Can DDE card be picked up weekends?

[mowog]

Hi: We're going to DCV in December and am getting the DDE for dining. I called today to see when to order, and was told that any order after the 5th of a month expires at the end of the next month. So buying DDE next monday the 8th will expire the end of November 08. I said I was arriving on a Saturday and heard that the temp cards can only be picked up weekdays. I was told that it can be picked up any day of the week at guest relations- which includes Saturday. Is this correct?

If I wait until November 6 to order I can cover myself for our next stay, but I know it won't arrive in time for our Dec 1 trip. If I can get a temp card Sat the 1st I will be good to go, but want to make sure this is correct.

thanks, Jean and Bob

 

[BCV23]

I think you can trust the DDE department....even more so than all of us on the internet. It's not like DRC trying to answer tons of questions about resorts and restaurants.

Anyway, from all I've read you will have no trouble picking up over the weekend. The problem for some is that if they purchase their APs on the weekends, they can't order the DDE until Monday and get the temporary card until Monday after 5:30.

But perhaps your card will arrive before your trip anyway. This year I believe we received ours in 21 days.

 

[LisaS]

I agree with BCV23. The DDE office is open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm so you cannot order the DDE card on the weekend. If you do not receive your card in time, you can ask them to leave a temporary card for you at Epcot's Guest Services (outside the main entrance). You can pick up your temporary card any day of the week, during whatever hours that window at Epcot is open.

The delivery time frames for the DDE card can vary. At times, it can take over 4 weeks. I ordered a new card on Sep 4th and got the card in less than 3 weeks! (The time before that, it took 3 weeks and 3 days.) So you may get lucky and receive the card before you leave for your trip. If not, give the DDE office a call a day or two before you leave and ask them to leave a temporary card for you at Epcot.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I've ordered the DDE card through the mail this year...our present one expires at the end of October, and DH and part of our group will be at WDW until Nov. 2nd. I did receive an e-mail saying that if I wanted something temporary to pick up at Epcot, I should reply to the e-mail. Since I have a few more weeks, I intend to wait awhile...we don't leave until the 27th. If we don't get the new card by the 20th I'll reply to the e-mail.

Bobbi

 

[jekjones1558]

Thanks to Jean and Bob for this thread, from another Jean and Bob! Our trip this year is Nov. 11 - 18, but next year I plan to go in the beginning of Dec., so I want the DDE card to cover both trips, if possible. If I am understanding this correctly, I can call Nov. 6 to order and get a card that will be good through Dec. of 2008. It will be too late to receive the card in the mail for our Nov. trip, but I can pick up a temporary card at Epcot on Sun. Nov. 11 at Guest Relations if I request the DDE folks to have one there for me. Have I got this all correct? Also, I only have my AP voucher at this point, but I can provide that number to DDE to get the card, right?

 

[OKW Lover]

I can tell you from actual, recent experience (as in a few days ago) that you can indeed pick up your DDE temporary card on a weekend.

 

[n2mm]

Sounds like the OP has all the facts!!! BTW: the last time I ordered my card it came in 2 1/2 weeks. So there is time to get it by mail too!!

 

[LisaS]

Our trip this year is Nov. 11 - 18, but next year I plan to go in the beginning of Dec., so I want the DDE card to cover both trips, if possible. If I am understanding this correctly, I can call Nov. 6 to order and get a card that will be good through Dec. of 2008. It will be too late to receive the card in the mail for our Nov. trip, but I can pick up a temporary card at Epcot on Sun. Nov. 11 at Guest Relations if I request the DDE folks to have one there for me. Have I got this all correct? Also, I only have my AP voucher at this point, but I can provide that number to DDE to get the card, right?

I had read that the date change occurs on the first Monday of the month but whether that's true or it is always the 5th of the month, you will be OK calling on Tues Nov 6th to get a Dec 31, 2008 expiration date. Verify the expiration date with the person you speak to in the DDE office when you call.

They will ask you for your arrival date so in your case they will probably suggest that a temporary card be delivered to Epcot. I believe Epcot holds on to them for 30 days, so they could send it over the day you call. But do verify all that when you call since you want to pick it up on a Sunday. There will be nobody available to fix a problem if the card isn't there when you go to Epcot that day.

And yes, you can order the card using the numbers on your AP voucher!

 

[jekjones1558]

I had read that the date change occurs on the first Monday of the month but whether that's true or it is always the 5th of the month, you will be OK calling on Tues Nov 6th to get a Dec 31, 2008 expiration date. Verify the expiration date with the person you speak to in the DDE office when you call.

They will ask you for your arrival date so in your case they will probably suggest that a temporary card delivered to Epcot. I believe Epcot holds on to them for 30 days, so they could send it over the day you call. But do verify all that when you call since you want to pick it up on a Sunday. There will be nobody available to fix a problem if the card isn't there when you go to Epcot that day.

And yes, you can order the card using the numbers on your AP voucher!

Don't know what we did before you were around here, Lisa. Thanks!

 

[mowog]

Lisa said "I had read that the date change occurs on the first Monday of the month but whether that's true or it is always the 5th of the month, you will be OK calling on Tues Nov 6th to get a Dec 31, 2008 expiration date. Verify the expiration date with the person you speak to in the DDE office when you call."

Makes sense, when I called the CM said to wait until Monday, which is the first business day after the 5th, so I assumed the 5th was the magic number. But the first Monday in October was the 1st, and she said to call next Monday, which would be the 2nd Monday. So maybe 2nd Monday or after the 5th? I'll wait until November and call back now that I know I can get the temp card on a Saturday-

Thanks everybody, Jean and Bob

 

[LisaS]

Lisa said "I had read that the date change occurs on the first Monday of the month but whether that's true or it is always the 5th of the month, you will be OK calling on Tues Nov 6th to get a Dec 31, 2008 expiration date. Verify the expiration date with the person you speak to in the DDE office when you call."

Makes sense, when I called the CM said to wait until Monday, which is the first business day after the 5th, so I assumed the 5th was the magic number. But the first Monday in October was the 1st, and she said to call next Monday, which would be the 2nd Monday. So maybe 2nd Monday or after the 5th? I'll wait until November and call back now that I know I can get the temp card on a Saturday-

Thanks everybody, Jean and Bob

I ordered mine on Tues Sep 4th and got an Oct 31, 2008 expiration date. So that was the day after the first Monday of the month, but before the 5th of the month. Very confusing!!

Fortunately, they are always willing to tell you what the expiration date will be so you could try calling on the earlier of the first Monday and the 5th of the month and ask what expiration date they are currently issuing. If you are too early, they will tell you which day to call back. And maybe someone can ask them what the rule is for when the expiration date moves out that extra month.