DDE Changes Coming in November

[Lives4Disney]

Subscribing. I have had the DDE since it came out - like NancyIL, I have noticed the price adjustments.

This thread's information is news to me. We are going over Thanksgiving - 16th to 26th and that DDE card better be usable. I will be miffed & disappointed if it's not. Never heard anywhere other than right here that it might not be! We have a family of 5 (3 kids) and are charged for 4 adults so that DDE comes in handy & saves us a lot.

Lives4Disney

 

[NancyIL]

Subscribing. I have had the DDE since it came out - like NancyIL, I have noticed the price adjustments.

This thread's information is news to me. We are going over Thanksgiving - 16th to 26th and that DDE card better be usable. I will be miffed & disappointed if it's not. Never heard anywhere other than right here that it might not be! We have a family of 5 (3 kids) and are charged for 4 adults so that DDE comes in handy & saves us a lot.

Lives4Disney

Disney Dining said there were no discounts during the Thanksgiving "holiday" - which now lasts a week. When I called the DDE office, I was told that was incorrect and only the holiday itself was excluded from getting the DDE discount. However, the fine print seems to indicate it's up to the restaurant whether or not you get the discount! It may be a moot point for me - because I'm leaning towards not renewing the card.

 

[Colleen27]

Going a little OT a bit.

I was out a few months ago with an old friend who has a hospitality degree. When she figured out the bill she excluded the bottle of wine from the figuring out the gratuity. I was surprised because I've never heard of that. Another friend agreed with her. The bottle of wine isn't used in figuring out the tip.

I'd never heard of that has anyone else.

And yes, in a hurry, I bet I've tipped my 20% on the final bill. I just didn't know.

That's how I've always understood it should be done, and I see the logic in it. There are places we go where the bottle of wine costs more than the dinner. We tip 20% on the food bill + $10-15 when we order an expensive wine. If the wine is less than $50 or so, we just tip 20% on the whole tab.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm wondering if the November announcement has to do with the "holiday" of Thanksgiving lasting from the 18th to the 24th, with supposedly no DDE discounts during the "holiday." That's what I was told by Disney Dining months ago when I made a reservation for Nov. 24th. I never heard if that plan to exclude the DDE discount during holiday periods changed.

The DDE card cost $50 when I bought it 2 years ago, and I got a free card for my spouse. When I got the DDE last fall, the price was $60 - and they charged for the 2nd card. The price will be $65 if I renew this November. I may not renew the DDE since I usually travel solo, and instead take advantage of the 10% dining discounts I get at lunchtime with my AP discount.

I just renewed mine, about two weeks ago. It should be good until Oct 31, 2008. I have also noticed the increasing price over the past few years. It's almost as if Disney offers something really good, then as we get used to having it, they start to either take stuff away from it, or increase the price..sometimes both!!! I don't like the DDP all that much, so like to have the DDE card. But, the way things are going, we're going to be eating a lot more in our villa on each trip!! And use the AP for those smaller discounts but at least I'm not paying extra for them.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Disney Dining said there were no discounts during the Thanksgiving "holiday" - which now lasts a week. When I called the DDE office, I was told that was incorrect and only the holiday itself was excluded from getting the DDE discount. However, the fine print seems to indicate it's up to the restaurant whether or not you get the discount! It may be a moot point for me - because I'm leaning towards not renewing the card.

Bummer. We usually do 2 to 3 TS/day and that DDE card made a big difference in our costs. I wasn't aware the Thanksgiving "holiday" was a whole week. My son & DH don't even have the "holiday" off.

Thanks for the info, though.

Lives4Disney

 

[NancyIL]

Bummer. We usually do 2 to 3 TS/day and that DDE card made a big difference in our costs. I wasn't aware the Thanksgiving "holiday" was a whole week. My son & DH don't even have the "holiday" off.

Thanks for the info, though.

Lives4Disney

The info I got was during the summer, so perhaps the issue has been clarified elsewhere. You might want to call Disney Dining and ask about using the DDE card the week of Thanksgiving. Or - you could wait until Disney makes its November announcement.

 

[Wish_I_Was_At_WDW]

And don't forget the Christmas "holiday" lasts from something like December 15 - January 6th.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We are going Dec. 12-16 and when I made the ADRs I asked about DDE being blacked out. The CM told me it varies by restaurant. Not sure if she was right or wrong, but when she looked at my ADRs she said we should be fine using our DDE card.

 

[Bill From PA]

My card expires 3/31/2008 and my only concern is that any changes they make apply to new DDE cards and renewals only. If tips are added and/or alcohol is excluded, I'll re-evaluate whether DDE makes sense in the future. If they do this to the card I purchased under the old rules, I'll be royally pi$$ed. Anyone know if they can legally change the rules after I made the purchase?

Thanks,
Bill From PA

 

[goofy4tink]

My card expires 3/31/2008 and my only concern is that any changes they make apply to new DDE cards and renewals only. If tips are added and/or alcohol is excluded, I'll re-evaluate whether DDE makes sense in the future. If they do this to the card I purchased under the old rules, I'll be royally pi$$ed. Anyone know if they can legally change the rules after I made the purchase?

Thanks,
Bill From PA

That would be my issue as well. If the changes are changes that I would not go along with, then I wouldn't have renewed my card. But, I did...in Sept. Nothing was said about any 'changes' to what I was paying for. So...if they up and change policy, I would hope they would have a system in place that allows those of us who just renewed to get what we expected when we renewed. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[BCV23]

On my DDE letter it does say "Participating restaurants are subject to change" as well as "Certain dining restrictions may apply during holiday times and special events. Please check with the restaurant when making Priority Seating." So I think there would be no legal claim at all if the holiday periods are blacked out.

I do wonder how we are supposed to check with the restaurants directly.

It's fun to speculate but I'm not going to get upset about it until there is an announcement. Perhaps the announcement will just be the automatic 18% gratuity which doesn't bother me in the least especially as the issue seems to confuse some. That hasn't been officially announced right? We just know about it since servers have posted the details of the new contract.

I still remember being so grateful that we could finally join DDE after years of having APs. The increase of $15 since 2005 doesn't bother me. We still enjoy great savings with DDE.

 

[NancyIL]

Not sure about the DDE, but annual pass benefits are good for only 1 calendar year at a time. So if your annual pass expires after Dec. 31st, as most do, you are still subject to any changes that begin Jan. 1st of the new year. I suspect that any changes that are made to the DDE will apply to everyone, and not just to those who purchase their DDE card in 2008.

My card expires 3/31/2008 and my only concern is that any changes they make apply to new DDE cards and renewals only. If tips are added and/or alcohol is excluded, I'll re-evaluate whether DDE makes sense in the future. If they do this to the card I purchased under the old rules, I'll be royally pi$$ed. Anyone know if they can legally change the rules after I made the purchase?

Thanks,
Bill From PA

 

[marivaid]

I got my card in the mail about a couple months ago (bought it in July). It was accompanied by a list of restaurants that accept the card.

In the back of that list, this is what I read :

Holiday's
This card will not be valid Easter, Mother's Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, December 24, December 25, December 31 and January 1.

That's what I was told when I bought the card, and I'm okay with that. I'm NOT okay with "holiday season" lasting 2 weeks and not being able to use my card anywhere at all for our entire stay.

December 24 and 25th are holidays. December 20th is not.
Unless Disney suddenly went British on us and decided that "Christmas holiday" now means "Christmas vacation".

If they do change the rules what can we do.. not much. And they could do it, although I find this a little hard to believe since the announcement is for November and would affect Thanksgiving, giving guests only a few weeks notice. That said, I bought my AP in July and less than a month later the resort booking policy had changed.

 

[BCV23]

marivaid, look at the small print on the back of the letter. Mine has the quote from above. "Certain dining restrictions may apply during holiday times and special events." Holiday times is not the same as holiday of course. It also hedges in a manner that is consistent with what jackkellingstonsgirl was told about it varying from restaurant to restaurant.

 

[ADP]

And don't forget the Christmas "holiday" lasts from something like December 15 - January 6th.

I called the DDE office and was also told specifically that the DDE was not accepted on the day of the holiday only and not during a range of dates.

 

[marivaid]

marivaid, look at the small print on the back of the letter. Mine has the quote from above. "Certain dining restrictions may apply during holiday times and special events." Holiday times is not the same as holiday of course. It also hedges in a manner that is consistent with what jackkellingstonsgirl was told about it varying from restaurant to restaurant.

Yes but if it' "holiday time" and not specific holidays, why put the exact dates on the back ? It doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

I called the DDE office and was also told specifically that the DDE was not excepted on the day of the holiday only and not during a range of dates.

Thank you for this - great news !
Let's just hope they won't say the exact opposite next month...

 

[BCV23]

Yes but if it' "holiday time" and not specific holidays, why put the exact dates on the back ? It doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Perhaps because the holidays themselves are excluded across the board (although in actuality it sounds like there are exceptions even then) but holiday periods are left to the discretion of the restaurants?

ADP, that is good news for those worried about that issue.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I think whatever changes are made will apply to all of us, no matter when the card was purchased, probably effective Januaury 1, 2008.

Since the print materials say participating restaurants are subject to change I think the loophole is that some restaurants won't be PARTICIPATING in DDE during certain holiday periods.

I am still on the fence about our card. I can't imagine that buying a new card under the existing rules will stop the new rules from applying to me, so it might be better to wait until after they announce the changes. On the other hand, if the changes include a price increase I might be better off buying it now.

 

[marivaid]

Since the print materials say participating restaurants are subject to change I think the loophole is that some restaurants won't be PARTICIPATING in DDE during certain holiday periods.

That's what I'm thinking too. Hopefully they'll do us the enormous favor of actually letting us know which restaurants before we get there. I wouldn't mind contacting them myself but have no idea how, and the last time I asked a DDE question while on the phone with Dining, the guy didn't know what it was.

 

[onehotdisneymama]

We are going to be at WDW in December. All of our ADR's are made at resturants that take the DDE. I am going to be sooooooooooooooo upset if they change things that ruin this. I am also going to be upset if the lounges are excluded..........DD and myself like to go to the different lounges and relax while DH takes a nap after a long day of fun. Trying not to get too uptight until we see what happens in Nov.