Would it be enough food? (list of possibilities post #7)

[sharonabe]

Another poster asked about ordering apps at Yak N Yeti and how expensive that might be. That sent me looking a app prices. Did you know that most apps at TS restaurants are well within the cost of a QS entree?

So, let's say two adults took the $35/day QSDP cost and decided to eat TS apps for their stay, would there be enough variety and enough food? Let's leave them $5 ea for a snack, leaving $30 for each app meal. Would they be able to throw in a dessert here and there?

 

[Pakey]

For most adults, I would think that it would not be enough food. It could be done but I think you'd have to be fairly selective and knowledgable regarding the restaurants and the size of particular appetizers.

 

[MsPeggySue911]

Another poster asked about ordering apps at Yak N Yeti and how expensive that might be. That sent me looking a app prices. Did you know that most apps at TS restaurants are well within the cost of a QS entree?

So, let's say two adults took the $35/day QSDP cost and decided to eat TS apps for their stay, would there be enough variety and enough food? Let's leave them $5 ea for a snack, leaving $30 for each app meal. Would they be able to throw in a dessert here and there?

You can't use the QSDP or the DDP for that matter to get apps. So why buy the QSDP if you are going to just pay out of pocket for a lot of apps?

 

[sissy_ib]

You can't use the QSDP or the DDP for that matter to get apps. So why buy the QSDP if you are going to just pay out of pocket for a lot of apps?

They were just using it for cost comparison, not trying to use QS credits for a TS app.

There is a thread on doing WDW for $40 a day. I think it would be tough. Very light eaters could probably get away with eating an app for a meal but for the most part I would say no. Maybe if you did soup or salid and an app.

 

[patsal]

You can't use the QSDP or the DDP for that matter to get apps. So why buy the QSDP if you are going to just pay out of pocket for a lot of apps?

I don't think she was doing that, the way I took it she was saying budget the amount of the QS plan and eat apps at TS for all meals instead.

Some apps may be large enough to fill up on, but most are not. I don't think this would work unless you are a very sparse eater or have had some kind of bariatric surgery.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

I think it would depend on the restaurant as well. I could make a meal off the lettuce cups at Y&Y and be fine. However, @ Kona I'd need to order about 3 orders of the potstickers!

 

[sharonabe]

I decided to do some "virtual eating" to test out my optional dining plan. Here's what I came up with:

Yak/Yeti: pot stickers, wok green beans, lettuce cups = 31.38
Brown Derby: Cobb salad, scallops = 26.62
Liberty Tree: Crab Dip for 2, fried cheese OR salad, 2 bowls soup = 29.24
Chefs de France: Cheese OR pate plate, onion soup, salad au bleu = 25.24
escargot, onion soup, salad au bleu = 26.30
La Hacienda: Mex sampler, taco sampler, house salad = 30.30
Le Cellier (lunch): 2 bowls cheddar soup, chipotle sausage, any side = 31.90
Tokyo Dining: 2 asst tempura, garden salad, edamame = 28.06
Via Napoli: prosciutto/melon, salami/provolone, fried risotto = 26.62
Sanaa: Sampler for 2, lamb kabobs, salad sampler = 32.45
Jiko: Bobotie, Tibs Watt, Bread sampler = 28.75
The Wave: harvest salad, avocado citrus salad, 2 bowls black bean chilli = 30.84
Cali Grill: 2 flatbreads = 27.69
1 flatbread, Maine lobster salad = 33.00
1 flatbread, goat cheese raviolli = 28.75
Kona Cafe: wings for 2, 2 orders potstickers = 29.78
Citricos: sauted shrimp, Delta asparagus = 29.82
Narcosses: calamari, ceviche = 29.82
Artist Point: sweet potato gratin, cheese & mac, veg (all sides), cobbler = 32.08

Some places are over the $30 limit, but many are under, so it would average out.

A couple problems. One, no drinks. I prefer water anyway. Those who do want a drink would probably go over by $5 at each meal for two people to drink. Two, you have to figure in tips which would be roughly $6 a meal. Either way, you will spend more than the QSDP cost, but I would be okay with that.

If dining on apps isn't enough, then perhaps do one QS meal a day ($30 should be enough for two to eat at a QS) and one app meal a day.

SO, the big question still is.....would these be enough food for two?

 

[dandave]

Did you figure tax and tips in there? What about that $16-$17 resort mug? I've at least gotta have my morning coffee, if I'm supposed to survive on apps.

 

[sharonabe]

Did you figure tax and tips in there? What about that $16-$17 resort mug? I've at least gotta have my morning coffee, if I'm supposed to survive on apps.

Tax, yes; tips, that's in my comments.

I'm not really trying to compare/keep it to the QSDP cost; that just gave me a figure to shoot for since so many apps were well within the cost of a QS entree.

As for your morning coffee, we usually stay at a MOD which has it's own coffee maker, and we only used our mugs once or twice.

 

[sjs314]

I have often ordered an appitizer instead of a meal when DH and I go out locally, one it saves money and two I do not end up feeling stuffed at the end of a meal. So your plan could work and I guess would be a way of avoiding eating at counter serve establishment in favor of having an ADR at a nice TS place, assure of a seat in the A/C.

I do have to say though we are doing the DxDP for the first time this trip, we have always paid OOP at Disney and I am so looking forward to not having to look at the prices on the menu and budget my money during my stay.

Your plan could work but seems stressful to me, why not splurge and get the DP either DDP or DxDP and really enjoy yourself, after all your on vacation.

 

[tlenzendorf]

What if you got one app and one entree and split both? That may put it more within reason, both for having enough food and fitting in costwise.

I would say also add that 2 flat breads at Cali Grill would not be enough.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

$30 for each meal for two people would be tough, but I think it could be done. It's like another person said though, you need to be selective about what you order and where you eat.

I've done just two apps for my meals before, and have found that to be enough, but one is almost always a heavy protein, calamari, chicken wings, crab cakes, etc.

A few ideas;

Kouzzina - Calamari $12.99, spreads and dips, $9.99, and and the Greek salad, $7.99. Okay, so that's like $31, and you have to add in a few extra dollars for tax and tip, (and more if you drink anything but tap water, so it would actually be closer to $40.)

Kona - Kona salad $8.49, crab cakes, $10.49, and calamari salad, $9.99. The total is $29, (but more with tax, tips, and drinks.)

Signature restaurants would be less doable, since IMO the portion sizes are slightly smaller, and the apps cost more.

But I think just apps is a great way to go. I would much rather have a couple apps at TS places then do CS for the most part.

 

[kaybird]

We have done this occasionally, we tend to not eat as heavy in the heat. Your Brown Derby example is our favorite, we love to go there and split the Cobb Salad. We have started skipping the scallops as they are very small and not worth the price to split. We oopt to split the Grapefruit cake or creme brulee, and find it to be a lovely meal.

 

[DisneySarah80]

Personally, I LOVE this idea. I'm not a big eater, and personally enjoy the items off the appetizer list more than the entree list, so this is right up my alley. Of course, I would have to concider my DH, and he would not want to do anything like this! Hes a meat and potato kinda guy (though I have gotten him to eat tuna steak, and he loves it), and likes his food good and simple. Appetizers tend to be a little more.... adventurous than entrees, and hes not up for that.... I know, pitty me!!!

Anyway, I think if you want to do it, you'll be able to. Just pack a few extra bucks away just in case the prices have gone up, or there is a special appetizer that you never knew about till you got there.

Have a great trip!!!!

 

[Pakey]

Yak/Yeti: pot stickers, wok green beans, lettuce cups = 31.38
I found Yak/Yeti's portions to be huge, my husband and I would be full with just 2 out of 3 of these.

Brown Derby: Cobb salad, scallops = 26.62

The scallops portion is very small. It would not be enough. The salad, yes.

Liberty Tree: Crab Dip for 2, fried cheese OR salad, 2 bowls soup = 29.24

Yes, this would be enough for us.

Chefs de France: Cheese OR pate plate, onion soup, salad au bleu = 25.24
escargot, onion soup, salad au bleu = 26.30

My husband and I have often made a meal of just a bowl of the soup and splitting an escargot.

La Hacienda: Mex sampler, taco sampler, house salad = 30.30

I have not dined here; my daughter in law said the tacos were very small.

Le Cellier (lunch): 2 bowls cheddar soup, chipotle sausage, any side = 31.90

That soup is very filling and would be enough for us.

Tokyo Dining: 2 asst tempura, garden salad, edamame = 28.06

This one would be marginal for us.

Via Napoli: prosciutto/melon, salami/provolone, fried risotto = 26.62

The portions at this place were beyond huge; you should be fine.

Sanaa: Sampler for 2, lamb kabobs, salad sampler = 32.45

This is a lot of food. We were full without finishing our appetizers last time.

Jiko: Bobotie, Tibs Watt, Bread sampler = 28.75

This one is iffy. We usually each get an appetizer and a soup here.

The Wave: harvest salad, avocado citrus salad, 2 bowls black bean chilli = 30.84

The chili makes it filling enough.

Cali Grill: 2 flatbreads = 27.69
1 flatbread, Maine lobster salad = 33.00
1 flatbread, goat cheese raviolli = 28.75

We are full with a flatbread each.

Kona Cafe: wings for 2, 2 orders potstickers = 29.78

Yes, plenty.

Citricos: sauted shrimp, Delta asparagus = 29.82

No, portions are very small at this restaurant. We always eat multiple courses here.

Narcosses: calamari, ceviche = 29.82

No, ceviche will not be a large portion. Not enough.

Artist Point: sweet potato gratin, cheese & mac, veg (all sides), cobbler = 32.08

Yes, that's a lot of filling carbs. And the cobbler is huge, definitely big enough to split.

 

[*QueenB*]

You may have already answered this but are you and your DH light eaters normally?
People tell me that I eat like a bird but at Disney I am always very hungry so I know this plan wouldn't work for DH and I.

 

[MissJanice]

I always like apps better than entrees anyway. DH probably wouldn't be able to do it, but even if I am the only one eating the app is saves money. And I can always get a couple of bites from his entree. Or purchase an ala carte side if I am still hungry.

 

[MissJanice]

Ooooh! And I forgot it leaves so much more room (in the budget and the tummy) for snacks!

 

[cammie810]

My husband have been doing this for years both at Disney and locally and it works great for us. Sometimes we get one appetizer and one entree but usually just get two appetizers and it is almost always enough to fill us up. We split dessert too! We arent huge eaters but certainly dont eat like birds. I just dont want to tour feeling so full I could explode and I dont want to lug leftovers around either. Plus, I think the appetizers are way more yummy than the entrees!

 

[sharonabe]

You may have already answered this but are you and your DH light eaters normally?
People tell me that I eat like a bird but at Disney I am always very hungry so I know this plan wouldn't work for DH and I.

In the past two years we've become more conscious of how much we eat, so eating light is the way I would describe us.

While eating apps will most probably work for the two of us, I need to go back now and see what my two Disney adult children (13, 10) might be able to eat.