Package with Disney or Room & Tix with UT

[Mynamewastaken]

I am currently booked with Disney for the summer package that includes qs dining. We've never gone when dining was included so this is our first experience with that. I was pricing out rooms and tickets on UT with their promotion that's running though our dates and if I booked a room and our tickets with them we'd save 500.00. Is the qs dining plan worth the extra 500?

We usually fly Southwest and pack a suitcase full of food and have some things delivered. We always ate breakfast at the hotel, had snacks in our bag and had dinner out someplace (something quick- not sit down dining). I am thinking we probably spent more oop than the 500.00.

I am curious what you would do in my situation... TIA

 

[AngiTN]

I do not do the dining plan. I find it always either breaks even or costs more in the long run. Everyone must remember, Disney does not give free dining because it loses them money in the long run. They MAKE money on it, that you better believe.
I could stay 2 weeks and not spend $500 on QS.
But I only eat at 2 QS locations, the rest is inedible to us.

 

[siren0119]

Whether the dining plan is actually beneficial depends HEAVILY on how you eat. The only way to know for sure if the QS dining plan is worth it is to look at the menus and price out how you would normally eat in the parks (emphasis on NORMALLY) and add that cost to the pricing you found on UT. See if the packages are close in price or if you're throwing money away.

"Free" dining isn't ever really free - they don't charge you for the DP but your room is at FULL rack rate (no discounts at all). Sometimes it works out in your favor, sometimes not.

 

[Miffy]

I never spend more than any of the dining plans at Disney. Ever. Not even close. Between us, my sister and I, who have several TS meals (note: TS, not QS) during our usual WDW trip, never even reach the QS Dining Plan price threshold, much less the regular DP price threshold.

But in order to see if that $500 works for you, you have to do the math. All the WDW menus are online, so it's easy enough to do. Also, it'd be helpful if you said here how many are in your party, their ages, and how long you'll be at WDW. Without some more facts, it's going to be difficult for anyone else to help you.

 

[siren0119]

I never spend more than any of the dining plans at Disney. Ever. Not even close. Between us, my sister and I, who have several TS meals (note: TS, not QS) during our usual WDW trip, never even reach the QS Dining Plan price threshold, much less the regular DP price threshold.

But in order to see if that $500 works for you, you have to do the math. All the WDW menus are online, so it's easy enough to do. Also, it'd be helpful if you said here how many are in your party, their ages, and how long you'll be at WDW. Without some more facts, it's going to be difficult for anyone else to help you.

Yeah I'm pretty sure the ONLY reason the dining plan worked in our favor this time is because we have a split stay. we had booked 4 nights room only through Priceline for a crazy discount, and then added 4 nights to the front of our trip under the DDP offer. We are using the dining credits to try a few things we wouldn't have normally paid for but I know my kids will enjoy, and based on the per-meal cost estimates I've seen we'll come out slightly ahead. Then for the 2nd half of our trip we'll do groceries in the room and bring lunch into the parks like we usually do. If we had the DDP for the entire 9 days, it would be WAY more than we could ever eat.

 

[Mynamewastaken]

I will have to do the math- thanks for the tip We will be in Disney for 5 nights. 2 adults, 2 kids ages 10 and 12(Super picky eaters).

 

[siren0119]

I will have to do the math- thanks for the tip We will be in Disney for 5 nights. 2 adults, 2 kids ages 10 and 12(Super picky eaters).

Ugh I feel you on the picky eaters, my elder DS is the same way and was the reason we didn't use a dining plan on our 2017 trip. I had to look at the menus for every place we were thinking of eating just to make sure there was something he would eat, and we paid OOP for everything so he wouldn't be forced to order off the adult menu (he was 10 at the time so technically an adult ticket). This year he'll be 12 and his tastes are a LITTLE more diverse...but I still have to be careful and lean heavily on buffets so that I know he can just find something he likes and fill his plate with it LOL

 

[stace1214]

The dining plan only ever works out in our favor when we have several character meals and/or buffets planned. If not for those, we would for sure lose money. I don't have the exact web address, but if you google disney dining calculator you can pretty easily price out how much you'd spend without the plan and if it'll be worth it to use free dining.

 

[emmabelle]

Ugh I feel you on the picky eaters, my elder DS is the same way and was the reason we didn't use a dining plan on our 2017 trip. I had to look at the menus for every place we were thinking of eating just to make sure there was something he would eat, and we paid OOP for everything so he wouldn't be forced to order off the adult menu (he was 10 at the time so technically an adult ticket). This year he'll be 12 and his tastes are a LITTLE more diverse...but I still have to be careful and lean heavily on buffets so that I know he can just find something he likes and fill his plate with it LOL

I have a 26 year old like that! She pours over the menus and then we go where she wants to go because it's just easier that way. My husband and I can manage to find stuff anywhere we go.


For me to do three rooms at POFQ with free dining and 5 day park hoppers it would be $7272 for 5 nights with 2 adults per room.

With the bounceback room only discount, each room is $1020 x 3 = $3060 and 5 base tickets for 5 days is $2020, through UT. Our daughter has annual pass and we really don't need to hop since we've been to Disney a million times. I just know that we wouldn't spend that much in food.

Trying to decide if we should renew our AP's when they expire in May?

 

[Lewisc]

I will have to do the math- thanks for the tip We will be in Disney for 5 nights. 2 adults, 2 kids ages 10 and 12(Super picky eaters).

Math suggests $25 per person per night. Numbers make sense if were going to buy a souvenir rapid fill mug. Numbers make sense if the 2 adults get one adult beverage per day.

Otherwise do the math. 2 snacks are probably worth $9 -$10, you can probably get more "value" if you try. Two quick service meals are probably going to cost at least $15 for 2.

I'd probably stick with the "free" dining.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Very rough estimates to give you an idea. Menu prices can vary greatly.

QS meal (entrée + drink + tax) is about $15 for kids, $20 with alcohol
snacks: $5 each

2 adults * 2 Adult meals per day * 5 days = 20 adult meals = $400
2 kids * 2 adult meal prices per day * 5 days = 20 meals = $300
40 snacks = $200
Refillable mugs = $80

Value of quick service plan = $980

Take the free dining. It isn't nearly close enough to worry about checking menus and doing a detailed math analysis. Assuming, of course, you would use at least most of the meals/snacks.

Remember, the QS plan would cost you, OOP, $52.50 * 4 people *5 nights = $1050.

And, you can easily, on your check out day, use up any remaining snack credits on snacks to go.

 

[Mynamewastaken]

Thank you all for your valuable input. This board is the best!