Is DDE worth it?

[Momma2Britt]

We are going to Disney 5/22-5/27 and staying at the Wilderness Lodge. We bought my DH an Annual Pass to get the room discount. Well, I had wanted to do the MYW w/Dining but was told by the customer service rep that b/c my DH had an AP and we have Park Hopper tickets, we could not add the dining. So, I was looking on the Disney website and saw that DDE was available to AP holders. Is it worth it? $50 seems like a lot to pay to just get a discount on the meals. There will be me, DH, 3 yo and 1 yo. We aren't huge eaters but we do like to eat fairly well when we are on vacation. I only have $600 budgeted for food while we are there (5 night, 4 days at the park). Does that sound like too little? Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks.
Tiffany

 

[mckryan]

I would take a look at the list of restaurants that participate with the DDE and see if they are places you will be eating. If so, I would go for it. Just about every restaurant we eat at is on there, so we definitely will get our money's worth out of it.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneydiningexperience.htm

 

[goofy4tink]

We have ours all ready to go. If you spend $250 in food costs, then you will be at the break even point. You save 20%. That's a pretty good discount.

 

[dinks]

Maybe this has been answered many times, but I can't find it. Can you use the Disney Dining when doing the Fantasmic package?

Thank you

Michelle

 

[Stitch Inside]

Let's do the math. $600 Budgeted - $50 for DDE = $550 for food X 0.2 discount = $110 savings/more to spend on food.

 

[DonaldsDaisy]

My DH and I just returned last week from WDW and used DDE. We found that it saved us a ton of money considering it was only the two of us. If you plan on going to one of the shows it is well worth it. We saver 20+ bucks on Spirit of Aloha alone. It also gives you other discounts including PI.

As a side note we were first time AP holders and found out once we turned the vouchers in that we recieved a 10% dicount @ World of Disney in DTD. That also helped toward all those little twinkets we couldn't leave without.

Have a great trip!

 

[pumba]

and we saved pretty close to 100 dollars for four. My hubby and I took our two grandkids and they are bottomless pits. We did use it at the food court at SPorts and all the sit down dinners we did plus Donalds Breakfastasaurus. We did use it at Holllywood and Vine for our Fantasmic PKG.......I think that a 100 in my pocket vs the restaurants is a good deal..
Each night the four of us had an ice cream from the food court and that was 3 dollars in savins right there...

 

[lisatx04]

Can someone give me the number to call for the card? I am an AP holder and I misplaced the number. Thanks!!

 

[kandmwedding]

Maybe this has been answered many times, but I can't find it. Can you use the Disney Dining when doing the Fantasmic package?

Thank you

Michelle

The answer is yes and no. Technically, DDE does not cover packages, but you may have a CM who gives you the discount anyway. You'd just to have decide which is more important to you when you book - the discount or the reserved seats. For me, it's the discounts. I can wait in line for the seats.

 

[mtdevine615]

We just got back a week ago from a ten day trip and we saved $132 after subtracting the $50 for the purchase. We'll be going again in Jan. with our two nieces and I expect to save at least another $200 - $250. The card is good at the late shows and some food courts.

isatx04 - The number is 407-566-5858

 

[IndianaDVCMember]

Without a doubt, DDE is worth it! You will probably save more than 20% of $600 less the $50 membership charge (net $70). A good rule of thumb in Disney is to double the amount you have budgeted for food! 0.2 x $1200 - $50 = $190!!!

 

[canwegosoon]

We saved $70 on out last trip...plus I have 2 more trips planned before the card expires. If you look at you $600 budget and ate $300of it at resturants that took DDE you you still save $60-$50 cost=$10savings. Any chance you can get another trip in within the year? But you must ask.. every where it they take the DDE...I found many mistakes at SSR (they take the DDE 20% but were applying my 10% DVC discount instead.)