******Official 2017 Free Dining Plan Watch, Wait, and Dream

[scrappinginontario]

We don't eat TS breakfasts - frankly, I am as puzzled that some folks can get by with $100 in tips for a week as you are at my tipping. Maybe I just tip more, or maybe we are eating in different restaurants?

We are a family of 2 - 1 A, 1 C. We order either milk, juice or a soda as our drink plus dessert. We don't add appetizers as find we have plenty of food on the dining plan. I always tip 20%. I've been curious how much to budget for tips so kept exact records during our last 2 trips and this is what we spent:
'Ohana dinner - $11.15
Akershus breakfast - $12.80
Coral Reef dinner - $10.00
Cape May Cafe dinner - $12.40
Chef Mickey's brunch - $12.20
Biergarten dinner - $11.80
1900 Park Fare dinner - $13.40

Total tips paid in 2016 was: $83.75. All but 1 of these restaurants were a 'set price' as they were either served family style ('Ohana, Akershus, etc.) or buffet (Chef Mickey's, Biergarten, etc.) so the 20% we paid for 1A and 1C would be the same for others unless alcohol was added to the bill.

For those who questioned how I could pay so little - this is how even paying 20% each time. I will admit I was surprised too as I'd budgeted far more for tips prior to keeping track!

What do you mean they scaled back the QS plan? No dessert?

Quick Service is different now. You get 2 Quick Service meals per day that include your entree or a combo plus a drink but not dessert. You get 2 snack credits instead.

 

[menotyou21]

Ok everyone. I know we don't really know but has anyone heard of, or gotten, free dining in a 2bd villa?

It has been available on 2Bd Villas in the past. Keep in mind this is only on non-DVC reservations. FD is always changing as well.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We are a family of 2 - 1 A, 1 C. We order either milk, juice or a soda as our drink plus dessert. We don't add appetizers as find we have plenty of food on the dining plan. I always tip 20%. I've been curious how much to budget for tips so kept exact records during our last 2 trips and this is what we spent:
'Ohana dinner - $11.15
Akershus breakfast - $12.80
Coral Reef dinner - $10.00
Cape May Cafe dinner - $12.40
Chef Mickey's brunch - $12.20
Biergarten dinner - $11.80
1900 Park Fare dinner - $13.40

Total tips paid in 2016 was: $83.75.

This is awesome and proof that paying for the DDP can be a poor investment. You guys would be losing money if you paid for the DDP out of pocket and ate those meals.

 

[mkillian21]

Columbia Harbor House sounds yummy but I'm a bit skeptical about seafood at quick service

I love their salmon! It was very yummy!

 

[v0mich01]

It has been available on 2Bd Villas in the past. Keep in mind this is only on non-DVC reservations. FD is always changing as well.

This is what I needed to know! I currently have about a zillion reservations. And I'm trying to decided what to do. I just booked my latest today, bc it just came available bc I didn't want to miss out. And it isn't that I have a zillion reservations.

I have trip 1 booked
( stay for DH, me, and DS at Aoa for three nights) doing a split stay with the next 6 nights at BC. But my inlaws are meeting us for that portion. So I have three reservations/down payments going there...

Then I just booked a 2 bd villa at BC available for almost our dates we were staying at the BC. So I'll either keep that and cancel the two individual ressies at the BC, or not. It'll depend on flights. And of course...nap time is over. So my disney planning is done for the next four hours...til bed timeIts gonna be hard to not be on my phone planning

 

[Jellybass]

Funny thing, when we got our booklet for the QS summer meal deal it states we do get a dessert. I plan on bringing it with me in case there is a problem.

 

[Neeky78]

"Extra well done" Always get mine medium rare.

On edit, this was posted in good fun.

I think the poster was saying they severely undercook the burgers. So if you want medium, ask for extra well-done. If you want med-rare, I guess you ask for well-done!

 

[squirrel]

Funny thing, when we got our booklet for the QS summer meal deal it states we do get a dessert. I plan on bringing it with me in case there is a problem.

What booklet? I have the same package booked. I have not received anything but maybe because I'm not close enough to my trip.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Agreed. Not sure why so many don't like it.

I've had it one time, the pasta was way over cooked, it was like mush.

 

[Disneylover99]

No, the QS doesn't have dessert anymore but you still get that extra snack that you can use anywhere. I like that way better! I'm not a fan of most desserts offered by counter service places. How many times do you want to eat chocolate mousse? lol. Give me a cheese pretzel any day over that!

It's definitely a better deal if you are doing the regular TS dining. But not if you're doing quick service dining. Plus, like I mentioned you could sub out your drink and dessert in the past for other sides. That was awesome! For the past two years we never once ordered dessert at a counter service location.

 

[Disneylover99]

I think the poster was saying they severely undercook the burgers. So if you want medium, ask for extra well-done. If you want med-rare, I guess you ask for well-done!

Yep. That sounds about right.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I can not believe how much some ppl pay for tips. I won't get into what I do or do not do but I think 20% is far too high. I also hate when they tap it on the bill. A TIP is a tip for good service and if I do not get good service I will not be paying 20% tip just because it's taped onto the bill. THAT is wrong!

That said we do have the tip picked for the meals we need it for and are putting those in envelopes for each place we go.
Also having tips for the resort staff and I want to get some cards made up for CM's who sprinkle extra magic or make our trip special, so I can make sure they get the recognition they deserve I will make sure they are mentioned at the city hall.

 

[TomServo27]

This is awesome and proof that paying for the DDP can be a poor investment. You guys would be losing money if you paid for the DDP out of pocket and ate those meals.

With one adult and one child dining plan for 7 nights in 2016 would cost $579.60. Her ts meals would cost $418.75 oop. Two snack a day since you still got desert with cs for 7 days at $5 a snack $70. So that is now $488.75. So she would only have to spend $90.85 on 14 cs which all would include desert to break even. Hopefully I didn't screw any my figures lol.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

I've had it one time, the pasta was way over cooked, it was like mush.

Never had the pasta, only the flatbreads. That said, I've never had good pasta at any Disney QS location.

 

[sharonabe]

This is awesome and proof that paying for the DDP can be a poor investment. You guys would be losing money if you paid for the DDP out of pocket and ate those meals.

Those were NOT the price of her meals; that was what she paid in TIPS at those meals.

 

[Azjenn]

Columbia Harbor House sounds yummy but I'm a bit skeptical about seafood at quick service

We love Columbia harbour house. It's prob one of my fav QS. I'm gonna get beat for this one but I thought BOG for lunch was just meh... the ambiance inside is beautiful but I thought the food was just ok. Just my opinion though

 

[sharonabe]

Funny thing, when we got our booklet for the QS summer meal deal it states we do get a dessert. I plan on bringing it with me in case there is a problem.

There's been a discussion on this in a previous thread. General consensus is they printed the booklet before they made the change. Problem is, they forgot to put in the fine print about Disney being able to change the parameters. I would definitely have that booklet with me and probably make a stink at every QS place I went to that would not honor it. You may want to watch for a thread in June to see what the early takers of this deal encounter when they try to get a dessert with their meal.

 

[Ahuck06]

We are going to do just QS this time for our 4 day trip. What are your favorites? These have been such interesting post! THank you so much for sharing your info. Helps us newbies out!!

BOG for lunch!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

With one adult and one child dining plan for 7 nights in 2016 would cost $579.60. Her ts meals would cost $418.75 oop. Two snack a day since you still got desert with cs for 7 days at $5 a snack $70. So that is now $488.75. So she would only have to spend $90.85 on 14 cs which all would include desert to break even. Hopefully I didn't screw any my figures lol.

Thanks - missed that it was only 1 adult.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Those were NOT the price of her meals; that was what she paid in TIPS at those meals.

Thanks - I think?