QSDP, but want DDP for a few days. How?

[EMom]

We're at POP Dec. 10-21 on the QSDP and free dining. For the most part, we're fine with that, but DD10 would like a few character meals. Yes, we could pay OOP, but she eats like a 3 y.o., yet is charged adult prices. Economically, it makes more sense to upgrade to the regular DDP than to pay OOP. ($10 x 3 people =$30 per day)

But for the most part, we'll be happy with the QSDP. We've spend a total of 28 days at WDW and in that time have probably had 35 TS meals, so we've tried pretty much every restaurant we care to. I think we'll enjoy not having to make certain we're at a specific park because our ADRs are there and not having TS meals every day will allow us more park time.

What I'd really like is to upgrade to DDP for 3 days or so and use QSDP for the rest, but I know you can't just do that. I understand you can make TWO DIFFERENT reservations, one with the upgraded DDP and one with QSDP. I can do that, but I don't get how my 10 day park passes will work with two different reservations. Particularly if each differerent reservation requires us to have at least 2 day park tickets, which I think they will.

Can anyone explain how (and if) this would work?

Thanks!

 

[crashbb]

We're at POP Dec. 10-21 on the QSDP and free dining. For the most part, we're fine with that, but DD10 would like a few character meals. Yes, we could pay OOP, but she eats like a 3 y.o., yet is charged adult prices. Economically, it makes more sense to upgrade to the regular DDP than to pay OOP. ($10 x 3 people =$30 per day)

But for the most part, we'll be happy with the QSDP. We've spend a total of 28 days at WDW and in that time have probably had 35 TS meals, so we've tried pretty much every restaurant we care to. I think we'll enjoy not having to make certain we're at a specific park because our ADRs are there and not having TS meals every day will allow us more park time.

What I'd really like is to upgrade to DDP for 3 days or so and use QSDP for the rest, but I know you can't just do that. I understand you can make TWO DIFFERENT reservations, one with the upgraded DDP and one with QSDP. I can do that, but I don't get how my 10 day park passes will work with two different reservations. Particularly if each differerent reservation requires us to have at least 2 day park tickets, which I think they will.

Can anyone explain how (and if) this would work?

Thanks!

You have correctly identified the problem - you'd need to make two different reservations and each reservation would to have 2-day passes for everyone. You seem to travel to WDW with fair regularity, so you could save the extra 2-day passes for another trip. You'd just add days to your first package to cover the days of your second reservation (assuming that your entire trip is 10 park days or less - not sure if you were planning on park days for every day).

You could do the room discount and then pay for the dining plan for the second reservation - meaning that you'd only need 1-day passes for everyone.

 

[mickeynut1]

The only way to do what you're wanting to do with the DDP is to book two different reservations like you said, with having to purchase 2 sets of tickets. I'm not 100% positive, but I think you're right that the minimum ticket purchase is a 2 day base ticket in order to get free dining . If you choose to do 2 reservations, the way to do it is to get the 10 day tickets on the first ressie and the 2 day tickets on the second one.....that way you can save the 2 day passes for a future trip .

 

[amyr1]

We have the same issue--will be there for 10 nights and have free qsdp. Which is mostly fine but the kids will want a couple of character meals. For us to upgrade to the regular dining plan would cost us $30/day ($300/trip). The 3 character breakfasts we have planned will cost us close to $300. So I figured it up and for about $500 ($300 upgrade and $200 in tips) we'd have 10 ts meals.

I've made the reservations but haven't officially upgraded yet. Still going back and forth...

Amy

 

[EMom]

We have the same issue--will be there for 10 nights and have free qsdp. Which is mostly fine but the kids will want a couple of character meals. For us to upgrade to the regular dining plan would cost us $30/day ($300/trip). The 3 character breakfasts we have planned will cost us close to $300. So I figured it up and for about $500 ($300 upgrade and $200 in tips) we'd have 10 ts meals.

I've made the reservations but haven't officially upgraded yet. Still going back and forth...

Amy

That's us. We're there 11 nights (although we may drop it to 10) so that's 11 x $30 = $330. Then you have to add in tips to that $330. And really, the economics aren't all there is to it. DH truly doesn't want to do that many TS meals. I don't either. There is a "lost time" factor.

And even if we do some 2TS meals, that's still a lot of TS meals over 11 nights. Plus, when we go to the 2TS places, we always wind up paying OOP for DD so she can order off the children's menu as she eats like a preschooler. So then we have to add in THAT cost.

ACK! What to do? If they'd just let us upgrade SOME nights, I'd be in business!

 

[BrerMama]

Sounds like you'd be happiest just to do QSDP and pay out of pocket for your character meals. It may not be the least expensive option, but it sounds like it's the best solution.

 

[amyr1]

Yeah, it will be a lot of TS meals and a huge chunk of time lost to travel, waiting, eating, etc.

But as long as I use the TS to recoup my initial outlay of $300 then any extra TS I do will be bonus. I can probably get some fo the TS meals converted to CS so I won't lose out on anything.

Amy

 

[kdfogliano]

Yeah, it will be a lot of TS meals and a huge chunk of time lost to travel, waiting, eating, etc.

But as long as I use the TS to recoup my initial outlay of $300 then any extra TS I do will be bonus. I can probably get some fo the TS meals converted to CS so I won't lose out on anything.

Amy

this is what i was going to say,
if you can convert TS to CS you should def upgrade for the same cost. then you have the option of TS or more character meals!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

We too were facing that decision. After our last trip on the DDP (after a few) the kids begged for no more DDP and DH sort of agreed. They didn't like all the time it took and DH was overwhelmed by all the tips (normally we drink water but they were getting milkshakes at $6 each and desserts and all those added up to more tips.) Anyway, we decided to get the QSDP and just add a few meals. Well once we got it free (saved us $700 on our room and $400 on my grandparent's room and we had a room only discount before,) we decided to just splurge on the few meals we wanted to do. Yes we could have upgraded more less then the meals would have cost us, but then it would have cost more in time and tips, so we decided not to do it. We have 10 nights and didn't want 10 TS meals, we wanted like 3 so we are just paying OOP, having a meal but not all the extras and just not worrying about it (that's the plan anyway!)

Good luck with your decision. DH tells me to look at is as paying for an experience and not jsut a meal and that makes it easier to "swallow!"

 

[crashbb]

And even if we do some 2TS meals, that's still a lot of TS meals over 11 nights. Plus, when we go to the 2TS places, we always wind up paying OOP for DD so she can order off the children's menu as she eats like a preschooler. So then we have to add in THAT cost.

Unless you are at a buffet/family style restaurant, you daughter should be able to use her adult credit to order off of the chidren's menu. It isn't generally the best use of an adult credit, but it is better than having to pay OOP for her meal (given that you'd have no use for the "saved" credits).

 

[EMom]

Unless you are at a buffet/family style restaurant, you daughter should be able to use her adult credit to order off of the chidren's menu. It isn't generally the best use of an adult credit, but it is better than having to pay OOP for her meal (given that you'd have no use for the "saved" credits).

I could.....But there's just something about using 2 TS to pay for a kid's meal that cost about $10 OOP. And trust me, she won't eat half the kid's meal. She's a skinny minnie. Sometimes there's nothing she wants on the children's menu either. At Rose & Crown, for example, we paid OOP and got her a lovely adult salad (appetizer for an adult, main course for her) that had things like blue cheese, candied walnuts, bacon, cranberries, etc. She ate every morsel of that. It was about $7. It made more sense to pay OOP for something she'd enjoy eating. When she gets a children's meal, it's usually pasta with no sauce....plain old pasta. If it comes with a salad appetizer, she's in heaven.

We're in the same boat as a lot of people. I have a child who is almost 11 but eats like a bird. I am not arguing with Disney's categorizing her as an adult at 10. It's their company and their choice. I respect that. However, when it comes to paying OOP for a buffet of $21-nearly $30 for a child who will eat....at best....$2 worth of food, the frugal core of me balks. Seriously, if she was still 9 and we only had to pay $10 for DDP, it would be a miracle most days if she actually ate $10 worth of food.

I've talked to DH and he is balking at adding DDP. The thought of 33 TS credits makes him shudder. Besides, last time we had the DDP, we had something like 17 CS left over on our last day. Luckily, they let us trade them in for snacks and I came home with treats for every kid on our kid-crowded street. Boy, did they LOVE me!

I can pretty much count on being able to trade in leftover CS for snacks. But I don't know about trading in TS for anything.....I'd hate to count on that. If it wasn't against Disney's rules, I'd just use the extra TS and treat our friends (who now live in Orlando and will join us there) to a dinner with us one night. But it is against the rules, so that's out.

Oh....What to do?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I could.....But there's just something about using 2 TS to pay for a kid's meal that cost about $10 OOP. And trust me, she won't eat half the kid's meal. She's a skinny minnie. Sometimes there's nothing she wants on the children's menu either. At Rose & Crown, for example, we paid OOP and got her a lovely adult salad (appetizer for an adult, main course for her) that had things like blue cheese, candied walnuts, bacon, cranberries, etc. She ate every morsel of that. It was about $7. It made more sense to pay OOP for something she'd enjoy eating. When she gets a children's meal, it's usually pasta with no sauce....plain old pasta. If it comes with a salad appetizer, she's in heaven.

We're in the same boat as a lot of people. I have a child who is almost 11 but eats like a bird. I am not arguing with Disney's categorizing her as an adult at 10. It's their company and their choice. I respect that. However, when it comes to paying OOP for a buffet of $21-nearly $30 for a child who will eat....at best....$2 worth of food, the frugal core of me balks. Seriously, if she was still 9 and we only had to pay $10 for DDP, it would be a miracle most days if she actually ate $10 worth of food.

I've talked to DH and he is balking at adding DDP. The thought of 33 TS credits makes him shudder. Besides, last time we had the DDP, we had something like 17 CS left over on our last day. Luckily, they let us trade them in for snacks and I came home with treats for every kid on our kid-crowded street. Boy, did they LOVE me!

I can pretty much count on being able to trade in leftover CS for snacks. But I don't know about trading in TS for anything.....I'd hate to count on that. If it wasn't against Disney's rules, I'd just use the extra TS and treat our friends (who now live in Orlando and will join us there) to a dinner with us one night. But it is against the rules, so that's out.

Oh....What to do?

I'd just pay OOP for the few TS meals and consider her adult price worth it for the entertainment and character interaction and not worry about her eating a small meal there.

 

[EMom]

Yeah...If I worried about her small intake of food, I'd have nothing but gray hair. She's super healthy....Just a wiry, nothing-but-muscle little girl.

We're definitely paying OOP for SciFi because it's her favorite, even with no characters.

 

[JimmyV]

Haven't done the math, but have you considered getting APs for the family, and then booking two separate reservations, one on the QSDPand one on the Dx? That way, you take the price of the ticket out of the equation. Otherwise, I agree with others who say to stick with the QSDP and pay OOP for characher buffets. I find that they are not expensive enough to warrant upgrading. Barely more expensive than a movie ticket, a medium popcorn and a soda at today's prices. If you wanted to upgrade because you were thinking of going to California Grill, Flying Fish, Citricos, or some other signature dining location, it might make more sense to upgrade. But not for character buffies.

 

[havoc315]

That's us. We're there 11 nights (although we may drop it to 10) so that's 11 x $30 = $330. Then you have to add in tips to that $330. And really, the economics aren't all there is to it. DH truly doesn't want to do that many TS meals. I don't either. There is a "lost time" factor.

And even if we do some 2TS meals, that's still a lot of TS meals over 11 nights. Plus, when we go to the 2TS places, we always wind up paying OOP for DD so she can order off the children's menu as she eats like a preschooler. So then we have to add in THAT cost.

ACK! What to do? If they'd just let us upgrade SOME nights, I'd be in business!

I don't understand why you would have to pay OOP for DD. Even if she is on the "adult" plan, they should let her order off the children's menu. (It's more profit for them that way actually).

If you really dislike TS, and you really prefer grabbing CS and snacks, then the upgrade certainly is not the way to go for you.

On the other hand, 11 TS credits per person, is pretty easy to burn through in a 11 day trip. If you did CRT plus 2 signatures... that would burn through 6 credits in 3 days. Leaving you with just 5 TS credits to spread over your remaining 8 days.
But if you really have little use for TS meals, then it certainly is not worthwhile to upgrade.

 

[EMom]

I don't understand why you would have to pay OOP for DD. Even if she is on the "adult" plan, they should let her order off the children's menu. (It's more profit for them that way actually).

If you really dislike TS, and you really prefer grabbing CS and snacks, then the upgrade certainly is not the way to go for you.

On the other hand, 11 TS credits per person, is pretty easy to burn through in a 11 day trip. If you did CRT plus 2 signatures... that would burn through 6 credits in 3 days. Leaving you with just 5 TS credits to spread over your remaining 8 days.
But if you really have little use for TS meals, then it certainly is not worthwhile to upgrade.

Actually, we love the restaurants at WDW. And we often do the 2TS options. It's just that we've done "different" trips every time.

First was a week long trip with grandma when our DD was too little to ride most of the grownup rides. Grandma wasn't up for them either. But she was a foodie and crazed for characters as any child. So we rode lots of the tamer rides and ate TS every day, including lots of character meals.

Second trip, we were there 10 days and I called it the "great food trip." It was pretty much scheduled around our ADRs. We made a list of where we most wanted to dine and the plans went from there.

Third trip was 11 days, and DH refused to get a park hopper because he hated changing from park to park especially if it was just to make it to an ADR. So we stayed all day at one park and I planned ADRs around those plans. We tried some new places, along with a few old favs. But even with a 10 day park pass, DH wasn't thrilled with the amount of time ADRs cut into our day. You have to leave what you're doing to make it to the ADR, wait to be seated, dine, then let your food settle before you can do anything else. And if the ADR comes along and it just so happens you're not that hungry....too bad. He wanted more flexibility.

So we figured that in 35 (minimum) TS meals (because we paid OOP for DD occasionally and saved the TS credit, thereby having extra TS meals) we have dined at most of the places we want to dine. Sure, it would be nice to have a slow paced TS meal, but we'll be there Dec. 10-21 and near the end of that trip, things get packed. If all WDW offered was burgers, nuggets and pizza for CS, I'd go nuts. But they have some really nice TS options.

We had to make a choice of upgrading to DDP (which might mean less than 11-12 day trip) and having to schedule everything around the ADRs, knowing DH hates that......or sticking with QSDP and staying a loooooooong time, with "no food rules" to tie us down. Given that choice, we're going to try QSDP and see how it works for our family this time.

Now if there was some way to add in just a few days of DDP, I'd do it in a heartbeat......But there isn't. So since I have to choose.....We'll drop daily TS this time and pay OOP if we can't live without a TS meal here and there.

It's not the end of the world......It's still 12 days at WDW!

 

[bytheblood]

I'd just pay OOP for the few TS meals and consider her adult price worth it for the entertainment and character interaction and not worry about her eating a small meal there.