Quick Service Dining Plan

[sharonabe]

I had no trouble in 2017 swapping drinks for desserts or sides. We don't generally drink our calories. Now that alcohol is included, my husband will probably partake, but I am hoping I can still get a side or dessert instead for 2018.

Please come back after your trip and start a new thread over in the Dining Plan sub-forum of how it went. Most reports are that you can't do it in the parks, can do it at SOME resorts, but some resorts are only allowing a bottled beverage and not a snack.

 

[Nick6300]

For a couple of years before they cut the desserts, you were able to substitute a side for a dessert with your meal.

So for example we got onion rings at Flame Tree, fried rice at YaknYeti and french onion soup at BOG instead of dessert. We could really stretch our meals. Taking out the "dessert" at two quick service meals and adding one snack does feel like a bit of a loss for us.

Sounds like you were able to really stretch your dollar. Those substitutes you mention are typically what I'd chose to buy when not on a plan. I'm a big eater, but the DP's seem like a lot of food even if not willing or didn't know to try to substitute drink/dessert for a side. We're going to be there for 8 nights in Aug. That's 16 snack credits each on top of the 2 meals per day. I typically see people throwing away a lot of food. Still, a place with boring/limited drinks, maybe we'll ask to swap our pop for a dessert and ice water and see what happens.

 

[hakepb]

I may have been missing out, but I thought that when desserts were included in the DDP for CS meals, they were small and not very great. Sure, there were exceptions where you could get a huge cupcake or something similar, but for the most part they were not overly impressive. Even with 1 less dessert, I'd rather take the snack credit and be able to get what I want and when I want it. At times, some of the snacks are enough for 2 people.

Before DDP, and in the 1st few years of the DDP, most QS places actually had desserts worth buying OOP. I recall milkshakes and warm, giant Toll House cookies...
Then they realized with DDP usage they could offer prepackaged junk
I wonder how long before the alcohol selections are dumbed-down like desserts?

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

my family and I would joke that the desserts were like "Little Debbie" snacks at most places. Sure, there were places that had a pretty good dessert with QS, but honestly I'd rather have an extra snack to go and get what I want/when I want it. We don't do DDP anymore anyhow, so it is a moot point. The cost of DDP keeps going one way while the value of the DDP goes the other. We are paying OOP from now on.

 

[Nick6300]

my family and I would joke that the desserts were like "Little Debbie" snacks at most places. Sure, there were places that had a pretty good dessert with QS, but honestly I'd rather have an extra snack to go and get what I want/when I want it. We don't do DDP anymore anyhow, so it is a moot point. The cost of DDP keeps going one way while the value of the DDP goes the other. We are paying OOP from now on.

Agree. For us too, the plans not worth it. We spent less than $200 for the 2 of us this past Dec. for 7 nights on food because we were off property, did some grocery shopping, but also had some cheap table service (Laundry's credits for Y&Y/Rainforest, apps only at Le Cellier). This trip's "free" dining package works out to $225+ per night for Sports. That's pretty steep for a Motel 6 equivalent lodging + QS food +2 day park tickets. We'd normally prefer the 20% off room only and not do the dining plan. Just decided to splurge this trip given we're likely not renewing our APs / not coming to WDW in 2019.

 

[Nakkira]

Thank you brertoad! I may be in the minority, but I would still prefer the desserts over the change to alcohol. I just don't want to be slowed down in any way.

Too bad they don't offer a choice either/or

 

[Nick6300]

Too bad they don't offer a choice either/or

we're going to try asking to swap drink for dessert or side at certain locations with bland drink options. If we ask very politely, paired with our anniversary buttons, you never know.