Resort/Dining Plan dilemma

[desiree71081]

We are planning a trip to Disney in February 2018. We will have 2 adults and 3 children ages 4, 11 and 13. Our options for reasonably priced resorts that fit all 5 of us are Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans - Riverside. We could also do a value resort suite at All Star Music but that's quite a bit more. The problem I am coming across is that the moderate resort has the dining plan of 1 quick service and 1 table service. We plan on eating 1 maybe 2 table services and the rest will be quick service. I know you aren't able to downgrade to the quick service only dining plan at a moderate resort and I was told there was a possibility of trading the table service meals for quick service if I asked at the quick service restaurant but I don't want to leave it up to chance.

What would you do in this case?

 

[ErinsMommy]

You can always use table service credits for quick service, however you can't use quick service credits for table service.

 

[desiree71081]

You can always use table service credits for quick service, however you can't use quick service credits for table service.

Ok, Thanks. I read a lot of things saying it all depends on the quick service place you are at and it's at the managers disgression if they decide to let you do it.

 

[mickeygirl78]

When you book, you can book just the quick service dining plan. You do not have to book the regular dining plan (w/ 1 QS & 1 TS). When there is free dining, the moderates automatically get the regular dining plan. However, February they typically do not have free dining, so just make sure to only book what you want. If you want only QS, don't buy the regular dining plan or you will be losing a lot of money trading the TS in for QS.

 

[desiree71081]

When you book, you can book just the quick service dining plan. You do not have to book the regular dining plan (w/ 1 QS & 1 TS). When there is free dining, the moderates automatically get the regular dining plan. However, February they typically do not have free dining, so just make sure to only book what you want. If you want only QS, don't buy the regular dining plan or you will be losing a lot of money trading the TS in for QS.

So if you are booking a package that includes the dining, you have to take the dining that comes with that package but if I book the room and tickets only and then just do the dining separate I can chose the dining plan I want, correct?

 

[Lesverts]

No, a package in the Disney sense is when you booking room/tickets together. They aren't pre-packaged monoliths that you take or leave. You can adjust the length of ticket, ticket add-ons and Dining Plan choice. The only time a resort choice impacts your dining plan is when free dining is offered. So when you go on to Disney's website to book, you put in your dates and party information, select your hotel, select your room category, select your tickets and add-ons. At the bottom there is a button for add dining, where it will take you to the dining plan where you can select which plan you want.

I would strongly suggest not getting any dining plan. With 4 Disney adults there is little financial sense to having the quick-service dining plan.

 

[desiree71081]

No, a package in the Disney sense is when you booking room/tickets together. They aren't pre-packaged monoliths that you take or leave. You can adjust the length of ticket, ticket add-ons and Dining Plan choice. The only time a resort choice impacts your dining plan is when free dining is offered. So when you go on to Disney's website to book, you put in your dates and party information, select your hotel, select your room category, select your tickets and add-ons. At the bottom there is a button for add dining, where it will take you to the dining plan where you can select which plan you want.

I would strongly suggest not getting any dining plan. With 4 Disney adults there is little financial sense to having the quick-service dining plan.

By package I mean when they offer things like "Play, Stay and Dine". I would assume you must take the dining plan they offer for that resort if you chose this deal.

 

[Lesverts]

Don't count on discounts before they hatch.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

You are correct that, typically, when a package promo that includes dining (free dining and Stay, Play, Dine) is released, the mod resorts include the regular dining plan. That being said, typically when a package promo is released, a room-only discount is released as well. If you want the QS dining plan or no dining plan at all, the best thing to do is to price out ALL promos that have been released. In your case, you may be better off taking a room-only discount and adding on the QS plan or no plan at all. If you do room-only, you can also buy discount tickets through a third-party seller like UT and Parksavers. If you aren't going to get value out of a dining promo, there is typically no point in paying full price for your room and tickets in order to get that dining plan. We have never booked a dining package promo at WDW as the dining plans do not fit with how we eat, so it makes more financial sense for us to take the room-only discount. When the promos come out, just price them all and see which works best for you.

 

[desiree71081]

t.

I would strongly suggest not getting any dining plan. With 4 Disney adults there is little financial sense to having the quick-service dining plan.

We have priced it before and it comes out about the same paying out of pocket vs quick service plan. It's just less stress to get the plan and not have to worry about how much we are spending.

 

[desiree71081]

Don't count on discounts before they hatch.

I know there is a chance they won't have the same discounts in Feb 2018 as they have in Feb 2017 but I'm just looking at all options as if there were. It's all still up in the air since it's so far out. Basically all we can do for now is decide on the resort we want to stay at and book the room.

 

[Nancyg56]

We are planning a trip to Disney in February 2018. We will have 2 adults and 3 children ages 4, 11 and 13. Our options for reasonably priced resorts that fit all 5 of us are Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans - Riverside. We could also do a value resort suite at All Star Music but that's quite a bit more. The problem I am coming across is that the moderate resort has the dining plan of 1 quick service and 1 table service. We plan on eating 1 maybe 2 table services and the rest will be quick service. I know you aren't able to downgrade to the quick service only dining plan at a moderate resort and I was told there was a possibility of trading the table service meals for quick service if I asked at the quick service restaurant but I don't want to leave it up to chance.

What would you do in this case?

If I was planning, I would build a spreadsheet to crunch my numbers. IF there is a RO discount, look at that figure, and then add your planned CS and TS meals prices into the cost. Will you want snacks? Add that cost in as well. Factor tax and gratuities on the TS meals you plan, and tax on the CS meals. Be honest in what you think you will want to eat. You have 4 Disney adults who will be charged full cost if you book character meals and AYCTE meals, so factor the full cost if you have chosen any of those options.

Then look at the discount you have with the meal plan. Compare the discounted cost of the total package, and see which one will be the better discount for your family.

I have not looked at the discounts available so far, but I always compare them all and take the one that works best for us.

As to trading TS for CS, I am not sure that you can everywhere, but if this is what you plan to do, you might want to look at the RO discount to pay as you go on meals, and see how it shakes out.

 

[Nancyg56]

I know there is a chance they won't have the same discounts in Feb 2018 as they have in Feb 2017 but I'm just looking at all options as if there were. It's all still up in the air since it's so far out. Basically all we can do for now is decide on the resort we want to stay at and book the room.

If you are not going unless you can have a discount, then don't book a room. I would wait until the discounts are offered, and then book within the dates and resorts that are offered. You can do preplanning and costing now so you have an idea what you want if the discounts are there, but I would not suggest that you speculate and lock the room in before they are offered. You will need to rebook, so that room is gone and you book the new one. No more "applying" the discount.

 

[desiree71081]

If you are not going unless you can have a discount, then don't book a room. I would wait until the discounts are offered, and then book within the dates and resorts that are offered. You can do preplanning and costing now so you have an idea what you want if the discounts are there, but I would not suggest that you speculate and lock the room in before they are offered. You will need to rebook, so that room is gone and you book the new one. No more "applying" the discount.

We will definitely be going regardless of if there is a discount or not. I know the more people that book early, the less chance of a good discount is possible so I am going to wait a while to book. We are going during one of the less busy times so I don't feel like I need to book the room right now even though having it booked makes it even more real and more exciting for me.

 

[rwdavis2]

So if you are booking a package that includes the dining, you have to take the dining that comes with that package but if I book the room and tickets only and then just do the dining separate I can chose the dining plan I want, correct?

I would skip the dining plan altogether unless it's free or discounted. At full price it's not designed to save money except in very specific circumstances.

 

[mickeygirl78]

If it is stay play and dine, you would have to get the regular dining plan with your package according to the terms I just read online. Since that is a percentage off your package, I agree with the others that you would be better off to book a room discount and either pay out of pocket for meals or pay for the quick service dining plan. Don't pay for the regular dining plan if you won't use it. I'd agree with the others to do all the calculations (SPD w/ reg dining, room only discount w/ QS plan, room only discount with eating OOP).

If you are more comfortable having the dining plan then book it. I know a lot of people say it's not a good value, but my family always gets it (we go during free dining and I've crunched the numbers and it is a good deal for us). Do what is going to make you happy during your stay. You can trade a TS for either 1 QS or 3 snacks.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I would skip the dining plan altogether unless it's free or discounted. At full price it's not designed to save money except in very specific circumstances.

Agree. In most instances, the dining plan is a cash grab for Disney. I'm guessing most people don't use it to its full potential, or order more food than they would otherwise in order to "maximize value." Many people like the pre-paid aspect of it, even if it means losing a bunch of money.

We like to eat like you, OP - 1 or 2 table service and the rest quick service. We would lose a ton of money using the regular dining plan in this manner. I also order kid's meals at many QS places (and so does my husband). We used to do the dining plan, 10 years ago when it was a good value. As they've increased the price and decreased what's in the plan, it's no longer a good value for us. I encourage you to peruse the menus of the places you want to go, and figure out if the dining plan is really a good value for you.

Also, there's no such thing as a resort level coming with a dining plan unless there's some kind of promotion (like free dining, etc.). Anyone at any resort level can choose any dining plan.

 

[Nancyg56]

We will definitely be going regardless of if there is a discount or not. I know the more people that book early, the less chance of a good discount is possible so I am going to wait a while to book. We are going during one of the less busy times so I don't feel like I need to book the room right now even though having it booked makes it even more real and more exciting for me.

I book too if I am going and my dates are written in stone.

 

[Kellars]

We like quick service over table service but when forced to take the moderate dining plan we used up extra ts credits at breakfast buffets or late lunches at Epcot. Quick service credits also downgrade to snacks, great for taking Disney treats home.

 

[Lesverts]

We have priced it before and it comes out about the same paying out of pocket vs quick service plan. It's just less stress to get the plan and not have to worry about how much we are spending.

There is logic to that, I do the pre-pay as much as possible when I cruise. But with the dining plan, I think there is just a trade off between simplicity of not worrying about money and being restrained by the dining plan in how you are going to eat. But if it is what makes you happy and makes for a better trip for you, all the power to you.