DDE Value during Holiday weeks = Limited

[Mickey Moose]

I was just confirming some of our dining reservations for 11/18/07 thru 11/23/07 and noticed that the menus have changed since I made the reservations weeks ago. (Crystal Palace, Chef Mickeys, Hollywood/Vine etc...) Many of the restaurants have changed to a "holiday" menu and increased prices all week long. It appears as though they have just added some turkey and dressing to the menu and call it a holiday menu every day. I sure hope they have other menu items available, I think the Thanksgiving vittles and fix-ins will get boring all week long. The disappointing thing is that the restaurants appear to have opted to blackout the use of the DDE card all week long. I just got off the phone with the DDE office and they confirmed that it is the restaurant's option to have special programs during the holiday week and disallow use of the card. The DDE office stated that they (DDE office) only blackout the actual day of the Holiday. I then called the dining number and was told that I would not be able to use the DDE card at the restaurants that opted to go with the holiday menu all week long.

Just wanted to give a heads up to anyone planning on using the card, to check with the restaurant to confirm policy in order to avoid disappointment during your vacation!

I have been at the world during holiday weeks before and do not remember this happening in the past. Anyone remember differently?

 

[VLee]

Yikes! I am wondering what they will do around Christmas. We are not going to use the DDP after it changes, but wanted to use our DDE then. I know a few dates are noted in the blackout, such as New Years Eve and/or NY Day.

 

[MichelleB]

Mickey Moose, we're going to be there that week also. I knew they blacked out Thanksgiving Day, but the restaurants aren't accepting the card all week? Who can I call to verify the restaurants that aren't accepting the card that week? What date does this start? I have ADR that I may cancel due to this as we are only doing the sit downs because we get the discount.

 

[Mickey Moose]

the restaurants aren't accepting the card all week? Who can I call to verify the restaurants that aren't accepting the card that week? What date does this start? I have ADR that I may cancel due to this as we are only doing the sit downs because we get the discount.

the restaurants aren't accepting the card all week? It appears to be restaurant specific, however, many of the restaurants we already had reservations at have gone to the dark side. Check the link below for the DIS posting about which restaurant has gone to the dark side for Thanksgiving.

Who can I call to verify the restaurants that aren't accepting the card that week? I called DDE Office=407-566-5858 and WDWDine=407-939-3463. The DDE office confirmed that some of the restaurants are doing this all week and confirmed that the restaurant manager has the right to do so. DDE stated to me that they only black out the actual day of Thanksgiving, but again, the restaurant management has the right to extend the blackout to all week.

What date does this start? Check out your restaurants dates with this link: http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/Thanksgiving.htm Most of the restaurants with special "holiday" week menus appear to be 11/18 thru 11/24.

I am going to either cancel some ADR's or consider DDP. Please let me know if they give you different information.

Good Luck,