DDE thoughts

[Luv2Roam]

The last time DH and I used the DDE was at the GF Cafe for breakfast. We were refused the discount on our beverages (juice, coffee). The server insisted only alcoholic beverages are included with the DDE discount.
Everything I have ever read was a 20% discount is on all food and beverage (including alcohol) for up to 10 people, at participating Disney restaurants.
And frankly, unless I have a piece of paper with me to prove otherwise I almost always have to ask for the discount on beverages. This was the first time I was refused and even argued with once the server checked into it further.
Between that, the cost, the block out dates, etc, DH and I cannot believe it, but we don't plan on renewing our DDE next year.
It has been very handy. But almost getting so not worth the trouble. And almost always it is just the two of us, and we can actually more easily dine off site than on.

 

[momx2]

Strange, we have always gotten the discount on our beverages. If this is the case, we will not be renewing.

 

[tedisney]

That's weird, we have always gotten the discount off of our entire bill, never had to ask about beverages (which definitely are included).

 

[tjmw2727]

Used the DDE for 3 years now - can't even count how many meals and never had an issue with a server excluding anything. We have had a few servers that had go to a manger for help or authorization but even that didn't take very long.

I don't see the black out dates as an issue, at least for us. There are only 8 black out days out of 365 and other than Christmas week we would never run into more than 1 black out day during a trip.

Its definately not a value for everyone - each family has to their own math! Since we usually eat our TS meal as a late lunch in a park and often stay at POFQ where the DDE is good in the food court it remains an excellent deal for us.

TJ

 

[TDC Nala]

I have never had anything on a bill at a participating restaurant or lounge excluded, except for Victoria Falls at AKL which refused to honor it. I think it was an issue with having to retrieve a manager from downstairs to approve it. If I want a drink I get it at Jiko now, took care of that problem.

The blackout dates are not an issue unless you travel to WDW exclusively over major holiday periods. If I'm at WDW on a major holiday, I just go to Bluezoo. Dining offsite requires a car, which I almost never have - and if I did have one, I'd be having to forego my dinner wine.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

We're about to start our third DDE year. We have never had any problem having the card accepted, nor had any part of the meal or drinks excluded. As a PP mentioned, the black-out dates are few, and easily avoided if you don't travel on holiday dates. (I know you're a local, Barb, but do you really need to eat in WDW during those eight busiest days of the year??? )

 

[n2mm]

No problems ever using ours (3 years now). Used the last time October 2007 (late), so unless the change is new, I think it was just an uninformed CM on the DDE guidelines. I'm waiting for my new card to arrive for my trip next month, so will double check any written info that might arrive with it.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I don't know why I happen to have the uninformed servers then. Very puzzling. It is a rarity I don't have to mention to include the beverages. And this last time when they refused it and argued with me, then that was it. Just got tired of it.
The block out dates are irritating. But not a deal breaker.
And if memory serves me correctly there is no price break for renewing.
We decided to not renew next time, eat off site more, and if we decide renewing is good, then we can. Really I think we are dining off site more and more anyway. However the last part of the year is always the busiest time for us anyway and that is our norm.

 

[Cinderelli]

Several years ago, our DDE was denied at Narcosees on our ENTIRE bill. The waitress had never heard of it. The manager onsite was an "intern" and she had never heard of it either. They ended up giving us a 10% discount on food only. It was an anniversary dinner for us and we were very disappointed. After contacting DDE and the actual restaurant manger, he said he would make it up to us on a future visit, however, when the future visit materialized, we could not contact him - after trying for several weeks and numerous attempts.

We've not been back to Narcoosee's since and only renewed our DDE plan for our upcoming Christmas/NYE trip. Now with rumors of the entire week being blacked out (which I hope are only rumors), I doubt we will renew again.

So, OP, don't feel bad. You're not the only one whose ever had problems using the discount.

Lissa

 

[byoung]

Never had that problem using the DDE.

 

[mdoc]

We just got our DDE card last month, and it has already paid for itself. It helps that we have a family of 7. We never had anything "denied" when we used the card. We do travel during holiday periods (easter and thanksgiving) so blackout dates are an issue, but we just make our TS ADRs for days other than the actual holiday and do CS on the holidays. I don't go to WDW to eat, so a TS meal on Thanksgiving or Easter is not a big deal to me. In fact, DH just got a turkey fryer for Christmas - we'll be frying our turkey in the campground at Fort Wilderness next T'giving and eating at Disney restaurants some other day!

 

[scrump]

We've only been with DDE for 1 year, but never had a problem with getting the full discount (beverages, alcoholic and non, have always been included for us). I'm sorry you've had such a hassling experience! Sounds like you might be better off not renewing anyway.

 

[Wistful_Thinking]

Teppan Edo would NOT take it on our December trip...

 

[daisy112878]

We were just at disney last week and had the DDE for the 1st time. We never had a problem at any table service or lounge we went too. It was very handy and definitely paid for itself last week.

 

[BetsyinFL]

The free valet parking alone is worth the price for DDE! We use it ALOT and have never been denied anything.

 

[TDC Nala]

We've not been back to Narcoosee's since and only renewed our DDE plan for our upcoming Christmas/NYE trip. Now with rumors of the entire week being blacked out (which I hope are only rumors), I doubt we will renew again.

So, OP, don't feel bad. You're not the only one whose ever had problems using the discount.

Lissa

I don't know where those rumors are coming from. According to literature, the DDE blackout dates for that week are as they've always been: December 24 and 25, December 31, and January 1.

(I haven't seen anything for 2008, but the only change I have heard about is the automatic gratuity.)

Teppan Edo would NOT take it on our December trip...

Since Teppan Edo does not participate, that's not too surprising.

 

[BCV23]

It is a rarity I don't have to mention to include the beverages.

I wonder if your problem has been that you have mentioned beverages? Maybe that causes the server to wonder if they should be included.

But they are included of course. We've never been denied the discount on any beverage at participating restaurants. This includes GF CAFE a number of times in the past three years.

BTW, you're right that there is no savings to renew.

 

[jarrdisney]

Several years ago, our DDE was denied at Narcosees on our ENTIRE bill. The waitress had never heard of it. The manager onsite was an "intern" and she had never heard of it either. They ended up giving us a 10% discount on food only. It was an anniversary dinner for us and we were very disappointed. After contacting DDE and the actual restaurant manger, he said he would make it up to us on a future visit, however, when the future visit materialized, we could not contact him - after trying for several weeks and numerous attempts.

We've not been back to Narcoosee's since and only renewed our DDE plan for our upcoming Christmas/NYE trip. Now with rumors of the entire week being blacked out (which I hope are only rumors), I doubt we will renew again.

So, OP, don't feel bad. You're not the only one whose ever had problems using the discount.

Lissa

I would have been livid and would not have walked out without having the problem rectified. Chefs de France tried to exclude beverages from our discount once. Other than that we have not had any problems in the past 3 years.

 

[jarrdisney]

The free valet parking alone is worth the price for DDE! We use it ALOT and have never been denied anything.

Amen to that!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Several years ago, our DDE was denied at Narcosees on our ENTIRE bill. The waitress had never heard of it. The manager onsite was an "intern" and she had never heard of it either. They ended up giving us a 10% discount on food only. It was an anniversary dinner for us and we were very disappointed. After contacting DDE and the actual restaurant manger, he said he would make it up to us on a future visit, however, when the future visit materialized, we could not contact him - after trying for several weeks and numerous attempts.

We've not been back to Narcoosee's since and only renewed our DDE plan for our upcoming Christmas/NYE trip. Now with rumors of the entire week being blacked out (which I hope are only rumors), I doubt we will renew again.

So, OP, don't feel bad. You're not the only one whose ever had problems using the discount.

Lissa

That is beyond ridiculous. It's not like Narcoosee's is in some sort of a glass bubble with no contact with the outside world. I would have simply picked up the house phone and called any one of the many restaurants that also take DDE and had them explain it to the server/manager. No way they would have forced me to accept the measly 10%...

Oh, and we've had the DDE card for a couple years now, renewing in February, and have never had a single issue with our dining/drink discounts...