QSDP - is it worth buying?

[McFlea]

Hi all
The quick service plan just doesn't appear too cost effective to me - am I missing something? We're a family of 5, all Disney adults, and for this trip we want minimal table service. We have done both quick service (buy 4 days get 3 free) and regular dining ("free") in the past. This time we're planning a more spontaneous type trip for meals, rather than have an ADR every day. I was thinking of buying the quick service plan, but the more I look at it, the more I question it.
We currently have two ADR's planned, 'Ohana dinner (first time) and Garden Grill (kids request, they loved it last time). I don't think I'll be planning any others. When I calculate with the distripplanner, using "average QS" for all except 'Ohana and GG, BOG lunch, no refillable mugs and 2 snacks each per day, it comes out to $1,345. That is $125 less than the QSDP cost of $1,470 (7 nights). That's two table service, the rest quick service, and 2 snacks per day as opposed to one (we'll use one snack per day for breakfast). And I know we wouldn't have the refillable mugs, but we wouldn't miss them.
Is there something I'm forgetting to add? If I bought the QS plan, I'd still be paying OOP for the two table service, it just doesn't seem to make sense to buy it. What do the experts think?

 

[DIS_MERI]

I think most buy QSDP for convenience, rather than value. You have to work pretty hard to make it pay out, especially if you don't care about refillable mugs or have a longer trip.

 

[sharonabe]

You're probably right with the math. If you plan on doing a lot of meals at some of the higher priced QS, then you MIGHT come out a little ahead, but since you have two TS dinners planned, that means you would probably have to use a couple of your QS for breakfasts which would cut in to that value even more. Pay OOP and enjoy!

 

[McFlea]

Thanks for your replies! DH really likes the prepaid aspect of buying the plan, but we're going to go for OOP this time. Makes me a tiny bit nervous, but I really think we'll at least break even, with more flexibility. Also, I have Disney Visa rewards that will pay for one TS, so there's that.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It depends. Why might you want it? Do you like the idea of prepaying? Or do you think it might save you money? You'd have to be discerning about what you order (patronize the most expensive restaurants) in order to save any significant money on that plan. I usually can't recommend that anyone get this plan in order to save money.

 

[disney08]

Hi there...we just returned. We are 3 Disney adults and 2 kids. I have done the QSDP in the past and loved the feeling of not having to dip in my pocket for cash all day(ouch). So...last time I kept a tally of food costs and it was equal almost to the dollar of the cost of the plan. SO no savings, BUT luxury feeling of all inclusive and convenience.
What I will say is it felt like alot of food sometimes and probably more than I would have ordered normally. I love to eat and love to snack my way through the trip...splitting a sandwich at lunch for instance to be able to get a snack somewhere else a couple hours later.
So, what I decided to do was set aside the exact cost of the meal plan. I put that amount on a prepaid visa which I put down on the room.
We then used our magic bands to pay for all our food as if we had the meal plan.
Guess what...I ate EVERYTHING I wanted as did my kids...ice creams, popcorn, pretzels, meals at quick service as well as 3 sit down dinners.
I ended up coming home with a few hundred bucks left over!!!
It worked perfectly.

Just caluculate your DP per day cost for the group and then check your charges after say, day 2 to see if you are on track.

 

[nkereina]

I don't think QSDP, or any dining plan for that matter, is explicitly meant to be a savings. It's an option to give you the means of pre-paying for your food for budget purposes or that "all inclusive" type trip. We go with the dining plan for the convenience and are OK with the fact that we might spend a few extra bucks because of it. We chalk it up to the price of convenience. We also find that we're less inclined to worry about what we're ordering while on the plan. We don't hesitate to order that $45 steak on the plan, but we probably wouldn't if paying OOP.

Also keep in mind that on QSDP you're paying for a non-alcholic beverage and dessert as well. If the calculator you used only priced out the entrees at quick service locations, that could be part of the discrepancy.

 

[aidansmommy]

We do it so we don't have to worry and keep track of every dollar. Yes, we realize that we may spend more by the end of the trip, but it's worth it to me to not watch my husband sit on our balcony, subtracting every penny nightly. He worries enough the rest of the year-I love the freedom it gives him while he's in his "happy" place!

 

[HopperFan]

I did the QSDP for 12 days. I kept every receipt and I did a spreadsheet at the end.
- Broke even within a few dollars = no savings at all.
- I normally would not buy a mug.
- We normally do not buy desserts, we prefer fun snacks at other times. Especially since the QSDP desserts get very repetitive across property.
- We normally get glasses of ice water except locations with self fill stations for refills.
- Once you removed the desserts and drinks we wouldn't normally have bought, the QSDP was a financially in the red.
- By day 5 all I wanted was a sandwich or table service meal.

 

[nkereina]

I did the QSDP for 12 days. I kept every receipt and I did a spreadsheet at the end.
- Broke even within a few dollars = no savings at all.
- I normally would not buy a mug.
- We normally do not buy desserts, we prefer fun snacks at other times. Especially since the QSDP desserts get very repetitive across property.
- We normally get glasses of ice water except locations with self fill stations for refills.
- Once you removed the desserts and drinks we wouldn't normally have bought, the QSDP was a financially in the red.
- By day 5 all I wanted was a sandwich or table service meal.

Good analysis. But I don't know that Disney truly advertises the plan as a full on savings. They say it CAN save you up to a certain percentage in food costs, which is true IF you are ordering the highest priced entrees and IF you would order dessert and a soft drink anyway. I think the plan is meant to be more of a convenience, so this conclusion is to be expected IMO.

 

[HopperFan]

Good analysis. But I don't know that Disney truly advertises the plan as a full on savings. They say it CAN save you up to a certain percentage in food costs, which is true IF you are ordering the highest priced entrees and IF you would order dessert and a soft drink anyway. I think the plan is meant to be more of a convenience, so this conclusion is to be expected IMO.

Completely agree. I mean, what at Disney is truly on the norm for any kind of savings? It has it's own economic system there. My point is that I can save money by not using the Quick Service Dining Plan because even when I tried to max out the value of my meals, I was ordering items I would not normally order or eat. The OP's first question was "The quick service plan just doesn't appear too cost effective to me - am I missing something?" to which I was answering.

The addition of MB's has diminished the convenience of the QSDP. Whether I am using credits or attached credit card, they scan my MB, same exact process.

 

[nkereina]

The OP's first question was "The quick service plan just doesn't appear too cost effective to me - am I missing something?" to which I was answering.

Exactly, and you have a good answer indeed. OP, its a common misconception that the DDP is a cost savings. If you don't eat the way the DDP is designed, you have to decide if you're willing to pay a little more for the convenience of it. We are willing to pay the price of convenience, so it's worth it to us. Could we do better cost-wise paying OOP? Absolutely. Tough decisions!

 

[DisneySOS]

It all depends on your family. We have used the regular DDP in the past & found that it was a large amount of food and TS twice a day was time consuming. I looked into it this time around and found QSDP to fit the bill. We plan to only have QS breakfast all 3 days in the park, I was able to book BOG for our MK day, we like to pick in Epcot so this won't be an issue and the only TS they wanted was Sci Fi. DS is a slim 15 year old who eats me out of house and home, it's nice to know when he & DD are off on their own they will have plenty of snack credits available.
I'm not looking to save money when I go to Disney (I mean I cut corners where I can - Hello ASM) but I like the convenience factor. The refillable mugs weren't included in my decision making at all but I guess they will be nice to have.

 

[sharonabe]

It all depends on your family. We have used the regular DDP in the past & found that it was a large amount of food and TS twice a day was time consuming. I looked into it this time around and found QSDP to fit the bill. We plan to only have QS breakfast all 3 days in the park, I was able to book BOG for our MK day, we like to pick in Epcot so this won't be an issue and the only TS they wanted was Sci Fi. DS is a slim 15 year old who eats me out of house and home, it's nice to know when he & DD are off on their own they will have plenty of snack credits available.
I'm not looking to save money when I go to Disney (I mean I cut corners where I can - Hello ASM) but I like the convenience factor. The refillable mugs weren't included in my decision making at all but I guess they will be nice to have.

With the Magic Bands, the convenience factor can still be there if you can trust your kids to eat as you ask. If you're using the QSDP for 3 breakfasts, you're paying A LOT for that other convenience. You only get entree and drink (the dessert is forfeited) and entrees are very inexpensive (relatively speaking). You'll be losing at least $5 per person per breakfast meal. For the four of you for three meals, that's $60.

 

[DisneySOS]

Well that's what I was planning on doing, but since we only have 2 ADRs I have the flexibility to change this! I have to do more research but I supposed we can pay OOP for breakfast and use them elsewhere.
The cost of QSDP was $42 pp and looking at prices it seemed to be cost effective for us.
At least it's an option, it isn't something Disney is forcing anyone to do, so if it works for some great, if others don't want it that's fine too. I'm certainly open to suggestions on using it though. Thank you!