new blog: A Brief Analysis of Walt Disney World Quick Service: Is It Really a Steal?

[LeahZ]

http://www.disunplugged.com/2012/08...ney-world-quick-service-is-it-really-a-steal/

 

[LionKingRules84]

Great article, and loved the price comparison.

It's not necessarily time or even money with table service vs quick service but the fact you have to make reservations and plan around those meals about 6 months in advance that seems to be the bigger problem for me.

Although I think I might try more table service next time I go, I didn't realize the Quick service prices went up that much!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Interesting. Very interesting. I hadn't realized the CS prices had gone up so much. The problem that I see is ........ desserts. What to do about the desserts? I can easily pass on any desserts that might be served at CS or even at the carts and things in the parks, I'm honestly not a big dessert person, but eat at the Brown Derby and not have grapefruit cake? ($7.00) Dine at Chefs De France and not indulge in the Creme Brulee? ($7.25) Enjoy a meal at Olivia's and leave without having Key Lime Tart? ($7.00) ... no my bill would not be dessert free and so there still is a money saving aspect of CS even if the entrees can be more expensive.

 

[goofeyken]

I agree 100%. We've been doing this for a while now. Instead of eating CS at the MK for lunch, we jump on the monorail and head to Kona for lunch. We can get a good quality burger and fries for a couple dollars more than any CS in the MK. The atmosphere is much more relaxed and the food quality is so much nicer. We've even done this a few times at Epcot, we just walk over to the Captains Grille at the Yacht Club.

We'll do CS if we have to but its hard not to just leave the park for a while for better food and a relaxing meal.

 

[disneyholic family]

very interesting article!!!!

we did the dining plan for the first time last year, so it was the first time that we had a sit down meal every single day and we discovered how enjoyable it was to do that....

most of our TS meals were late lunch (at about 2)....by that time we were really really really in need of a long, cold, relaxing break...which is exactly what we got....we could have taken less time, but we didn't want to....eating a slow relaxing meal, with our drinks continuously refilled for us was just what the doctor ordered....
the most pleasant time we've ever had in hellish august!!!

i didn't pay attention to the prices, but based on the findings in the article i see that it makes sense even if you're not on the dining plan...

by the way, we used our CS credits back at the resort food court in the evening...it worked out perfectly that way...
(and for anyone who keeps kosher, the kosher selection in the Pop Century food court is far superior to the counter service locations in the parks...in our group of 6, we had 3 who were eating kosher....the better selection at the pop was something we discovered on the first night...so it really didn't make sense for them to eat counter service anywhere else)

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Without having any Dining Plan, I find that the use of the Tables in Wonderland Dining Discount Card (Cost $75 for AP holders or $100 for DVC Members or Florida Residents) save $21.30 (including tax) per $100 of menu pricing. So it significantly lowers the cost of Table Service.

And I find that I can usually get a reservation at any restaurant I want withing five days and very often the day before.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Interesting. Very interesting. I hadn't realized the CS prices had gone up so much. The problem that I see is ........ desserts. What to do about the desserts? I can easily pass on any desserts that might be served at CS or even at the carts and things in the parks, I'm honestly not a big dessert person, but eat at the Brown Derby and not have grapefruit cake? ($7.00) Dine at Chefs De France and not indulge in the Creme Brulee? ($7.25) Enjoy a meal at Olivia's and leave without having Key Lime Tart? ($7.00) ... no my bill would not be dessert free and so there still is a money saving aspect of CS even if the entrees can be more expensive.

I guess I forgot to consider the "dessert-aholics" when writing my article. I'm not a huge dessert person so it isn't customary at every meal for me.

Without having any Dining Plan, I find that the use of the Tables in Wonderland Dining Discount Card (Cost $75 for AP holders or $100 for DVC Members or Florida Residents) save $21.30 (including tax) per $100 of menu pricing. So it significantly lowers the cost of Table Service.

And I find that I can usually get a reservation at any restaurant I want withing five days and very often the day before.

Good point about TiW cards!

I'd be interested in hearing what time of year you vacation. Personally, I only go during peak season and this is never the case unless I want to eat dinner at 9 or 10 at night.

 

[disneyholic family]

Good point about TiW cards!

I'd be interested in hearing what time of year you vacation. Personally, I only go during peak season and this is never the case unless I want to eat dinner at 9 or 10 at night.

in august last year, i was able to get some walk ups when our plans changed..
and also to change reservations the day before..

DD is there now and she was able to book chef mickeys for last night on thursday (in other words, after she got to WDW)...

 

[HubbDave]

Good article (generally a great blog).

Now maybe I can coax my wife into doing a few more TS meals next time.


mmmmm cream brulee....

 

[Justin Jett]

in august last year, i was able to get some walk ups when our plans changed..
and also to change reservations the day before..

DD is there now and she was able to book chef mickeys for last night on thursday (in other words, after she got to WDW)...

I have never had trouble walking up during anytime of year.

 

[disneyholic family]

I have never had trouble walking up during anytime of year.

i was surprised last year, as we were a group of 6...but we were still able to get walk ups when we tried....i wouldn't have expected a group of 6 to be able to do that!!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Is August technically considered peak season though? I thought the summer peak season was June-July.

 

[Quicklabs]

I thought maybe we'd do just QS on our next trip, but this has me rethinking that plan.

Actually, the best value for us has been buying groceries at Publix and Whole Foods (for pre-prepared meals) and cooking all our meals at the BWV! I love pulling the table over to the window and "dining" in the privacy of our room.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Actually, the best value for us has been buying groceries at Publix and Whole Foods (for pre-prepared meals) and cooking all our meals at the BWV! I love pulling the table over to the window and "dining" in the privacy of our room.

I can see that too. I love going out to eat though, so it's more fun for me to pick a restaurant at a resort or in the parks. I do know friends who order a few appetizers for their meal and that cuts cost too.

 

[capecodprincess]

Loved this article, thank you! I actually usually end up with the DxDP. I love being able to sit for an hour at each meal and enjoy really great food. It breaks up my day because I don't ever go back to the resort mid-day. And, off the top of my head, there are only two CS restaurants that I enjoy and plan into my trip....the rest, all TS.

 

[mikelan6]

I don't think your article is truly a fair comparison. In your blog, you are choosing the least expensive item at the Table Service restaurant and the most expensive at the Quick Service restaurant.

If you're going to compare the Yak and Yeti restaurants, compare prices of the same dish:

TS: Lo Mein - Lo mein noodles, carrots, cabbage, green onions and bean sprouts. Served with chicken $15.99 or with Shrimp $17.99

QS: Beef lo Mein - . - $10.99

+++

TS: Crispy Honey Chicken (Picture) - Tempura chicken, broccoli, carrots and honey sauce. - $16.99

QS: Honey Chicken - Honey Chicken - $9.99

You are definitely paying more at a sit down restaurant. Can it be done? YES. Is it worth it? That's up to each person.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I don't think your article is truly a fair comparison. In your blog, you are choosing the least expensive item at the Table Service restaurant and the most expensive at the Quick Service restaurant.

If you're going to compare the Yak and Yeti restaurants, compare prices of the same dish:


You are definitely paying more at a sit down restaurant. Can it be done? YES. Is it worth it? That's up to each person.

Point well taken...however..

In all reality, the purpose of including some dishes and their prices was not to equate what the same meal would cost at a QS vs TS. The point was to raise the question...are QS meals increasing to the point of becoming closer to the cost of a TS meal? For some (and seemingly more and more), this is the case.

The Cobb salad which was mentioned, for example, is actually an appetizer for two people that was used as an entree. I was much more stuffed from that than the burger I had at a QS that same week. One could then say that you are getting more food and of a better quality at TS as opposed to QS which would justify a few extra dollars.

Similarly, it's obvious that most would see that I never picked out lobster or steak to compare; we all know those dishes cost more.

Another factor that many have brought up here, on the blog comments page, and on FB is the fact that the TiW card brings TS meal costs down quite a bit. When weighing that against the QS scale, it definitely raises a question of which option is best to spend one's money on.

How one dines is obviously going to be different from person to person. With that being said, I think looking at some of the costs of items in both types of eateries is worth a look. There is a large population of folks who believe the only "reasonable" and "affordable" option is QS; after really thinking about how much the average QS meal costs, TS might be a better option for some.