Is Quick-Service Dining plan worth it if you don't use the free refillable mugs?

[laurajetter]

I've been to Disney multiple times through my life but the last time was back in 2004 with DH so I know things are super different by now. My mom is planning a big family trip to Disney in June 2018 and is trying to navigate all the ins and outs of planning... right now they're trying to figure out the most economical dining option. If we were to get a plan, it would be for 8 adults and 1 child and we would do the cheapest plan, which is the Quick-Service.

It looks like the 2018 prices are: $52.49/night per adult and $21.75/night per child. I know individual food prices at Disney are probably high, but what I'm trying to find out is how much money do you really save by using this Quick-Service dining plan vs. not using a plan and just buying the items yourself? Also, if none of us are interested in using the refillable mugs feature, and if we only drink water bottles that we bring into the parks (which we will have pre-purchased by the case, so it will be less than $1 per bottle), would it make sense for us to just pay as we go, or would the Quick-Service Dining Plan still be beneficial, cost-wise?

 

[loves to dive]

You really have to work to make it save money. If you ate at BOG for both meals you would come out ahead but otherwise no. I'm not sure how many snack credits are included but I'd have a hard time eating QS with no soft drinks and making my meals add up to that much.

 

[glassslippergirl]

You really have to work to make it save money. If you ate at BOG for both meals you would come out ahead but otherwise no. I'm not sure how many snack credits are included but I'd have a hard time eating QS with no soft drinks and making my meals add up to that much.

Can you use the QS plan for both meals at BoG? Isn't it TS for dinner?

Especially with such a large crowd, you're better off having everyone pay OOP. While one person or nuclear family may do research and work the plan to come out ahead, it's highly unlikely that everyone will. To come out ahead, you'd all have to agree to order the most expensive options at the most expensive TS locations. I've never seen a party of 8 all agree on where to eat much less to all order the same thing. Also, if you're not soda drinkers, you're likely wasting part of the credit for each meal. Dining plans may once have saved users money. Now, they're more a way to prepay a big chunk of your vacation.

Maybe just plan one TS meal for everyone and go your own way for CS meals the rest of the time.

 

[loves to dive]

Can you use the QS plan for both meals at BoG? Isn't it TS for dinner?

Especially with such a large crowd, you're better off having everyone pay OOP. While one person or nuclear family may do research and work the plan to come out ahead, it's highly unlikely that everyone will. To come out ahead, you'd all have to agree to order the most expensive options at the most expensive TS locations. I've never seen a party of 8 all agree on where to eat much less to all order the same thing. Also, if you're not soda drinkers, you're likely wasting part of the credit for each meal. Dining plans may once have saved users money. Now, they're more a way to prepay a big chunk of your vacation.

Maybe just plan one TS meal for everyone and go your own way for CS meals the rest of the time.

Breakfast and lunch are QS

 

[chmasy]

Try using the displanner web site it will do calculations for you

 

[Hootch]

I think on this last trip Wolfgang Puck Express was the only meal that made sense with the quick service plan. Our average expanse per meal for quick service was about $40-$45 for four of us.