What is the break even point for DDE and AP?

[disneyatheart]

Hello everyone,

In the years past we have always purchased APs for the whole family (2 adults and 2 children, 2, 7 years of age). We have let our APs lapsed beyond renewal date so we would have to purchase new APs. However, since our oldest is in school we don't anticipate returning to WDW more than once a year :( So, the question is...

We are going to WDW in a the middle of May for 9 days, but looking at purchasing MYOM 7 day park Hopper passes for everyone, OR purchasing 1 adult AP with the disney dining experience and the remaining passes being MYOM 7 day park Hopper passes.....What is everyones recommendation? What would you do? We are DVC members and eat majority of our breakfasts, and snacks in the room. Lunches are hit or miss at the parks and dinners are usually sit down at one of the resorts/parks.

Lastly, if we go the AP w/DDE option, we wouldn't be receiving the card/paper work in time......is DDE still an option?

Thanks :wave:

[aka-mad4themouse]

With the new MYW passes, the break-even point for APs is around 13 park visits. If you're going for fewer than that, buying MYW passes is a better idea. Just compare the cost of a 10-day MYW Hopper-expiry ($247.08)+ 2-day MYW Hopper-expiry ($164.01) to the cost of an AP ($420.68).

The DDE card costs AP holders $50 and entitles them to a 20% discount at select restuarants. You would need to spend $250 (before the discount) on dining in order to break even. For my family, it could take just 3 sitdown meals to make up the difference but I have "juniors", one of whom we've dubbed "The Human Eating Machine". For someone with younger children, it would probably take more meals to reach the break-even point.

In your case, the additional cost of an AP over a 7-day MYW pass (which is what you plan to get for everyone else) is $183.18. If you were to purchase the AP+DDE, you would have to spend $1166 on dining to break even. A possibility of an AP room discount is moot because you're DVC owners. To me, it doesn't seem like it would be worth the added expense for you.

[poohj80]

Lastly, if we go the AP w/DDE option, we wouldn't be receiving the card/paper work in time......is DDE still an option?
I have read that DDE will e-mail or fax you a copy of a letter when you join that you can use as proof on your trip even if you don't have the actual card.

[aka-mad4themouse]

Disney is no longer emailing the confimation letters b/c they were too easy to alter. Instead they will mail a confirmation letter to your home or fax one to you. If neither a snail-mail or fax is good enough (no access to a fax machine or leaving too soon to receive the snail mail in time), you can pick up a letter of authorization at Guest Relations.

See the "UPDATE" on AllEarsNet.com - DDE (http://allearsnet.com/din/dde.htm) .

[cseca]

No more faxing just regular snail mail or pick up at EPCOT GR if your trip is in less than 2 weeks.
I just ordered mine yesterday and they said it takes approximately 2 weeks for the letter to arrive (not the actual card).

[dgaston]

Also as DVC members, there is the significant $100 discount on purchasing your AP.

[disneyatheart]

Here is how I figured the cost:

7 day Make Your Own Magic Hopper for two adults and two children: total: $871.00 with tax

For 1 adult annual pass ($311 w/tax), 1 adult 7 day MYOW Hopper ($237 w/ tax) and two children 7 day MYOW Hopper ($396 w/ tax) for a total of $847.00 (tax included), then add for Disney Dinning Dxperience: $50 so the new grand total is : $897

So if I figure it correctly, I'm comparing my cost of $871 (7 day MYOM Hopper with expiration) to $897 (1 adult AP w/ DDE + 1 Adult MYOM, 2 child MYOM 7 day park hopper w/expiration). That is only $26.00 difference. Couldn't I make up that cost easily?

I know we are staying for a total of 9 days, but on the first and last day we stay at our resort by the pool.

Thanks in advance for your input

Liz

[aka-mad4themouse]

$311
+$237
+$198
+$198
=$944

add the DDE for another $50

The difference between 2 adult 7-day MYW Hoppers (expiry) + 2 child tickets vs. 1 adult AP + 1 Adult 7-day MYW Hopper + 2 child tickets is $74.

You would need to spend $620 on dining to break even in that case.
($74 + $50)/20%

It's very possible that you would spend that amount over the course of 9 days, depending on your dining habits.

[disneyatheart]

DUH!?! I guess thats what I get for adding it together in my head so early in the morning! Thanks so much mad4themouse!

I wish we saved our receipts from our prior visits to determine our spending habits on dining.

Thanks again! :wave:

[crisi]

When I figured it, with the DVC discount on the AP, we'd have to spend $500 on food I think to break even. We'd do that, but I not sure its worth the bother. I'm also possibly "giving up" getting one of us 10 day no expiry to use on our 2007 trip in order to do it.

A DVC Adult AP is 314. the 7 day hopper no expiry we need is $256. The DDE is $50. That's an extra $108 dollars. If I spend $500, saving 20%, I'll have saved $100. We spend about $100 per sit down meal (2 adults, 2 children), but not every meal we are planning takes the DDE. We do a sit down meal each day, but are intending some lunches this year.

(I forgot, we will do both DQ and a Waterpark this trip - that's another $50+ that we need to make up - I need to spend $800 on food and beverage sit down to break even - that's les likely).

[DebbieDVC]

You mentioned that you will probably only be going to WDW once a year. What is the possibility that you will return around the same time next year....maybe a week earlier? We generally will plan 2 trips on an annual pass, almost a year apart. We try to plan 2 weeks on one annual pass and then have a larger gap between the next trip. For example, we went Dec 2002 and Oct 2003 on 1 annual pass. We then went again Oct 2004 and plan on going Oct 2005 on this annual pass (DH and I snuck in a Mom&Dad only trip Jan 2005). Actually, since DH and I went in Jan, we purchased the DDE card. During our 4 day/5 night trip, we definately recooped the cost of the card (no kids so we ate many sit downs). The DDE will be an added bonus now for our 7 night trip in Oct.

What I guess I am trying to say is if you squeeze in your next trip close to the year mark of your AP, the AP and DDE would be the best bet. The AP has other discounts to consider, including World of Disney discount and 50% off minigolf, etc. etc. The $100 AP disc/ $125 PAP DVC discount sure helps...it would be a tough call which way to go with out the discount.

[fspbt2]

We're arriving at Old Key West on 5/14 & were planning to purchase APs when we arrived. We're returning next year on 5/7. I was hoping to use my AP for both trips, so I was waiting until the very last minute to buy the pass. Now I'm interested in the DDE pass as well but don't know if I can work out purchasing & delivery logistics. Can I order both the DVC discounted AP AND DDE card tomorrow & receive by trip time? Also, will they both be effective next year for the week of 5/7?

[golfgal]

Go to allearsnet.com and look at the menu prices. Pick out where you would probably eat and what you would normally order. Then figure out what a typical meal would cost for your family. That should give you a good idea how much you would spend on food. Are DVC members eligible for the MYW dining plan?

I figured out how we would eat if we didn't take the dining plan, just a few sitdowns and mostly counter service and the cost came out pretty close to what we are spending for the MYW dining plan. Since we are now getting the dining plan, eating one sitdown/day almost covers the cost of the plan alone.

[poohj80]

We're arriving at Old Key West on 5/14 & were planning to purchase APs when we arrived. We're returning next year on 5/7. I was hoping to use my AP for both trips, so I was waiting until the very last minute to buy the pass. Now I'm interested in the DDE pass as well but don't know if I can work out purchasing & delivery logistics. Can I order both the DVC discounted AP AND DDE card tomorrow & receive by trip time? Also, will they both be effective next year for the week of 5/7?
I doubt you will receive your AP in time. I would suggest getting your AP when you arrive then calling DDE when they open Monday morning. They will fax a letter to your hotel that you can use for the discount until you receive your actual card (6-8 weeks). Both are effective for a year so you can use them both again for your trip next year.

[fspbt2]

Thanks for the guidance. I called DDE reservations today, and I realized it would be difficult to handle this before our arrival on 5/14. We'll be at Seaworld on Sunday, so we wouldn't benefit from the DDE discounts until Monday anyway. Given that we can use the discount card this AND next year, it looks like we'll still benefit from paying the DDE $50 fee as our party of 4 adults will be eating out quite a bit.