Disney Dining Experience discount card changes

[Disney-Kim]

How would the changes affect those of us who currently have the card and are not buying a new one for our upcoming trip??? the same I guess?

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Isn't all of this talk of changes to the DDE program still just that..."talk"? If these changes have actually taken place (someone said starting Nov. 1st), then surely someone would have experienced them and started a thread about it by now. We're headed back to WDW next weekend and I'm going to use our DDE card. If there are changes, I'll post them, but until then, I'm assuming that everything's business as usual...

 

[n2mm]

I have to order my new card in December since my next trip is January 2008. I plan to order mid December just in case the price goes up in January (like last year). I don't really care about the automatic tip. This is how they work the CM dining discount (hubby use to be a CM), so this is not new to us. It was changed for CMs for the simple reason that some folks out there would not tip on the actual price and tipped on the discounted price, so a forced tip was added. I agree with others, I generally tip the 20% discount, so this will actually save me money and I like that the math is already done. So for us, been there and going back to the same way we were use to doing it. However, I hope this doesn't affect alcohol as we like that extra bonus on that and the DDE card is the only discount available on alcohol. Picking up in the park would be a nice perk and would save Disney/DDE office shipping them out.

 

[Synonymous]

And considering the DDE discount is 20% it would be a wash b/c of the forced tip so why pay $50 for the card. Seems you can't catch a break these days.

You're not saying that people using DDE shouldn't tip, are you? I assume that anyone using the card would be leaving a tip anyway (assuming Disney's usually good service was received.) I almost always leave a 20% tip at Disney. Those servers work hard and they don't get paid what they deserve- without tips they would be hurting.

 

[*Flower*]

Subscribing too....

We've got a major Holiday trip planned for December, and it will roll into January.

The last time we did this trip with 6 people was before we were allowed to get the DDE card.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll be able to enjoy dining and the card advantages without any significant ripples......

 

[fmed845]

I hope they don't make it a mandatory tip for the DDE card. I think service is better when its based on performance. 18-20% when service is good and less when service is poor.

 

[yooperfan]

Isn't all of this talk of changes to the DDE program still just that..."talk"? If these changes have actually taken place (someone said starting Nov. 1st), then surely someone would have experienced them and started a thread about it by now. We're headed back to WDW next weekend and I'm going to use our DDE card. If there are changes, I'll post them, but until then, I'm assuming that everything's business as usual...

I believe they are supposed to know what the changes are by Nov. 1, but the changes won't go into effect until Jan. 1. Here's hoping the only changes they make are where you can pick up the card and the tip.

 

[TwingleMum]

You're not saying that people using DDE shouldn't tip, are you? I assume that anyone using the card would be leaving a tip anyway (assuming Disney's usually good service was received.) I almost always leave a 20% tip at Disney. Those servers work hard and they don't get paid what they deserve- without tips they would be hurting.

How do you get that Isaid don't tip??? I waitressed my way through grad school so Ialways tip well. I said I don't see the value in purchasing the DDE card for $50 if they are excluding alcoholic beverages and adding mandatroy tips.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

In the union negotiations earlier this year there was something about adding an automatic 18% tip to all DDE purchases, even if you don't have a large party. Not really a big deal, because we always tip whatever the discount was. (If the bill is $100 and the DDE gives us $20 off, we tip $20.)

That's what we always did, when we had a DDE card. We're considering getting another one to go along with our APs next year. If that's the only change, we'll come out better. When an auto tip is included, we don't usually tip above that. Maybe that's silly, but that's okay. We've been known to be a little loony at times.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

Ditto to what several have said -- I hope the only changes are the card purchase in person (a big improvement! ), and the automatically added 18% tip.

I guess I must be one of the lucky few, I have had very few poor service experiences at WDW, and we always tip at least 20%. I'm sure with two adults, two college students (DS#1 and DS#2), and a 7th grader (DD), we can figure the extra 2% of the original total so that we can keep to our usual percentage. Of course we could also whip out our five cellphones and use a calculator.

 

[Rozzie]

We will freak out if the alcohol discount is taken away.

 

[RachelTori]

How do you get that Isaid don't tip??? I waitressed my way through grad school so Ialways tip well. I said I don't see the value in purchasing the DDE card for $50 if they are excluding alcoholic beverages and adding mandatory tips.

The card actually costs $65 and, unlike a couple years ago where you AND a significant other each got a card, now you have to pay an additional $25 for the 2nd card. Alcohol or not, mandatory tip or not -- it can still be a good deal if you do enough TS meals.

 

[Rozzie]

The card actually costs $65 and, unlike a couple years ago where you AND a significant other each got a card, now you have to pay an additional $25 for the 2nd card. Alcohol or not, mandatory tip or not -- it can still be a good deal if you do enough TS meals.

We have payed the additional $25 for 2 years now, and found it very easy to recoop the savings. Actually this is our 3rd year with the DDE (we were Florida Residents the first year) and saved hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

We like having 2 cards. Sometimes we split up, go to the pool bar by ourselves and similar. Also DH sometimes does business in Orlando and takes his work buddies out to Raglan Road for drinks. Another $$$ savings!!

 

[RachelTori]

We have payed the additional $25 for 2 years now, and found it very easy to recoop the savings. Actually this is our 3rd year with the DDE (we were Florida Residents the first year) and saved hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

We like having 2 cards. Sometimes we split up, go to the pool bar by ourselves and similar. Also DH sometimes does business in Orlando and takes his work buddies out to Raglan Road for drinks. Another $$$ savings!!

Ahhhh, so you really will "freak out" if they take away the alcohol discount!

DDE works for us with or without the alcohol (but of course I prefer the alcohol! ). I was trying to point out that even at the higher cost, it can still be a good thing!

 

[pixe*dst]

I'm searching for any changes too. The fact that you can purchase at GR as you arrive is very convenient & means I don't have to make a decision too far ahead of time.

The automatic gratuity doesn't bother me too much. I'm curious to see if the AK counter services are removed from the discount list now that they have the Tusker House buffet & Yak-n-Yeti. Anyone know about this? Also, can you use DDE on the Fantasmic Dinner Package at Mama Melrose?

Thanks!!