Meal plan or food delivery?

[Ndusmama]

ive stayed once at WDW (POR). We had the 2 QS meal plan. It wasn't bad but we did do a couple TS meals and had to pay out of pocket which was crazy expensive. So planning another trip but actually staying DVC for first time (SSR studio). Okay so I am really the only breakfast eater. The rest snack for breakfast. So question, would meal plan be worth it? And which one? The 2 QS or the 1 QS 1 TS? Or even just the 3 any meals? Can the TS meals be used as a QS if you go with 1qs 1 TS? Or would food delivery be better for say breakfast and lunch meals (to take in parks) and buy dinner? I'm not sure what the layout for the restaurants are for SSR to be able to get QS meals?

 

[CMNJ]

ive stayed once at WDW (POR). We had the 2 QS meal plan. It wasn't bad but we did do a couple TS meals and had to pay out of pocket which was crazy expensive. So planning another trip but actually staying DVC for first time (SSR studio). Okay so I am really the only breakfast eater. The rest snack for breakfast. So question, would meal plan be worth it? And which one? The 2 QS or the 1 QS 1 TS? Or even just the 3 any meals? Can the TS meals be used as a QS if you go with 1qs 1 TS? Or would food delivery be better for say breakfast and lunch meals (to take in parks) and buy dinner? I'm not sure what the layout for the restaurants are for SSR to be able to get QS meals?

I believe there are only 2 QS locations. One is at the main building (the carriage house) and has an extensive menu. The other is the grill at the Paddock Pool an has a more limited menu. Depending on what location you get assigned to for your villa it could be a bit of a walk to either location.

 

[Dean]

ive stayed once at WDW (POR). We had the 2 QS meal plan. It wasn't bad but we did do a couple TS meals and had to pay out of pocket which was crazy expensive. So planning another trip but actually staying DVC for first time (SSR studio). Okay so I am really the only breakfast eater. The rest snack for breakfast. So question, would meal plan be worth it? And which one? The 2 QS or the 1 QS 1 TS? Or even just the 3 any meals? Can the TS meals be used as a QS if you go with 1qs 1 TS? Or would food delivery be better for say breakfast and lunch meals (to take in parks) and buy dinner? I'm not sure what the layout for the restaurants are for SSR to be able to get QS meals?

Likely your best and cheapest option is not to get a DP and just pay OOP. What is your group makeup and how would you prefer to eat if you could chose? It's difficult to get any savings with the QS plan and not uncommon to be in the same boat with the basic plan that has one of each. The deluxe plan will provide the best savings used in certain ways but mostly for TS and mostly for non signature. Group makeup, age of children, length of stay, how early you arrive/late you depart and preferences would help us to sort this out somewhat. There are a couple of calculators out there that will help as well. I find going through the menus often a better indicator though.

 

[Ndusmama]

It's two adults a 6 year old and a 2 year old. Arriving around 6 pm at airport and leaving at 4 pm for 8 days. We are west coast time so arrival will be late afternoon for us. I will check menus. I've seen one calculator but not knowing restaurants there it's a bit overwhelming to choose. For instance if you wanted really good experience and food at DL eat at blue bayou. Cheap: eat at plaza in. DCA avoid the traitoria because food is blah and service is really bad. Bread bowls are great over there and Carthay circle is good TS. If you have 2-3 hours and $100 a person Napa Rose is just undiscibable. And Studio 55 is the hidden gem. WDW too many to choose from. When we went in January we ate at the Irish restaurant in Disney springs (liked), cinderellas castle (liked), Hollywood and vine in HS (did not like), French restaurant in Epcot (liked), be our guest (HATED). So maybe restaurant likes and dislikes and I can look at menus and see which is cheaper meal plan or pay oop.

 

[Dean]

It's two adults a 6 year old and a 2 year old. Arriving around 6 pm at airport and leaving at 4 pm for 8 days. We are west coast time so arrival will be late afternoon for us. I will check menus. I've seen one calculator but not knowing restaurants there it's a bit overwhelming to choose. For instance if you wanted really good experience and food at DL eat at blue bayou. Cheap: eat at plaza in. DCA avoid the traitoria because food is blah and service is really bad. Bread bowls are great over there and Carthay circle is good TS. If you have 2-3 hours and $100 a person Napa Rose is just undiscibable. And Studio 55 is the hidden gem. WDW too many to choose from. When we went in January we ate at the Irish restaurant in Disney springs (liked), cinderellas castle (liked), Hollywood and vine in HS (did not like), French restaurant in Epcot (liked), be our guest (HATED). So maybe restaurant likes and dislikes and I can look at menus and see which is cheaper meal plan or pay oop.

I would pay OOP unless you end up with a number of meals you can't share and/or that the 6 y/o will be charged significant dollars like buffet's. Depending on your ultimate choices it may be the basic plan offers some benefit. I doubt you'd be able to use the credits for the deluxe plan in this situation.

 

[Ndusmama]

I would pay OOP unless you end up with a number of meals you can't share and/or that the 6 y/o will be charged significant dollars like buffet's. Depending on your ultimate choices it may be the basic plan offers some benefit. I doubt you'd be able to use the credits for the deluxe plan in this situation.

We live in Vegas so buffets aren't really our thing. Too over priced and make you think you need to eat more to get a good value. Plus food usually isn't all that great. Thanks for advice.

 

[Dean]

We live in Vegas so buffets aren't really our thing. Too over priced and make you think you need to eat more to get a good value. Plus food usually isn't all that great. Thanks for advice.

The point was that there are certain restaurant situations where the kids are charged (3 & over) a significant amount. For Disney these are the options that require you pay for a meal if they eat at all, like buffet's/character meals. Most Character meals are generally either buffets or pre plated options. Since you don't have enough information to truly know what you want, you're going to need to plan what restaurants you want then where you can get reservations. Once you have reservations you can go through the menus and see how things fit in for you. Given the risk of the DP, you want a true savings of 20% or an increase in value for things you truly want but wouldn't pay extra for. Consider your dining style. It's difficult for most to use up deluxe credits in this situation, it sounds like a DP won't be a good choice for you but once you know what your reservations and basic plans are, it should be easy to figure out for certain where you have any value in the DP or not.

DP or not, I'd start with your preferred dining style. You've already said breakfast is not a big issue. Decide if you want to do any character meals and if so which/when. Then consider table service (2 hrs) vs buffet (you already prefer not to have buffets) vs counter service for lunch and dinner. For TS will you do signatures (more expensive and more credits)? Decide whether you'll cook, eat in the room part of the time? Once you have that framework, which should take all of about 2 seconds except for the ? character meals, then decide which parks you'll visit and likely which days. That way you're not looking for a TS at EPCOT when you need a CS at MK. Then plan dining for special events (Splitsville) and the parks first accordingly using the list of applicable restaurants for the time and location. Then fill in the other days considering where you might be (?Disney Springs shopping) or exploring certain resorts. For TS you then have to make reservations, the more popular ones will need to be booked a full 180 days out.

We have our favorites so when we plan a trip I plan around those options and also to try new places when possible. We then plan our parks days around those choices rather than the framework I gave you because we've done the parks. Everyone will have their favorites, clearly we have ours.