DDE or Dining Plan??

[stellaxluna]

HELP!!
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I'm sooo confused as to which to choose. I only discovered these options a few days ago, and I was leaning towards the DDE card since I have an AP. I have AR's for 3 "signature" restaurants, which was another reason. But it seems like the plan is sooo cheap for all those meals. Is it easy to use? Or too much thinking? .....I would really like some opinions & input as to which you are using and why. I'd really appreciate it sooooo much, Thank you!!!

 

[Chuck S]

If you have an AP, and plan on staying onsite using an AP discounted room, you will not be able to take advantage of the "dining plan". The dining plan requires a "package" booking including rack rate room and at least a one day MYW ticket. The dining plan is also not available to DVC reservations.

The DDE worked well for us on our last trip (two adults), were able to eat what we wanted, where we wanted, without feeling like we HAD to have appetizer, entree, beverage AND dessert to "get our $$$ worth". We spent a little less on meals (including tips) than we would have on the plan, over the course of a 10 day trip. However, since folks generally eat much more the first few days of their trips, a shorter trip may be worth the dining plan. This was based on a "paid" MYW dining plan, not the free promotion, but still consider the difference in room prices as part of the overall cost of the plan.

 

[sue1013]

It depends on your eating habits. We do not do counter service so the plan would not work for us. There are some that only do counter service it wouldn't work for them either. Since we only do TS the DDE card works well for us.

 

[stellaxluna]

Oh I see now!! I have an AP, got discounted rooms, so the dining plan was NEVER an option for me!! It's part of the "package"!! Duh, I get it now!!!!!! Thanks soooo much for clarifying for me!!!! Again this board has put my mind to ease, you guys are great, thanks!!!

 

[mommary]

Does the DDE allow for discounts at more upscale places like California Grill and Tea at the Grand Floridian? We will be a party of 5 and 20% is a good discount.

 

[Chuck S]

Does the DDE allow for discounts at more upscale places like California Grill and Tea at the Grand Floridian? We will be a party of 5 and 20% is a good discount.

I don't know about the Tea, but it is definately good at Calif Grill...including alcohol and wine. It is valid at virtually all full service Disney owned restaurants (parks and resorts) and counter service at Animal Kingdom Park and the value resorts.

 

[Tinkaroo]

Does the DDE allow for discounts at more upscale places like California Grill and Tea at the Grand Floridian? We will be a party of 5 and 20% is a good discount.

It's good at the tea, too!

 

[Kristina]

We have AP's and changed our reservation, canceling our AP discounted room at the Pop Century and getting a package with free dining and one base ticket each instead. The room and tickets are costing us 40 dollars more (20 per person) than our AP room rate, so we will still save money because we will be eating for well more than that each day .

58 days !

 

[tnkrbell]

We found DDE to be WONDERFUL!!! We saved sooo much with this!!! Jsut at Ys alone we saved 30.00!!!!!

 

[DisneyFreq]

Oh wow, now I understand. I couldn't figure out how ppl with AP we're saving money by getting a package. It never occured to me to by a single day base ticket. For some reason I was thinking a base ticket for every day of your stay. So what are you doing with the base tickets? If you get the no expiration option, could you, say, give them as a gift?

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

i believe the base ticket will print out with your name on them

 

[Katerbug]

We have decided against the dining plan since we like to have sit down meals but do we have to have an AP in order to get the DDE card?

 

[Luv2Roam]

To buy a DDE membership you need either to be a WDW AP holder or Florida resident.

 

[NMW]

We are DVC members so we can't get the MYW dining plan. We bought PAP's we plan to use for 2 trips and bought the DDE card. I think overall we will save money. Well, obviously using the PAP's for 2 trips, 10 months apart, will save us money.

We think the DDE card will be good for us because we like to do 2 sit down meals (breakfast and dinner) and a counter service lunch in the parks. We can use the DDE card and get 20% off our total bill, including alcohol drinks at most of the places we will eat (all table service). We can use it for counter service at AK and at any bar in any of the hotels (even if we don't get food). It's only $50 for AP holders, so it should pay for itself fairly quickly. I can't wait to use it.