Just Back...Used DDE Card for our group of 14!

[RyMickey]

Just thought I'd give everyone traveling with large groups a heads-up. We got the DDE card last summer and it was well worth it. We were planning to use it again on this trip even though we were traveling with a group of 12 (and sometimes 14). We were fully expecting to only be able to use our card on 10 people as the card's restrictions state.

But, much to our surprise, at every single restaurant, they accepted the card for all of our party!

We used the card for 12 to 14 people at the following restaurants without any issue:

Chef Mickey's (breakfast)
Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch)
'Ohana's (dinner)
Hollywood and Vine (dinner)

I'm not sure if we were just lucky, but it was great to save 20% on these big ticket meals!

 

[Esmerelda]

That's great....! I know last year that we saved a boat load off of our meals and we had some great meals! The nice part to us was saving even %20 off of your alcohol. It was nice to have wine with our dinner and get a discount... The nice part is the card paid for itself just after 3 or 4 meals for us. I'm looking forward to using it again here very soon.

It sounds like you had a wonderful time.....!

Esmerelda

 

[AKLRULZ]

Nice score! DDE is a super deal.

 

[DonnaL]

I kept track of costs with the DDE.....there were four of us on our trip in December and we did eat some meals in our DVC villa, but, we used our card
about five times and saved over $100 after deducting the cost of the card. Ours is good until the end of 1/07 so we're getting two more trips (10/06 and 1/07) in. Well worth it for us!!!

 

[notnothin]

Very interesting. I guess either the CMs don't understand the rules or possibly they have changed since the program was introduced.

 

[RyMickey]

Very interesting. I guess either the CMs don't understand the rules or possibly they have changed since the program was introduced.

They all knew the rules as they all said that they had to check with their managers about the large group. The managers must've said it was okay (or, like you said, they changed the rules) since it was accepted at all the above locations.

 

[notnothin]

They all knew the rules as they all said that they had to check with their managers about the large group. The managers must've said it was okay (or, like you said, they changed the rules) since it was accepted at all the above locations.

Good to know. Thanks for sharing with us!

 

[byoung]

How much did you save? We saved over $600 with party of 10 in 5 days.

 

[drakethib]

I am thinking of getting a card.

It seems like it is worth the $$$$.

I have a AP so I think it is only $60.

 

[dzneelvr]

This card was wonderful for our family of 4. We basically paid for 3 at each meal, as the discount was equal to one full order. Saved over $250 and the CMs seemed relieved to deal with the straight 20% rather than all the credit mumbo jumbo with the free dining. An average evening sit down saved us $20+; lunch $14+; breakfast $14+. A CM at the ASMo food court actually thanked us for using this dining plan. I can see why after standing in line several times behind people who had no clue as to what to buy using the free dining plan. The CMs patiently explained what they could charge and what they would have to pay for....some very rude comments back which I thought were inappropriate since there are very strict rules to the free dining plan and the CMs can't go around extending credits for everything a person puts on their tray just because they want it. A couple times the person wanted to put the item back because it didn't fit imagine sending a waffle and sausage order back to be reused stupid.

 

[Sammie]

Very interesting. I guess either the CMs don't understand the rules or possibly they have changed since the program was introduced.

They know the rules, but sometimes they are just trying to make magic for a guest. However when that magic gets shared to thousands here and others go expecting the same treatment then problems begin.

Especially when one shares the restaurants that offered this exception to the rule, and Disney reads these forums.

I know the OP had no intention of getting anyone in trouble but sometimes it's best to keep some things to one's self.

 

[RyMickey]

They know the rules, but sometimes they are just trying to make magic for a guest. However when that magic gets shared to thousands here and others go expecting the same treatment then problems begin.

Especially when one shares the restaurants that offered this exception to the rule, and Disney reads these forums.

I know the OP had no intention of getting anyone in trouble but sometimes it's best to keep some things to one's self.

Um...As the OP, I think there's no reason to keep this to myself. It's not as though the employees themselves were deciding to give the discount to us. The employees aren't going to "get in trouble" because of this. They all took the time to ask their managers and their managers told them to give the discount to the whole table.

We weren't expecting it and I don't think anyone on these boards should be expecting it when they go down to Disney. However, it was a pleasant surprise and we would not have been disappointed if it didn't turn out that way as the card was well worth it anyway.

 

[notnothin]

However, it was a pleasant surprise and we would not have been disappointed if it didn't turn out that way as the card was well worth it anyway.

Indeed, the card can quickly pay for itself and I certainly consider it to be a great deal. I just think that we all were surprised (as you were by your own admission) that it worked for greater than 10 people, as is the policy.

Good for you, though!