Qsdp question

[shortkathleen]

When we have gone in the past we have always done the DDP and it was great!! We are considering trying the QSDP this time. So question 1: For those of you who have done both which did you like better and why?

We are also considering not doing the dining plan at all this time. My son will just have turned 10 and is tiny and not a big eater. I am questioning paying $31.99 or $41.99 per day for him to eat. So question 2: How much money do you budget to eat per day/ per person if not on the dining plan. We have 2 adults with regular appetites and 2 kids ages 10 and 7. One a big eater and one is not. If we do no dining plan we would probably do mainly counter service meals with maybe 1 or 2 table service restaurants. We are DVC members so we will be eating breakfast in our villa. Thanks for your help! Thanks for your input!!!!!

 

[sharonabe]

We have done both, and I have boys your same ages. Next trip, we will probably not do a dining plan at all.

The DDP is just more food than we want to eat and more time than we want to spend away from the rides and fun. Neither of my boys are in to characters, so we don't need to do the character meals.

The QSDP was a good fit, but like you, my older DH is a picky eater. We actually would order his bro's kids meal for him and let the younger one eat the adult meal, so that might work for you too.

I've looked at menus and meals extensively, and I still think we will either come out ahead or just about break even if we do our own a la carte dining next time. We don't normally eat desserts at every meal, and we are water drinkers more than soda drinkers, so when you take those out of the equation, we can eat for less at a CS without the plan. Even putting in two-three buffet TS meals, we will spend less.

When we had the QSDP, we used most of our snack credits for breakfast and still had plenty of snacks. Again, I can bring breakfast food from home for cheaper.

Go look at the menus and see how they fit your family and the way you want to eat while on vacation. Only you can decide if a dining plan is right for you.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

I think the quick is a nice option but that it's pretty much a break-even plan unless you reallly know how to max it out.

The average QS meal is about $13 with drink and dessert. 2 a day is about 26 plus the 2 snack credits. You obviously do better with value on the price of the child meal plan.

Some QS meals can be as much as $20 each and can really be worth the value. But that is ony if those menu items are things you enjoy and you actually make use of eating that much food.
Examples:
Cosmic Ray's at MK chicken and rib combo with dessert and drink is just over $20.
Tangeriene Cafe at Morocco lamb and chicken combo platter with dessert and drink is just about 20.
Starring rolls at DHS sandwich, dessert, and drink is 16.
Yak & Yeti QS at AK is 17 for the full meal.
And best of all (price and quality) is Wolfgang puck's express at DTD. Some meals with dessert and drink can come out to over 23.
Also Coronado Springs resort has the pepper market grill that has expensive entree choices and can be pricey.

So, if you pick the place (and options) at each park that maximize your value, you can really come out ahead. It just depends on if those food choices are what you would want.

If you would be more focused on burgers and hot dogs and maybe salads, you will do just as well without the plan even if you get the desserts.

 

[Poohbug]

I have done the regular dining plan and the quick service.

I really like the quick service for our family right now. With the kids, it is kind of a pain to have all the sit down meals. I don't like rushing to get to the restaurant on time and trying to figure out ADR's can be a pain.

The plan was worth the money and we came out ahead without trying at all. We can eat when and where we want. I am a snack lover so the extra snack was wonderful.

You can also use the credits any way you want. If your younger son wants an adult meal and your older son wants a kids meal-just switch them around. We still had plenty of food on the QS plan and only paid for our meal at T-Rex.

We tried out many QS restaurants for the first time. Some of our favorites were: Caseys, Flame Tree, Wolfgang Pucks, Sunshine seasons, La Kringla and Starring Rolls.

I would not hesitate to get the QSDP again.

 

[2Tiggies]

I am not convinced that the DDP would be the way to go for you from a cost effective point of view. I say this based on two statements you made:

1. You are eating breakfast in your room
2. You have a child who is going to pay adult price and is not likely to eat all the food.

Now as a PP said, if between your younger and older sons they will eat all the food allocated to the two of them with some switching/sharing, then this may be an option. When children hit that 10 year old mark if they are not big eaters it calls for some serious number crunching when deciding on whether or not to go with a dining plan.

Based on sorting out your own breakfast I would think that the regular plan may suit you better than the QSDP. For some reason the QSDP seems to give you a lot more food. It is a different style of eating completely, but in terms of quantity it is a lot, to put it mildly.

I really like the QSDP at the moment, but my DD is 8 so the cost isn't a big factor just yet. I also like to be doing things rather than sitting and eating and I do make some TS ADRs but don't want to be tied to restaurants on the DDP if I want to try something else.

Aside from cost, you also have to evaluate what is important to you. You said you prefer to be touring the parks rather than sitting in restaurants so that throws you another curve ball. However with the DDP you can work it cleverly and if you are happy with one sit down meal a day then this can be a refreshing break, especially if you are hot and tired.

I probably have you more confused now than when you first posted

 

[southcarolinagirl]

We have done both and we prefer QSDP, we enjoy the mugs and being able to eat whenever we are ready without having stop the fun for an ADR. We also like having two snacks each day & not paying tips.