QSDP or OOP?

[baloo's girl]

I am trying to decide if we should upgrade our room only ressie to the QSDP. We went to Disney last year in December, did the regular DDP and stayed at AKL. After we got home, we found out about the military deals and couldn't pass it up. So, we're going back in October. This trip has to be on the cheap, so we're staying at Pop. My family consists of 2 adults and a 7 year old and a 4 year old. Can anyone offer some suggestions or advice. Would I be best just to pay OOP? Or is the QSDP the way to go? Does it really save us money?

Another question I have is, if I don't get the QSDP, can I use my room key to pay for our meals (to charge to our credit card on file)?

I enjoyed the Regular DDP last year, but we don't want to be tied down to ADRs. Plus, when I did the math, it looks like the Regular DDP would be about $300.00 (including tips) more than the quick serve. I see that we can do the QSDP for about $78 a day. Can I eat cheaper than this on my own?

 

[marcyinPA]

I think it depends on how (and how much) you eat.

We were on the QSDP 2 weeks ago, and have used the basic DDP twice on previous trips. Our reasons for going with the QSDP were 1. we did not want to be tied down to ADR's, 2. we thought the DDP was too much food, 3. we actually enjoy a lot of the QS locations and wanted more opportunities to eat at them, and 4. I didn't want to dictate who could buy what for what cost. The QS plan let everyone get whatever they wanted to eat.

We did make 3 ADR's and paid for those using Disney Rewards. We ate dinners at Tony's and Whispering Canyon, and lunch at T Rex.

Our feelings on the QSDP were that we enjoyed it. But, it was still a lot of food. We are a family of 4, with a 10 year old DS and a 14 year old DS. My dh is a big eater. It was still too much food for us. We could have easily split more meals, and actually would have preferred to do so, but we had credits to use up. We were ordering food we really didn't want or need by the end of the trip. We left on a Saturday night. By Friday night, we had 6 CS credits left, and 20+ snack credits. We had ADR's for noon on Sat. at T Rex, so we didn't want to eat a big breakfast. We split 2 CS breakfast meals, but still had 4 credits and 20 snacks left!!! We were so full from lunch that we couldn't eat dinner before we left to use up those credits. I ended up buying 4 people their dinner at Roaring Fork before we left the WL. We used up the snack credits on stuff at Goofy's and rice krispy treats and we brought them home with us.

We decided that next time (if there is one....I think we're done with WDW for a few years) we'll budget in the amount of the dining plan to use on food, but we'll do our own thing. I think that way, we can eat the way we want to and not worry about leftover credits and whatnot.

I hope this helps you...

 

[enchantingodin]

I think it's a pretty good deal. Adult plan is 30 and kids are 9 per night. Which basically averages out to the cost of 2 CS meals a day. So it's like you are getting the snacks and mug for free.

When we go next year I plan to get this and pay for a character meal (or 2) OOP. I'd use my mug and a SC at the resorts for breakfast, and CS for lunch and dinner, then another snack somewhere along the way. Saving a few for goofys 'make your own'. Even still - it sounds like a lot of food. Considering each meal you also get dessert.

God luck deciding.

ETA:

Another question I have is, if I don't get the QSDP, can I use my room key to pay for our meals (to charge to our credit card on file)?

Yes of course you can. You can put anything onto your room key - they will give you a print out at check out to go over the charges too.

AND forgot to mention - many of the CS have 3 basic standards for kids. Chicken tenders, pizza, or mac and cheese. While some munchkins are fine eating that for a week (or however long), others get board. But there are other options out there if you do a little research like; salads, wraps, pasta, tacos, etc. Check out AllEars for menus.

 

[baloo's girl]

Thank you for your reply!