Combo DDP and OOP About This Page:

[dolphin041599]

I know there have been many threads on the DDP vs. paying OOP, but I'm wondering how many people get the QS or regular DP, and then pay out of pocket for additional meals?

None of the dining plans really seem to work for us, but I was thinking if I paid for the QS plan, and then paid for whatever table service meal we want for the day. Or if it would be better to pay for the regular dining plan and then pay out of pocket for an extra QS or TS meal?

I wish they had a dining plan that covered two TS meals per day. We want to do some character breakfasts and some TS meals for dinner. I don't mind doing two QS meals per day, but that limits our TS meal to one per day, and if we do a character breakfast, that means QS for lunch and dinner and I'd wonder if that would work for us.

[notjustamom]

We have done the DDP and pay OOP for some meals. We always do one signature restaurant and one character breakfast so we never have enough TS points, QS points are never a problem. I usually try to figure out the average cost per meal and pick whichever seems cheapest to pay OOP. I just let the server know, yes we're on the DDP but paying OOP for that meal. Good luck

[SARH7]

We usually have to pay OOP for a couple meals. We always arrive early and leave late and we are short meal credits. Basic plan works well for us, but we are not big breakfast eaters. We do simple breakfasts in the room....mini cereal boxes, cereal bars, pop tarts, trail mix, etc... Counter meal lunch, TS dinner. Sometimes we do a character breakfast, then use our counter meal that day for lunch or dinner. We pay OOP for the other meal...usually another counter meal to keep OOP costs low.

Snack credits are great for breakfast items too, so sometimes we do that.

[joelsmom]

When we've done the dining plan, I've gotten QS and then paid OOP for TS, but we usually do only one or two TS meals per trip. That doesn't really sound like what you have in mind. We take some quick breakfast foods with us and usually eat breakfast in the room. If you did that, that would leave you with your QS and TS meals for the day. This way, you will only need to budget OOP for whatever character breakfasts you want.

Maybe you've done this already, but if I were you, I would crunch the numbers on the dining plan to see if it works financially for you. The regular DP is going up to around $55 pp per night of your stay in 2013. Maybe it doesn't matter to you, but I find that these days the DDP is not cost effective for us. It's convenient though.

Finally, the DDP is designed to cover two meals per day, so if you buy it and then plan to pay OOP for another meal every day, Disney is going to make an absolute fortune on you buying their food. People who want three meals covered every day go for the Deluxe DP, which is considerably more than the regular.

I just suggest that you do your homework, but the one thing I would not do is buy a dining plan and then pay OOP for a meal every day of my stay.

[athenagwis]

I think you should make a plan of where you want to each each day and decide how many QS and TS meals you will really be doing (this will also help you making reservations when it is time). Then use the average price from the passporter to determine how much it would cost you to pay completely oop (remember their prices include an 18% tip). Then figure out the cost of each meal plan (being sure to factor in a tip for each TS meal) and see what happens. I think the difference between the QS plan and regular plan is roughly $20/person/day. So depending on your group size, you may find paying oop for 1 or 2 TS meals will be cheaper than bumping up to a regular meal plan. But if you are looking at maybe 5 or 6 TS, it would make more sense to bump up. I think you just have to do the math really.

I did this and found the deluxe plan was pretty much spot on price wise (we wouldn't have saved or spent more paying oop). I just figure I'll make sure to go for the high price meals to make it more worth it. Oh i fogot to say my calculations with the deluxe plan was with NO QS meals, I would NOT pay the price of the deluxe plan and get QS meals, you will definitely be handing Disney money at that point.

Good luck!
Rachel

[tylerdylansmom]

We usually get the regular dining plan and pay OOP for one meal out of pocket. We have found that our meal at T-rex has been one of our least expensive dining experiences so we pay OOP for that particular meal. (plus it was never on dining plan before) I buy giftcards for T-rex from Sam's Club and then that meal is kinda paid for in advance as well

[dolphin041599]

The hardest part for me in crunching the numbers is that we really don't eat appetizers or dessert most of the time. I know that the DDP and the passporter figures for a meal include these things.

Plus, at some TS restaurants, my DD and I could always split a meal. We aren't huge eaters so having the Deluxe dining plan is going to be way too much food, and way too much time spent in TS restaurants.

I'm going to look at all of your suggestions though and see if I can make some sense of the numbers and get a better feel for what we might want to do. I'm sure that will lead to more questions, so be prepared to see me back here.

[yalibrarian]

We have used the QSDP the past two years and will again this year (getting it "free"). We normally do one special meal or food-related experience per trip, preferring not to be tied down to reservations and expensive meals that we might not really be ready to eat right then. We pay OOP for the special meals, and have done Boma, Biergarten, and the Fireworks Dessert Party. We also drive, so we keep some snacks like yogurt, cheese, and juice in the room, along with a box of donuts or similar for quick snacking or breakfast. One thing we find indispensible is our refillable mugs, which get used several times a day (we eat at least one meal per day at our resort food court).

I agree with those who say crunch the numbers. The benefit to the QSDP for my family is that there is no angst about getting something more expensive, drinking soda instead of water, or longing for dessert. We can get what we want. It really doesn't save you much, if anything, over pay OOP, depending upon your particular eating style. But it really works for our family, especially when we can snag it for free, as trading the room discount we had for the dining saves us at least a couple of hundred dollars. We are three adults in a value resort though, so your result may be quite different from ours.

Look at the menus at www.allearsnet.com under Dining and put together several representative meals for a couple of days. Then run the numbers and see if you'll save based on what you would normally eat.

[DMA]

In the past we have gotten free dining and then paid OOP for several additional TS meals. This year, for the first time (because we are now DVC members) we will purchase the Tables in Wonderland card which gives you 20% off all (or almost all) TS restaurants and a few CS restaurants, including appetizers and alcoholic beverages. It is only available to Florida residents, AP holders or DVC owners, but if any of those apply, this might be another option for you to consider.

[MsPeggySue911]

Last October we had the QSDP and paid OOP for a couple of TS meals and a few CS breakfasts.

This November we will have DDP and will be paying for a few extra CS meals out of pocket.

In my opinion the only way to NOT end up paying for anything OOP is if you eat breakfast in your room every day, don't go to any other parks besides Disney (Because when at the other parks you have to buy your food) or get the Deluxe dining plan where every single bit of your food is covered.

[DVCjulie09]

For our Christmas 2011 trip, we purchased the QSDP and used TIW for 3 character meals. We were 3 adults and a 15 month old. With sharing a few meals and using a few snack credits for light meals (eg., bowl of soup or chili, baked potato, ham & cheese croissant in France) we easily ate 3 meals a day and still had credits left at the end of 8 days to buy meals and snacks for the drive home.

[dolphin041599]

Originally Posted by DMA

It is only available to Florida residents, AP holders or DVC owners, but if any of those apply, this might be another option for you to consider.

Nope, nope and nope. We aren't lucky enough to be in any of those categories.

[HollyH]

Honestly, most of the dining plans are at a "break even" price point now and you have to work to get savings out of the plans. If you are thinking you will have to spend money OOP daily anyway, I'm guessing that maybe the dining plan isn't for you at all.

[suzq62982]

We got the free quick service dining plan in 2010. We paid OOP for 2 character breakfasts. Crunching the numbers, the 2 character meals we paid for OOP would have equaled upgrading our dining plan. However, that doesn't take into account tips. We went with the QS plan, because we had 4 adults and 3 little kids and didn't want to be tied down the ADR's. BUT by the end of the week DH was cranky about the QS food. So next time we will get the regular plan.

The QS was more than enough food and snacks. Out son was under 2 when we went and we were able to get additional kids meals for him and we didn't run out of snacks until the very last day. I think we paid for one bag of chips OOP.

[yalibrarian]

BUT by the end of the week DH was cranky about the QS food.

This comment struck me as kind of amusing, since using the QSDP has had the opposite effect on my husband. He was always crabby about food costs and eating burgers because they were the cheapest thing. Once we tried the QSDP, however, he was sold (we have had it free the past three years, but he would buy it anyway). No more angst about the cost of meals, and he can pick what he likes, even having dessert or some fruit, not just a sandwich. He loves the variety of foods available for QS in WDW, from Moroccan to Mexican, African to barbecue, fish of all kinds, big breakfast platters, pastas, salads, roasted chicken and turkey with veggies (his favorite). We really use our refillable mugs too.

So with the QSDP, and paying OOP for just one or two special meals, peace has finally descended on our vacations. We know that the meal plans don't save much, but the fact that cost is no longer an issue makes us all very happy.

But I'm guessing your DH is a steak guy...