Disney Dining Experience

[dizzyfan]

Can anyone tell me if the Disney Dining Experience Memebership is worth purchasing? We are going to purchase an annual pass (finally after going ever year since 1996!This year we are going in July and December) So based on what I read I can purchase this for membership for $50.00 with an AP, but I have a few questions?
1. Is it worth it?
2. Do I need one membership or one for each family member? Or can all three of us us the same memebership?
3. I was going to wait and purchase our annual passes when we get there seeing as there is no benefit to advance purchase, but I read it takes 2-3 weeks for the processing of the membership. Our trip in July is about 2 & a half weeks away, but we are doing other things while we are there (Sea World, Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens) so we will visit Disney the later part of our trip. All that being said can I purchase the membership once I arrive and use it or not?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[MNSusan]

1. Absolutely. We figured with the 20% discount on food and drinks, all we needed to spend was $250 to have the card pay for itself.

2. One membership is all you need. Both yourself and your spouse will receive a card. Its good for up to nine people in one party (I think that's right).

3. When we got ours, we were able to order it based on our annual pass voucher. That may have changed. We didn't get the cards in time for our trip, but we received a letter via email that allowed us all the same discounts. We just showed the letter to our server and they applied the discount. A couple of times, they took the letter to show to their manager but it always worked.

Some people have said its harder to get the letter once you're there, the office is only open M-F, etc. I'm sure someone with more recent experience will let you know.

Our only disappointment was the card wasn't accepted at Teppenyaki in Japan for dinner. Its good for lunch, though. Its accepted nearly everywhere else. Its a fantastic deal!

Good luck.

 

[Pocahontas1]

We used it earlier this month and it was well worth it for 2 adults and one child. I think we were able to use it six different times and it more than paid for itself.

We bought our PAP's when we got down there - about 2pm. We called DDE and they had the letter ready to pick up at Epcot guest services after 5:30pm that same day. Our permanent card came two days ago, so it was only about a three week turn around.

Hope that helps.

Oh - I just noticed you are from Conway. We're about an hour and a half south of you. I head up toward Conway/MB every Thanksgiving to outlet shop. Just came back from a conference at Murrell's Inlet.

 

[dizzyfan]

Pocahontas1 - great to hear you are from SC! So I am guessing you live near Mount Pleasant/Charleston, Charleston is one of my favorite places. Murrells Inlet is a nice place to go have dinner and relax a little. We love (my husband, son and myself) to go to Creek Ratz, the food is okay but the atmosphere is awesome, you can sit outside overlooking the creek and they have live music a place kids and adults can enjoy together. If you want good Murrells Inlet Seafood try Lee's Inlet Kitchen! The food is great!

Thanks for the info on the DDE Membership, I was hoping that I could purchase the APs and the DDE membership when we arrived in Florida. So I will go to Downtown Disney and buy the APs and call the DDE and purchase the membership and ask them to prepare the letter so I can pick it up at guest services and use it for our meals.

Thanks Again For the HELP!!