Disney Dining Experience ??????'s

[Cruz Family]

Hi everyone, this may be a silly question but here goes.....We are planning a week long trip for around 10 of us next fall. Originally we were going to use the DDP so we would not have the whole "spliting up the check problem". Now that it looks as if tips will no longer be included, I don't think it would be worth it. I was thinking of getting an AP and the DDE card to save us some money but, I did not know if I could book a trip with only one person not getting park passes. How does that work??? Do you think it would be worth doing? TIA, Melissa
PS- If I was to get the AP I would most likley plan another trip the following year to get more days from my AP.

 

[mickaholic4077]

To the poster who said they could get the mugs with the DDE card-no you can't.

 

[cncDisney4]

We're leaning towards AP's and the DDE as well, since we live so close and can visit often. Does anyone know if you can use it for the FDP? I'm assuming that you can't use it for holiday events like the CP package, but if it's not Christmas day can you? Just trying to get the specifics, we usually visit early Dec. for dd's birthday, and always do the FDP when we visit as well.

You won't be able to use your DDE card for Christmas day. We tried to use it for Christmas Eve the first time we had the card and weren't able to. Since it clearly listed that as a blackout date in the letter that came with the card I was okay with that, however, the couple at the table next to us were livid that they couldn't use it and called the manger over to complain to him after they had berated the watier for a while! The manager apologized to them but said they could not use the DDE card. Listed below are some of the other dates it is restricted from:

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.

As far as the Fantasmic Dining Package ... well, here is what is listed on All Ears ... The Disney Dining Experience discount cannot be combined with any other discount or package. This includes events such as Fantasmic Dinner Package, Epcot Food and Wine Festival Events, and Candlelight Dinner Packages.


We tried the Disney Dining Plan on our trip last week and decided that we wouldn't do that again ... too much food! We'll stick to our DDE card and get the 20% discount. It was good to try the DDP plan to find out for ourselves that it just wasn't for us.

 

[mousiemom]

Well, someone messed up cause I purchased 3 mugs with the 20% discount!!!
Mousiemom

 

[dfarster]

I knew that we weren't able to use the DDE for the Fantasmic package, but DH did not. I left DH at H&V since I had really had it with our server (first spilling water on me and the giving us dirty napkins after asking her repeatedly for some to begin with). So, DH gave our server the card and got the 20% off no questions asked. We saved at least $100 in our 7 days at Disney. We tend to do few CS meals, so the DDP wouldn't work out as well for us.

 

[byoung]

With family of 10 in May saved over $600 in 5 days with the DDE card.

 

[mrzrich]

We do alot of resort dining, and as you know transferring from resort to resort by bus can be really time consuming. The free valet parking is my favorite part of the DDE and the card has more than paid for itself in valet parking fees alone. Who wants to park across the street when rushing to an ADR at the GF when you can have free valet?


Of course the discounts are sweet too. Especially on adult beverages!

 

[juju]

We used ours at Victoria and Albert's last trip and I agree with other poster that the free valet parking is a real perk. Who wants to hike from the free GF parking lot across the street when you are dressed up? We will be using our card on 2 two week trips.