DDE question

[pickles]

I have been a deluxe and a ddp fan, but am considering DDE for our next trip

If I understand correctly, you get 20% off, but then they add on 18% tip?

how does your bill look when this is done?

I really hate someone telling me how much I should or should not tip, and not sure why Disney feels it is ok for them to do this.

Also, if I understand correctly, the DDE won't do me any good at the little kiosks of food or snack type places? Only good at the main meal TS places.

 

[CarolMN]

Moved from DVC-Planning

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

We have used DDE for years. We weren't too thrilled about the union negotiation that made the mandatory 18% tip for all DDE members, but in all honesty when we thought about it, we always tip that or more so there really is no difference from before. If you really take issue with leaving the 18% that is included on your bill, you can ask for a manager to have it changed. We never have done this, but were told you can. DDE is good at full service dining locations and lounges.

 

[Tricia1972]

I see that this is from a DVC board originally, so the OP had no way to know that there is a tipping thread here to address all tipping questions on the restaurant board.

Pickles - You will find much discussion about DDE and tipping on this thread

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1870320

 

[NancyIL]

The DDE is also good at counter service at AK, as well as counter service at the resorts.

When you get the bill, the 20% will be deducted from the food and beverage total, the 18% tip (on the pre-discounted amount) will be added, as well as tax on the discounted amount. It doesn't bother me to have them figure the tip.

 

[crisi]

Counter service at SOME resorts. Also MOST hotel lounges and its good on alcohol.

Its best when your party is larger, you go for more days at Disney, you eat at a lot of DDE accepting tables service or counter service restaurants, you tend to have large bills (signature dining, alcohol), you often finish off the evening with a nightcap in the resort lounge and/or often have a pool drink while watching the kids, you are already a Florida resident or an AP holder.

Which doesn't mean it can't be a good deal if you are a party of two who goes for an anniversary weekend and has two really expensive meals.......just that the more of that list that applies to you, the more you are likely to save.

 

[TDC Nala]

The tipping thread link has already been posted - because this is a general discussion about DDE and was moved from another board, I am going to leave the thread alone.

If it becomes a thread primarily about tipping, we'll have to close it and refer tipping questions to the tipping thread.

DDE is good at most WDW table service restaurants - and a few counter service. You can use it at the value food courts, POFQ food court, SSR counter service (I will be spending a lot of time at SSR this month so it works out), and all CS at Animal Kingdom park except Yak & Yeti's outdoor CS (Anandupur Food Cafes). It was accepted because these locations did not have table service restaurants. SSR and AK were "grandfathered" because they now have table service restaurants that accept DDE.

You can't use DDE at kiosks or CS in the parks (with the exception of Animal Kingdom CS), and it's blacked out on major holidays (DDE considers Christmas Eve and New Years Eve holidays for obvious reasons).

 

[Tricia1972]

To clear up the some restaurants and lounges, I found this list of places that accept the DDE card.

In addition, you can experience savings if you drive your own car as valet is free for those with a DDE card who are having dinner onsite (applies to resorts). You just get free parking at the parks for dining, no valet there.

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]All-Star Music Resort
Intermission Food Court

All-Star Sports Resort
End Zone Food Court[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]All-Star Movies Resort
World Premiere Food Court[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Animal Kingdom Lodge
Boma-Flavors of Africa
Jiko-The Cooking Place
Victoria Falls[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Beach Club Resort
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop
(eat in only)
Cape May Cafe
Martha's Vineyard Lounge[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]BoardWalk
Belle Vue Lounge
ESPN Club
Flying Fish Cafe
Spoodles[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge Golf Club
Sand Trap Bar & Grill[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Caribbean Beach Resort
Shutters at Old Port Royale[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Contemporary Resort
California Grill
Chef Mickey's
Concourse Steakhouse
Outer Rim Lounge[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Coronado Springs Resort
Maya Grill[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Crockett's Tavern
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (9:30 p.m. show only, offered seasonally)
Trail's End Restaurant[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
1900 Park Fare
Cítricos
Garden View Lounge
Grand Floridian Cafe
Mizner's Lounge
Narcoossee's
Victoria & Albert's (excluding Chef's Table)[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Old Key West Resort
Olivia's Cafe[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Polynesian Resort
'Ohana
Kona Cafe
Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (late show only)
Tambu Lounge[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Pop Century Resort
Everything Pop Dining
Classic Concoctions[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Port Orleans Resort
Riverside:
Boatwright's Dining Hall
River Roost
French Quarter:
Scat Cat's Club
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory [/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
The Turf Club Bar and Grill
Artist's Palette [/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Wilderness Lodge
Artist Point
Territory Lounge
Whispering Canyon Cafe[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Yacht Club Resort
Ale and Compass Lounge
Crew's Cup Lounge
Captain's Grille
Yachtsman Steakhouse[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DOWNTOWN DISNEY Marketplace
Cap'n Jack's Restaurant[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DOWNTOWN DISNEY Pleasure Island
Raglan Road[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DOWNTOWN DISNEY West Side
Planet Hollywood[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Epcot
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Biergarten Restaurant
Bistro de Paris Restaurant
Chefs de France Restaurant
Coral Reef Restaurant
Tutto Italia Ristorante
Le Cellier Steakhouse
Nine Dragons Restaurant
Restaurant Marrakesh
Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room
San Angel Inn Restaurante
The Garden Grill Restaurant[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Disney's Hollywood Studios
50's Prime Time Cafe
Hollywood & Vine
Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
The Hollywood Brown Derby
Tune-In Lounge[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Magic Kingdom
Cinderella's Royal Table
Liberty Tree Tavern
The Crystal Palace
The Plaza Restaurant
Tony's Town Square Restaurant[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Animal Kingdom
Tusker House Restaurant
Pizzafari
Flame Tree Barbecue
Restaurantosaurus[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Disney's Vero Beach Resort
The Green Cabin Room
Shutters Restaurant
Sonya's Fine Steaks & Chops (Sunday Brunch not included)[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Entertainment & Dancing:[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DOWNTOWN DISNEY Pleasure Island:
Half price admission to Pleasure Island Clubs for members and guest;
except for specially priced events[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

Atlantic Dance Hall - Disney’s BoardWalk:
Admission is free for members and guest[/FONT]​

 

[TDC Nala]

That list is slightly out of date. Classic Concoctions (Pop Century) and Concorse Steakhouse (Contemporary) no longer exist. Concourse Steakhouse was replaced by The Wave, which does accept DDE.

At Old Key West, DDE is also accepted at the lounge (Gurgling Suitcase).

 

[robinb]

You can't use DDE at kiosks or CS in the parks (with the exception of Animal Kingdom CS), and it's blacked out on major holidays (DDE considers Christmas Eve and New Years Eve holidays for obvious reasons).

New Year's DAY is also considered a holiday. That one tripped me up last year at the ESPN club.

The only time that the automatic DDE tip annoyed me was when it was added on for drinks at bars when no food was served. I would normally tip a $1 for two beers and I ended up tipping $2.50 instead via the DDE card.

 

[pickles]

Thanks for the info. I posted on the DVC board as I knew many DVC members have DDE. I forgot all about the dining board. That said I HATE stickies that have tons of pages on one subject. It is hard to wade thru and the search thingy never seems to work right for me

 

[TDC Nala]

Thanks for the info. I posted on the DVC board as I knew many DVC members have DDE. I forgot all about the dining board. That said I HATE stickies that have tons of pages on one subject. It is hard to wade thru and the search thingy never seems to work right for me

That sticky was established because of the tendency of most tipping threads to turn into heated debates with a lot of rudeness and personal attacks, and get closed.

Please see the first post of the sticky for the Restaurant Board tipping question policies.

 

[disprincessatheart]

The 18% bothered us a little at the buffets - especially when we felt the service we did get was poor, but overall we saved a lot of money using it the week of our wedding ($250+ just on our wedding dinner at Narcoossee's), even when we would have tipped smaller - taking 20% off and adding 18% back on is still cheaper than paying full price plus a smaller tip - so we continue to use the card.

My biggest problem is other than the TS meals, I always forget where else I can use it, and dont' think to ask. I know we paid full price at a few places on our last trip where we could have either used DDE or our AP discounts... I'll have to remind DH to remind me to ask at every meal this next trip!

 

[crisi]

Always ask - sometimes places not on the list will discount. For instance, Bongo's isn't on the list, but I handed it to the waitress with "I don't think you guys take this....." She said she'd check with the manager, came back and they gave me a 10% discount (and didn't add the tip).

To the best of my knowledge, Disney will not stack any discounts - so if you have a DVC discount, an AP discount and a DDE, you want to use the one that discounts the most - the DDE 20% is usually the best. But if you were going to eat at places that offer a AP or DVC 10% discount and tend to be a conservative tipper - the DDE won't pay off as fast.