Seven nights with DDP or 10 nights with QSDP?

[StuckInKS]

We have run the FD numbers and found that it is roughly $170 less to do 7 nights at Music with upgraded DDP than to do 10 nights with QSDP. No matter what we will do 10-day tickets, but we will use the $170 to move offsite for the remaining 3 nights if we choose 7 nights with DDP. Which would you choose?

 

[Lindaland]

Normally I would say the DDP because I love to sit and relax for a TS meal. However given the ages of you kids, they might prefer more of the QS options. Would you change hotels if you went with the QSDP?

 

[StuckInKS]

Normally I would say the DDP because I love to sit and relax for a TS meal. However given the ages of you kids, they might prefer more of the QS options. Would you change hotels if you went with the QSDP?

Our kids would actually prefer salmon or steak over chicken nuggets or a hamburger for some of their meals Because we are used to going when it is super hot outside, one thing I keep forgetting is that we are probably not going to desperately need the long A/C respite in November We would stay at the same resort either way (probably Music, but thinking about POP too) to keep the cost roughly the same. If we go QSDP then we are upgrading all of the kids to adult meals, but keeping them on kids meals for the DDP.

 

[Lindaland]

If they like TS meals, then I would go for the 7 day plan!!! Most kids seem to be picky eaters and usually don't enjoy TS meals. Luckily when my DD was young, she liked all kinds of foods!!

 

[GadgetTheInventor]

Moving to a new hotel after seven days can be exciting for the kids because of the new environment, but are you going to loose a day considering all the time it will take to pack-up, check-out, wait, check-in, and unpack?

Might you be able to keep the QSDP and not upgrade the kids? If your family is fairly flexible, the parents can order larger meals (since they all cost the same anyways) and give a portion to the older kids to supplement their kid's meal. You could then take the money saved from not having to upgrade the DP and pay OOP for several TS meals. Since you would be paying OOP, your two older kids could split an adult meal or you could all share an appetizer and adult meals. Scheduling a TS meal every day can consume a lot of time, especially with the long wait even if you have a reservation. This way you could still get in a few TS, but also have a relaxing time for the rides and pool. POP has a much wider selection FC and AoA is only a short walk with an even better FC than AS (pre-renovation at least). The money you save though by staying at AS could buy you another TS meal or two.

The past two trips, my family has had FD with the QSDP at the POP. We have found that the QSDP itself offers enough calories pp/pd, but we each save three meals for the trip home and then have a TS meal every other day or two. We are always splitting meals and it works with only having one picky eater because I am fairly flexible with eating what others don't want. I do quite a bit of menu research beforehand to take advantage of the CS places that do offer a bit of menu variation. No one in my family is a huge foodie though so it might not work for other families.

 

[sharonabe]

That $170 needs to not only cover the cost of the other hotel, but your MEALS for those extra days as well. I think I'd stay with the QSDP. You can find a lot of variety at the QS locations including salmon and not have to eat burgers and chicken for 10 days.

 

[momto2inKC]

Our kids would actually prefer salmon or steak over chicken nuggets or a hamburger for some of their meals Because we are used to going when it is super hot outside, one thing I keep forgetting is that we are probably not going to desperately need the long A/C respite in November We would stay at the same resort either way (probably Music, but thinking about POP too) to keep the cost roughly the same. If we go QSDP then we are upgrading all of the kids to adult meals, but keeping them on kids meals for the DDP.

You can actually get salmon(Columbia Harbor House in MK)and steak (American pavilion in Epcot)in the QSDP we prefer the QS plan, with a few table service added in over our 10 days.

 

[StuckInKS]

That $170 needs to not only cover the cost of the other hotel, but your MEALS for those extra days as well. I think I'd stay with the QSDP. You can find a lot of variety at the QS locations including salmon and not have to eat burgers and chicken for 10 days.

Thanks for the responses. A couple things:

1. We have done split stays before (in 2011 we did 3 nights Movies, 3 nights Sports and 2 nights Buena Vista Palace in DTD) and we did not find moving all that bad or time consuming.

2. We would have more than the $170 available, but it could be used towards the offsite/OOP eating costs. Even still, I will not be buying full-on meals at the parks if not on a dining plan. I just cannot see spending $85 (4 adult meals and 4 kids meals) on a QS when I can order pizza for $30 or $40. To keep the eating costs down, I figured I would take some frozen Uncrustables and yogurt that would thaw out by lunch and then we could go somewhere in DTD or Boardwalk (if we are in EP or HS) for dinner since the parks close early in November. I really hate carrying in food, but could do it for a day or two. I would also have a few Rainforest Cafe/T-Rex giftcards and maybe even a $25 or $50 credit on my Landry's Select card for AK or DTD.

Another thing I forgot was tips, which will probably take up all or more of the $170.

 

[StuckInKS]

You can actually get salmon(Columbia Harbor House in MK)and steak (American pavilion in Epcot)in the QSDP we prefer the QS plan, with a few table service added in over our 10 days.

Wow, the menus must have really changed since mid-2011. All I remember from the American pavilion is chicken nuggets and burgers Another though is we will be there during the last week of F&W. Can you use QS credits at the booths or just snack credits?

 

[wiigirl]

If they like TS meals, then I would go for the 7 day plan!!! Most kids seem to be picky eaters and usually don't enjoy TS meals. Luckily when my DD was young, she liked all kinds of foods!!

 

[momto2inKC]

Wow, the menus must have really changed since mid-2011. All I remember from the American pavilion is chicken nuggets and burgers Another though is we will be there during the last week of F&W. Can you use QS credits at the booths or just snack credits?

Our last trip was in 2011 and we were quite pleased with the variety of QS options. Another good place for table service quality meals is Wolfgang Puck Express. Allears has all the current menus, you might take a peek to help sway you one way or the other
The F&W booths only serve snack size portions.

 

[StuckInKS]

Just had a peek at the Liberty Inn menu and found this:

6 oz New York Strip Steak - with red wine butter, roasted potatoes, and steamed broccoli $10.69

That was definitely NOT on the menu last time I dined there. I would have ordered that in a heartbeat, but I remember eating fries because I did not want chicken nuggets or a hamburger. It might have been in 2010 and then in 2011 we just skipped it because of the horrible offerings the time before. I see that Disney has redone a lot of the CS menus since our last trip, interesting...

 

[jlk806]

Id definitely do the regular dining plan, Id never do the QS plan because I prefer the TS meal options.