AP and DDE question

[jbhaupt]

This year we let our AP's expire for the first time and plan on buying them before our Novemeber trip. I am concerned about getting our DDE cards in time. The first time we bought our AP's at WS entrance and called DDE they had our cards ready for P/U at 5p Epcot main entrance...I seem to remember it was a Friday. Do they do the same on weekends??
What if we order the AP's in Oct?? They are not activated until we hit the park in Nov right?? Will I be able to order DDE by phone once a new AP number is available??

Thanks,
Bonnie

 

[tinkfan]

I just called DDE the other day about this. I ordered my AP's but have not recieved the vouchers in the mail yet. I was told to call as soon as they came and could order the DDE card then. I will have to pick up temporary cards at Epcot guest services since we will be leaving before the cards arrive.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Order your APs at any time, and they don't activate until you use them as long as you are more than 60 days from your last AP's expiration. When they arrive, you can order your DDE card, but do it the last half of the month prior to your trip. That way they will come with an expiration date a year from your trip.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

Order your APs at any time, and they don't activate until you use them as long as you are more than 60 days from your last AP's expiration. When they arrive, you can order your DDE card, but do it the last half of the month prior to your trip. That way they will come with an expiration date a year from your trip.

Can you explain the activation 60 day rule you are referring too?

We have had an AP for many years which has a renewal date in September. As we are not going to WDW until January '07 we plan on purchasing a new pass rather than renewing. This will give us an additional 90 days by purchasing new in January. If they don't activate until used (as they did years ago) I can renew in September and activate in January.

 

[Chuck S]

Renewals are back-dated to the expiration of the original pass, if you want the additional 90 days you'll need to pay for a "new" pass.

 

[jekjones1558]

I waited until a the 7th of the month before we were going to WDW to get the latest possible expiration on our DDE cards. They did not get to my home in time, so I called and picked up the temporary cards at Epcot Guest Relations at main entrance. I had no trouble using the temporary card, but it would be nice if these cards did not take so long to arrive in the mail.

 

[CarolMN]

The DDE office is only open M- F. If you arrive on a weekend and buy your AP/PAP on site, you will not be able to order your DDE card until Monday morning. You also need to call early in the day if you want to pick up your temporary card the same day - if you call early enough in the day, they are available after 5:30 pm at the GR booth located at EPCOT's main entrance.

Best wishes -

 

[Corinne]

I spoke to Rosa from the DDE office and she told me I could pick up my temp card at the Intl Gateway at Epcot. It just occurred to me that we are arriving on Saturday! (duh) So if I call her ahead of time will she be able to leave it for me on Friday, and I can pick it up on Saturday?

Corinne

 

[CarolMN]

I spoke to Rosa from the DDE office and she told me I could pick up my temp card at the Intl Gateway at Epcot. It just occurred to me that we are arriving on Saturday! (duh) So if I call her ahead of time will she be able to leave it for me on Friday, and I can pick it up on Saturday?

Corinne

Yes - if the DDE CM knows you want/need a temp card, he/she will send the info to the GR at EPCOT's Main entrance. You can pick up cards there on Saturday and Sunday.

It's just ordering DDE and getting the temp card on the same day that can be a problem. As already mentioned, the DDE Office is only open weekdays and you have to order the card early enough in the day for them to download the info to EPCOT's GR. But once that's done, you can pick up the temp card anytime.

Best wishes -

 

[BCV23]

Order your APs at any time, and they don't activate until you use them as long as you are more than 60 days from your last AP's expiration.

Diane, I have never heard about a 60 day window. Do you mean if we buy a new AP within 60 days of our olds ones expiring, they will revert to the original anniversary date?

 

[rocketriter]

We bought APs a few months ago. Voucher cards arrived a couple of weeks later with serial numbers on them. The regular DDE website would not recognize those numbers, but when I called MS they had no problem enrolling us in DDE. Curiously, the APs did not activate (and begin their 12-month count-down) until the day we claimed them while walking into Epcot, but the DDE card activated and began its countdown on the day it was mailed to us.

 

[LisaS]

We bought APs a few months ago. Voucher cards arrived a couple of weeks later with serial numbers on them. The regular DDE website would not recognize those numbers, but when I called MS they had no problem enrolling us in DDE.

If you call the DDE office, you can sign up for the DDE using an AP voucher.

Curiously, the APs did not activate (and begin their 12-month count-down) until the day we claimed them while walking into Epcot, but the DDE card activated and began its countdown on the day it was mailed to us.

APs are good for one year from activation. The DDE is good for 12-13 months from the date you order it. If you order in the first week of the month, the DDE expires at the end of that month plus one year. If you order after the first week of the month, it expires at the end of the following month plus one year. Since we usually go to WDW in May every year, I waited to order my DDE card until the second week of April so I could get a May 31, 2007 expiration date. That allows me to use the card for trips in May '06 and May '07. It takes 2-4 weeks for the card to arrive, so that was cutting it close but I did receive the card just a few days before we left. The woman I spoke to in the DDE office when I ordered the card sent a temporary card to Epcot for us just in case but fortunately I didn't need it.

 

[mikayla73]

I posted this question on another thread, but it seems more appropriate posted here ... so apologys for the "double" post.

I am a new DVC owner and new to the board. I am getting the hang of almost all of the acronyms but what is DDE? Is there a website for it? It seems to be a special dining card or something? Just wondering and thanks!!

 

[LisaS]

what is DDE? Is there a website for it? It seems to be a special dining card or something? Just wondering and thanks!!

DDE is the Disney Dining Experience. It is available to FL residents and AP holders. It gives you 20% off food and beverages (including alcohol) for yourself and up to 9 guests (on the same check) at most TS restaurants and a few CS restaurants. Check this out for more info: http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dde.htm

 

[BCV23]

Still wondering about the 60 day thing Diane referred to....anyone know anything about that?

 

[mikayla73]

Thanks for the clarification!

Can DVC owners get the Disney Dining Plan, the one where you pay for a certain # of TS, CS, snacks/per day per person? Or I guess it is only available with MYW?

 

[kimberh]

DVC owners can get the DDP for $37.99 per adult per day. We do not have to have a ticket purchase to get it. This has been available for DVC since Apr 1. It is good for our guest too. The child rate is $10.99 per child (3-9).

 

[mikayla73]

Thanks for clearing it up for me.

 

[BCV23]

Answering my own question here but Golden Oldie who is the DIS expert on WDW tickets has replied that there is no 60 day limit.

 

[LisaS]

Answering my own question here but Golden Oldie who is the DIS expert on WDW tickets has replied that there is no 60 day limit.

If you RENEW your pass, you pay a discounted price but it is good for one year from the date your old pass expired. If you purchase a NEW pass, it will be good for one year from the date of activation, regardless of when you purchase it.