Just back from Free QS

[buzz2400]

We just came back from an 8 day free quick service. We went outside of disney for some of these days and then we had a little hard time trying to use the credits. Most of the counter service only had a side of fries and then dessert was usually a carrot cake or chocolate cake. Way too much food for us and most of the time we threw out the cakes. At epcot, the dessert for japan was a little cookie that tasted like cardboard or a ginger cake that was terrible. In Italy and China, snacks were only soda and water, would have liked to use the snack credit for a egg roll or gelato. In Norway and France you were able to use a snack credit for the pastries. Also found out that you had to request the large drink or they would give you a small drink. At the end of our trip we ended up getting three breakfasts for the two of us and then redeemed the remaining snacks on bottled drinks at Pop Century. To me it would have been more cost effective for me to get a cheaper rate on the room since we don't normally eat that much food.

 

[Cyndibear]

That's ashame you didn't enjoy the quick service. We enjoyed many places. Wolfgang Puck has THE best counter service meals. There are all sorts of snacks to be found in the World Showcase. Crapes in France, yummy slushies at America, Pastries in Norway, popcorn at any of the carts, pretzles in Germany...so many more. You could have used your remaining snack credits for snacks to take home....candy, cookies, chips..pastries and eventhough it states it's "free" dining you are paying rack rates for the rooms.

Cyndi

 

[2Tiggies]

Sorry you didn't enjoy it. At least you know now what is good for you and your family and what doesn't work.

Choosing the right discount takes some work. It doesn't simplify matters when you add the fact that your needs also change from one trip to the next. I ran some quotes for next year and free dining is not the best option based on the resort we intend staying at, yet this year it was a 50/50 as to what was best.

 

[DisneyWisher]

This is the reason we didn't go with free diningbut with the FL resident rate. A lot of people add up the prices they would have spent if they were paying OOP, I say add up the prices of what you would have ordered.
For DD17 and I we wouldn't order the chocolate or carrot cake, we get a large coke and large cup of water to share. So that makes the CS less than $20 for 2 of us. 2011 if paying for QSDP you will be paying about $35 pet adult per night. Guess the restaurants will be jacking up their prices again. Thinking about bring our own sandwiches and traveling off site for dinner. Give the money I save to DD to spend once we get home. Boosting our local economy.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Free dining tends to work out better when you are planning on staying at a value level resort and when you are paying for a family of 3 or more. In my case we don't eat a lot but we are going next year in August (value season) and we are a family of 4, all over the age of 9. So we are saving more by getting the dining plan for free than if we got a discount on the room. We have enjoyed free dining 3 times and it has allowed us to go to places that we never would have if paying OOP. So it has really enhanced our vacation experience. Also, I don't feel like I have to use every single credit.

 

[ElizabethB]

Free dining was an exceptional value when a room at a value resort included a TS credit, the TS meals included an appetizer and the TS meals included tip. It was also great when it first started and the menus had not yet been "dumbed down" to the point where most of them are unappealing. Believe it or not, the second year of free dining, when we participated, QS places offered Hagen Daz ice cream bars for dessert! The chocolate cake offered now is completely inedible and the one time we tried it, we threw it out.

Disney has steadily been chipping away at the benefits available on the free dining promotion. They've now chipped away enough that for us it doesn't make sense. We don't enjoy QS meals at most of the places offered (WPE being the obvious exception). So, at a value resort it now costs us $40 more per night just to get that TS credit.

For us, the numbers no longer work with free dining. We much prefer a room discount. We buy our own food as we go, depending on our mood. And, we use TiW for a 20% discount.

 

[BriarRosie]

I don't always want fries with QS meals, either. The only alternative, one that I actually prefer, is a bag of sliced apples. I asked for that substitute at Pecos Bill's in July.

 

[DisneyWisher]

ElizabethB I absolutely agree. A yr ago when asked what my favorite CS restaurant was at MK I would have said Cosmic Rays after eating there 3 weeks ago this is no longer the case. What's the sense in giving me a multiple-grain bun when the burger is bigger, too much for me to eat and now more fat and calories because of the larger size? The bottom of the bun was hard as a rock. Tapped with my fingernails and you could hear the tap tap. Pecks Bill also no longer any good. Mmmm I remember yrs ago they had a BBQ chicken breast sandwich (a whole boneless skinless breast) so good. Now BBQ pork loaded with BBQ sauce and same horrible bun as Cosmic Rays.
I'm suppose to be planning a trip to Disney in January for me, DD17, DM, DFather, and DAunt(she's never been). I can't eventhink of a restaurant to go to for lunch except maybe CP. Caseys out (not 100% beef hot dogs) , Cosmic Rays out, Pecos Bills out. At Epcot thinking the Seasons, can't do the Cantina my mom and aunt are mexican and very picky. Dinners will be off site.