Value vs Mod and Free Dining

[duffdo]

Anyway, I was trying to run some numbers for a cheap trip in 2015 and have hit a bit of a dilemma. (I have been using 2014 prices as a base line!)

I want to go for 14 nights in October (preferably over Halloween!) There are 2 adults travelling. Looking at the hotel/ticket packages the difference between a value and a mod with free QSDP is around £700. How much would you spend on 14 nights eating only CS meals? I reckon £700 is a bit much, although take into account a couple of TS meals (which would not be included,) and I am easily over that amount.


I really don't know what to do for the best. I have stayed in Sports and POR and am staying in SSR this year, so don't really mind which hotel, I just want the trip to be as cheap as possible! (Staying off site isn't an option for me, although flying into Sanford or indirect is. What would you do? Value or Mod with free dine??

Cheers

 

[Minniesgal]

If you are eating all your meals QS and are two people you will very easily spend 700 in 14 days, mind you eating QS for 14 days would probably drive you nuts. It might be better to just go with the value room and buy the food you really want. We even go offsite to eat when we get sick of disney food and have done it without a car by getting the bus to DTD and walking along hotel Plaza Boulevard to the Crossroads. We also do breakfast in our room and snack lunches as well on occasion.

 

[scoobydooby]

If you really want to keep costs down go QS otherwise you've got 14 table service meals tips to pay.

 

[Samaya]

Anyway, I was trying to run some numbers for a cheap trip in 2015 and have hit a bit of a dilemma. (I have been using 2014 prices as a base line!)

I want to go for 14 nights in October (preferably over Halloween!) There are 2 adults travelling. Looking at the hotel/ticket packages the difference between a value and a mod with free QSDP is around £700. How much would you spend on 14 nights eating only CS meals? I reckon £700 is a bit much, although take into account a couple of TS meals (which would not be included,) and I am easily over that amount.


I really don't know what to do for the best. I have stayed in Sports and POR and am staying in SSR this year, so don't really mind which hotel, I just want the trip to be as cheap as possible! (Staying off site isn't an option for me, although flying into Sanford or indirect is. What would you do? Value or Mod with free dine??

Cheers

Paying an extra £700 works out at £25 each per day for food, so at $1.50 that's about $37.50 each.

So could you eat for less by paying for your own meals both on-site and off?

If we were trying to keep it as cheap as possible, then we would first look to fly into MCO so to use the Magical Express and stay at the Caribbean Beach with free QS dinning.

And if we wanted to venture off-site then we would rent a car for a day from Alamo's Car Care centre.

So we would rather stay in Mod than a Value if the end price (including food) works out to be similar.

Check out the menus and prices at the Caribbean's Beach Market Street Food Court to work out how much you might pay for a days meals at http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?restaurant.id=63

And there's also a some good info, calculations and comparisons at http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-dining-plan.htm#QuickService

 

[Sencybil]

I think it depends on how big your appetites are. If you'll definitely eat 2 full QS meals per day each then I'd go Mod with dining. Would also mean you have more certainty in what spending money you need to take as meals are covered in advance.

If you could get by with sharing a meal sometimes, aren't that keen on the desserts, want to do a few TS, and maybe get a grocery delivery to cover breakfast and snacks, then Value would probably be slightly cheaper, and gives you more flexibility.

I think Disney are very clever wih their pricing - there's no clear winner!

Sencybil xx

 

[MrRomance]

As one of the PPs pointed out, you need to do the maths and consider your circumstances.

This is just my take, so take it for what it is worth to you...

I HATED the Quick Service Plan and wouldn't use it again. We are not fast food eaters and for us, it was a huge chore. Hence, we always stay at SSR to get the full plan now and I wouldn't recommend the QSDP lightly!!!

But doing the Maths...

£700 is around $1050 (if the dollar sticks at $1.50)

Your resort mug is around $16 each
Your snacks are around $4 each per person per day
Just those two things bring you to $144

The reason I start by deducting those is that everyone needs to drink and everyone loves a Disney snack!

So that leaves you at $906 or $453 each. That's $32 per person per day for meals. Now, your quick service meal will probably run you $10-15 each, plus a drink, another $3-4. That's $13-19 per meal. So it's a very close run thing. Yes, you get a dessert on the plan but if you are unlikely to eat it or buy it if you paid OOP, then it's a moot point.

If you're happy eating 2 weeks of quick service, I'd say that on balance, the dining plan wins (JUST ABOUT). However, if you are likely to be eating at least a few table service meals anyway, then the balance swings the other way.

Personally, I couldn't suffer another 2 weeks of quick service and I'd have to break it up with some "real food" so I would go with booking a value and pay OOP for meals. However, everyone is different (there are people who only ever eat quick service!) so it's really going to come down to your tastes.

 

[duffdo]

Thanks guys for all of your views


I really don't think I could stand 14 days of CS meals if I'm honest. I would have to go hunting around for the better/healthier CS options! I suppose going off site for meals of an evening would be an option. I just have a problem leaving the "Disney Magic!" When $$$ is an issue though, I guess I will have to.

I love the idea of staying in another mod on a "cheap" trip. I do agree that Disney are very very clever with their pricing structure, making the choice between the two very difficult. I think I will be keeping an eye on the prices

 

[queendisney]

Personally If I was to try and do it as cheap as possible on resort then I would go for the Value resort and pay oop for food as we just don't eat the amt of food that comes with the QSDP. If it was offered free at the mods then I would go for that as I prefer the hotels.

However, everyone is different (there are people who only ever eat quick service!) so it's really going to come down to your tastes.

Lordy...how could we! How dreadful! What in the world would make us just do that!

We would NEVER upgrade from the qsdp as this suits our style of vacationing and there is loads of choice other then burgers/fries. You can find loads of healthy options and different choices it really does not need lots of forward planning.. It certainly does not drive us crazy for two weeks or even 3 weeks. We just do not like to plan our day around the meals that we have had to book 6 months in advance. We go for the parks and eat when we get hungry where ever we happen to be. But However, everyone is different (there are people who only ever eat on the next dining plan up from the QSDP!)

 

[scoobydooby]

I think by the time you've paid for a car for 14 days to eat off site, you might as well just pay for a few TS meals instead?

 

[MrRomance]

Personally If I was to try and do it as cheap as possible on resort then I would go for the Value resort and pay oop for food as we just don't eat the amt of food that comes with the QSDP. If it was offered free at the mods then I would go for that as I prefer the hotels.



Lordy...how could we! How dreadful! What in the world would make us just do that!

We would NEVER upgrade from the qsdp as this suits our style of vacationing and there is loads of choice other then burgers/fries. You can find loads of healthy options and different choices it really does not need lots of forward planning.. It certainly does not drive us crazy for two weeks or even 3 weeks. We just do not like to plan our day around the meals that we have had to book 6 months in advance. We go for the parks and eat when we get hungry where ever we happen to be. But However, everyone is different (there are people who only ever eat on the next dining plan up from the QSDP!)

There really is no need to be respond to my comments in this manner. The OP themselves said they didn't think they wanted all quick service and I'm entitled to voice my opinion without this kind of nonsense. The bottom line is, you may be happy to eat quick usually heated up frozen food from paper plates with plastic knives and forks every meal every day and that's fine if it suits you and your family. However, we and many other people do not want to eat that way. We don't eat frozen, throw in the oven foods at home and I don't want to eat it on holiday. That's simply a matter of personal choice. I'm sure the OP can make up their own minds on what will suit them best.

 

[duffdo]

There really is no need to be respond to my comments in this manner. The OP themselves said they didn't think they wanted all quick service and I'm entitled to voice my opinion without this kind of nonsense. The bottom line is, you may be happy to eat quick usually heated up frozen food from paper plates with plastic knives and forks every meal every day and that's fine if it suits you and your family. However, we and many other people do not want to eat that way. We don't eat frozen, throw in the oven foods at home and I don't want to eat it on holiday. That's simply a matter of personal choice. I'm sure the OP can make up their own minds on what will suit them best.

It has been interesting looking at the responses on this thread. I don't think anybody means to have an element of denigration in their comments. Everybody is entitled to their opinion and when doing this in text form, things can lose their true meaning.

For the record however, I have stayed at a mod with upgraded DDP and it was the best thing I ever did. We ate lots of TS meals, which are always amazing. The problem we did have was with the CS meals. I just got fed up with them, (the plastic cutlery doesn't help!) I just don't think that I could stretch to this on my 2015 trip. I don't mind planning my trip around ADRs either.

Upon weighing up my options, I think a mod with free QSDP is going to be my best bet. I think I will try and cut my costs by looking at my flights!