To cancel or not to cancel?

[NewsiesGoil]

Hi all, my brother is no help so I'm going to ask you guys. We're doing the QS plan this year but I wanted a couple of sit down meals so I got Crystal Palace for our first full day and Chefs de France for lunch on another day. But lately I've been thinking that the out of pocket cost is just not worth it. What do you y'all think, would it be a better idea to stop at the bakery in the morning at MK and grab some snacks for lunch at Epcot? My bro has never been so he has no opinion one way or the other. Thanks for any input!

 

[KungFoomF]

"Worth it" is pretty subjective. Tough to say. For us, if we didn't get the free dining plan every time we'd probably only eat at 1 or 2 sit-downs, if that. It is so expensive and the food at most Disney restaurants is not memorable. For the most part you are paying for the convenience and the experience. Crystal Palace, for example, would cost my family over $100 for breakfast. Is that worth it? On first blush, NO! However, here is what you get:

1. All you can eat
2. Characters
3. Early entry into the park for pictures on main street and rope drop back at Fantasy Land.

For us - that makes it worth it. But that's just us. And certainly not all Disney restaurants offer the same level of "experience". Your example of Le Chefs is one that I wouldn't pay OOP for.

Again, everyone's finances are different and everyone has their own feelings of what makes something worth it.

 

[sharonabe]

As PP said, you're really the only one who can decide if it is worth it to you.

From a purely monetary view, you're not paying for any other meals. If Disney had not offered "free" dining, would you still have gone and paid for your meals OOP? If so, then take that money and enjoy yourself!

 

[winterman]

We are going to be on the QSDP for the first time (we have had regular DDP several times). We will be at POP for 9 nights and have booked 3 ADRs. I just can't imagine going to WDW and not eating at a few of their TS restaraunts. On the other hand, we did not upgrade our dining plan because I did not want 9 days of eating within the restrictions of the DDP.

 

[NewsiesGoil]

We are going to be on the QSDP for the first time (we have had regular DDP several times). We will be at POP for 9 nights and have booked 3 ADRs. I just can't imagine going to WDW and not eating at a few of their TS restaraunts. On the other hand, we did not upgrade our dining plan because I did not want 9 days of eating within the restrictions of the DDP.

That was my reason too! I really love Crystal Palace, but at about $70-75 OOP it's making me a little . OTOH, early entry into the park is really fab, and I'd like a picture with Pooh that doesn't look like he's staring at my chest!

 

[VAN]

Agree with others that it is subjective as to whether or not the expense is "worth it."

If it were me, I'd take advantage of some of the more unusual CS places (at Epcot there are several in the World Showcase area) and then would do just ONE sit down ... I'd make it a dinner show - my favorite, Hoop-de-doo Review. For the price you get a show, all you can eat ribs/chicken/dessert/etc, all you can drink soft drinks/beer/wine, and gratuity. So you know up-front what the cost will be. It is a great Disney show and will be a super experience.

That's my 2 cents worth. I would assume if you had lots of money you would have upgraded to the regular DP. So I would recommend just this one OOP dining experience.

Make sure you go to DTD Wolfgang Puck Express. It is considered a CS/QS but they actually bring your food to your table. Super meals and a good use of a CS credit!!