DDE or Dining plan

[bcsmom]

Has anyone used both, and which is better? We are probably buying the dining plan, but if the DDE card is better then maybe I should go with that. We do not eat quite as much food offered with the dining plan, but it is fun to order dessert! We do plan on eating 1TS everyday, sometimes two. So which plan do you think would be better?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

To get the DDE you must either be a Florida Resident or have an AP (or both).

To get the Dining Plan you must have a package which includes room at rack rate (or AAA member discount) and tickets and the dining plan.

 

[bcsmom]

I have not booked my package yet, so I am pretty much open to either buy an AP or book a package. So I was trying to figure which one would be a better deal, as far as the food goes.

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

I have not booked my package yet, so I am pretty much open to either buy an AP or book a package. So I was trying to figure which one would be a better deal, as far as the food goes.

We had a hodge-podge of left over park hopper passes from prior visits, so we've opted for AAA room-only and me getting an AP plus picking up the DDE card for this trip. Next trip is on Starwood points so no opportunity for the dining plan on that one either, but my AP & DDE should still be valid for that trip (bonus!).

 

[CarnotaurDad]

We love DDE because it doesn't "force" us to eat food we don't want. Some days, a big breakfast (plus a few yummy snacks througout the day) will fill us up. Thus, we don't want all the other items.

The 20% off (including alcohol) is fantastic and there are lots of places to use it.

 

[dzneelvr]

The DDE is available to anyone at the $75 price; AP holders get it for $50. We're doing the DDE (on the advice of a friend who lives in Celebration) because it's much more of a "no brainer" than the other plan where you have to count item values, figure out what you can and cannot order, purchase special packages, etc. With the DDE it's a straight 20% off the bill at a long list of the most popular places and let's face it...I don't want to have to work my brain much while on vacation, nor do I want to have to purchase a "package". We figure we'll make back the $50 in 3 days, easy, as we do 2 sitdowns and the ASMo food court for breakfast and maybe a late-night snack per day.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

dzneelvr, are you positive about DDE being available to anyone? From all I've read and heard it is only available for Florida residents or AP holders.

 

[rickdeni]

I needed an AP voucher before I could order the DDE. We had a large group and the amount of money that was saved in a week was almost $1,000. There were 10 adults and 3 children and 20% off the adult food and drink was a lot of money - breakfast alone (no cocktails) saved $25-$30 daily. Dinner saved a lot especially at places like Biergarten. If you can use it on 2 trips your savings are double.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I thought it was $75 for FL residents who do not own an AP. (Not for anyone.)
I think in January this year WDW CMs were misunderstanding and selling to anyone. But that was corrected I think in February.

 

[bcsmom]

Thanks everyone, I think I will buy the AP & the DDE! I agree I do not want to work my brain on vacation either

 

[DisOrBust]

Is this for your trip in a month?? If so your past the time of getting an AP discounted room. Disney currently has a discount for your dates so you may have to figure that in as well.

DDE is our choice however; We use the room discount, 2 in our party are diabetic so no need for desert, none of need a dessert with counter service, I like my dole whips for desert and Finaly we have wine with dinner,lol!!!

 

[bcsmom]

Is this for your trip in a month?? If so your past the time of getting an AP discounted room. Disney currently has a discount for your dates so you may have to figure that in as well.

DDE is our choice however; We use the room discount, 2 in our party are diabetic so no need for desert, none of need a dessert with counter service, I like my dole whips for desert and Finaly we have wine with dinner,lol!!!

Yes we are going in a month. I know I am to late for the room discount, but I have a friend who got me a discount off that this time. I still needed tickets though, and I thought we would use the BRP on our next trip in Sept. Also, if I buy AP's my DH is more likely to take more trips in a year

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

I think the choice between DDE and dining plan has to do with how you eat. For us, the dining plan would not be a good choice as we rarely eat counter service. Also, the table service credits would not go far since we love the signature restaurants.

We are going back in Jan and I am looking forward to using my card again.

 

[bcsmom]

I think the choice between DDE and dining plan has to do with how you eat. For us, the dining plan would not be a good choice as we rarely eat counter service. Also, the table service credits would not go far since we love the signature restaurants.

We are going back in Jan and I am looking forward to using my card again.

That is true I really did not think of that, because we do not like CS either. Thanks for your input.

 

[magsmom]

I love DDE. We are coming up on trip #4 on it and it and it paid for itself on trip #1. The fact that it can be kept flexible (no app or dessert if you don't want it) and that it can be used on adult beverages would make it a better choice for me.
JMO, hovever.

 

[pedro2112]

I think the choice between DDE and dining plan has to do with how you eat. For us, the dining plan would not be a good choice as we rarely eat counter service. Also, the table service credits would not go far since we love the signature restaurants.

We are going back in Jan and I am looking forward to using my card again.

Actually, it sounds like you would do extremely well with both the dining plan and the DDE. The only way you would get this is if you weren't getting an AP room discount. If so, then it probably wouldn't be worth it. But if you were a florida resident with a DDE card, you'd save a bunch of money using your TS credits on your most expensive single credit restuarants and your DDE card on the rest. Even if you barely use your CS credits, you'd end up saving ton.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

Actually, it sounds like you would do extremely well with both the dining plan and the DDE. The only way you would get this is if you weren't getting an AP room discount. If so, then it probably wouldn't be worth it. But if you were a florida resident with a DDE card, you'd save a bunch of money using your TS credits on your most expensive single credit restuarants and your DDE card on the rest. Even if you barely use your CS credits, you'd end up saving ton.

You have a good point, Pedro. Thanks for taking the time to post. Only problem is that we are DVC members .. and there is no dining plan available. Maybe one day ...