DDE worth it on top of DVC discounts?

[kerickson]

We have an 8 night WDW trip coming up in Jan 09 and then a 3 night (prior to a cruise) trip in Oct 09. So that makes 11 nights at the World in 09. We have APs that we received with our purchase. I've been looking into DDE.

The first trip we already have Chef Mickey's and CRT ADRs, plan to eat a few dinners in our villa, but I know we will buy Counter Service and some Table Service meals because it will be more convenient than going back to the villa. The 2nd trip we will probably stay in a studio so will eat all of our meal (except breakfast) out.

Would it be worth it for us to purchase DDE? How many meals usually kicks in the ROI?

 

[karrit2000]

The DDE is currently good for 20% off your meals at most TS on property. It is only good for CS at resorts that do not have a TS restaurant and the CS in AK. Not valid for snacks at any of the snack carts, booths, hot dog stands, etc. If you are at any of the food courts that accept it you can get the discount on snack type items such as ice cream bars & bottled drinks. Many of the DVC discounts are only good during lunch at the participating TS.

 

[crisi]

We think so for our next trip - but its ten people, lots of sit down, and probably a fair share of alcohol (my alcoholic sister will not be in attendence - if she did we'd all abstain).

Generally the DDE is a good deal if (the more that apply, the better deal it is)

You generally tip pretty well anyway (the DDE adds an automatic 18%).
You have a larger party
You eat a lot of table service that takes the DDE (not all places do, and its worth a scan of the participating restaurants).
You drink alcohol (the DDE will apply in most (all?) Disney hotel lounges as well as sit down restaurants).
You are there for a lot of nights.

Its a "the more you spend the more you save" deal. One TS meal at San Angel Inn for two people isn't going to be worth it - but one at Californa Grill for 8 could put you in break even category right away.

 

[CarolMN]

The DDE card costs annual passholders $60. So you need to spend $300 at participating restaurants / lounges to break even. After that, it saves you money.

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

The DDE is currently good for 20% off your meals at most TS on property. It is only good for CS at resorts that do not have a TS restaurant and the CS in AK. Not valid for snacks at any of the snack carts, booths, hot dog stands, etc. If you are at any of the food courts that accept it you can get the discount on snack type items such as ice cream bars & bottled drinks. Many of the DVC discounts are only good during lunch at the participating TS.

We have had DDE since 2005 and I was not aware that it could be used at any CS places.....can any one point me to the CS foodcourts that it can be used at? DDE works for us because we always eat one meal out per day, usually sit down and we go approx. 20-25 days per year.

 

[AKV707]

We love our DDE. Most trips are just DW and I and it pays for itself really quickly. We do a fair amount of TS dining and enjoy wine or beer with dinner. The savings really add up.

 

[hakepb]

AP at SSR takes the DDE discount!

 

[Anal Annie]

We tried the DDE card this past year. We're just a family of 3 tho and with DS10 (then turning 11) it was a stretch to break even. We went for 7 n last August and ALMOST but not quite broke even. If we were a larger family it would've definitely been worth it tho! But we really had to plan to eat at places that took it. A big benefit of it is that it's also good on alcohol...so if we ate lunch at a CS place in AK then DH would order a beer and it would also be covered. And we didn't hold back on drinks when we ate at Boma etc. We went again in January for a long weekend and used it twice I think - so we finally got our $60 back on it with that trip (so it took us 10 nights of stays). We just went again in July for 3 n and used it once for a CS lunch at AK and at Jiko for dinner and at Boma for breakfast. We ate at Mama Melrose's too but booked the Fantasmic pkg. so they wouldn't take it for that but I think they DO take it for Character Breakfasts. At the TS restaurants we saved probably $15-20 ea time. At the CS places we probably averaged $5 each time. If you do a lot of TS then it basically covers your tip!

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

AP at SSR takes the DDE discount!

Hey, thanks...guess we could ahve been using more to our advantage.....

 

[hakepb]

Hey, thanks...guess we could have been using more to our advantage.....

It's so hard to keep track that I'm starting to give all cashiers the 5th degree.
Do you have a DDE discount.
Do you have an AP discount.
Do you have a DVC discount.

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

I guess I am going to start having to do that, as well! We have all three, as well and I can not keep it straight anymore! I had even tried having DH put all perks for each thing in his Treo but that doesn't seem to work either...

 

[AKV707]

We tried the DDE card this past year. We're just a family of 3 tho and with DS10 (then turning 11) it was a stretch to break even. We went for 7 n last August and ALMOST but not quite broke even. If we were a larger family it would've definitely been worth it tho! But we really had to plan to eat at places that took it. A big benefit of it is that it's also good on alcohol...so if we ate lunch at a CS place in AK then DH would order a beer and it would also be covered. And we didn't hold back on drinks when we ate at Boma etc. We went again in January for a long weekend and used it twice I think - so we finally got our $60 back on it with that trip (so it took us 10 nights of stays). We just went again in July for 3 n and used it once for a CS lunch at AK and at Jiko for dinner and at Boma for breakfast. We ate at Mama Melrose's too but booked the Fantasmic pkg. so they wouldn't take it for that but I think they DO take it for Character Breakfasts. At the TS restaurants we saved probably $15-20 ea time. At the CS places we probably averaged $5 each time. If you do a lot of TS then it basically covers your tip!

Wow, I am feeling a little guilty. DW and i broke even after three dinners! I wonder what we had to eat and drink.

 

[granmanh603]

Hey, thanks...guess we could ahve been using more to our advantage.....

I think it can be used at the food court at Port Orleans and at the food courts at the value resorts.

 

[podsnel]

Wow, I am feeling a little guilty. DW and i broke even after three dinners! I wonder what we had to eat and drink.

Can we eat with you next time? Sounds like you do it right!!!

 

[Anal Annie]

Wow, I am feeling a little guilty. DW and i broke even after three dinners! I wonder what we had to eat and drink.

The majority of our meals are CS because we hate to tie ourselves to ressie times and DS eats next to nothing. The card is not good at most CS places excpet for AK. Whenever we go to AK I insist we're there for a meal in order to use it! I kept all of our meal receipts last August and added up the discounts / savings when we got home. We saved approx. $45 over 7 days on that trip (1 lunch at Capt. Jack's, 1 dinner at Boma, a couple lunches at AK, 1 Char. breakfast...) In January I think we used it at Whispering Canyon for dinner & for 1 CS meal at AK - that's when we finally broke even was on that trip - but we were only there for 3 days. This summer we only used it 3x again (only there 2 1/2 days). THAT trip was all "profit" so to speak. We had dinner at Jiko which saved a small bundle, 1 lunch at AK and breakfast at Boma.

Next summer we're hoping to take an extended family type of trip - so it would definitely come in handy with a large group - I can see breaking even on it with 1 nice TS dinner. But for just the 3 of us, not so much...you really have to do a lot of TS meals to make good on it.

 

[CraftyMouse]

I think it can be used at the food court at Port Orleans and at the food courts at the value resorts.

It can definitely be used at the food courts at the Values and also at the counter service locations at Animal Kingdom. Some have reported being allowed to use it at POR but the food courts at the Moderates are not, officially, a part of the program. Of course it never hurts to ask!

 

[snackyx]

Can the DDE really be used at lounges in Disney resorts if having a few drinks?

 

[vicki_c]

Wow, I am feeling a little guilty. DW and i broke even after three dinners! I wonder what we had to eat and drink.

That's what I was thinking - we were only there for 4 days (2 adults & 2 kids) and it already paid for itself + some. I can't wait to use it on our December trip!

I think we used it at:
Whispering Canyon
Artist Palette a few times
Sunshine Seasons in the Land (I think)
Sci Fi Diner
Akershaus Princess Breakfast

By the way, just doing the math -- it costs $60 and gives you 20% off. So if you spend $300 on eating and use it, you'll break even.

 

[CarrianneB]

Does it work at Victoria & Alberts? That would really help break even quickly!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Does it work at Victoria & Alberts? That would really help break even quickly!

Yes, but not at the Chef's Table.

Bobbi