Suggestions for the Perfect Disney Dining Plan

[disneygirl15]

I noticed on my last trip that Disney seems to be allowing less flexibility with the QDSP dining plan. For example - we found we were no longer allowed to use 1 Quick Service Meal credit to purchase 3 snacks. That change combined with the reduction in the number of snacks in the 2012 plan has got me wondering if the Quick Service Dining Plan is still a good fit for our family. We seemed to have more meals and fewer snacks than we needed. We also didn't need a dessert with every meal but a second drink would have gone a long way on warm days. What I wish (and I understand I am just wishing) is that Disney would drop the desserts from the quick service meal plan and add more snacks. That would allow people who want dessert to use snack credits to purchase it and others the flexibility to use the extra snack credits toward a beverage or mid afternoon snack in the park. That's just my two cents though. Does anybody else have suggestions to make the perfect dining plan for your family?

 

[TDC Nala]

A lot of persons have stated they have been able to trade their dessert for a bottle of water. If they will still do that, it might be more up your alley, although not as good a value as a dessert.

 

[Bete]

then you have to figure it out for yourself. Take into consideration your OOP costs to get the snacks you want.

It's getting harder to receive good value for any of the plans.

The dessert thing has bugged me from day one. Also, I'm not offended by tap water; we don't need bottled water.

We are opposite from you and we are not much on snacks; so, this not that appealing to us. I think I just don't like the idea of standing in another line for one.

If you are maximizing every meal and snack the plan is probably still a decent deal. I'm finding ourselves tired of doing the same Disney meals just so I can get better value from it. I have had the chicken and rib combo at Cosmic Rays every single trip just to get my bang for the bucks on the dining plan. I want to go somewhere else, but I feel compelled to do it over and over again.

We are breaking away from a dining plan; unless, it's a free dining promotion. Even then I will do some comparisons with staying off-site, now. I'm at the point I 'm not even finding value staying on Disney property right now. We don't take advantage of the extra hours and I feel that's the most important reason to stay on-site.

We're not going to the end of November; so, I have time to decide.

 

[summermac]

IMO it was almost perfect in 2009 when we went. The price was fair. Now that they've added the refillable mug to regular DDP and increased the price by a lot (compared to the 2009 price we paid) it is no longer a value for us. The refillable mug does NOTHING for my family really, especially since you can't refill it anywhere but your resort.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I do like the idea of doing away with dessert and adding a snack - if folks wanted the desert at the CS place they could just order it as a snack.

We like to eat OOP now - we'll get 2 CS meals between the 3 of us and later in the day get a dessert / snack/ sweet so the food is more spread out and for our family that works out better than eating a meal and dessert.

Back in 2007 when value resorts had the regular dining plan and it included the tip it was worth it. Last year getting the QS dining plan with 2 snacks worked out well for our group when we tried it. But now that QS is down to 1 snack / day / person we're not going to bother getting it at all (sometimes we would go in for the "free dining" promo).

 

[icc2515]

What I wish (and I understand I am just wishing) is that Disney would drop the desserts from the quick service meal plan and add more snacks. That would allow people who want dessert to use snack credits to purchase it and others the flexibility to use the extra snack credits toward a beverage or mid afternoon snack in the park. That's just my two cents though. Does anybody else have suggestions to make the perfect dining plan for your family?

I really like this suggestion.

 

[Que_Sarah_Sarah]

I would like a dining plan where not every TS restaurant was booked fully at 180 days I miss being spontaneous. We are not DDP users and would like to be able to decide to eat at a TS restaurant while we're in the park, or even the day before. Having to know my every step at 180 days is annoying.