New AP perk - Disney Dining Experience

[mwerner2]

From Deb's Guide --
"While dining at Epcot there is now a preferred parking area marked by a green line that can be accessed by showing your Disney Dining Experience card at the toll plaza. (Mark Bonczyk, 6/01)"

1. Is this the AAA diamond parking?
2. Can you use the DDE card to get special parking at other parks besides Epcot?

 

[sunny04]

But doesn't it make sense that once we purchase the DDE, we will no longer be showing our AP for the discount, so we will still recieve the discount? I mean, the DDE is supposed to be for a year, and we will have that card to show CMs, right?

 

[DebbieB]

Right on the new passholder sleeve for 2005 it says "AN IMPORTANT NOTE: To enjoy any of the 2005 benefits listed in this pass sleeve, you must present your valid Pass at the time of purchase, booking, and/or redemption of any offer."

So 1.) the Disney Dining Experience CM's SHOULD be asking for passholder numbers (or have a list) or Florida address when selling the card.
2.) the restaurant CM's SHOULD be asking for a VALID AP or Florida DL when giving the discount and
3.) that means if your AP is up in June (example) and you are not renewing it, you should only be able to use the DDE till June as well.

I agree with 1 & 2. The problem with #3 is you pay $50 for a full year, perhaps they should pro-rate it to make it concurrent with your AP. But I think that gets more complicated than they want to get. They mainly want to sell the cards to get more people into their restaurants. My bet is they are not going to be strict with it.

 

[lenshanem]

Right on the new passholder sleeve for 2005 it says "AN IMPORTANT NOTE: To enjoy any of the 2005 benefits listed in this pass sleeve, you must present your valid Pass at the time of purchase, booking, and/or redemption of any offer."

So 1.) the Disney Dining Experience CM's SHOULD be asking for passholder numbers (or have a list) or Florida address when selling the card.
2.) the restaurant CM's SHOULD be asking for a VALID AP or Florida DL when giving the discount and
3.) that means if your AP is up in June (example) and you are not renewing it, you should only be able to use the DDE till June as well.

Well, then the woman at DDE told me wrong info. My AP expires in June and I was told I could still use the DDE card thru January 2006 despite my AP expiring. I will be a little upset if we can't use it for a January trip we already have planned. Hopefully, I'll be able to save enough up over the summer for new APs for that trip so it might be a mute point for us.

They really need a website or something with some current info on it.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Right on the new passholder sleeve for 2005 it says "AN IMPORTANT NOTE: To enjoy any of the 2005 benefits listed in this pass sleeve, you must present your valid Pass at the time of purchase, booking, and/or redemption of any offer."

So 1.) the Disney Dining Experience CM's SHOULD be asking for passholder numbers (or have a list) or Florida address when selling the card.
2.) the restaurant CM's SHOULD be asking for a VALID AP or Florida DL when giving the discount and
3.) that means if your AP is up in June (example) and you are not renewing it, you should only be able to use the DDE till June as well.

Ok... now I look at what you have just posted & wonder...if you are to purchase the the card & you get an expiration date for one year from month of purchase (which is how it is now for us FL residents), that means you pay for a year but can only use it if you "still" have an active & current AP if not a FL resident? That doesn't seem fair? If you buy a "year" membership, you should retain a "year" membership, not when your AP expires.

 

[232271]

i figured i would save about $30 with my Ap card at the places we are eating.
With the DDE it would be $60, but I have to spend $50. Unless I go back again, I really dont benifit. not sure it is worth saving $10.

Have already been twice on this AP and cannot forsee a future trip before it expires.

am I right?

 

[PatriciaH]

But doesn't it make sense that once we purchase the DDE, we will no longer be showing our AP for the discount, so we will still recieve the discount? I mean, the DDE is supposed to be for a year, and we will have that card to show CMs, right?

I was just posting what is on our AP sleeves for 2005 We always give/are asked for our Florida drivers license when getting the DDE discount (as well as our DDE card) so I assume they will ask for a valid AP or should. I have no idea why they are telling people they don't need a valid AP to get the discount. I agree it is very confusing and once again Disney did not give their CM's all the info before going public! I also agree it should be matched to the AP timeframe but have no idea how they would/will do it. They might as well just offer it to everyone.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

I have a question. I see that you get 2 cards with each membership. Do they have different names on them or just the person who bought them? I ask b/c DH and have different last names and was wondering if that would be a problem. TIA

 

[Chuck S]

Pooh Girl,

It is the names of two adults in the same household...I don't think Disney cares if you have the same last name, or even if you're related, just so you have the same household.

They might as well just offer it to everyone.

Perhaps they are doing it for the AP people first as a test run, and then will make it available to everyone at the "regular" price, with AP holders still getting a discount in the future. It is also possible that this is a temporary AP perk for the big 50th Anniversary Celebration, And after that is over and the cards they issue this year expire, it will return to a FL resident only thing.

Hmmmm, speculation, speculation!

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

Thanks Chuck

 

[MinnieM3]

I'm starting to think I lost my mind.

We have AP's and are thinking about doing the DDE thing. But did I read somewhere on the boards that the DDE allowed you free valet parking (NOT for just if you're dining at a resort) or did I read that that was a new AP perk or am I just crazy and dreamed it?

Thanks!!

 

[catsrule]

I order mine Thursday morning, I was on hold for 70 minutes. Thank goodness I had 500 minutes on my phone card.

 

[aubriee]

Thank you for giving us the specifics! I don't want you to think I was doubting what you said! That was certainly not the case at all! What I'm concerned about is exactly what you stated..."I know though that sometimes CM give the wrong information in good faith." I'm afraid that not all the CMs know all the details, with so many new things making their debuts this month!

Hey! No insult taken I was just telling you what I was told. Hopefully the CM I was speaking to was wrong and they will expire 365 days after purchase. That would defintely be more fair to those who trips are later in the year.

The other thing we spoke about was the fact that my AP hasn't been activated yet and she said no problem as long as I had it activated before I used the Dining card/e-mail, because I would have to show my AP, the card (or e-mail), and a valid ID in order to use the dining card. I told her we planned to eat at Beaches & Cream as soon as we arrived this Sunday and she said I could not use the card unless my AP had been activated (even with the voucher and a receipt for the AP purchase). She repeated twice that I would need all three (activated AP, the dining card/e-mail, and a valid ID).

 

[sunny04]

MinnieM3 - i think it said not including valet parking...free parking except for valet parking.

 

[26555]

I'm starting to think I lost my mind.

We have AP's and are thinking about doing the DDE thing. But did I read somewhere on the boards that the DDE allowed you free valet parking (NOT for just if you're dining at a resort) or did I read that that was a new AP perk or am I just crazy and dreamed it?

Thanks!!

You DO need to be dining at the resort and you still need to tip but it is a nice perk.

 

[26555]

MinnieM3 - i think it said not including valet parking...free parking except for valet parking.

Free valet parking at resorts was added later if dining at the resort. Additionally, entering a themepark after 5pm requires no parking fee. To park "free" at the parks before that you have to pay parking, dine at sitdown, go to guest services to get reimbursed for parking as you leave. The catch is you have to be in and out in short period of time b/c this perk is for dining ONLY, not if you are going to enjoy some of the attractions ............. I don't think that will ever happen for us but I think the DDE might have been geared for locals at first who might come just for dining.

 

[232271]

how much do you feel you should save to make the $50 worth it?
If i make back my 50 how much over that should I expect to save to make
it worth it??

thanks!!

 

[n2mm]

I think this is a great perk. It's about time that they do something for AP holders. I've been an AP holder for 10 years. After reading this huge thread I have a couple of notes:

To use ANY AP perk, you must show a current, activated AP. Whether you are getting a discount at minigolf, or buying AP pins, the CM's will ALWAYS ask and check the expiration VERY carefully. We have gone to AP soft opennings and again our AP is ALWAYS checked. So I would say that it is a 100% chance that you need an current activated AP in order to use the DDE perk. Whether you keep your AP current or not is your responsbility and if you want to use this perk or any AP perk that is required. I think there will be a few disappointed folks from this thread. The servers are very thorough about the discounts and the managers have to clear off on them. I know, my hubby is a CM and we enjoy this perk for free, and our ID is checked to make sure it's current (updated sticker), the servers have no problem coming back and telling you the discount is denied if all criteria is not met.


232271, obviously you break even once you spend $250.

Chuck, I think you have something when you said this $50 fee may be tied to the 50th birthday celebration---I see a pattern.

It would've been nice if there was a website to register for the DDE which activated a confirmation e-mail. I still don't understand why so many companies seem so much more advanced when it comes to things like this.

There have been so many changes over the past few months, I just don't know what to expect next. Discounts for DVC on APs, new tickets and packages--with great dining features, dining discounts for AP holders. I love this trend and hope it continues.

 

[lenshanem]

n2mm,
You are right - I will be disappointed if I can't still use the DDE card after my AP expires in June.
I specifically asked when I ordered and they told me I could use it until January 2006 even if my AP had already expired.

I think it stinks we are having to all speculate on the card. They need something online listing the specifics of the card.

 

[n2mm]

n2mm,
You are right - I will be disappointed if I can't still use the DDE card after my AP expires in June.
I specifically asked when I ordered and they told me I could use it until January 2006 even if my AP had already expired.

I think it stinks we are having to all speculate on the card. They need something online listing the specifics of the card.

lenshanem, you are luckier than most. You have a trip coming up and you will get to use your DDE discount and will know the ropes by the time you go back for your spring trip. Time will tell, and obviously if the servers request your activated AP each time, you'll know that before your June trip. How embarrassing would that be if you try to use the DDE with an expired AP and it gets denied?