upgrade everything?

 

[ErinsMommy]

I love their dining plans. To me being able to go to character dinings and not worry about additional OOP cost, is worth it in itself.

 

[KELLY]

I went threw the same thing. We were at pop and going to pay for Tuskers and CP. We choose to upgrade right at the 45 day mark to a moderate. The prices of the breakfast have gone up. But if I was staying at a value we would have stuck with the QSDP.

 

[DisneyLindsay]

I would upgrade for sure, but this is one thing that really ticks me off.

Flame suit is on, so bring it! LOL I can take it!

Seriously, AoA is a very expensive value...it will cost more for a family of 5 to stay there than POR, and yet you only get QSDP when staying there. But for less money at POR for the same family of 5 you get less space (I understand that) but free regular dining and then you really don't need the kitchen anyway. The little firdge is sufficient enough.

But, back to you original quesiton, I think upgrading is worth it.

 

[jimandami]

If I were planning those 3 meals and for about the same price could upgrade everyone, I would definitely upgrade!

 

[Monique990308]

I would upgrade for sure, but this is one thing that really ticks me off.

Flame suit is on, so bring it! LOL I can take it!

Seriously, AoA is a very expensive value...it will cost more for a family of 5 to stay there than POR, and yet you only get QSDP when staying there. But for less money at POR for the same family of 5 you get less space (I understand that) but free regular dining and then you really don't need the kitchen anyway. The little firdge is sufficient enough.

But, back to you original quesiton, I think upgrading is worth it.

I think this is why I am having such a hard time deciding. If we could have stayed at POR the cost would have been about $1000 cheaper including free regular dining. Now I am having a hard time accepting that we are paying the same price for QSDP and would have to pay more for dining.

 

[iloveeeyore]

I think this is why I am having such a hard time deciding. If we could have stayed at POR the cost would have been about $1000 cheaper including free regular dining. Now I am having a hard time accepting that we are paying the same price for QSDP and would have to pay more for dining.

What about another mod? We did CSR last summer with free DDP and it was amazing. Fabulous trip for a great value! Keep trying for POR, availability might appear, but in the meantime, I'd go for any other mod. They are all nice.

 

[Mariep26]

What about another mod? We did CSR last summer with free DDP and it was amazing. Fabulous trip for a great value! Keep trying for POR, availability might appear, but in the meantime, I'd go for any other mod. They are all nice.

If I am reading correctly, the OP needs a room to accommodate 5 so I assume they are trying for AB room in POR

 

[Monique990308]

If I am reading correctly, the OP needs a room to accommodate 5 so I assume they are trying for AB room in POR

Right. The only other option available is the Cabins. This would be about the same price as staying at AOA and upgrading.

 

[mamathompson]

I would upgrade, if the three meals you are planning to pay for cost the same as the upgrade, then you get 5 additional sit downs for the same price (of course adding tips). It's like 8 for the cost of 3! I love the meals, I think its part of the fun of Disneyworld. It is too bad AoA is so expensive with only the QSDP. No wonder POR has no availability, its much cheaper for a family of 5 with the DDP!

 

[iloveeeyore]

If I am reading correctly, the OP needs a room to accommodate 5 so I assume they are trying for AB room in POR

Sorry! I read the original post incorrectly. I thought it was 3 adults plus a 4 year old.

I would still keep trying for POR, but in the meantime, yes, I'd upgrade. We love TS dining in Disney. It is such a treat for our family and always one of the best aspects of our trips.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

I would upgrade the dining plan. I love having all means paid ahead of time, not having to worry about budget for food, souvenirs, etc. I can't imagine ever going to Disney again and not purchasing the dining plan.

We were fortunate that this December all we had to do was upgrade to a garden view room, and then our dining plan was refunded to our room cost since we had already booked with Disney.

I am a huge fan of the dining plan, you should go ahead and upgrade.

 

[danceintherain]

I would upgrade. The QSDP doesn't appeal to me at all.

I think you're all forgetting that Disney isn't trying to give you a good deal, they're trying to get as much money out of you as possible. As long as people are willing to pay more, they will charge more.

OP, you may want to consider a FW Cabin. Since they are considered "Moderate" you will get the regular dining plan without paying for an upgrade (unless I'm missing something)

 

[Monique990308]

I would upgrade. The QSDP doesn't appeal to me at all.

I think you're all forgetting that Disney isn't trying to give you a good deal, they're trying to get as much money out of you as possible. As long as people are willing to pay more, they will charge more.

OP, you may want to consider a FW Cabin. Since they are considered "Moderate" you will get the regular dining plan without paying for an upgrade (unless I'm missing something)

the FW cabin with free dining is only about $50 less that AOA with upgraded dining. I think I will just end up upgrading. No doubt that Disney thinks that most of us would pay more...(and they are probably right about me)

 

[Phatoomch]

WE upgraded last year (at a value), this year my dates don't fall in FD but I was lucky enough to receive a free QSDP pin which I then upgraded. We use our CS credit for a big breakfast which would keep us full, have a snack (use our snack credit) and then a sit down meal using the TS credit - dinner served two purposes: fed us and gave us a perfect opportunity to sit and relax for a bit, have some down time.

I say do it

 

[wildcatfan]

We have done both meal plans and enjoyed them. Now that my children are older, we fine that the CS is better for us. They have eaten at all the character meals and we usually only do one OOP meal. I like the flexibility of eating when and where I want without being rushed. If I were you, I would call everyday to check availablity for POR. I bet there is a great chance that something will come open for you.

 

[Infamousmare]

I may be alone in my thinking, but after having done both the DDP and the QSDP, I can say that the DDP was worth it for us. By the time we waited in lines for food we might as well have had a sit-down meal...and the opportunity to get character interaction and sit at a reserved table in an air-conditioned restaurant for an hour on a hot day was priceless.

Yeah, I tried to sit down and clearly figure out whether or not I'd save any money doing this; however, there are some things that you can't put a price on. If you like character dining and if you like the restaurants, I say go for it. You only live once.

 

[Phatoomch]

I may be alone in my thinking, but after having done both the DDP and the QSDP, I can say that the DDP was worth it for us. By the time we waited in lines for food we might as well have had a sit-down meal...and the opportunity to get character interaction and sit at a reserved table in an air-conditioned restaurant for an hour on a hot day was priceless.

Yeah, I tried to sit down and clearly figure out whether or not I'd save any money doing this; however, there are some things that you can't put a price on. If you like character dining and if you like the restaurants, I say go for it. You only live once.

I agree - I love the DDP and will always upgrade from a QS. We received a pin for free QS (even though we were booked in a mod). I upgraded for $100 per person. Thats less $20 per day per person for a CS meal, TS meal and a snack