Large group, CS or Regular Dining Plan?

[mindymouse1]

I am going to be traveling with 14-19 family members in Feb 2017 to WDW for a week. We have done counter service before and loved it. I am planning most of the trip for the family. We were planning on upgrading to the regular dining plan this year. The more I think about it the more I worry about getting 19 (people of all ages) to a specific restaurant each evening for a reservation. It was kind of hard just to get us all in one spot for the family castle picture and there was only 13 of us that trip. On the other hand we were looking forward to some themed dinners. Any suggestions? What would you do? Thanks in advance!

 

[sharonabe]

If you haven't heard, the 2017 plan has changed just a bit. There is no longer a dessert component with any QS meal; you only get entree and drink. However, you do get 2 snack credits per night with both QSDP and DDP. The cost has gone up: QSDP $46.34/20.18 DDP 67.33/24.22

It's going to be very difficult to break even on the QSDP. The DDP is a little better value since you still get dessert with your TS AND you get the 2 snacks.

Do you all have to eat together at every meal? I think I would plan one special meal together and let each family then do their own thing for any other meals. With that in mind, the QSDP fits better, but as I said, may not be a good value. It may be easier to just pay OOP for everything.

 

[tkseyf]

do the DDP...all the way....lots of fun places to eat with a large group too!

 

[Baklava]

You have two separate things tied together.

Who has the dining plan has no bearing on getting ADRs or getting people to show up. Let each family decide if they want to buy the dining plan for their room and set the ADRs that you all agree on. I'd limit it to just a few, honestly. Easiest to pick a dinner at the beginning, one at the end and maybe something in the middle.

 

[mindymouse1]

Thanks everyone! We have decided to do the quick service dining plan and then pay out of pocket for one or two family meals together as a group. That way when we are all together or separate in the park we can eat when and where we want. We have loved it in the past. The next time it's just me and my children I will do the regular dining plan.