DDP or DDE???

[momtoty2001]

HELP???

We just booked our Room only stay and got a great rate at a moderate resort but didn't add DDP on it. We are a family of 4, DH, myself, DS(6) DD(5) and we weren't sure if we needed the dining plan.

Wondering how we could get the DDE to help offset the cost of CRT and Chef Mickey's as these are the only 2 ADR's we are planning to do. Thinking of breakfast in our room, lunch (light lunch in the parks) and dinner (most counter service with a couple of table service).

Any help would be greatly appreciated as to whether we should consider DDP or try to get a DDE??

 

[alldiz]

HELP???

We just booked our Room only stay and got a great rate at a moderate resort but didn't add DDP on it. We are a family of 4, DH, myself, DS(6) DD(5) and we weren't sure if we needed the dining plan.

Wondering how we could get the DDE to help offset the cost of CRT and Chef Mickey's as these are the only 2 ADR's we are planning to do. Thinking of breakfast in our room, lunch (light lunch in the parks) and dinner (most counter service with a couple of table service).

Any help would be greatly appreciated as to whether we should consider DDP or try to get a DDE??

Unless you are planning on eating 1 TS every day....I don't think it will be worth it. The DDE card might be your best bet. What resort are you staying at? POFQ you can use DDE card in the food court(cause they don't have a table service) CSR's food court is pricey.....so that might make it worth it for DDP if you eat there a lot.
Happy planning
kerri

 

[TDC Nala]

Agreed, if you are eating only two TS meals the DDP isn't for you. If you were planning more character meals it might be due to the ages of your children.

If you are going to use the DDE again over the course of a year, it'd be better. If you are only going to use it for those two meals and that's it, then you probably don't need that, either. There is a $60 fee to join DDE and you need to make enough back in discounts to recoup that fee for the membership to be worthwhile.

You don't specify that you are a Florida resident or an annual passholder, and those are the only two categories of guests who are eligible to join DDE.

 

[momtoty2001]

Thanks for the replies. We are not Florida residents or AP holders so is there any other way to get the DDE card?

Also, we will plan to eat while we are there but we are BIG eaters. We could get away with eating breakfast in our room (cereal, muffins, etc) then lunch at the parks (counter service-nothing big) and dinner (nothing real big either-could be counter service or table) .

We are just trying to find the cheapest way to eat while at WDW and didn't know if spending $100/day on the dining plan was worth it for me, DH and
DS(6) and DD (5)?

ANy thoughts about getting DDE or DDP? Thanks so much!!

 

[Allison]

Thanks for the replies. We are not Florida residents or AP holders so is there any other way to get the DDE card?

Also, we will plan to eat while we are there but we are BIG eaters. We could get away with eating breakfast in our room (cereal, muffins, etc) then lunch at the parks (counter service-nothing big) and dinner (nothing real big either-could be counter service or table) .

We are just trying to find the cheapest way to eat while at WDW and didn't know if spending $100/day on the dining plan was worth it for me, DH and
DS(6) and DD (5)?

ANy thoughts about getting DDE or DDP? Thanks so much!!

If you don't have an AP and aren't Florida residents there is no way for you to get the card.

 

[TDC Nala]

Because your children are under the age of 10, if you plan on doing more TS meals it might work out better to have the dining plan.

The children's dining plan is only $9.99 per night of your stay. For that they get a TS meal, a CS meal and one snack allocated for each night (which of course can be used in any combination over the length of your stay). They're limited to ordering off the children's menus except for buffets, all you can eat preplated meals with no separate children's menu, and CS restaurants that do not have a children's menu. But if you are going to do character buffets each day, that alone will save you a good bit of money on the children's plan, perhaps enough to offset the cost of the two adult plans you'll need to buy if you go that route.

If your intent is to plan on only two table service meals for the entire stay, then you probably don't want the dining plan. But if you want more than that, you may want to look into it. However, you must plan for those meals. It's highly recommended that you have reservations for the TS meals so you can be sure you will use your credits.

Because you are planning on CRT, though, keep in mind that CRT costs two table service credits per person.

If you are not an annual passholder or Florida resident, you cannot get the DDE card.

Should also mention that you cannot add DDP to your room only reservation. You would have to rebook that reservation as a room/tickets/dining package, and you'd have to buy at least one-day base park tickets in conjunction with the package to get the dining plan. Only annual passholders and DVC members can add the dining plan without buying a package that includes tickets. You may or may not be able to apply your room discount code to a package; it's possible you have one that would apply only to room-only reservations. You wouldn't know that until you call WDW and ask.

 

[momtoty2001]

Thanks again for the advice on DDP vs DDE. I will look into the DDP but am wondering is there any way to get the DDE (have someone with AP buy one for me or buy 1 AP for my family and then buy DDE) Not sure if anyone has done this before??

I will keep researching what's best.. UGGGHHH wish I would have gotten in on the FREE DDP!!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

How many days/nights will you be there? I doubt that you would recoup the expense of one AP and the cost of the DDE card with just a few TS meals over purchasing regular tickets and paying for your meals OOP. Use the menus available here on the DIS and at allearsnet.com to price out the TS meals you'd like to do, and typical CS meals, and compare your cost to the cost of the DDP.

The DDE card is limited to Florida residents and AP holders. You must be one or the other to buy and use the card. The DIS does not advocate nor discuss ways to circumvent Disney rules.

 

[TDC Nala]

A person with an AP can't buy a card for you. You must be the AP holder.

If you're planning only two TS meals, it's not worth it to buy an AP for a trip of less than 10 days or so just to get DDE.

 

[Luv2Roam]

You have been told the DDE info. And sounds like the DDE will not work for you, unless an adult in your traveling group buys a WDW AP. As far as I am aware DDE is not accepted at Pepper Market.
DDP is counter service at Pepper Market, and even includes the tip, at least it did for us. Just happens that is where we ate our DDP breakfast this morning. And they serve breakfast till 11:00 a.m.

 

[shellybaxter]

The DDE is only good at some restaurants - most table service restaurants participate with the exception of some non-disney owned. It is only accepted at a few counter service restaurants - some in Animal Kingdom, the food courts at the Allstars, POFQ, and Pop. By the time you buy an annual pass (cost more than MYW tickets for less than 11 days) and pay for the card it doesn't seem like you will realize enough saving to break even.

 

[momtoty2001]

Thank you everyone for all the great responses. I think we have decided to do the DDP instead of DDE as I think we will be eating for table service and character dinners than I originally planned.

I appreciate your help and love all the great advice I've gotten on DIS.. I can't wait to enjoy our first trip to WDW.