Disney Dining Experience...is it worth it?

[freerjl]

We have 2 trips planned.

1. A four day trip where we will eat out most if not all of our meals. No signature dining plans. No character breakfast. We'll probably stick to counter service and less expensive options.

2. A seven day trip at BWV. We plan on eating most our meals in the villa with the full kitchen. We have planned one character breakfast and one signature dining.

Do you think that investing in the DDE would be worth it?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you are a Florida Resident and/or AP holder the answer is definitely yes.

If you are not a Florida Resident and you do not have an AP the answer is you cannot get a DDE card.

 

[stellablue]

I think the OP was asking if it's worth investing for her circumstances.

I think it's worth it, but I would check through below and see if these other perks are worthwhile for you too.



NOTE: Effective January 1, 2008 a charge of 18% gratuity will be added to all Disney Dining Experience transactions, regardless of party size.

DISNEY DINING EXPERIENCE is a dining discount program for eligible Florida Residents and Annual Passholders 21 and older good for 20 percent off food and beverage at a number of Walt Disney World Resort hotel and theme park restaurants and lounges. The discount is good for up to 10 persons in your party. (Prior to 2005, the DDE, as it is commonly called, was only open to Florida residents.)

-- General Membership (Florida Residents ONLY): $85.00
-- Annual/Seasonal Passholders' Rate: $60.00
-- Florida Resident (non-Passholder) Renewals: $70.00 (for existing memberships received within 30 days of expiration date)
-- Add a second membership for your spouse or partner for only $25 more.
Disney Dining Experience Benefits:

1. Members receive a 20% discount on all food and beverage (including alcohol) for up to 10 people at participating table-service Disney restaurants.

-- Discount applies to member's check only.

-- One Disney Dining card per table. Two cards cannot be combined.

-- Member must be present to receive discount.

-- Card must be presented when ordering.

2. Half-price admission to Pleasure Island for cardholder (hard-ticket admission excluded) and ONE (1) guest. The ticket will only be valid on the date of issuance. You must present the Disney Dining Experience Card to receive the discount.

3. Club Newsletter

4. Complimentary parking:

Theme Park for a short period for the sole purpose of dining. You'll have to pay parking at the toll booth, then after dining, present receipt and parking ticket at Guest Relations for a refund.

Walt Disney World Resorts - when dining at a Walt Disney World resort, valet parking is complimentary. After dining, present a dining receipt at the valet stand.

5. Exclusive invitations to Disney Dining Experience events.


WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) will book priority seatings for guests who are members of Disney Dining Experience.

Theme park admission is required when dining in Theme Park restaurants.

Participating restaurants are subject to change. Guests will be notified of any changes in future newsletters. See BELOW for a list of restaurants.

Certain restrictions apply during holidays and special events, please check with the restaurant when you make your reservation. Blackout dates include major holidays: Mother's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day.

 

[BriarRosie]

Unless your table service meals will cumulatively cost at least $300+, you wouldn't even make back the cost of the card with the discount. If you spend more than that on places that accept the DDE, you should get the card.

 

[Shmily1]

If you are staying at a value resort for your first trip and will be eating in the food court as well as some TS locations during the trips, then it would be worth it. Otherwise, I don't see where you would be attending enough "covered" locations to make your money back.

We have it and love it, but it's really worth it for us since we eat these places quite a bit.

 

[alldiz]

We have 2 trips planned.

1. A four day trip where we will eat out most if not all of our meals. No signature dining plans. No character breakfast. We'll probably stick to counter service and less expensive options.

2. A seven day trip at BWV. We plan on eating most our meals in the villa with the full kitchen. We have planned one character breakfast and one signature dining.

Do you think that investing in the DDE would be worth it?

DDE is only good at table service....except POFQ and the values.

Unless you drink a lot of alcohol.....it might not pay for you.
Kerri

 

[Corinne]

We have been using the DDE since it first became available to AP holders. We like to eat TS meals, and generally get 2 trips on each yearly membership. Just about every one of our TS meals comes to $100 at the very least, usually more. Over a 7 or 8 day stay we will have had at least 10 TS meals, so that is savings of $200 for each trip. It is easily worth it for us.

 

[TDC Nala]

DDE is only good at table service....except POFQ and the values.

The full list (subject to change I'd guess) is value food courts, POFQ food court, SSR counter service, and all counter services at Animal Kingdom except Anandupur Food Cafes (Yak & Yeti). This is true in 2008 even though SSR and Animal Kingdom now have table service restaurants that take DDE.

It is not accepted at any other counter services.

It would be worth it for you to get one if you plan to spend enough to recoup your fee to join ($60 for annual passholders) from the table service meals that you do have planned.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

We our DDE card!!!! One of the best perks of the AP!

 

[rt2dz]

Even after we deduct the cost of the card, our family of 5 saves roughly $200-$350 per trip (10 days) with the DDE card. We get two trips out of each DDE card. Yes, it is worth it for us.

What you have to do is look at where you are planning to eat and what you might spend. Deduct 20% for each place that take the DDE card. Add up all those deductions; if you come up with around $100 for both trips, buy the card. I say $100 to give allowances for some changes. As long as you break even you aren't out. While it might not help, it sure won't hurt. The first time we purchased we ended up saving a lot more than we thought we would.

 

[davinakb]

It's worth it for us too. We rarely do CS, usually doing three or four table service meals per trip. Since up to 10 people are covered, the savings can add up quickly (party of 8 at Jiko last February, saved more than $60 right there). Plus we enjoy drinks at the bar, nice wine with dinner and the valet parking at the resorts is a great perk. FWIW.

 

[Brian Noble]

I think the OP's case, the answer is "probably not." I don't know that I see $300 worth of eligible meals. There might be, but it's close.

 

[mrzrich]

I make my $60 back in free valet parking. I love not having to take a bus to a monorail or having to huff across the street when I eat at the GF.

 

[LarryJ]

Unless your table service meals will cumulatively cost at least $300+, you wouldn't even make back the cost of the card with the discount. If you spend more than that on places that accept the DDE, you should get the card.

Not quite true since if there is a fixed price that includes tax and gratuity like the Spirit of Aloha, HDDR, CRT you will get back 20% of the cost less the tax and gratuity that is included in the fixed price of the meal. It's a little less at CRT since there is a picture cost included in the price and you don't get 20% off that cost. Back in Dec 2007 the non DDE for the Spirit of Aloha for two was $119.83 and with the DDE was $98.87 for a real in pocket savings even after tax and gratuity of almost $21.

Larry

 

[Mickeyluver37]

How many people are in your party?