QSDP Breakdown and Review

[JayDubs]

Hey, Everyone!! I scored a deal on Orbitz for FREE DINING for a last minute solo trip that I took August 16-19 (3 nights). This was my first time using the dining plan, so I wanted to do a breakdown to see if it was "worth it." Since this was a free dining offer AND I was able to apply a 15% orbitz code to my reservation, this was certainly "worth it" for me. What I found, though, is what many others have said before: I went out of my way to try and get a "good deal" for my credits and that affected what I chose to enjoy. Perhaps I would have bought popcorn had I not been on the dining plan, but I knew that popcorn was not a good use of a $5 snack credit, so I didn't get it. I was still pleased with all of my dining and snack choices, but being on the dining plan made me feel less free in making my decisions when it is supposed to do just the opposite and take that stress away. That being said, I think I did an excellent job of maximizing the value of credits on the quick service plan, so I hope you'll find the breakdown below helpful in planning your own dining on the plan.

If I had purchased the QSDP on my own, it would have cost me $144.57 including tax for 3 nights. Based on the meals and snacks I chose (below), I spent $185.24 including tax, for a total savings of $40.67. That's a decent savings (and really adds up with a family of four, or something like that) but you might be able to tell that I had to work for that a bit.

Please note, all the prices below are the menu prices that do NOT include tax.

Six Quick Service Credits - TOTAL: $123.48 (pre-tax)

Meal #1: Landscape of Flavors — 3 Snacks for $16.57

- Chicken Noodle Soup ($4.29)
- Cheesy Pesto Bread ($5.29)
- Smoothie Bowl ($6.99)​

I thought this was a great use of 3 snacks for a quickservice credit. I didn't really know what a smoothy bowl was and, tbh, it was kind of hard to eat in as shallow of a bowl as it was in. The soup and bread were DELICIOUS and this made a good size meal for lunch. The Cheesy Pesto Bread especially was excellent and very fresh.

Meal #2: Be our Guest — Breakfast for $24.00

- Pastries
- Feast a la Gaston
- Cold Beverage​

This was a GREAT value for a QS credit on the dining plan, but there is no way that the food you are served is worth this price. You are paying for the ambiance of the castle (which is great, but lunch is more appropriately priced) and, if you get a pre-park open ressie, you are paying for no-line access to 7DMT and Peter Pan at rope drop. Because I got a PPO ride on 7DMT and was at the front of the line for Peter Pan when it opened, I can say that this was TOTALLY worth a dining plan credit. I wouldn't pay out of pocket for this breakfast though. The breakfast itself is probably worth about $5. So if 7DMT and Peter Pan without fastpasses is worth $19 for you, go for it. Otherwise, this is a Dining Plan Only reservation for me.

Meal #3: Be Our Guest — Lunch for $19.28

- Carved Turkey Sandwich ($15.99)
- French Fries
- Cold Beverage ($3.29)​

I am a fan of lunch at Be Our Guest. The carved turkey sandwich is always my go-to when I'm here. This is my 4th time at BoG for lunch and I have to say that the quality of the food was noticeably less this time. This used to be my favorite lunch spot for food in general. Now, I think it's about the same quality as any other quick service location...what you're paying for here is ambiance. And that's not nothing! I highly recommend eating in the Castle as the theming is absolutely amazing. Even with the decline in food quality, I would still eat here again if I could easily get an ADR.

Meal #4: Be Our Guest — 3 Snacks for $16.47

- French Onion Soup ($6.49)
- Master’s Cupcake ($4.99)
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake ($4.99)​

Because of my trip itinerary, travel plans, and a table service ADR during my trip, I was going to have a hard time using all 6 QS credits, so I used one for three snack credits at BOG in conjunction with Meal #3 above and turned my lunch into a 3-course meal with double dessert and pretended I was at a table service location! In my estimation, this was a good way to use the extra QS credits. I did run into some problems trying to use the QS for 3 snacks here. It sounds like people recently have had varying degrees of success with this at BoG. The cashier originally told me no, but then offered to call a manager and double check. When the manager came over he said the system doesn't really let them do that there...but then he somehow worked out a way to do it anyway. So I was very thankful for that. As I mentioned in the comments for Meal #3 above, the decline in food quality was noticeable in the soup and desserts as well. Even the grey stuff doesn't taste the same as it used to...it tastes less like cookies & cream now and more like sugar.

Meal #5: ABC Commissary — Dinner for $23.48

- Chimichurri Steak ($17.49)
- Green Beans
- Steak Fries
- Strawberry Lemonade Slushy ($5.99)​

This was my favorite QS meal of the trip! It is an excellent value for a QS credit, beat only by Flame Tree (below) by 20 cents. This, however, was even better than the Flame Tree meal (which I still liked very much). The steak here was very good for a quickservice steak. I'm not at a steak house, so I wasn't expecting that. I enjoyed the new fast-casual arrangement where they have you order, find a table, and then bring the food to your table. It provides a more relaxed and enjoyable dining experience. The green beans and steak fries as sides made this feel like a well-rounded meal (not just fast-food) and the portions made this a very filling meal. To my surprise, the cashier mentioned that I could get the specialty drink (with Mickey straw) as my drink here...so that made this an even better value! I heartily recommend this meal at ABC Commissary.

Meal #6: Flame Tree Barbecue — Dinner for $23.68
- Ribs, Chicken, Pulled Pork Sampler ($19.99)
- Broccoli
- Two Portions of Grapes
- Cold Beverage ($3.69)
This is well known as the best-value for your QS credit in WDW. The meat was good, but not excellent. My disappointment here was that, while it comes with three sides, I don't care for most of the sides offered there. Broccoli and two portions of grapes were not ideal accompaniments to the bbq meat. They were, fine, but I would have liked to have been able to sub in french fries or onion rings as a side. This is another one of those times where I would not have ordered this much food had I not been trying to maximize the value of my QS plan. I'm not disappointed with the choice, I just note that being on the dining plan skewed my decision making here. Flame Tree has always been one of my favorite QS locations on property. It still is, but I was just very surprised that my meal at ABC Commissary was better...

Six Snack Credits - TOTAL: $32.46 (pre-tax)

1. Mickey Premium Bar (Cart) $5.00
   • Everything tastes better when it's shaped like Mickey.
2. Mickey Premium Bar (Cart) $5.00
   • See above.
3. Dole Whip Float (Aloha Isle) $5.49
   • An iconic treat that is also, thankfully, a great use of a snack credit!
4. Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich (Plaza Ice Cream Parlor) $5.99
   • This thing is huge!! Great use of a snack credit!
5. Fruit & Cheese (Harambe Fruit Market) $5.69
   • Excellent portion and a healthy snack! Great use of a credit!
6. Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse (Satu’li Canteen) $5.29
   • This is one of those desserts that looks better than it tastes. Probably won't get it again.

Resort Refillable Mug - TOTAL: $17.99 (pre-tax)

1. Art of Animation Mug - $17.99

Hope you found some of that helpful!

-JayDubs

 

[vettegirl]

Thank you so much for the reviews! Sounds like you got a good deal.

 

[loves to dive]

Good honest review, looks like you had to work for it but did manage to save money. I like the fact that you said it was almost more stress to try to maximize your credits, we haven't done the dining plan in years and that is one of the reasons, it just seems like way too much food and way to much work for us..