dde vs ddp

[primecap]

Thank you to everyone for your responses to my question regarding annual passes. Can I please ask for your thoughts on ddp vs dde? If you're doing a regular dining plan with one meal, one counter service and one snack per day, when is it better to do the dde as opposed to ddp? I think I was figuring about 11 days, but what has been your experience with these two programs?

Thanks again.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

We usually get DDE (or should I now say Tables in Wonderland). We like a sit down breakfast and sometimes like a sit down dinner. And DDE gets you 20% off alcohol at the restaurants and lounges. We're not big drinkers, but occasionally like an adult beverage.

 

[Kmango]

Aside from the ridiculous name, the TIW card is wonderful. You're able to get a discount on exactly what you want -- appetizers, desserts, drinks, whatever, and get as much or as little food as you and your family want. You also don't have to worry about leftover snack, CS, or TS credits that you paid for but didn't use. Furthermore, if you like Signature dining, then TIW is probably the best value, because spending 2TS credits on a meal rarely saves you money with DDP, whereas TIW always saves you the same amount. It also is a great deal on sitdown breakfasts and lunches, which aren't a good value on the DDP.

 

[tiggercrew]

We found the DDE (sorry, TIW) card more practical for our family of 4 because my 2 children (DD16 and DS12) are considered adults by Disney but they do not eat adult portions. It is a much better value for us to receive a discount on what they actually want to order than to order based on what we have already paid for. That may all change as soon as my DS12 starts eating like a teenager.

 

[Caskbill]

The DDP is only good for that one trip while the DDE (ToW) card is good for more than a year and you can use it on more than just the one trip.

 

[jimmytammy]

I think if you are a really big eater, DDP is fine. But if you eat smaller portions, or just dont need that much food, TIW(DDE) is better suited for you. Also, DDP tends to keep you always scheduled towards eating and feeling like you have to get your $$s worth. I would opt for TIW.

 

[Cinderella1122]

I use both based on my trip. If I am staying in a room with a full kitchen, I usually have grocerys delivered for lunches in the room and I use "DDE" for our table service dinners. However, If i'm staying in a studio, I usually get the DDP because I know I will be eating counter service lunches. I really never noticed if I saved any money by useing the DDP over paying for the counter servies lunches OOP and using "DDE" on my table services dinners. I just like the convience of having all of the meal credits on one card.

 

[CraftyMouse]

Aside from the ridiculous name, the TIW card is wonderful. You're able to get a discount on exactly what you want -- appetizers, desserts, drinks, whatever, and get as much or as little food as you and your family want. You also don't have to worry about leftover snack, CS, or TS credits that you paid for but didn't use. Furthermore, if you like Signature dining, then TIW is probably the best value, because spending 2TS credits on a meal rarely saves you money with DDP, whereas TIW always saves you the same amount. It also is a great deal on sitdown breakfasts and lunches, which aren't a good value on the DDP.

This is exactly why we prefer the DDE. Having a sit-down meal every day is too much for us. When you factor in the dessert that you get with the counter service meal we just end up eating too much per day. Over the course of our vacation that can really add up.

With DDE we are able to order exactly what we want. We find portion sizes to be very generous so DD16 and I will often split an appetizer/entree/dessert. With the DDP we cannot do this as we wouldn't use up our TS credits, so we either eat too much or waste food.

Financially, we find that the DDE card saves us more than the DDP as we are not locked into that $40 per day per person and get 20% off the bill for what we do eat. IMO, the DDP used to be a great deal (although still too much food) when it included the appetizer and the tip. Since they have taken those away, however, and not reduced the price, it just feels like a rip-off to me. Yes, you can get your money's worth, but it's going to mean LOTS of food.

In addition, the longer we are DVC members (11 years now) and the more trips we take to WDW, we find that we like to cook in the room more and more. Since we no longer feel the need to spend every moment in the parks, we enjoy the downtime in the villa on some nights. Plus, the cost savings is incredible!

 

[DeeCee735]

This is exactly why we prefer the DDE. Having a sit-down meal every day is too much for us. When you factor in the dessert that you get with the counter service meal we just end up eating too much per day. Over the course of our vacation that can really add up.

With DDE we are able to order exactly what we want. We find portion sizes to be very generous so DD16 and I will often split an appetizer/entree/dessert. With the DDP we cannot do this as we wouldn't use up our TS credits, so we either eat too much or waste food.

Financially, we find that the DDE card saves us more than the DDP as we are not locked into that $40 per day per person and get 20% off the bill for what we do eat. IMO, the DDP used to be a great deal (although still too much food) when it included the appetizer and the tip. Since they have taken those away, however, and not reduced the price, it just feels like a rip-off to me. Yes, you can get your money's worth, but it's going to mean LOTS of food.

In addition, the longer we are DVC members (11 years now) and the more trips we take to WDW, we find that we like to cook in the room more and more. Since we no longer feel the need to spend every moment in the parks, we enjoy the downtime in the villa on some nights. Plus, the cost savings is incredible!

I very much agree about DDP feeling like a rip off now that they stopped the app and the included gratuity. Also, for us the Basic isn't satisfactory because DH & I don't like CS meals everyday, and the Deluxe is just a tad too much. I'd like to see 2 TS meals a day and one CS or more snacks (for "take out" breakfasts at the CS in the resorts or at BW Bakery )

But, that's just me

For our January trip I'm going with DDE

Thanks for the info everyone!

 

[Chuck S]

It really depends upon your personal dining habits. For us, as two adults, we never have spent enough on food to justify the the DDP, even when it included gratuity. Plus, we enjoy appetizers more than dessert. With the DDE/TIW card we can order and enjoy what we wish to eat, rather than what Disney wants to feed us.

 

[Melani]

Does anyone have a link to website breaking down the particulars for TIW (DDE)?

I am very familiar with DDP, but would like to know more about TIW (DDE). Like cost, length, locations, etcc..

 

[JaxFLBear]

The Tables in Wonderland card is only available to FL Residents ($85) and Annual Passholders ($60). It's good for approx. 13 months from when you purchase it.

Here a link to information at wdwinfo.com: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneydiningexperience.htm

 

[csatulovsky]

I have my cousing living in Miami...can he buy the card for me? do they ask proof of residence at the restaurants ?

 

[JaxFLBear]

I have my cousing living in Miami...can he buy the card for me? do they ask proof of residence at the restaurants ?

The card has the name of the cardholder printed on it. I don't know what they would do if they asked for id and the cardholder was not present.

 

[Melani]

Thanks for that link, but I still have a few questions.

One card gets a 20% discount on the whole bill, that is everyone at your table, not just the cardholder?

And is that all the restaurants that accept the card listed on that page? You mean you can't use it at Cape Maye at BC or Pinochios Village at MK?

Is there a renewal discount?

I know I have come across another website that had info on this, but I can't find it again.

Thanks. This is just something to distract me from the fact that we haven't received our closing papers yet and our offer was accepted a month ago!

 

[JaxFLBear]

The TIW discount is good for parties of up to 10 people. An 18% gratuity will be added to the bill no matter the size of the party. According to the list at disneyworld.com/passholder, Cape May Cafe accepts the TIW card. Pinocchino Village Haus is a Quick Service Location and does not accept the TIW card. Only FL residents get a renewal discount. The FL resident renewal is $70.

 

[helenk]

And is that all the restaurants that accept the card listed on that page? You mean you can't use it at Cape Maye at BC or Pinochios Village at MK?

The card can be used at the Cape May Cafe (we just used it there in September). Generally you can not use it at the counter service restaurants at the resorts where there is a sit down restaurant available, the exception is the POR (I think) The card is not accepted at the CS places in the parks, except in Animal Kingdom.
To sum it up, you can use it at more of the sit down spots that the CS restaurants.

 

[TDC Nala]

You can use one card for up to 10 people in your party but I think they all have to be on the same bill.

You can use it at most TS restaurants. Cape May is included. There are only a few counter services that accept it. None of those are at Magic Kingdom. They are at resorts, with the exception of 3 CS places at Animal Kingdom park (Anandupur Food Cafe, the CS at Yak & Yeti, won't accept it). The resorts are: the 4 value resorts, POFQ and SSR. It's not accepted at counter service at any other resorts or parks.

No renewal discount. For annual passholders, anyway, it is the same fee to renew the card (and I think its' $60, not $65). And if you lose the card or forget to bring it with you, there is a $25 fee to replace it. They used to give you a temporary - not so anymore.