DDE....How much will I save?

[Vidia]

Although we haven't become DVC members yet (Hopefully in january, before the F&F promo ends) we're already crunching numbers.

We're assuming out 'typical' trip will include 5 nights (Sun-Thurs, of course) in a 2 bedroom at SSR (Or some other DVC property). We figure to use one of the local grocery services and do Breakfast and lunch at Home. For dinner, however, we'd often like to have 'good' food; Epcot WS, Spoodles, etc...

We're a family of 5. In '07 Kids will be: DD17 (Very light eater), DS13 (Carnevour!) and DD11 (good appetite fo a little girl). Most dinners will certainly include a glass of wine or mixed drink for mom and dad, too.

We've already guess-timated what a typical dinner tab might be, and the 20% savings. But, I'm wondering if anyone else, in a similar situation has tracked their savings with the DDE.

Thanks for any insight.

(P.S.) Thank you to all those who've sent PMs regarding referrals for the F&F program. My apologies for not getting back to everyone personally, but...um...we got a TON of PMs.

 

[bcvillastwo]

After getting our annual passes last year we heard about DDE. At that time the cost for DDE was $50.00. Before we went with DDE we thought about our WDW eating patterns, estimated our costs without DDE over the 13 month DDE period, and then calculated our break even point.

I can't remember the details with an precision but I do recall that to pay off the cost of the card (this year it's $60.00) we had to go about 6 days based on our normal eating patterns before we broke even.

So for us, after the 6th day we saved 20% on almost all of our food purchases. We used the DDE card for 3 trips totaling about 20 days last year.

In my view the key is determining your break even point because you have to make up the cost of DDE before you can start saving 20%.

I hope this helped.

 

[crisi]

Its really hard to say. For us, it didn't make sense until my husband was going to be down a second time in a year and needed the AP anyway. You only qualify for the DDE if you have an AP - and we don't tend to go often enough for an AP.

But with the AP in hand, it really did depend on where you ate and how much you DRANK. For us, with lots of signature dining and lots of alcohol, it was a good deal.

 

[browniemtb]

Hopefully you know that to have a DDE card you need to have Annual Passes.....We are a family of four and found that the payoff of the $60 took about 4 meals (dinners)......it would be less if they were character meals.
Brownie

 

[FLYNZ4]

We found that with the DDE card... we spend almost exactly the same as if we bought the DDP. However... the eating pattern is different for us between the two plans, and we prefer DDE.

With either plan, we would eat breakfast in our room each morning. Beyond that... the differences are as follows (for us):

DDP: One big TS meal with appetizer, entree, dessert... plus a CS meal
DDE: Two TS meals... each smaller/lighter. Generally we do not get appitizer + entree + dessert.

Since we are not fans of CS restaurants... and since we do not want to overeat at any single meal... we like the DDE card better.

/Jim

 

[OKW Lover]

I presume you are aware that the DDE gives you a 20% discount on the total meal at almost all sit-down restaurants. How much you will save in $ obviously depends on how much dining in table service places you do.

For our part, we've "paid for" the DDE card with just one meal for 4 adults at one of the higher end (no, not V&A's) restaurant. Anything more than that is money in your pocket.

 

[Vidia]

Thanks everyone. Good info.

We figured we'd make our $60 back rather quickly. When we do go for sit-down dinners, we aren't shy about eating.

FLYNZ4, this is our mindset as well....I could do without CS meals all together. The moeny we dropped on 'chicken and fries' last July drove me insane. I'd much rather head back to SSR for some cold cuts or PBJ; knowing there's a great dinner coming later on.

Thanks again.

 

[Esmerelda]

We made our money back on this quite soon. There are 4 in my group so in about 2 meals we made our money back plus we used it many more times. We really liked using it.

I am not a fan of the dining plan because you seem too constricted to me but this worked out great for us. The other nice part was it also covered alcohol. My hubby and I love a glass of wine with dinner so that worked out great too!

have a great time!
Esmerelda

 

[Jynohn]

We've saved over $600 so far with just two trips for our family of four. We're not even really big eaters, but just prefer sit down meals to counter service, so the money added up quickly.

The DDE is so easy to use, and seems so much less complicated than trying to keep track of meals on the dining plan.

Just one thing to beware of, between the annual pass, the DVC, and the dining card, it makes it REALLY easy to justify more and more trips, thus canceling out any savings you would have had.

 

[Jimbo]

My hubby and I love a glass of wine with dinner so that worked out great too!

And it doesn't have to be with dinner. We stayed at VWL this summer, and while the kids were otherwise occupied, DW and I had some wine in the bar next to Artist Point. The DDE got us 20% off that, too.

 

[Esmerelda]

good point Jimbo...we didn't do that...but we will the next round! thanks!


E..

 

[Maistre Gracey]

My wife and I eat very well while at WDW. Since we don't have kids, we also have several drinks both at dinner and at the lounges.

With three or four trips per year, plus the fact that the DDE is now accepted at VB, we save close to $1000 per year... Of course, we must subtract the cost of the card.

MG

 

[Mahusky]

My wife and I eat very well while at WDW. Since we don't have kids, we also have several drinks both at dinner and at the lounges.

With three or four trips per year, plus the fact that the DDE is now accepted at VB, we save close to $1000 per year... Of course, we must subtract the cost of the card.

MG

Maistre Gracey... I must be sleeping from the head up!!! When did VB start taking the DDE card? This is great news!

 

[byoung]

Saved over $600 with family of 10 in May last year, in 5 Days.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Maistre Gracey... I must be sleeping from the head up!!! When did VB start taking the DDE card? This is great news!

Interesting question.
This is the first year it's listed on the official sheet, although last year they accepted it...some of the time.
Last year I was told there were so many guests trying to use it, they just honored it out of the goodness of their heart. -- I can't vouch for why they took it last year, but they did let me use it when I asked.

Most importantly, Sonya's, Shutter's, and The Green Cabin Room are all listed for 2006, so this year there is no question.
I hope it stays that way for 2007.

MG

 

[elijahpep]

We have DDE and it works great for us. The DDE is also the only card that I 'm aware of that allows a discount on adult drinks (if you so chose to purchase them) as a previous poster alerted too.

With the annual passes you also get a lot of shopping discounts at DTD, we can add up really quick. You do however would only recover those costs for AP's if you spend 6 or 7 days or more.

 

[Mtnman44]

Hence the Evil Genious of The Walt Disney Company! Remember, everything is designed to earn them MORE revenue, NOT help you spend less. This includes DVC itself!!!!! I'm not faulting them, that's the goal of any successful company.

Just one thing to beware of, between the annual pass, the DVC, and the dining card, it makes it REALLY easy to justify more and more trips, thus canceling out any savings you would have had.

 

[chevyAZ]

The break - even point is if you plan to spend $300.00 on food at the restaurants listed on http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneydiningexperience.htm.

We're planning on a few character meals and those restaurants usually accept DDE.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Just our one dinner at V&A exceeded that break-even point. The rest (and we used the card on 3 trips, with dinner at V&A on each trip) was GRAVY!!!