Annual Pass-any "advantage" to getting it thru MS in the mail??

[Uncleromulus]

Need suggestions on how to get an Annual pass. Understand that even if you get it via member services via mail, it still has to be validated at Guest services at a Theme Park, or DD. IF so--is there then any real advantage to ordering it ahead of time??
Assuming, of course, I can get my DVC discount if I buy "direct" when I get to WDW(??)
All advice cheerfully accepted!!

 

[Man_Of_Leisure]

I contacted MS a couple of days ago regarding that same question. They said it would be just as easy to purchase it at the parks once we arrived because you would have to get it validated anyway. The only advantage to purchasing it early through MS is to ensure you get the perk if it happens to be discontinued between now and the time you decide to use it.

I did read on another thread that someone tried to purchase an AP at the park with the DVC discount and the CM didn't know what they were talking about. The poster said they had to speak to the supervisor to ensure they got the discount.

Hope that helped.

Man of Leisure

 

[CarolMN]

The only advantages to buying in advance via MS that I see :

*To lock in the price - if you think the price will increase or the discount disappear before you arrive

*To spread the price out over several months - if you have more than one AP or PAP to purchase

* As already posted by Man of Leisure - to ensure you get a CM who knows how to process the DVC transaction correctly.

Best wishes -

 

[dianeschlicht]

We ordered ours this week so we could use the voucher number to get our DDE card before our trip.

 

[CarolMN]

We ordered ours this week so we could use the voucher number to get our DDE card before our trip.

Good one, Diane! I forgot about that.

You could also call DDE from somewhere on site after you purchase your AP or PAP, though. DDE will send a temporary card over to EPCOT Guest Relations fror you since you obviously wouldn't get the actual card in time to use it for that trip. You'd have to wait until after 5:30 pm to pick up the card. DDE is only open M-F and I think they close at 4:40 or 5 (Eastern).

I'm going to do order our DDE card just a few days before we leave so that the temp card is there on the day we arrive, but mostly so that the card will work for our early December trip in 2006 as well as for the one in 2005.

Best wishes -

 

[Uncleromulus]

Thanks guys!! Small things to be sure, but ordering in advance probably better. So that's what I did this morning.
Thanks again!

 

[Mike]

I'm going to do order our DDE card just a few days before we leave so that the temp card is there on the day we arrive, but mostly so that the card will work for our early December trip in 2006 as well as for the one in 2005.

Hi Carol,
You may want to try calling to order the DDE card in November. The card is good until one year from the end of the following month. So in your case, if you ordered it in November it would be good until 12/31/06. It takes 3 weeks for the card to arrive. It is so much more convenient to have the actual card than to have to carry the letter around with you.
I was in the same boat as you. I went this July and I have another trip planned for next July. I ordered my card in June and asked when it would expire. The CM told me 7/31/06. I received the card in a little less than 3 weeks and had it for my trip.

 

[mja51]

Hi
just wondering what DDE stood for?
I have visited this site numerous times and I'm still trying to figure out what most of the abbreviations stand for.
Thx

 

[Mike]

Hi
just wondering what DDE stood for?
I have visited this site numerous times and I'm still trying to figure out what most of the abbreviations stand for.
Thx

Hi mja51. Welcome to the DIS. DDE is the Disney Dining Experience card. It is available to Annual Pass (AP) holders for $50 per year and to Florida residents for $75. It entitles the holder to a 20% discount for food and alcohol at most WDW sit down restaurants for up to 10 people.

 

[CarolMN]

Hi Carol,
You may want to try calling to order the DDE card in November. The card is good until one year from the end of the following month. So in your case, if you ordered it in November it would be good until 12/31/06. It takes 3 weeks for the card to arrive. It is so much more convenient to have the actual card than to have to carry the letter around with you.
I was in the same boat as you. I went this July and I have another trip planned for next July. I ordered my card in June and asked when it would expire. The CM told me 7/31/06. I received the card in a little less than 3 weeks and had it for my trip.

Thanks for the advice.

Best wishes -

 

[mja51]

Hi mja51. Welcome to the DIS. DDE is the Disney Dining Experience card. It is available to Annual Pass (AP) holders for $50 per year and to Florida residents for $75. It entitles the holder to a 20% discount for food and alcohol at most WDW sit down restaurants for up to 10 people.

Sorry for the delay but thx for the help. Now of course the follow up ? where do you order the DDE card?
Thx for help

 

[dianeschlicht]

Good one, Diane! I forgot about that.

You could also call DDE from somewhere on site after you purchase your AP or PAP, though. DDE will send a temporary card over to EPCOT Guest Relations fror you since you obviously wouldn't get the actual card in time to use it for that trip. You'd have to wait until after 5:30 pm to pick up the card. DDE is only open M-F and I think they close at 4:40 or 5 (Eastern).

I'm going to do order our DDE card just a few days before we leave so that the temp card is there on the day we arrive, but mostly so that the card will work for our early December trip in 2006 as well as for the one in 2005.

Best wishes -

We are using the same tactic, Carol. We are going 12/31-1/10 this trip and will be doing early Dec. next year. I was thinking about ordering the DDE card in November. Does anyone know how long it is taking to get them these days?

 

[CarolMN]

We are using the same tactic, Carol. We are going 12/31-1/10 this trip and will be doing early Dec. next year. I was thinking about ordering the DDE card in November. Does anyone know how long it is taking to get them these days?

After reading many posts here and on the Restaurant Forum, I've decided to order mine sometime during the lat week of November - just before we leave. I don't mind using the temporary card for the first trip. It's more important to me to have the card expire at the end of December 2006 so that we can use it for two trips.

From what I've read recently, if you order the DDE card in the first half of the month, you are likely to get that same month as the expiration date.

Since you won't need your DDE card until the end of December, I think you can order at the end of November and still get the card before your trip.

Best wishes-

 

[Uncleromulus]

mja51:
Call 407-566-5858

 

[esutton]

Can the DDE card be used at most WDW restaurants or is it a short list like the DVC discounts or the AP discounts that give us 10%? Is there a place to see the list if participating restaurants?

 

[CarolMN]

Can the DDE card be used at most WDW restaurants or is it a short list like the DVC discounts or the AP discounts that give us 10%? Is there a place to see the list if participating restaurants?

You can get a complete list from the official WDW website. I prefer the one that you can find at this site (because it also shows the dining discounts for AP/PAP passholders and the DVC members):

2005 WDW Discount Summary

Once the page is loaded, click on the link near the top that says "Adobe Tabular Guide to Dining Discounts". You'll be glad you did, LOL!

You will need the Adobe Acrobat software to download the 2 page guide, but you can get it for free if you don't already have it on your computer.

Best wishes -

 

[megrod74]

Thanks for that link, Carol! I never noticed that at the top of that page before. We have all 3 also so this will be really helpful.

 

[granmanh603]

For information. I ordered my card on Feb 16 05, they emailed me a letter to use while I was down in WDW in late Feb and early March...no problem with that. Then I recieved the card in April and it was dated good til April 06, so I will get 3 trips in. The program was new then and they were alittle behind so I don't know if that is why I got the extra month. But I was thrilled. Carol

 

[keishashadow]

Since DVC "officially" will not offer the MYW Dining this year; I need help determining when to purchase AP's & subsequent DDE.

We're planning 3 trips within a years' time: 1st trip beginning on 12/10/05, and subsequently for a week during June '06 & 12/02 - 12/10/06.

As the last trip ends on 12/10/06, will the AP's I activate on 12/10/05 still be valid then?

It's my understanding that the DDE can be ordered with AP Voucher number. Do you receive a valid AP voucher number when you purchase online or do you have to wait until you receive it via snail-mail & then book the DDE?

Lastly, is there more than a slim chance that the discount will be eliminated or a price increase before year-end. I hate to purchase them now (still have a cruise to pay off ) but don't want to miss out on the only dining deal DVC is providing.

Please advise.

 

[Mike]

Since DVC "officially" will not offer the MYW Dining this year; I need help determining when to purchase AP's & subsequent DDE.

We're planning 3 trips within a years' time: 1st trip beginning on 12/10/05, and subsequently for a week during June '06 & 12/02 - 12/10/06.

As the last trip ends on 12/10/06, will the AP's I activate on 12/10/05 still be valid then?

It's my understanding that the DDE can be ordered with AP Voucher number. Do you receive a valid AP voucher number when you purchase online or do you have to wait until you receive it via snail-mail & then book the DDE?

Lastly, is there more than a slim chance that the discount will be eliminated or a price increase before year-end. I hate to purchase them now (still have a cruise to pay off ) but don't want to miss out on the only dining deal DVC is providing.

Please advise.

I activated my AP on 7/24/05 and it says that it will expire on 7/24/06 so you should be ok.

To order the DDE, you can use the numbers off the voucher that you will get in the mail (do not use the will call option - have the vouchers mailed). If you want to wait as long as you can I would order the APs late October and then order the DDE card on 11/15 (when you call ask when the card will expire to make sure it will be good thru Dec 06). You should receive the card before your trip (it takes up to 3 weeks now) but if not you'll at least have the letter.

As far as the price increase, that's hard to say but I would bet yes. With the sharp increase in gas prices WDW is paying a lot more to run their transportation system. They do not charge directly for this so the only way for them to pass this on to the consumer is by increasing the park tickets and hotel rates. Since the 2006 hotel rates have already been announced, I think a price increase on park admission is inevitable.