Is the QS DP worth it?

[Mrs Hobbes]

We are DVC members so we can not take advantage of free dining. However we thought for our next trip we might try the QS DP, our two daughters are pretty fussy and don't really eat in the TS restaurants and we don't want to be tied down this trip by making lots of reservations.

So we are considering the QS plan, we like the idea of having our food paid for before we go as it helps with budgeting. We always get a grocery delivery of breakfast stuff and have breakfast in our villa so we would QS for lunch and dinner.

My question is, is the plan worth it. The cost is $11.99 for children and $34.99 for adults. I looked at the menus on here and worked out a couple of sample day meals for us and the children just about broke even but often DH and I came in around $31. I know you get the resort mug and that is a prek as we always buy these but I am still torn. It was better value last year with the two snack credits but now I am not so sure.

 

[Singinglizzie]

We are DVC members so we can not take advantage of free dining. However we thought for our next trip we might try the QS DP, our two daughters are pretty fussy and don't really eat in the TS restaurants and we don't want to be tied down this trip by making lots of reservations.

So we are considering the QS plan, we like the idea of having our food paid for before we go as it helps with budgeting. We always get a grocery delivery of breakfast stuff and have breakfast in our villa so we would QS for lunch and dinner.

My question is, is the plan worth it. The cost is $11.99 for children and $34.99 for adults. I looked at the menus on here and worked out a couple of sample day meals for us and the children just about broke even but often DH and I came in around $31. I know you get the resort mug and that is a prek as we always buy these but I am still torn. It was better value last year with the two snack credits but now I am not so sure.

How old are your kids? I am in a similar situation since we booked using DVC points and aren't eligible for free dining. We had planned to go OOP but are now thinking about the Quick service. My dilemna is that my DD is 11 and probably wants to eat the kids meals, but will be charged as an adult. What's is going on with the 2 snack credits - did that get changed? I checked last night at all ears . net, and it still listed 2 snack credits as part of the plan? My other concern is that I've read here that QS service prices have increased by about 10% so I'm now thinking it will really cost me more OOP. I have done the DDP before and like that when you purchase your items it feels like it is free ! If you feel you will at least break even, then I would say it would be a good idea, since it really is easier to just present your KTTW card and not be worried about what you select.

 

[bpesch]

It's worth it if it's free but I'm not sure I would pay for it.

 

[sharonabe]

The 2012 plan is only one snack per day. 2011 still has the two snacks.

As for it's worth. If you know you will want to have soda and dessert with EVERY meal, you'll probably break even or do a little better if you do some homework and go to some QS places with the higher priced meals (Cosmic Rays, Flametree, Tangeriene Cafe, Sunshine Seasons, Fairfax Fare, and Wolfgang Puck Express are the top ones).

If you don't use all entitlements, you will lose money.

 

[Singinglizzie]

The 2012 plan is only one snack per day. 2011 still has the two snacks.

As for it's worth. If you know you will want to have soda and dessert with EVERY meal, you'll probably break even or do a little better if you do some homework and go to some QS places with the higher priced meals (Cosmic Rays, Flametree, Tangeriene Cafe, Sunshine Seasons, Fairfax Fare, and Wolfgang Puck Express are the top ones).

If you don't use all entitlements, you will lose money.

You can (or at least used to) be able to get a bottle of water instead of a soda for each meal, which cost around $2.50 ea. So an average adult lunch or dinner plus a bottle of water $2.50 = $13.50. x 2 = $27.00 - this leaves $8.00 left for 2 snacks, + desert (typically a cookie but can be something greater) and the refillable mug. We love the snacks at Epcot - so for us that would be a real savings not having to buy them at full price. I think the plan will at least pay for itself with a small cost saving. I think however the main advantage is the ease of the system - you don't worry what it costs, since you already paid for it (unless you got it for free - which you are still paying for in "rack rates").

 

[sharonabe]

If you get a bottle of water, you're still using the "drink" entitlement of the plan.

Even with the recent price increases of QS, there aren't that many $11 meals. 90% of them are still in the $8-$10 range, and the dessert is $3.50. So you're still looking at around $16 for a QS meal x 2 = $32. Count in the ONE snack (on 2012 plan) at around $4 and you're saving a grand total of $1 with a free mug thrown in.

You will have to use all entitlements and research the more expensive meals to make this one worth it for the monetary value. If having it all paid for ahead of time gives you peace of mind, then that's what you need to do. I'd rather save money.

 

[Singinglizzie]

If you get a bottle of water, you're still using the "drink" entitlement of the plan.

Even with the recent price increases of QS, there aren't that many $11 meals. 90% of them are still in the $8-$10 range, and the dessert is $3.50. So you're still looking at around $16 for a QS meal x 2 = $32. Count in the ONE snack (on 2012 plan) at around $4 and you're saving a grand total of $1 with a free mug thrown in.

You will have to use all entitlements and research the more expensive meals to make this one worth it for the monetary value. If having it all paid for ahead of time gives you peace of mind, then that's what you need to do. I'd rather save money.

Thanks sharonabe. I was thinking the average meal was about $11 (since some are $9 and some $15) I think the QSDP is a better deal in 2011 if you are DVC and have to pay for it OOP. The OP doesn't say when they are traveling - in 11 or 12, so that might make a diff for them. Personally I'm still trying to decide. My kids like to eat fruit and salads with meals, so we could use our snack credits for those. We'll also be at Epcot the last day of the Food/Wine festival, and you can use snack credits there too. When I travel I usually have to give my kids a "$ limit" on how much they can spend per meal, otherwise they want to order appetizers, salads, entrees, + desserts. I guess they have champage taste so part of the attraction of the plan for me, is that they can get what they want, without costing me extra.

 

[Mrs Hobbes]

Thanks for the replies everyone definitely given me 'food for thought' :lol:

We're travelling in 2012 so we will only get the one snack which I think has really devalued the plan. Our kids are 9 and 14 so one will be priced as an adult although she does eat off the adult menus so that is ok. Your calculations work out the same as us in that the plan only breaks even.

Does anyone know if you have to eat the dessert at the same time as you meal or could you go back and have it later on?

 

[leebee]

I know that some places (I'm thinking resort hotel food courts) will let you return within the hour of purchasing your food if you will be getting an ice cream for dessert- but you need your receipt to "prove" the purchase and time. I don't know about other cs restaurants... but perhaps you could bring ziploc bags or tupperware storage dishes to put your non-ice cream desserts in to eat later, if you are too full to eat them at dinner.

We are not fans of the desserts at many of the cs restaurants (Cosmic Ray's comes to mind); we find the cake choices to be overly sweet and just plain yucky, so that limited the cs value for us even more. I think the biggest thing the QSDP has going for it is 2 snack credits in 2011- these can be put to good use at F&W Fest!

 

[Mikey'swife]

I think it depends on what, when, and where you plan to eat. If you like traditional cs food- hotdogs,pizza, hamburgers then the qsdp is probably not a good deal since these items tend to be cheaper. If you want food that is more ethnic or homestyle or love your desserts then it can be a good deal.

We did it for one night on a recent dvc stay and we tried WPE at dd. For 2 adults and 2 kids it was $70. The kids got to choose their own grown up dessert and it is basically like a TS with drink refills.

You also have the option of kids getting adult meals at places that do not have kids meals like Caseys so if you have a child that wants a larger meal you could get that instead of a kids meal for them.

I have figured out the best way to get a vaue out the ddps is not to have to do them for your entire trip. DVC lets you segment so do qsdp for a few nights and do oop a few then eat at the expensive places when on the ddp and eat at cheap places oop.

 

[JerseyJanice]

During our past trips with DDP, many places let us swap the dessert with a bottle of water. I'd stash it in my tote bag, and one of us would drink it later in the day. That way, we could use a snack credit for a really good dessert and after we worked up the appetite for it.

The problem with the desserts is that the meals are usually so large and filling, we aren't immediately hungry enough to enjoy them. Whenever I could get a dessert to go, I'd choose that, but those cake cups that many CS places serve do NOT travel well. OTOH, rice krispie treats do.

The resort food courts have lots of things you can get for dessert that store well in your room, like yogurt, fruit cups, big cookies. We always have a cooler or fridge, and I bring Zip-Lock bags to store bakery items in the room.

 

[auprincess]

we had free QS this year...for a week ~ it was great b/c it was free, but I wouldn't have paid for it. By the last couple of days we were struggling to figure out things to eat. We tried many places, but still felt like we were eating the same things. Late in our trip we discovered Wolfgang Puck Express ~ it was wonderful! If we do ever end up with this plan again, we will plan to eat there more than once. Yummy food and a great variety.

 

[3boys4me]

I took my kids in Mrach for an unexpected trip. We didn't book early enough to get the fd so I purchased to quick service plan for us. We loved it! We probably did a little better than break even. We did not try to get the most for our money when we ate, we ordered what we wanted. We did WPE, and we love the chicken and ribs at cosmic rays. I have a stroller with me so we take our drinks to go and they usually last us a while so buying drinks outside of the plan isn't a big deal for us. Also, because of the stroller we would just bring the desserts with us and eat them later in the parks or just take them back to the room. We usually had dinner at the hotel so we had our mugs. We would get milk or juice for our drinks and either a muffin or fruit as dessert and had that for breakfast some mornings. We only ate the same thing twice if we really wanted to. There are plenty of options around the parks. Some of the meals were so big that I would just pick off the kids food. We are doing the QS plan again for fd this year but I would pay for it again, we got our money's worth and having themeals paid for was great.

 

[disneyfreak2127]

We are also DVC and traveling over Spring Break 2012, so no FD for us. I am mulling this same dilemma over and over. We are myself, DH, DD(18) and DS(11). So we will all be eating off the adult QS plan. My DH hates to be tied to ADR's. We will only do 2, so those will be OOP.

The thing that is making me lean towards the QS is the fact that my son alone could eat all 4 snacks a day. The snacks during the day are the one thing that I tend to limit if OOP b/c they really start to add up the $. At least this way I won't sound like the grumpy mom on vacation.

As far as places to try for QS I have heard that the make your own pasta at POR food court is pretty good. We have always liked visiting a new resort to walk around one day. WPE or Earl of Sandwich would also be great to try at DTD.

I don't know... still thinking!