New to QS dining plan

[Mskay1216]

Hello All!
this will be our first year contemplating the QS dining plan
2 adults
2 children

from what I see the current pricing is $44.13 per adult and $19.04 per child

our two children are 4 and 2
we are staying Fri-Sunday at AOA ( and then checking into our time share on Sunday for 7 days)
visiting MK 2 days

I read more negative than positive feedback on the quick service dining plan

I looked at the menus for the QS/Counter restaurants in Magic Kingdom and the meal options/prices at Landscape of flavors at AOA

unless I'm not understanding the concept, it looks like we would break even with the kiddos but have a little $$ left over for the adult prices.. which for us, isn't too bad and beats having to worry about the extra $$ for food in the parks.

Question..can we use what ever is left over towards snacks? if so how does that work?
I don't mind buying up a few extra snacks since we'll be in FL for the week anyway.

it just seems that the consensus is that its a waste of money....but maybe not depending on your party size maybe????...

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Question..can we use what ever is left over towards snacks?

Not sure what you mean by this. What do you mean left over? If you mean spending vs. value, no. If you mean "any extra credits left after your stay," yes.

 

[Mskay1216]

Not sure what you mean by this. What do you mean left over? If you mean spending vs. value, no. If you mean "any extra credits left after your stay," yes.

sorry, yes thats what I mean extra credits.. thanks

 

[rwdavis2]

The Dis Podcast did an analysis of the QS plan and it's difficult to even break even vs. paying out of pocket. You would have to order the most expensive QS item to do so. But if your determined to get the plan, might it be less expensive to pay out of pocket for the 2yo when necessary?

 

[Mskay1216]

good point.. thank you!

 

[TsLoveMickey]

I'm not sure I'd ever do a QS dp. I'm just not wild about the QS food, and I think you could do better to split meals at less expensive table service restaurants like The Plaza, Beaches & Cream, and a few more for lunch (Sanaa for example). I understand you wanting to have the "ease" but we've done two trips and set a budget for ourselves after looking at menus, and we did not overspend. I am, however, trying the regular dp on my next trip but we're doing characters meals with two adults and two children so the value is better.

 

[HopperFan]

I did it once for 12 days. I studied and worked hard to max out values, I kept a close accounting.
We broke even. But that really is a loss since I normally would not order a drink nor buy a mug nor order desserts at QS locations.
After 5 days I was over it and dreaming of a sandwich in my bag. I think it's good for a shorter trip but not longer, for me.

Your situation, I bet you will do better just paying OOP. To make it easy take a loaded gift card and use that.

 

[sharonabe]

Your 2 yr old will not get a plan anyway, so anything they eat will have to come from your credits or you will pay OOP.

As to getting snacks with any leftover credits, that credit is "worth" $18-20. Getting 3 snacks to keep for later that add up to that price will be difficult.

 

[tinka-belle]

We just did the QS plan for 6 nights last month. We like several of the CS places and don't get to them all on our usually FD trip in Sept. Cost 2 adults approx. $530, I kept careful track of all slips and we "spent" $532. This is including the mugs which we might or might not buy for a short trip, and including some snacks we purchased to take home with a few left over credits.

Could have saved some $$$ just paying OOP or getting gift cards, but I liked the idea that it was all paid for and I could order what I wanted. We did not look to maximize the "value"
of our credits, just had the plan for convenience. Used some QS at the F & G food booths and at our resort food court, but there are really good CS places in the parks too that we often don't get to on other trips. Having the QS plan we made sure to get to all of our favorites, HAD to use our credits, not just coast along and grab a hot dog like DH would like to do every day.

 

[ShelleyTaylor]

We are on day 3 of the ddp, and it seems to be working well. We are 2a2k, and for qs I have ordered 2-3 meals each time. We have never gotten dessert, have instead gotten either 4 drinks or 4 drinks and two extra waters. ( and maybe an extra frie once). Then, since it's hot and humid we've done ice cream/ icees for snack credit. Today at Epcot at Liberty Inn they had icee like drinks, so I got the kids those since it was so hot and humid.