We Booked the QSDP but Having 2nd Thoughts

[scanne]

For the past two years we have done the DXDP. It's too much food.
This year we booked the QSDP. But we also booked HDDR, Boma and Fantasmic Lunch Package.

Now I'm thinking we may be better off upgrading to the DDP.

Thoughts? Opinions? Recommendations?

We are 4 adults and 2 kids. We've "been there, done that, going back" kind of people. We felt the DXDP was too rigid in terms of planning and we spend most of our time in restaurants. I'm just worried that with QSDP, we will crave some dinners that aren't a "fast food" rush....


So please share your thoughts.

Thank you!

 

[havoc315]

The plans are only cost effective if your eating habits happen to match 1 of the plans. If you are "in between," you will probably have a more enjoyable, and more cost effective trip, to skip the plans altogether.

For example.. If over 5 nights.. You want 2 TS breakfasts (which are not a value under the ddp), and you want Hoop De Doo (also a bad value under the ddp), and then you want 7 qs meals ---
Under any of the established plans, you would still have to pay for some meals OOP and/or waste credits.

Truthfully, under both the QSDP and the ddp (especially in 2012), the potential savings are so minimal, that if you want a bit of flexibility, just pay OOP.
Best case scenario --- you get the exact meals you want, and spend less than the meal plans.
Worst case scenario -- you get the exact meals you want, and spend an extra $5-10 per day.

 

[Overexcited]

Is the QSDP a free offer? I couldn't remember from the post. If so it would be worth it to me to upgrade and pay the $10.00 pp. I like having the piece of mind that we can eat in the places we want and it is covered.

 

[squirrel]

To upgrade to the DDP from the QSDP it will cost $11 per adult per night, there isn't a price change for the children.

You will need to consider a few things. The DDP does not include a refill mug. Will the DDP cover all of your food or will you have oop expenses, if so what will you need to purchase? How many nights are you going for?

Since you know what 3 TS meals you have already booked, you can add up the cost of those meals.

 

[Madonna3]

Eating more than 1 or 2 TS meals along with a QSDP makes the CS credits almost impossible to use. The first time I did the QSDP, I added 2 TS restaurants, which I paid OOP for. We did Teppan Edo and Beaches N Cream. By time we left, I was scrambling to burn about 6 or 7 CS credits and 18 snacks. I can't imagine your family being able to do 3 TS meals and still be able/want to use those CS credits.

If the cost isn't an issue (buying mugs if you want them, extra snack, tips) then I would switch or I'd drop at least 1 TS meal.

I don't know when you're going, but if it is before Sept. 30 I would drop the Fantasmic! lunch package as they've added Fantasmic! showings. Even if you're not going by then, I'd still drop it.

I would choose between Boma and HDDR and if it were me, I'd choose Boma.

 

[scanne]

Thanks for the replies so far.

We did not get free dining, but we do have a code for our room that saved us 40% on that portion of the trip.

HDDR is already paid for OOP. We booked and paid for that a while ago.

We decided to upgrade to the regular DDP. After much discussion, we decided that having one sit down meal a day is restful and relaxing. The thought of every meal being QS had us worried about a. everyone being able to decide where/what they wanted and b. finding tables which can be hectic at busy times and we always seem to be eating at busy times - that's just us.

We probably will buy mugs - at least the adults - so we can enjoy our coffee in the mornings and cold drinks at night.

As far as the Fantasmic package, we were planning on paying for that oop - but I'd like to know - is it covered on the DDP? If so, is it one or two credits?

I also booked Artist Point which will use two of our credits. We do like the signature restaurants, but last year when we did the DXDP, we had quite our fill of signature places, so we would only like to do 1 this year.

Also, the fact that summer pricing may be in effect at places like Boma and Crystal Palace - I felt that it was a good choice for us to upgrade to the DDP.

Please share your thoughts still, as I am interested in hearing what everyone has to say. Thank you!!!

 

[TDluvsDaisy]

Thanks for the replies so far.

We did not get free dining, but we do have a code for our room that saved us 40% on that portion of the trip.

HDDR is already paid for OOP. We booked and paid for that a while ago.

We decided to upgrade to the regular DDP. After much discussion, we decided that having one sit down meal a day is restful and relaxing. The thought of every meal being QS had us worried about a. everyone being able to decide where/what they wanted and b. finding tables which can be hectic at busy times and we always seem to be eating at busy times - that's just us.

We probably will buy mugs - at least the adults - so we can enjoy our coffee in the mornings and cold drinks at night.

As far as the Fantasmic package, we were planning on paying for that oop - but I'd like to know - is it covered on the DDP? If so, is it one or two credits?

I also booked Artist Point which will use two of our credits. We do like the signature restaurants, but last year when we did the DXDP, we had quite our fill of signature places, so we would only like to do 1 this year.

Also, the fact that summer pricing may be in effect at places like Boma and Crystal Palace - I felt that it was a good choice for us to upgrade to the DDP.

Please share your thoughts still, as I am interested in hearing what everyone has to say. Thank you!!!

For the Fantasmic package if you eat at Hollywood and Vine or Mama Melrose the package is 1 dining credit. Brown Derby is 2. I prefer Mama Melrose myself. Not to mention that you will get an appetizer regardless if you are regular or deluxe plan for Mama Melrose or Brown Derby. Book them quick as they do fill up.

 

[Goofy&Sleepy]

Just back a did qsdp...usually do ddp...LOVED qsdp. No scheduled meals made trip moreover relaxing. Did have car so jumped in it from BCV and went to DTD to WPEor Earl many nites. Probably overdid it on sweets but max snax with smoothies. We too say been there going back so didn't miss TS much. Doing ddp in fall xbut would do qsdp again if it wasn't dh bday...liked it that much.k

 

[moepanz]

We did the QS our last trip in Dec. (free dining) I figured we would try it. I have to say it was a our favorite trip to WDW to date. It was great not being a slave to the ADR. It was so freeing. Not having to rush, not having to tell the kids "sorry can't do that ride now we need to go to this restaurant" we had a blast not being on a schedule. IMHO the TS restaurants have not been that great last few trips. We did eat at Yak and Yeti (very good) one day we walked up and took us right in. Got seated by the window right at parade time. We laughed that even if we tried to plan that with an ADR it would have never have worked. LOL!!

We have gone QS and are not going back to the regular DDP any time soon.

Go and enjoy!!!!

 

[KELLY]

We did the QS our last trip in Dec. (free dining) I figured we would try it. I have to say it was a our favorite trip to WDW to date. It was great not being a slave to the ADR. It was so freeing. Not having to rush, not having to tell the kids "sorry can't do that ride now we need to go to this restaurant" we had a blast not being on a schedule. IMHO the TS restaurants have not been that great last few trips. We did eat at Yak and Yeti (very good) one day we walked up and took us right in. Got seated by the window right at parade time. We laughed that even if we tried to plan that with an ADR it would have never have worked. LOL!!

We have gone QS and are not going back to the regular DDP any time soon.

Go and enjoy!!!!

Same here. We are going back with the QSDP again this year. We have one adr for 10 days. We also plan to eat a early lunch at T-rex. I loved having the freedom. My girls never cared that we didn't do a bunch of character meals. We did one and they were fine. We met the character threw out the parks and since we weren't on a schedule we could get in line at anytime and not have to worry about when we needed to be somewhere. I don't see us doing the RDP anytime soon again.