Dining Package or Annual Pass?

[aanthony03]

I'm wondering if we should get the dining included in our my way package, or should we get an annual pass so we can get the dining card they are offering.
Has anyone inluded the dining package in thier vacation? If so, what were the pros and cons for you (when you came back from WDW)?

If your an Annual Pass holder did you buy the dining card? If so, what were the pros and cons for you. I know the Annual Pass holders receive 10% off dining, and if you get the dining card you get 20%. Does that mean you get 30% off dining or is it one discount or the other?

HelpHelpHelpHelp!!!!!

 

[canwegosoon]

I know that most of the Ap discounts are for lunches. Check out Deb's site for more information http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/apass.htm#2005
I don't believe you can stack discounts, but do not know for sure

 

[BCV23]

You can't combine the discounts. And as canwegosoon said, most of the AP discounts are for lunch at Epcot or resort restaurants. The DDE card is great but I also think the new plan offers great savings if you plan carefully.

I personally would only buy APs if going for more than one trip this year or for one very long one.

The meal plan also allows you to do counter service if you think you will be doing that. The DDE only works at counter service locations at resorts that don't have full service restaurants....no counter service places in the parks.

Have fun planning!

 

[NancyIL]

You can't combine the discounts. And as canwegosoon said, most of the AP discounts are for lunch at Epcot or resort restaurants. The DDE card is great but I also think the new plan offers great savings if you plan carefully.

I personally would only buy APs if going for more than one trip this year or for one very long one.

The meal plan also allows you to do counter service if you think you will be doing that. The DDE only works at counter service locations at resorts that don't have full service restaurants....no counter service places in the parks.

Have fun planning!

The DDE discount is also applicable to counter service eateries at the Animal Kingdom.

 

[BCV23]

The DDE discount is also applicable to counter service eateries at the Animal Kingdom.

Oops, sorry....that's right as AK doesn't have any Disney owned full service restaurants.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

We got an AP this time since we are planning on going back in Nov.
We got the DDE card since it's me and my husband and we enjoy going to many of the sit down restaurants that are on the list. We figured it out and we would be saving money if we got the card. Not only will we save money starting this trip but we will really save money on dining for the next trip.
I would figure out approx how much you are going to be spending on food and where you are planning on eating and decide if the plans are good for you and your family.
This is where Deb's page was very helpful because we would look at the menus and guess how much we would be spending.

 

[aanthony03]

The dining card that goes with your Annual Pass does it expire? We are purchasing an Annual pass for my husband only, the rest of us are just getting regular tickets. We are going in December, so our Annual pass will be good until the following December.

 

[cranbiz]

My DDE card expires 13 months from month of purchase and it sounds like that is going for everyone.

They will give you a list of restaurants that the card is good for and it covers meals at all times of the day. The AP discount is mostly for lunch.

DDE is a 20% discount, AP is 10% and you cannot stack discounts.

With careful use, the dining plan can work out better but if you will go frequently enough to make AP's and DDE cost effective, then in the long run this way is the way to go.

Last Dec I took the entire family for a "last family hurrah together" (DD23 most likely won't come with us again) and purchased into the Silver Plan and made out great. Too bad they eliminated these plans, they offered so much flexability.