QSDP + TiW?

[Mom-2-2Princesses]

I am admittedly a mathematical dunce, so I hope someone can help me out here. My family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids) are going to Disney in June. We were planning to get the DDP, but then I started thinking... I have a TiW card that will still be valid then. Assuming we eat 2 QS and 1 TS every day of our trip (6 nights), would it make more sense to get the QSDP and then use the TiW card for our TS meal? We eat primarily at the character meals/buffets for our TS, if that makes any difference. Has anyone tried this? How did it work out for you?

Thanks!

 

[vicki_c]

Seems to be logical thinking to me, but like all dining value questions, you really need to do the math and see if that makes more sense than buying the DDP based on your specific plans.

 

[Mikey'swife]

I see 2 variables. 1 is whether if you are more likely to skip a TS meal or a CS meal. Do you typically eat BLD at disney including ordering 4 meals each time.

The QSDP will cost you $94 per day or $564 for 6 days.

If you ate 6 character dinners at the most popular places you would be looking at $645 pretax based on current allears prices which may be lower since you may be going during peak time and prices will probably go up.

TIW would be $645 - $129discount + $33.54tax is $549.54 plus qsdp is $1114

The DDP would be $139.12 during June for the 4 of you or $834.72

The difference is $280 or $46 per CS Meal. This would be high since this meal would probably be breakfast and the average CS breakfast is about $8.50 or less and a drink would be $2.50 but would be optional since you would have the mugs. Kids meals are about $5 for breakfast so your total would average around $30.

I would say that if you want 6 TS meals that DDP is probably the better deal since QS meals are not a great deal at breakfast. You might be better going completely oop depending how big of eater you are but if you plan on that many TS meals it is doubtful the QSDP would save you that much.

2nd variable is whether you usually tip 18% or 15% since TIW will require 18% your savings would be slightly less if you normally tip at the lower percent.

 

[Mom-2-2Princesses]

THANKS! MikeysWife-- I did forget to factor in the refillable mugs. That makes a difference in the QS prices we would potentially be paying OOP. The kids eat a full breakfast each day, but DH and I are mostly coffee-and-a-banana for breakfast kind of people, so the QSDP isn't particularly a good value for us, especially with the refillable mugs. I think the regular DDP is the way to go for us. Thanks again for your help!

 

[havoc315]

I'll go the other way. If you already have the TIW card, you are probably best off skipping any dining plan.
The QSDP is a very poor value when used for breakfast. So you'd have trouble getting fair value out of using 2 QS's if 1 of them is for breakfast, per day.

So looking at Mickey's Wife's math --- Assuming you simply used your TIW card for the same meals as she calculated -- Your TS cost would be $549.54

The DDP covers 1 QS per night --- So now it really depends how you want to use those credits. If you use them for breakfast, you'll only get about $10 per value per adult, and about $6 value per child, per meal. That's only about $200 in QS value, even with tax.

So using the TIW and 1 breakfast QS OOP -- Total cost is -- $750
Versus $834 for the DDP. (According to Mikey's Wife, I didn't double check).

Assuming use used the QS credits for lunch, and got beverages and desserts with every meal -- then you are looking at about $16 in value per adult, and $5.50 per child, plus tax -- So looking at about $275 in value.

So if you maximize your QS a bit more -- Then $549 + $275 == About $825.
So closer to breaking even with the dining plan.

And of course, the nice thing about the TIW card, is it gives you a discount on everything at the covered restaurants -- alcohol, appetizers, etc. You get a cheap meal on the DDP, and your savings disappear. Get a cheap meal on the TIW, you still save 20%. Get an appetizer on the DDP, and you pay full price OOP. On the TIW, get a discount.