TS vs QS

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I have reservations for Tusker House and Ohana's breakfast and I think that I will keep them. They are cheaper and look fun. I am still looking for free dining but if it doesn't happen I will just do oop. Then we will consider Via Napoli (who doesn't love pizza?) and other things like that.

We have done both and enjoy both of them. You will knock out some characters with those meals, so you can spend less time waiting in the parks.

 

[mgsquared]

I just got a quote for ASM with free dining from a travel agent yesterday! For this Sept/Oct. Have you contacted a few Disney travel agents? Filled out a few quote requests? Some may have rooms blocked off...
The Disney travel agent is free to you and you can still do all your ADR's (or have her/him do them). In your shoes I would really contact a bunch and see what offers they can give you! Asking for a quote is free! (I'll PM you some agencies including the one that hosts these boards!)

I've read on here a lot about paying OOP vs dining plan (which we got free). Generally it seems the room only discounts are only better if you are staying in a deluxe. I have price compared a lot and I can't match the price my travel agent got and I also can't spin it in a way where paying OOP for meals is cheaper. This includes deals with flights and hotel from Europe (very very nice deals!). When I add tickets and food- it's a huge difference!
I looked at the menus and had serious sticker shock even for some of the CS (maybe because my mind isn't registering that it's dollars and not euros but it still seemed higher than when we were in Cali and NYC last year).

If your hubby is like mine- he won't have fun eating at these prices. There's no way my hubby would enjoy any TS (60+ dollars for breakfast would give him a heart attack) at the Disney prices. Even if we only eat QS.
I know that free dining is not technically free but it is the bigger discount to us- and we are vegetarians! Take out the desserts, eat only QS and eat a kind bar on the way out of the room for brekkie (we do that all the time on holiday)- it is still 10$ for a CS vegetarian meal and a cup of ice water. No snacks or treats and you're looking at 30-40$/day for the two of us at least. If I take some kids meals it is 210$ for the both of us to eat on the cheap for 7 days. This is assuming tax is included.

The pin code for the value for the room only barely took over 10-20% off so in the end when we add cheap food, we would be at the same price as with the DDP which includes much more including fun TS restaurants that we would otherwise not do.

So make sure you do all the math and contact some travel agents! I have been loving the menus for a lot of QS places (the ones in the Contemporary sound awesome) and I don't think the QS DDP would be bad at all!

p.s. is it all already figured out and you are staying at POR like in your ticker?

 

[StayCool]

I quit changing my ticket because I was tired of switching the resort name! Lol. I'm still currently booked at AOA suites.

 

[Eureka]

We have stayed at All Star Movies and Pop and liked them both. The food court at ASMo was better than Pop but we liked the way Pop was laid out and it was a bit closer to the parks.

 

[StayCool]

I'm thinking that for right now I will switch to a room only reservation just so I don't feel the pressure of the 45 days looming. I know that it sounds silly but it is messing with my head. lol I am really really hoping to get a room only discount when they renew the military discount (if they do!). Right now there is a discount at POR riverside so I think we are going to go that way. If I really want to I can add the dining plan after the 45 days I believe. But I'm leaning toward just paying oop and ordering some groceries for the room. I will get the kids some stuff they normally don't get at home. Plus I really think we won't eat as much during the day since it will be so warm.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I've been several times with my children and last trip they were 11 and 5. They complained about our ADR's. They would have rather been in the parks, riding rides, grabbing CS (they have their faves) instead of being tied to an ADR.

Next trip DD has requested CRT and DS Chef Mickey's. Those will be the only character meals. We get to meet the bulk of the characters they care about.

I'm thinking of doing other cheaper a la carte type places for lunch. Kona, LTT, Plaza, etc.

We eat breakfast in the room IF we eat. My kids and SO do not like to eat breakfast right when they wake up. They need to be up for a little while first.

We are going OOP for meals next trip. DDP doesn't work for us anymore since my DS is a Disney Adult and the way we like to eat at times.

 

[mamatobbg]

Last time we were there, I budgeted for a TS meal each day, but we usually CHOSE to do mostly CS/QS. We just wanted a quick meal and there are many many options. I'm not a big fan of being tied to ADRs, and my kids couldn't care less about a table service meal each day. They'd prefer quick. We are fine with that and happy to save money.

We've never done the DIning Plan, but this time we 're going to get the QS plan then pay OOP for two character meals. Planning Akershus dinner and Chef Mickey's breakfast. I'm thrilled and we think this will be a great option.

 

[kirstenb1]

We go every year, and it had been literally years since we did any TS. This year, I got off the wallet and we went to Rainforest Cafe. It was a 40 minute wait, crowded, and all I could think of was all the fun stuff we could be doing.

As you can see, I prefer to grab and go. I can do a leisurely meal the other 51 weeks of the year. At WDW, time is money!!

 

[StayCool]

I've been several times with my children and last trip they were 11 and 5. They complained about our ADR's. They would have rather been in the parks, riding rides, grabbing CS (they have their faves) instead of being tied to an ADR.

Next trip DD has requested CRT and DS Chef Mickey's. Those will be the only character meals. We get to meet the bulk of the characters they care about.

I'm thinking of doing other cheaper a la carte type places for lunch. Kona, LTT, Plaza, etc.

We eat breakfast in the room IF we eat. My kids and SO do not like to eat breakfast right when they wake up. They need to be up for a little while first.

We are going OOP for meals next trip. DDP doesn't work for us anymore since my DS is a Disney Adult and the way we like to eat at times.

The tough part is that I'm not sure what my kids will prefer. I kind of picture us as those tourists that wander around with our heads swiveling around. lol The kids are not big eaters usually and I am trying to eat better so that just leaves making the hubby happy.

Last time we were there, I budgeted for a TS meal each day, but we usually CHOSE to do mostly CS/QS. We just wanted a quick meal and there are many many options. I'm not a big fan of being tied to ADRs, and my kids couldn't care less about a table service meal each day. They'd prefer quick. We are fine with that and happy to save money.

We've never done the DIning Plan, but this time we 're going to get the QS plan then pay OOP for two character meals. Planning Akershus dinner and Chef Mickey's breakfast. I'm thrilled and we think this will be a great option.

I'm thinking that is kind of what I am thinking. I will keep some of the cheaper TS and then we can work out the rest. Plus we might prefer to have snacks than a full meal anyway.

We go every year, and it had been literally years since we did any TS. This year, I got off the wallet and we went to Rainforest Cafe. It was a 40 minute wait, crowded, and all I could think of was all the fun stuff we could be doing.

As you can see, I prefer to grab and go. I can do a leisurely meal the other 51 weeks of the year. At WDW, time is money!!

I can imagine how crazy the restaurants get. I'm kind of preparing myself to just go with the crowds since I'm just not a fan and normally avoid them.