Question about regular dining plan vs quick service!

[Inn0c3nc3]

Forgive me if anyone has posted this, but since free dining came out there has been so many posts in here and I couldn't seem to find exactly what I was looking for. We went to Disney in September of 2006 with free dining. This was before QS dining was available, and we're definitely bigger on QS when vacationing than having to have every meal planned to the point of having reservations, which at that point for TS meals was a must. They let us trade in TS credits for QS meals, in fact they included something else when you did that, although I don't remember what exactly. Well, the last two times we've gone, since we're much more adapted to not being tied to reservations and planning like that, we got the QS plan...I know this plan isn't nearly as much of a saver as the regular plan can be, but it works for us and I liked not having to budget for food when budgeting for cash to take. ANYWAY, to get to my point, with free dining you only get QS at a value resort and we have no kids yet, so it'll just be and hubs and he refuses to stay at a value, he says they're more for families and prefers a moderate. So, question is this- will they let you use TS credits for QS meals still? I mean, you'd think so since they really win on that one considering the QS meals are much cheaper, but since they've started the QS plan I have no clue. Can someone please help me? Any updated information regarding this matter is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you!

 

[TDC Nala]

So, question is this- will they let you use TS credits for QS meals still?

the answer is "maybe."

For 2012 the first DDP brochure released said specifically that you could.
They later revised the brochure and took that language out. There's a possibility you might have more luck in the resorts than the parks, but you will need to ask at each counter service.
If you are allowed to do it, there will be no extras. It will be a one for one trade. Offering extras to encourage guests to use their TS for CS was discountinued some years ago.

 

[Inn0c3nc3]

Thank you!

I don't want the extras lol, I just remember having them, I think it was a lanyard and pin or something like that...? I don't remember. To be completely honest, with free dining I really don't care if it's just a QS for one TS credit, I just wish they gave you the option if you wanted free QS instead. They let you upgrade from free QS to regular at a value don't they? I wish I could downgrade lol....don't even want anything extra, just would rather have the QS dining!

 

[popcenturylover]

Thank you!

I don't want the extras lol, I just remember having them, I think it was a lanyard and pin or something like that...? I don't remember. To be completely honest, with free dining I really don't care if it's just a QS for one TS credit, I just wish they gave you the option if you wanted free QS instead. They let you upgrade from free QS to regular at a value don't they? I wish I could downgrade lol....don't even want anything extra, just would rather have the QS dining!

Yes, we're at a value and we just upgraded from QS for $180.00. We already had 3 TS' booked and would probably spend more than that so, it just made more sense to upgrade.

 

[jenlov]

Honestly, if it's just the two of you and you want QSDP anyway, it would probably be a better value for you to get a room only discount at the moderates and then pay OOP for your food. That way, you're able to eat wherever you want and stay where you want. By getting free DDP at a moderate rack room rate and then only using it for QSDP, you're not using the free dining offer to its potential. So, I'd suggest you run the figures on what a room only discount would save you and decided if you could do better by eating OOP. Not sure if it really is cheaper to go that way, but it's just a suggestion you might want to look into.

 

[Inn0c3nc3]

Thank you guys for the input!

Honestly, if it's just the two of you and you want QSDP anyway, it would probably be a better value for you to get a room only discount at the moderates and then pay OOP for your food. That way, you're able to eat wherever you want and stay where you want. By getting free DDP at a moderate rack room rate and then only using it for QSDP, you're not using the free dining offer to its potential. So, I'd suggest you run the figures on what a room only discount would save you and decided if you could do better by eating OOP. Not sure if it really is cheaper to go that way, but it's just a suggestion you might want to look into.

Yea, I definitely agree on that...the only reason I was considering the free dining offer was because that's currently the only offer they have available into late fall/early winter and I've really wanted to go in late November/early December this year....much bigger fan of the milder temperatures and I really wanted to be able to do all the Christmas stuff. But I priced several different rooms with just the room only discount for mid-September and then priced without the discount just to see what we'd save. I think the room only discount they're currently offering until the end of September is usually available at the time I wanna go though, and I *think* most of the room prices are the same then? (The way they do rate seasons now still somewhat confuses me, I miss the simple value, peak, holiday, etc, now they're so complicated it seems and they get more expensive on weekends..) I'm just antsy to price stuff and didn't really wanna actually book without being sure to have some kind of discount....lol

 

[jenlov]

There's talk of a room rate possibly being released. Maybe check those threads to see if you can find some dates for those. In the meantime, I would book the package w/ the free dining. Then, if a room rate does become available, just have them switch your discount over to the room rate instead of the free dining. I want to say that the moderates are usually 20% discount? maybe even 25% on some? Price out the room rate for the dates you want to go, then subtract 20% off the rate (each night and then add together and add tax, 12.5% on rooms, I think). if the difference is less than what you think you'll spend on dining, you might want to stick w/ the free dining, even if you end up using some of your TS credits for CS. If the room discount is greater than what you think you'll spend eating for that week, I'd stick w/ the room discount when/if it becomes available. We have 7 kids, so w/ 9 of us, there's no way in heck we could ever get a room discount for 2 rooms at a value resort big enough to warrant going that route vs free food for 9 people. It's a no brainer for us. We're going in Dec also, and we're really looking forward to being there around the holidays! So excited!!

 

[jenlov]

Ok, I just saw another thread and some are hoping/kind of expecting that a room only discount will be announced in August. Keep an eye on the Discount Code section of this forum. That's where most are talked about.

 

[Inn0c3nc3]

I will keep my eyes open and subscribe to some threads.


Thank you for the input, I appreciate it!