Disney Dining Plan AND Disney Dining Experience

[DisneyDeeva]

In 2008, I'll be returning to WDW in for a couple of short trips and then in September for 10 days, rounding out the year at MouseFest '08.

For our September trip, we are staying at Pop Century and will have the Disney Dining Plan (bounceback Free Dining). I'm also an Annual Pass holder and am thinking about getting the DDE for a discount on those things not covered under the DDP.

Can I do this - pay for the main portion of the meal using the DDP AND get a 20% discount on things like appetizers and alcohol? Since the DDE has an automatic 18% gratuity added, will they split the bill out and charge me 18% only on the DDE portion of the tab. Or, will they add 18% to the entire bill?
I'm trying to figure out if it's really worth it for me or not.

Has anyone used both at the same time before? How did it work?

 

[clkelley]

We've used both on last September's free dining trip. Of course, that was when the gratuity was included in the dining plan.

There were 5 of us and for a couple of the meals, I would order an appetizer and drink only and the rest would order their free meals. I would share hubby's entree and also have another friends appetizer as he was a very unadventurous eater.

Then we would put the deserts in the middle of the table and all share.

It was rather spotty as to whether they would automatically add the tip on the DDE portion. If they added it, I gave them nothing extra, if they didn't add it, I would add the discount back as a tip, giving the servers 20%.

Of course for 2008, ALL DDE checks are supposed to have the 18% added automatically. Not sure if the Free Dining portion will have the 18% added since you used DDE for a portion of the meal.

However, if your party is 6 or more, the 18% will be added automatically to ALL meals.