To do the QS Plan or not??????

[Jeanine3kids]

I can't decide we will be down for 7 days and I have 3 adrs that I am paying out of pocket for but we really don't like making reservations on our vacations so we have decided to go with the qsp but I am wondering if it is just cheaper If we wing it??????? We are 2 adults and 2 children and 1 baby.

Any Suggestions
Please Help

 

[Tina G]

Other than your 3 sit-down meals, do you plan to eat at least 2 meals a day in the parks or resort? With the QS plan you will have 2 meals and 2 snacks per night per person so your family would have 12 adults meals, 12 child meals, and 24 snacks for the 7 day trip (I'm assuming 7 days/6 nights). For the kids it would definitely be a value since it's only $8.99 per day for them and the QS kids meals are usually $4.99 each plus the two snacks at about $2.50 each so you would be getting about $15 worth of food for $8.99 each day for the kids. That's a savings of $12 a day for the 2 kids times 6 is $72. For the adults it's a little trickier. A QS meal is usually about $12-15 if you get a full meal with dessert and beverage. So with the two snacks you would probably break even for the adults or maybe be a little ahead. It seems like if you use all your credits you would possibly save $75-100. If you don't get everything that comes with each meal or if you would normally split meals (adults or kids) then it's possible you might not use all your credits and then the value declines. Just based on the kids prices, it seems like it would be a good value if you plan to eat 2 meals a day in the parks/resort and if you plan to use all the meal AND snack credits.

 

[NorweJenNY]

If you've been to Disney before, think of the typical types of meals you'd get while you're there...

Do you like a lot of snacks? Do you always get fountain drinks, or do you prefer to just get water? Do you like having desserts (which might be cake, pie, yogurt, fruit, etc.) with most of your meals?

If you like all that, then yes, definitely! Get the QS dining plan!

However, it might be too much...

When we're not doing TS restaurants, my typical meals could be a $7 burger with a cup of water, a $7 omelette with a cup of water, and another meal or snack might be a $3 ice cream and a $4 funnel cake... Add all those up, and you get $21... not the $30 the plan costs.

On the other hand, it may be more worth while if you like eating a muffin or croissant for breakfast ($3); a sandwich ($8) with parfait ($3) and soda ($2) for lunch; and an order of ribs ($11) with cake ($3) and soda ($2) for dinner, and an order of chili cheese fries for a snack ($4)... a total of $36, which would otherwise be 2 snack credits and 2 CS credits for the day on the plan...

Really think about what you would order and look at menu prices to see if it's worth it to you.

With kids, also, you have to remember that 2 CS kids meals by themselves will pay for their plan... so it's like their snacks are free.

Also consider that you get the refillable mug for each person in the family, which I believe is about a $13 value now.

 

[Bete]

you have almost half your trip with table service meals, already; so, I think I would do the basic DP plus over the QS plan. Usually, most people don't eat more than two meals a day. If you do QS plan, you're up three meals before you even start with your OOP meals; so, you will either have to eat more or forgo some credits. To me it doesn't make sense.

Okay, I understand you may not want to be locked in everyday with an ADR, but from a financial perspective it makes more sense to have all your meals in a plan and not pay out of pocket except for appetizer or alcoholic drinks, etc. I would think a nice rest at a TS restaurant would rejuvenate everyone. You would incur more tip money doing 7 days of TS, but I think you would have better memories of the dining experience at Disney. For $13 you can get one resort mug that you can share. You can at TS exceed the price of the plan portion for it and be even more ahead using the plan. We have spent $60 real dollars for a day and only pay $40 with the plan. It really depends where you eat and what you pick out.

You can, although it's a hit on the basic DP plus, get a QS meal for a TS in some places (mostly your resort food courts). Sometimes it's not so bad to do it, if you order expensive QS.

If you are very light eaters, then it might be better to wing it.

I would look at the menus and do the math in your case.

 

[Jitzy]

We are doing the same thing! Our reservation is at the Poly CL. We have 3 OOP meals and have the QSDP on our reservation. I thought about making the change to the DDP, but I just don't want to make any reservations. I guess I'm lazy!

You have to do what's right for you. We'll have breakfast in the lounge and 2 CS meals per day. The days that we have the TS meals, we might have an extra meal left. BUT, we have 2 teenage boys. They can go eat my leftover CS if they want it!

 

[La2kw]

Usually, most people don't eat more than two meals a day. If you do QS plan, you're up three meals before you even start with your OOP meals; so, you will either have to eat more or forgo some credits. To me it doesn't make sense.

You must not have any teenage boys in your household!

 

[squirrel]

I would go with the regular DDP.

You are going during the hottest time and even though right now you don't want to be tied down with ADR's, you will enjoy having that break from the hot sun.

Not sure of your children's ages, but the character meals are a great way of meeting the character's without waiting in line to get pictures and autographs.

 

[Bete]

You must not have any teenage boys in your household!

but every household is different. We really don't know the OP's family scenario.

Also, this is 3 extra meals times however many are in their party doing it.

 

[palavra]

I've been wondering this too. If you do plan to eat in the parks for at least two meals, is the QS plan cheaper than paying OOP for all the meals? I am assuming it is or else it wouldn't be offered.

 

[Bete]

you eat cheaper items or you are a very light eater or you skip dessert and you drink the free water.

The QS plan is designed to give you the whole experience. If you cut corners any plan may not be as good.

 

[SuzieN]

I would definitely get some form of dining plan. We have friends who were in WDW over Easter and they couldn't believe how much they spent on food and wished they'd bought the QS plan so their meals were already paid for. Personally, I would never skip the dining plan, it makes our vacation nearly all-inclusive. Giving the fact that you already have some ADR's made I would book the regular dining plan. You can always call dining each morning to find out what is available at the park you're going to be in that day while you're there if you don't want to make more ADR's. Good luck with your decision!

 

[MelanieC]

you have almost half your trip with table service meals, already; so, I think I would do the basic DP plus over the QS plan. Usually, most people don't eat more than two meals a day. If you do QS plan, you're up three meals before you even start with your OOP meals; so, you will either have to eat more or forgo some credits. To me it doesn't make sense.

Okay, I understand you may not want to be locked in everyday with an ADR, but from a financial perspective it makes more sense to have all your meals in a plan and not pay out of pocket except for appetizer or alcoholic drinks, etc. I would think a nice rest at a TS restaurant would rejuvenate everyone. You would incur more tip money doing 7 days of TS, but I think you would have better memories of the dining experience at Disney. For $13 you can get one resort mug that you can share. You can at TS exceed the price of the plan portion for it and be even more ahead using the plan. We have spent $60 real dollars for a day and only pay $40 with the plan. It really depends where you eat and what you pick out.

You can, although it's a hit on the basic DP plus, get a QS meal for a TS in some places (mostly your resort food courts). Sometimes it's not so bad to do it, if you order expensive QS.

If you are very light eaters, then it might be better to wing it.

I would look at the menus and do the math in your case.

I agree here - It's only $10 more dollars PP adult for the DDP - This leaves you 3 more days you can choose a sit down restaurant - how about the Sci Fi for the kids or ???? Then you still have 6 sit down meals. This way your only paying $10 more per adult -less per child and those meals at the TS restaurants are not OOP. Depends on what they are though. If your doing T-Rex or any of the others not on the DDP it wouldn't work.

You could do some character meals too - Dinner at Crystal palace or even lunch is awesome, 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickeys can be fun, Cape May Clam Bake and Dinner at Boma is awesome.

 

[robinb]

I can't decide we will be down for 7 days and I have 3 adrs that I am paying out of pocket for but we really don't like making reservations on our vacations so we have decided to go with the qsp but I am wondering if it is just cheaper If we wing it??????? We are 2 adults and 2 children and 1 baby.

Any Suggestions
Please Help

With 3 kids under 10, you are really in the "sweet spot" for the regular dining plan. The price for the kids is outstanding, especially if you go to buffets. The regular DDP (2 A, 2 C) would cost you about $102 per day. The Quick Service DDP would cost you $78 per day. That's only $24 per day more to replace a CS with a TS for your whole family and you already have 3 TSs planned! Look at it this way ... would you spend more than $168 on your existing TSs? That is the difference between the QS DDP and the Regular DDP where those ADRs would be "paid for".

You would only have to come up with 4 more TS reservations. I know that you don't want to vacation around your TS meals ... maybe you could book one of the signature restaurants or one of the dinner shows.

 

[MQubed]

We decided to go with the QS plan (although I would have preferred some TS too) because although we have 2 teenage boys, my husband and one son are notoriously picky, and not really into character meals, so it seemed many of the coolest restaurants would be a waste.

I really appreciate the suggestions given so far, particularly to use the snacks!!
Thanks!

 

[veraletta]

We also decide to do the QS plan as we felt it would save up a little, not a lot.
We also have 3 adrs that we are going to pay out of pocket.
We feel that getting the refillable mug is a plus, and also 2 snacks a day.
We were just there in Nov, and we paid for every thing out of pocket.
We did get at least 2 snacks a day, plus my husband is a person who will eat a dessert. We spent a lot, so I thought what the heck, lets try the QS plan and see how that works out. It will be my daughter with this time, not my husband plus we will have three children with us, well 2 as you can't really can't count a 4 mos. old. I'm looking forward to not have to worry about how much we spent and also we will having every thing paid for.
Also We looked at the plan to make sure that the restaurants we like to eat at are on the list, every one of our favorite are on there, so here we go in July using the QS plan.

 

[geenerbell]

I could not do QS for 7 days. Is it really cheaper to do QS and pay OOP for the TS locations. Usually one TS per day pays for the BDP for the entire day.

 

[Bete]

I could not do QS for 7 days. Is it really cheaper to do QS and pay OOP for the TS locations. Usually one TS per day pays for the BDP for the entire day.

I can see one TS meal like for the Candlelight Processional package to get reserved seating and still doing QS, but once your trip has three TS meals I would think it's better on the pocketbook to do the basic DP plus. I certainly agree that my meal for TS covers a great portion of the cost for the DP plus comparing it with OOP. On the other hand, my hubby is a strict vegetarian and he doesn't make out, as well. I like the covenience of a plan, any plan. I can do well with a QS plan or a DP plus, etc.

I think this becomes a matter of choice and not necessarily economics. Everyone enjoys vacation differently; so, it boils down to what makes you happier.