Is DDE worth it?

[Taggie]

Just had the idea of buying the DDE card. We will be at WDW in July for 6 days/5 nights, staying at Beach Club Villas (renting points). We plan on eating breakfast in the room, counter service for lunch, and sit down dinner. I have PS for:

50'Primetime
SciFi
Hollywood & Vine (Fantasmic show)
Chef Mickey's
Crystal Palace (breakfast)
O'Hana (considering adding on)

We have 2 adults and one 5 year that will be eating. Do you think its worth paying the $75?

Thanks

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Just figure 20% off your food AND drinks at your TS and AK meals to decide. We are a family of 5 (dh, ds 12, ds 4, and dd2.5) and we got our $50 (AP rate) back in two days -- and we're not big eaters. Remember: you also get free valet service at resort restaurants. That's a tremendous perk if you're driving like we did.

 

[LeftCoaster]

First question, are you a Florida Resident? DDE is only available to Florida Residents (for $75) and AP holders (for $50).
Second question, are you coming back within a year?

For what you have listed, I don't think the DDE would be of value to you. I think you'd need two trips to break even. In theory, Hollywood & Vine (for the Fantasmic Dinner Package) should not get you the discount. Reports have said that sometimes CM's give the discount. You would need to spend $375 on the remaining meals to break even.

 

[NCombs]

That's a straight math question. Calculate what you plan to spend on food and what 20% of that would be (and consider if where you plan to eat takes the card). Is is more than $75?

Good luck.

 

[Taggie]

Nevermind, I didn't realize you had to be a FL. resident. Thanks anyway everyone.

 

[profdsny]

We stayed 4 nights, 3 of us, and made up the difference and were ahead before we left. (Kona(2x, B,D), Olivia's(3x, B,B, D), Biergarten(D), Plaza Cafe(L)) However, we do like a glass of wine each at dinner. That really adds up. If you don't drink, it may take a bit longer to be in the black on this.

 

[PavelB]

I got the DDE for the first time for our trip in July. We are a family of 5.
I have reservations the first night at LTT and the second night at O'Hanas.
That will be about $150 per night, $300 total, so the 20% should be $60. I will have paid the $50 for the card in the first 2 days. I hope I am figuring this out right! I actually am looking forward to seeing how much we will save over the course of a week. (With 3 teenage boys we go through a lot of food!)
I cannot wait to go!!!!!

 

[Disney_1derland]

Nevermind, I didn't realize you had to be a FL. resident. Thanks anyway everyone.

You do not have to be a florida resident. You must EITHER be a Florida resident OR an annual passholder.

 

[Bracho]

In May we did at least 2 sitdown dining rooms per day and sometimes 3, the DDE card was SUPER!!!! The 20% I saved each time added up real fast so I would say yes.

The last 4 days of my last trip we had friends join us and the DDE card came in handy when we went to places like Bistro for dinner. I can't believe how much this saved us.

Good luck!

 

[cocowum]

Remember: you also get free valet service at resort restaurants. That's a tremendous perk if you're driving like we did.

Really?? I did not know this. Do you need a PS/ADR at the restaurant to take advantage of this?? We like to go for late lunches/early dinners and I don't usually make a PS/ADR. Thanks

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Really?? I did not know this. Do you need a PS/ADR at the restaurant to take advantage of this?? We like to go for late lunches/early dinners and I don't usually make a PS/ADR. Thanks

No, you do not need a PS for the discount. It works no matter what.

N.E.D.

 

[cocowum]

No, you do not need a PS for the discount. It works no matter what.

N.E.D.

I meant do you need a PS to use the free valet parking? Thanks.

 

[Susiev25]

I ordered my DDE card in January two weeks later we went to WDW for 9 days, I have a family of 5(but since on of my DD's was only 1 at the time we were a family of 4) and we save well over $200 on that trip alone. We will be just passing through WDW at the end of this week for 2 days and I my DDE card was one of the things I made sure NOT to forget! In August we will be going to WDW for 12 days and i'm thinking we'll save another $200 then. It's not bad for my $50 Ap purchase! If we never used it again we would have already made back our money and then some!