Why would anyone purchase the QS dining plan??

[kaytieedid]

I'm sure this has been asked but I can't find the answer. We always used to get the QS dining plan and loved it. I think it was $31per adult and $12per child. It was worth it for 2 meals + 2 snacks + refillable mug. I can't for the life of me figure out how it's now worth it for an adult to spend $35/day for (2) quick service meals + 1 snack + refillable mug. They've raised the price several dollars and took away a snack. The most expensive counter service meal I can remember buying was around $12. Even if I got 2 of them every day it still doesn't come out to be worth it. Am I missing something??

 

[shannon006]

For DH and me, we are leaving tomorrow and getting the QSDP OOP. I definitely see your point, but let me show you our math for our specific trip.

We are staying 4 nights, and always get the mug when we are onsite. So we divided the mug between 4 nights, and that comes to 3.75 per night. Add a 4.00 snack, we are now at 7.75, subtract that, and we need to spend 13.63 per QS meal to break even. We love trying new places, and with getting desert at most places we will share and eat more often. There are several places that actually the meal is 13.00, plus the drink and desert. We also LOVE eating at Wolfgang Pucks at DTD. That meal alone would cost us 23.00 pp. So if you are looking at maybe getting chicken nuggets and fries, which I believe is the cheapest I, then the QSDP would not be good, but if you like b bcue, and Moroccan food, and even some of the other regular places have some more adventurous meals, then it can work to your advantage.

 

[dancin Disney style]

The price of the QSDP didn't change from last year...they only took away 1 snack. There has been many reports lately of the CS prices having gone way up ...looks like it's a January increase over last year.

With that in mind a CS entree will run you around $12 + drink $3 + dessert $4 X 2. Then add $4 for the snack. You've got $42 plus the refillable mug.

My numbers are most likely off a dollar or two but in general the QSDP is a break even situation. So you get it for convenience or for those like to prepay for everything.

 

[dancin Disney style]

For DH and me, we are leaving tomorrow and getting the QSDP OOP. I definitely see your point, but let me show you our math for our specific trip.

We are staying 4 nights, and always get the mug when we are onsite. So we divided the mug between 4 nights, and that comes to 3.75 per night. Add a 4.00 snack, we are now at 7.75, subtract that, and we need to spend 13.63 per QS meal to break even. We love trying new places, and with getting desert at most places we will share and eat more often. There are several places that actually the meal is 13.00, plus the drink and desert. We also LOVE eating at Wolfgang Pucks at DTD. That meal alone would cost us 23.00 pp. So if you are looking at maybe getting chicken nuggets and fries, which I believe is the cheapest I, then the QSDP would not be good, but if you like b bcue, and Moroccan food, and even some of the other regular places have some more adventurous meals, then it can work to your advantage.

Exactly right....we have seen our bill at WPE be over $90 for our family of 4. So yes, if you are interested in the alternate types of food than the burgers and fries the QSDP will save you money.

 

[havoc315]

At 90% of cs locations, 90% of the entrees are under $10.
And if you use cs credits for breakfast, then the entire meal is under $10.
Some people must have the mugs, other people find them worthless.

So while the qsdp will save some people a few dollars, tons of people will lose money on the plan.
Example of moderate use:
Cs credit for Tonga toast and coffee at Captain Cooks. Price, about $9.
Late lunch cs credit -- $9 light house sandwich at Columbia Harbor House. IF you want soda AND dessert, then the whole meal adds up to about $16.
$3 snack (mid priced snack)

So... In this moderate use of the plan, it's a $7 loss.

But if you were eating lots of meals at WPE, always getting dessert, never using breakfast credits, and love the mug-- then it can save you $2-4 per day.

 

[kaytieedid]

thanks!! I guess we'll have to check out the menus prices this year before we go. Did they raise the prices of the kids meals as well?

 

[dancin Disney style]

thanks!! I guess we'll have to check out the menus prices this year before we go. Did they raise the prices of the kids meals as well?

Don't know about the kids meals. The reports are of about a 12% increase.

While yes most CS places do have at least one option that is under $10 the vast majority of items are now combo meals that are over $10. So now factor in a price increase.

 

[sharonabe]

thanks!! I guess we'll have to check out the menus prices this year before we go. Did they raise the prices of the kids meals as well?

If you'll check out easywdw.com, he has actual pictures of most of the QS menus. He took these in Sept/Oct when the QS price increase took effect, so they should still be current. Look down the right hand side column for QS Dining menus.

In short, some of the entrees went up about $1; some stayed the same. Drinks went up to $2.59 and $2.89. Kids meals went from $4.99 to $5.49 (I believe there are a couple places where kids meals are $6.49).

 

[sharonabe]

Don't know about the kids meals. The reports are of about a 12% increase.

While yes most CS places do have at least one option that is under $10 the vast majority of items are now combo meals that are over $10. So now factor in a price increase.

I don't know where you got that. A quick look at allearsnet shows the following:

Cosmic Rays has 14 entrees under $10 and only 3 over $10
Columbia Harbour has 9 entrees under $10 and only 1 over $10
Pinnochio Village has 8 entrees under $10 and 0 over
Pecos has 7 under $10 and 0 over

In Epcot, you will find more over the $10 mark, but every QS also has just as many under the $10 if not more, except Tangeriene in Morocco which has long been known to be one of the best values on the QSDP. The new Mexico QS, La Cantina, is now another one that has most entrees over $10.

And that is why the QSDP can easily become a lose money situation.

 

[havoc315]

Yes, kids meals and soda saw significant price increases. Entrees and desserts did not see big increases, and the vast majority remain under $10.
For example, Columbia Harbor House offers 10 items. The most expensive is $10.19, the other 9 items are $9.99 or less.
At Pecos Bill, there are 7 offerings. All are under $10.
At Cosmic Rays, there are 15 items. There is the $14.19 combo platter. But of the remaining 14 items, the most expensive is $10.69. 12 items are under $10.

So out of 31 items -- 1 was over $11. And 27 of the items are under $10.

 

[havoc315]

I don't know where you got that. A quick look at allearsnet shows the following:

Cosmic Rays has 14 entrees under $10 and only 3 over $10
Columbia Harbour has 9 entrees under $10 and only 1 over $10
Pinnochio Village has 8 entrees under $10 and 0 over
Pecos has 7 under $10 and 0 over

In Epcot, you will find more over the $10 mark, but every QS also has just as many under the $10 if not more, except Tangeriene in Morocco which has long been known to be one of the best values on the QSDP. The new Mexico QS, La Cantina, is now another one that has most entrees over $10.

And that is why the QSDP can easily become a lose money situation.

Posted the same thing at the same time... Jinx.

 

[joshsmom]

I was just trying to figure out the same thing. We have done it all--we have gone to WDW with a loaf of bread and peanut butter so we didn't spend money on breakfast, took our own water bottles into the parks, took all our own snacks, and shared CS meals. We've also done the DDP, which we loved, but it was too much food for us.

This year I am considering the QSDP. We always buy mugs (always), we each eat our own CS meals--but if we wouldn't have the plan wouldn't eat dessert. I like the idea of the pre-paid meals so that I don't have to worry about it, but as the same time, I know I would be just as happy with a bagel in my room for breakfast that I brought with me. Oh, decisions, decisions. DS eats snacks during the day, but I usually don't and grandma usually doesn't. But on the QSDP we would and we would be HAPPY to do it. Oh why must this be a quandry???!!

 

[sharonabe]

Posted the same thing at the same time... Jinx.

Great minds, you know!

 

[TDC Nala]

It can save money if:

You're going to use the mug regularly during your stay or
You're going to eat at the most expensive quick service places, like Wolfgang Puck Express where you can easily get a meal that costs close to $20, for your entire trip, and eat all your allotments including every dessert.

And there are plenty of Disney guests who don't really care whether the plan will save them money or not, they just like the prepayment aspect.

If you are good with not getting dessert every time, if you are going to buy breakfasts a lot (you lose the dessert allotment entirely on breakfasts) and you don't want a soda with every meal or care about the mug, you will do much better just paying as you go.

 

[figmentswife]

So here is how it works for us (Me, DH & DD10) 6 CS day, and 3 snacks day

Breakfast - 1 CS credit breakfast at POP - large breakfast platter with french toast, has browns, sausage, bacon & eggs - we share

Lunch - 2 CS credits in the parks - we share both plates Example: Cosmic Rays, 1 chicken plate, mashed potato's, green beans, large drink & dessert - Adult Chicken nugget meal w/fries, large drink & dessert, we get an extra cup of ice (free)

Snack - Pretzel in the park, or dole whip (if at MK) we all share and get free ice water.

Dinner - 3 CS credit at POP - we each get what ever dinner we want, 2 of us get muffins (to have with breakfast the next morning) and DD gets the dessert.

As you see we still have 1 snack credit daily

Also, we ONLY get the dining plan (QSDP) if we can get free dining. This saves us more then the Value discounts. We stay at Value b/c that is were DD wants to be, and we LOVE POP.

 

[kaytieedid]

Thanks for all of the helpful information. We will have 2 adults and 2 kids (5) and (2). I would love to be able to plan to eat at the more expensive places b/c I'm sure they're great, but when the kids say they're hungry we're at the mercy of our location at the time. Unfortunately that usually means hamburgers, chicken nuggets and french fries.

Last year I bought a Disney gift card with money on it to eat at TS restaurants using our TIW card. We had a good amount left over and I used it at the Disney Store and Disney.com to buy Christmas presents. I think this year I'll figure on $34/day per adult and $12/day per child and put it on a gift card. This way, if our meals don't cost that much we'll have $ left over that won't go to waste and I'll get a head start on Christmas!!

 

[PudgetteD]

Don't forget to add tax when figuring OOP costs.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

We just juggled our Florida trip schedule around to take advantage of a Free QSDP pin...this trip it is just two adults, and after reading about the plan I think it will be worth it for us as we have a car so can take advantage of the QS places like Wolfgang Puck Express that is said to be a good value...also we are staying at Coronado Springs and have read that the Pepper Market buffet is one CS credit and considered a good value. I think if you can visit those places you can do well...if you are just grabbing burgers or such on the run, I don't think it would be worth as much as they charge...and we definitely plan to use the refillable mug..