DVC Dining Discount

[disney junky]

Has anyone done the math for the difference between the 10% discount DVC members get versus spending the money for the DDE and getting 20% off. I know the discounts apply to different restaurants; I am sure some of you have run the math and could answer fairly accurately. We are staying a week but don't eat at a lot of sit down places, maybe three or four times during the whole stay. Any opinion is welcome.

 

[JimMIA]

I think the first hurdle would be whether you would qualify for the DDE. Since you are not a Florida resident, you would have to be an annual passholder to even qualify.

If you are an AP holder, the DDE costs $50. You'd have to go down the lists and cross-check, but I think both discounts are pretty widely accepted. Not everywhere, certainly, but you can easily find someplace to eat on either card.

The difference between the two discounts is not just 10%. The DDE gives you 20% off, including alcohol. For some, that is a non-benefit, but if you like a bottle of wine or a couple of beers with dinner, it's a big plus for the DDE. You will save bucks in a hurry with DDE if you eat well or drink booze.

The math would be the cost of buying ONE AP (only need one) at the DVC discount, less whatever you were going to pay for park passes + $50. Then just calculate 10% off your food and non-alcoholic beverages vs. 20% off everything, and compare that to the cost of the DDE. YM Will V, so you have to do your own math.

 

[lllovell]

Lets say a family of 4....$20 cost of meal (not invcluding tax or tip)

4 meals = $320 DVC discount would be $8 per meal or $32
DDE discount would be $16 per meal or $64 - after purchasing would mean a savings of $14 for that trip

However, if you buy ANY alcoholic beverages, they are discounted with the DDE and not the DVC. Also, all the savings after your original $50 is paid back is total gravy (and at twice the savings rate).

We (4 adults - 1 child, 2 toddlers) ate out about once a day using DDE on our trip recently and figured our savings to be about $250. So, $200 saved after paying for the DDE. Same thing on DVC discount would have only been $125 and possibly not good at all the restaurants we used it for.

(we are also going back at least two more times this year, so we will get even more savings out of our DDE card).

 

[WDW LOVR]

Don't forget DDE is good for all meals and not restricted like the DVC (and AP) meal discounts can be.

 

[russct]

DDE card also includes 20% discount on some Character Dining. I am taking my Godchild to Cinderella's Dinner Party at Grand Floridian. Cost was $27.99 per person less 20%. Just another thing to think about.

 

[tjkraz]

I don't think you CAN "do the math" in this scenario. The "free" DVC discounts are available only at a very limited list of restaurants, and often only for certain meals. The best route for you will depend on a number of factors like the places / meals you choose to dine out, your expected bill for a meal (are we talking about 2 people or 10 people?) and the number of days you could potentially get out of the DDE card in a year's time.

IMO, first decide when and when you want to eat...calculate an approximate ticket for each establishment...and then determine if DDE is the way to go. If you frequent locations with the DVC discount (particularly those at the Dolphin / Swan with the 20% discount), you probably won't need the DDE. But there's a lot more variety in the DDE discount list.

 

[disney junky]

Thanks for the input. I didn't realize the DDE was only for AP holders or Florida residents and we are neither so that settles that. Perhaps that will change at some time in the future....

 

[juliesue]

You might want to check about the AP or FL resident restrictions. When I went to the website to read about it, they also offered a "general" DDE for $75. I thought that meant anyone.

A call to DDE would clear that up if you are really interested.

 

[Topper]

You might want to check about the AP or FL resident restrictions. When I went to the website to read about it, they also offered a "general" DDE for $75. I thought that meant anyone.

A call to DDE would clear that up if you are really interested.

DDE is only offered to FL residents or AP holders. Anything else you may have read is erroneous.

 

[tjkraz]

At the start of this year they began offering the DDE to AP holders. Previously it had only been available to FL residents.

During the ensuing flood of phone calls, there was a short period of time where they were selling the DDE to ANYONE. But that was a mistake--due to either a general miscommunication or poorly trained staff members who were hurriedly brought in to handle the flood of new memberships.

As Topper said, AP holders and FL residents only.