Is QSDP worth it?

[theducksdidit]

I was wondering if the QSDP would be worth it for myself and my 5 year old (at time of travel)? Or would it be cheaper to pay OOP?

 

[MsPeggySue911]

Just for yourself and one young child I wouldn't think so. It cost $35.99 per day for you to get 2 QS meals and 2 snacks. You can buy most quick service meals for less than $10 so even if you paid out of pocket for 3 QS meals a day you would spend less than what the dining plan costs. You do get a resort refillable mug with the QSDP that normally costs around 13 dollars and you get 2 snacks a day at 4 dollars or less. If you were going to eat a lot of table service meals I would think the DDP would be worth it but I don't see myself breaking even using the QSDP.

 

[THEJOEL]

Really depends. First of all how much does he/she eat? Most CS meals are big enough to split between 2 adults so sharing with you and a kiddo should not be a problem. Just remember to budget for it.
The one thing I like about the DDP, quick service or otherwise, is that it is one less thing to worry about once you get there. For us it made it feel more like an all inclusive trip since meals along with the rest of my vacation were paid for by the time I showed up.
Pretty much do the math and then factor in convenience.

 

[squirrel]

If you aren't going for Free Dining, then take a look at the menus and see what you would eat. You get a drink, entree and dessert with a QS credit.

If you don't eat the way the plan is set up (drink, dessert) and you order the cheapest items then the plan isn't the best.

For a child the QSDP is still a good deal. Unless you share meals with your child.

I go for Free Dining. I almost always share 1/2 chicken meal with my niece, even the pizza I can share with her.

If I had to pay for the Dining Plan, then I would probably just pay out of pocket. I would share meals, bring snacks/breakfast items to keep the cost low. You can also pre-pay by using Disney Gift Cards for your meals, if you want that everything is paid for feel.

 

[theducksdidit]

Thank you all!! I'm still not quite sure what I want to do lol. I kinda like the idea of having everything paid for before the trip...but, it also sound cheaper to pay OOP. I'll figure it out Thanks again!

 

[mb_uh]

It really depends on what your eating style is?

Do you like and want dessert?
Do you normally buy bottled drinks or soft drinks?
Do you have to have morning coffee (if staying value)?
Do you buy your child snacks?
Are you wanting to eat burgers or cheaper items to save money or eat whatever you want?

The cost for you would be about $47.00 each day

you would get 2 adult meals with drink and dessert
2 kids meals that would cost $5 each
plus refillable mugs
4 snacks every day (if left over you can get lollipops, snack crackers, cute souvenirs, pastries for breakfast or just drinks or yummy snacks.

Now for a few dollars more depending on when you are going you could give up the mugs and extra snack for a daily TS meal for character meals or other dining.

If you would buy kids meals, snacks and like more expensive entrees it is a good deal if not then it would be cheaper to go oop.

 

[theducksdidit]

It really depends on what your eating style is?

Do you like and want dessert?
Do you normally buy bottled drinks or soft drinks?
Do you have to have morning coffee (if staying value)?
Do you buy your child snacks?
Are you wanting to eat burgers or cheaper items to save money or eat whatever you want?

The cost for you would be about $47.00 each day

you would get 2 adult meals with drink and dessert
2 kids meals that would cost $5 each
plus refillable mugs
4 snacks every day (if left over you can get lollipops, snack crackers, cute souvenirs, pastries for breakfast or just drinks or yummy snacks.

Now for a few dollars more depending on when you are going you could give up the mugs and extra snack for a daily TS meal for character meals or other dining.

If you would buy kids meals, snacks and like more expensive entrees it is a good deal if not then it would be cheaper to go oop.

So if we have snack credits left over we can use them to take stuff home? And the $47 a day, does that include the price for both my daughter and I? Thanks!

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

You can check this out for in depth info:

http://www.easywdw.com/category/worth-2/diningplans/

I love this site! It explains things so even I can understand the Disney math! This quote is taken from the above noted site:



The Quick Service Dining Plan takes even more planning and willingness to purchase the most expensive entrées in order to come out ahead. Let’s say you were visiting the Magic Kingdom and ate at Pecos Bill and Columbia Harbor House, both very popular and well-reviewed quick service locations. The most expensive meal you could order at Pecos Bill would be the Deluxe Angus Cheeseburger with Fries ($9.09), Carrot Cake ($3.59), and Coke ($2.19), which comes out to $15.91 with tax. At Columbia Harbour House, you also purchased the most expensive items – Fried Shrimp Basket ($9.89), Apple Crisp ($3.59), and Coke ($2.19), for a total of $16.67. Combined, you’ve spent $32.58 on the two meals. Considering the cost of an adult on the Quick Service Dining Plan is $34.99 per person and includes the refillable mug (which costs about $15), you would basically come out even after just the two quick service meals. The two snacks for the day, which could cost up to $8, would basically be “free.” However, let’s say you theoretically purchased cheaper items at each restaurant. At Pecos Bill, you purchased the Caesar Salad with Chicken ($7.79), Strawberry Yogurt ($1.99), and a Coke ($2.19). With tax, that meal comes out to $12.81. At Columbia Harbour House, you opted for the Fried Fish Basket ($7.49), Strawberry Yogurt ($1.99), and a Coke ($2.19). With tax, that meal comes to $12.49. Combined, you’ve spent just $25.30 at the same two counter service locations. While you may get close to “breaking even” with two $4 snacks, you certainly wouldn’t be saving gobs of money.

In conclusion, the Disney Dining Plans can potentially save you money, but it very much depends on what you order. To “save” money, you would need to purchase the more expensive entrées and desserts at most meals and eat all of the food. If the dessert or most of the entrée goes to waste and you wouldn’t have ordered them out of pocket anyway, it’s obviously not much of a savings. If you haven’t already, look over the menus at Allears and try to pin down what you would most likely order. If the amount per person, per day exceeds the cost of the Disney Dining Plan every day, consider purchasing the plan. If members of your party are light eaters or tend to purchase less expensive salads or pasta, the Disney Dining Plan may also not be your best choice. However, if the thought of being able to purchase anything on the menu at virtually any Disney World restaurant is appealing, the Disney Dining Plans may be a good fit for you and may be able to save you a considerable amount of money.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[TDC Nala]

It's $35 per night for the adult and $12 per night for the child, so about $47 per night for both. NOte these prices are per night; not per day. If you stay 7 nights and 8 days you will receive the equivalent of 7 sets of credits, not 8.

You can get a number of CS meals in under $10 for an adult - if you do not purchase a drink and/or dessert. If you prefer to have these things, they come with the dining plan. If you wouldn't normally buy them and don't really want them, you may not want a dining plan. You must be staying at a Disney resort to get one.

 

[theducksdidit]

Wow! That site IS great!! That settles it, were going for the dining plan! Thanks!

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Bon Appetit!

 

[5boyz]

Wow! That site IS great!! That settles it, were going for the dining plan! Thanks!

It looks like you are going next year? So just watch these boards for free dining or room only discounts.

 

[theducksdidit]

If we were to wind up with free dining... how exactly does it work? Is it gonna be just like the QSDP (except free) or will it be like a different dining plan? Sorry for all of the silly questions

 

[theducksdidit]

Bon Appetit!

Thank you
Can't wait to try the food in WDW!!!

 

[THEJOEL]

If we were to wind up with free dining... how exactly does it work? Is it gonna be just like the QSDP (except free) or will it be like a different dining plan? Sorry for all of the silly questions

The only thing that will change is the price of your Disney Vacation "Package". The plan still works the same.
Feel free to ask as many "silly" questions as you want.

 

[theducksdidit]

The only thing that will change is the price of your Disney Vacation "Package". The plan still works the same.
Feel free to ask as many "silly" questions as you want.

Oh sweet! That'd be awesome if we could get free dining! About when does the free dining offer come around? Is it always different? Thanks!

 

[scdak]

I am surprised that no one has chimed in about another way to "pay for meals in advance" which would be by purchasing Disney giftcards, either small ones periodically as you have money to spare or a larger one before the trip. They work for meals, snacks and the "please mama" requests for the toy or stuffed animal that your child will find irresistable.

I have done the meal plan once, gift card many times and both ways make it easy to have expensives paid in advance.

The most important thing is have fun!!!!

 

[theducksdidit]

I am surprised that no one has chimed in about another way to "pay for meals in advance" which would be by purchasing Disney giftcards, either small ones periodically as you have money to spare or a larger one before the trip. They work for meals, snacks and the "please mama" requests for the toy or stuffed animal that your child will find irresistable.

I have done the meal plan once, gift card many times and both ways make it easy to have expensives paid in advance.

The most important thing is have fun!!!!

Where can i get Disney gift cards? Thank you! We plan on having lots of fun!!!

 

[scdak]

I have bought them at Disney stores (if you have one close by) and online from Disney store, those are mailed and arrive usually within a week. Alot of stores sell them in their gift card area - the ones I can think of offhand are Walgreens and Bilo (grocery store) but I am sure there are many others. Those are usually in small increments like $25, you can buy them in higher amounts at the DIsney stores or online, and the ones online allow you to choose what picture/character you want on them, they even have seasonal ones at christmas. I don't think they expire although I always manage to spend everything on each card I buy!

I can tell you from my experience in Decemeber that a gift card was nice to use to pay tips at the table service restaurants if you decide to go with the dining plan, that made it nice to have it paid in advance rather than paying out of pocket or putting it on your room key card (if you are staying onsite), when the bill would be given to me I would give them the resort card to have the meal credits deducted and the gift card for the tips, none of the servers had any trouble knowing what to do with the 2 cards, I would be given a receipt for the meal credits and another one for the tips showing the balance on the gift card.

 

[scdak]

If we were to wind up with free dining... how exactly does it work? Is it gonna be just like the QSDP (except free) or will it be like a different dining plan? Sorry for all of the silly questions

Silly questions......what are they? Honest questions from a newbie are great and most Diser's are happy to give honest answers. I can tell you from having spent alot of time reading Disboards that almost any question you can come up with has probably already been asked and you will find a wealth of information if you do searches and read threads that are of particular interest to you such as dining plans, traveling with children, first timers etc. I spent hours and hours (well, days and weeks) reading old threads when I first joined. I have been to WDW many times since 1978 and I still learned things and found great tips by reading Disboards!

Oh the memories of taking a 5 yr old for the first time, PRICELESS!