Disney Dining Experience Membership question

[nboicepardee]

Hi everyone,
We are becoming annual passholders for the first time for our trip in January. When I bought the tickets, they asked me if I was interested in the Disney Dining Experience. It is around $65 (I think) for the year. We will be at WDW for 8 nights (9 days, we are flying in early and flying out late on the last day). Our current plan is to do one table service restaurant each day for this trip. My husband and I are hoping to do a 3 day weekend trip next fall and we will definitely eat at least one table service restaurant meal each day, probably one of the nicer TS. Then, we will be taking another family trip the following early January for 7-8 days again. Do you think it is worth it? We are a family of 4, with my youngest only being 2 for the first trip. We would probably have one glass of wine each with dinner (I was told the 20% off includes alcohol). Friends may join us on our second trip, but that is not guaranteed, so I am not including that in my decision.

The reason I need your assistance is since I only have a will call #, I cannot access the website and won't be able to until I pick up our annual pass in January. I need the information now for our planning.

If anyone has a list of restaurants that are eligible (or not), that would be so helpful!

Thank you for your input! I appreciate it!
Natalie

 

[Noreen411]

Hi Natalie

We bought the DDE card in June 2007 and have more than gotten our money's worth out of it.

Our first trip using it was in June 2007 and it was just my husband and I for 9 days. We saved a little more than the $65 cost to purchase the DDE card on that trip alone. I kept track of it because I wanted to see if it would be worthwhile.

We were just in Disney again in September 2007 for 8 days and continued using the DDE. This time we were travelling with my sister, brother in law, and my niece. The 20% off at each meal added up pretty quickly. Also, the free valet parking is a really nice perk. When we had dinner at the Grand Floridian with Cinderella, the self parking is quite a hike from the entrance. We just valet parked for free with DDE (just gave the valet guys tips).

We are probably going to be in Disney again April 2008 for 10 days so will get even more use out of the DDE.

I would definitely recommend it.

I'll try attaching the link to the information and list of restaurants that take it that I found at wdwig.com. I know the list gets updated and changes sometimes but this one says it's from February 2007. Just in case I have technical difficulties attaching the link it's www.wdwig.com If you go to the Dining section (click on dining at the top) then near the bottom on the left side there is a section that talks about Dining Discounts and there is a link for DDE. But here goes my attempt to attach the link...

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dde.htm

I hope this helps

Enjoy your trips
Noreen

 

[iradi8]

We most definitely save a lot of money with the DDE card. We don't eat out a lot but we do go to WDW a few times a year. It sounds like you will be eating table service quite a bit. I would definitely get the card

 

[nboicepardee]

Hi Natalie

We bought the DDE card in June 2007 and have more than gotten our money's worth out of it.

Our first trip using it was in June 2007 and it was just my husband and I for 9 days. We saved a little more than the $65 cost to purchase the DDE card on that trip alone. I kept track of it because I wanted to see if it would be worthwhile.

We were just in Disney again in September 2007 for 8 days and continued using the DDE. This time we were travelling with my sister, brother in law, and my niece. The 20% off at each meal added up pretty quickly. Also, the free valet parking is a really nice perk. When we had dinner at the Grand Floridian with Cinderella, the self parking is quite a hike from the entrance. We just valet parked for free with DDE (just gave the valet guys tips).

We are probably going to be in Disney again April 2008 for 10 days so will get even more use out of the DDE.

I would definitely recommend it.

I'll try attaching the link to the information and list of restaurants that take it that I found at wdwig.com. I know the list gets updated and changes sometimes but this one says it's from February 2007. Just in case I have technical difficulties attaching the link it's www.wdwig.com If you go to the Dining section (click on dining at the top) then near the bottom on the left side there is a section that talks about Dining Discounts and there is a link for DDE. But here goes my attempt to attach the link...

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dde.htm

I hope this helps

Enjoy your trips
Noreen

Thank you Noreen! So helpful! It looks like we will get more than our money back on our first trip. We are doing lunch at CRT and that saves us $21.19 at one restaurant. We will probably spend more because we have the DDE, but we will enjoy our eating more!

 

[nboicepardee]

We most definitely save a lot of money with the DDE card. We don't eat out a lot but we do go to WDW a few times a year. It sounds like you will be eating table service quite a bit. I would definitely get the card

Thank you!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you purchase an AP on site, and do not have the voucher in advance, it is possible to get a temporary DDE card. Also this works if there is very little lead time between your ordering the card and your arrival.

1. Call the DDE office at 407-566-5858 between 8:30am and 4:00pm Monday to Friday (except Holidays) and give them your name, the string of letters and numbers on the bottom of the pass (starting with a "W") and your credit card information. If you are a Florida Resident and not an AP holder they will ask for your Florida Driver's license (or State ID) number.

2. Starting at 5:30pm that day, and any time it is open, you can go to the Guest Relations Window outside Epcot's Main Entrance (On your right as you face Spaceship Earth) with a photo ID and you will be given an envelope.

3. The envelope will have in it a temporary card which expires 30 days from the date of the request and a sheet of paper listing all locations which currently accept the card.

4. The plastic embossed card should arrive at your home within a month. The expiration date on the embossed card will be either the last day of the current month in the next year, or if you ordered it late enough in the month it will be the last day of the following month the next year.

Also, if you purchase it between the first and about the 7th of a month it will expire the next year on the last day of the same month. If your purchase is after the 10th, the expiration will be the last day of the following month the next year. If you order it between the 7th and 10th is anybody's guess.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

I would simply view it as saving me the cost of the tip.