Dining & AP

[smep013]

Hi - if I have an AP, what are my dining plan options?
Can I do the Dining Plan with an AP? If so, how do I get the AP discounts?

 

[JimMIA]

Your option is the Disney Dining Experience card. As an AP holder, you are eligible to purchase the card (I believe it's $65 for AP holders).

The DDE card gives you 20% off ALL food and beverage at most WDW restaurants. The list of those who accept DDE is just about the same as those who participate in the dining plan. The card expires about 13 months after purchase (regardless of whether you still have a valid AP) and Disney Dining will be able to tell you exactly when it exprires when you purchase it. When we had DDE, we used it for three trips.

With the DDE, you can get the discount for up to 10 people at a meal, provided they are all on the same check and the DDE cardholder is paying the check. DDE is also the only discount plan which applies to alcoholic beverages as well as food.

You are not eligible for DDP just because you hold an AP, nor can you get DDP when booking a room at the AP room rate. DDP is essentially a room promotion -- not a dining promotion -- so you have to pay a certain room rate (usually rack), plus buy at least a one-day base park ticket for each person.

 

[aubriee]

Hi - if I have an AP, what are my dining plan options?
Can I do the Dining Plan with an AP? If so, how do I get the AP discounts?

AP room discounts are for room only. You must purchase the Disney Dining Plan as part of a pkg which includes at least a one day park ticket and a room at rack rates (so you lose your AP room discount). When free dining was offered the last two years what I (and alot of other AP holders) did was give up our AP room discounts, purchased a one day MYW ticket (which we then kept to use to renew our AP the next year),went ahead and paid rack rate for our rooms, then got free dining (using our APs for park admission once we got down there).

Another option is to purchase the Disney Dining Experience card. AP holders can purchase it for $65.00 and then you get 20% off most TS and a few CS (resorts that don't have a TS and at AK).

As far as your other AP perks you can still use your AP to get 10% off purchases at the Disney Store, at the Basin, for tours, Richard Petty Driving Experience, etc.

edited: Uh oh, JimMIA was posting the same time I was and explained it much better.