DDE Question

[stormer]

We will be staying at OKW in Oct. We are considering buying the DDE card. We will be using our AP's for this visit. We may go back in Aug. 09. AT that point our AP's will have expired and we would just purchase MYW Tickets. Could we still use our DDE Card, it will be less then a year since we purchased it, but we will no longer have the AP's? Do you have to show your AP when you use it or just when you buy it?

 

[SleepyatDVC]

You only need the AP to BUY the DDE card not to use it. So, you are all set to go.

 

[stormer]

Great, thanks for the info!

 

[marvali]

Thinking about purchasing at least one AP with the DVC discount on our upcoming trip in August so we can purchase the DDE card too.

 

[bczang]

Thinking about purchasing at least one AP with the DVC discount on our upcoming trip in August so we can purchase the DDE card too.

I am still new to this and trying to figure out all the abbreviations! I think I have most of them but AP and DDE are stumping me!!! Help!

Thanks!

 

[Corinne]

I am still new to this and trying to figure out all the abbreviations! I think I have most of them but AP and DDE are stumping me!!! Help!Thanks!

AP=Annual Pass
DDE=Disney Dining Experience....this is available to Annual Pass Holders (and FL residents) for a fee of $60 you may purchase this card, good for 1 year which gives you a 20% discount on MOST Table Service (TS) meals at WDW Parks/Resorts and SOME Counter Service (CS) restaurants. Hope this helps!

 

[marvali]

I am still new to this and trying to figure out all the abbreviations! I think I have most of them but AP and DDE are stumping me!!! Help!

Thanks!

I know this is a little bit of a repeat from Corinne, but:

AP - Annual Pass (good for one year from date of first use, basically a park hopper to all four major WDW parks)
PAP - Premium Annual Pass (same as AP, but also gets you into the "minor" parks you get with Water Park Fun and More MYW tickets)
DDE - Disney Dining Experience discount card. Gets you a 20% discount at most TS restaurants, including for alchoholic drinks. Does have a "required" 18% tip included.

If you have problems with any other abbreviations here is a very helpful link to what most of them are.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1660743

I still have to use it quite often.

 

[chemie15]

Does anyone or can you buy a DDE card when you AP is about to expire and have that good for a year. I am buying APs for our Oct trip. We are going back in Jan and then Sept 09, if during my OCT trip I buy a DDE and that is good for a year, would I be able to buy another one in Sept 09 and have that good until sept 2010? Because after out sept 09 trip we will only go once and just buy a regular park pass.

 

[marvali]

Does anyone or can you buy a DDE card when you AP is about to expire and have that good for a year. I am buying APs for our Oct trip. We are going back in Jan and then Sept 09, if during my OCT trip I buy a DDE and that is good for a year, would I be able to buy another one in Sept 09 and have that good until sept 2010? Because after out sept 09 trip we will only go once and just buy a regular park pass.

I think I understand this correctly from things I have read. I believe you have to have a current AP to purchase a new DDE card when that first one expires. Only one person has to have the AP though, so if you use the DDE card enough to warrant it, you may want to purchase one AP and regular park passes for everyone else. Then the person with the AP can purchase another DDE card at that time.

 

[bczang]

Thanks Corine and marvali!!!

 

[TiggerFreak]

My understanding of the AP/DDE program is that the DDE is valid with a currently valid AP. That said I have in the 3 times of enrolling in DDE over the past 3 years only been asked for an AP 2 times out of approximately 20 times using the DDE for discounts.

You purchase a membership in DDE that is good for up to 1 year while you concurrently hold a valid Annual Pass.

I generally purchase them both at the same time at the beginning of 1 annual visit and then schedule a long visit the following year that is near the expiration date of the AP.

 

[ladycop67]

Not sure if DDE is worth it anymore. In the renewal pamplet it states there is an 18% gratituty that will be added to the bill, it also says this when you call DDE. So you are not getting much of a discount which would be only 2% not the 20% like before.

 

[Corinne]

Not sure if DDE is worth it anymore. In the renewal pamplet it states there is an 18% gratituty that will be added to the bill, it also says this when you call DDE. So you are not getting much of a discount which would be only 2% not the 20% like before.

There have been several other threads on this subject. For us, it still worth it. Your tab is still discounted 20%, and since we tip 20% anyway, its all good for us!

 

[VLee]

You still save 20% before you tip, so this discount more or less pays for your 18% tip and then some... normally you would tip on the whole amount, so it does add up, especially for several people.

and it is good on alcoholic drinks and appetizers that are not included in the basic dining plan.

 

[marvali]

Not sure if DDE is worth it anymore. In the renewal pamplet it states there is an 18% gratituty that will be added to the bill, it also says this when you call DDE. So you are not getting much of a discount which would be only 2% not the 20% like before.

It would only be 2% savings if you never were a tipper before and the 18% tip was something new to you. I calculated the actual savings in another thread but I don't have the numbers handy right now. I did it using a current tip of 10, 15 and 20%. The simple answer is that if you currently tip 15%, then an 18% tip is only 3% more, and your savings is approximately 20-3=17%.

 

[hlyntunstl]

and it is good on alcoholic drinks and appetizers that are not included in the basic dining plan.

Have you tried this yet? I'm planning on getting the DDP and using the DDE to cover any extras but was curious if anyone has tried or had issues combining the two.