New AP perk - Disney Dining Experience

[Terry S]

I really think that the intention was for you to buy the DDE card along with the AP so they would expire at the same time. I know there are those people that have the AP already and now what to buy the DDE card, but you will just have to figure 1) if having the card is worth it for the remining months on your AP or if 2) you plan to renew your AP when the renewal time is up.

Either that or the DDE card has been made available to everyone and the AP Perk is that we get $25 off of the card. So you would just need to have the current AP when you purchase it? But then that wouldn't work for all those that have been saying that they told the CM they didn't have the AP yet, but they were going to buy one? Who knows, I give up!

 

[DebbieB]

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?

I think in the next month or so, many people will have used it and posted their experiences, so we know whether they ask for the AP with the card when using it.

 

[n2mm]

I think in the next month or so, many people will have used it and posted their experiences, so we know whether they ask for the AP with the card when using it.

You are correct! I have to believe that Disney will do some type of policing of this perk. I'm going with what the passholder site says for this perk. "That an activated AP must be showed". Face it, if DDE CMs don't require an activated AP when signing up and servers don't ask when dining, disney is just openning themselves up for abuse of this nice perk--not fair to AP holders and risk us losing it. I'll be there next week (Jan. 15th) so will keep my eyes and ears open when dining. I imagine that when showing the DDE ID, the servers will request either a FL ID or AP to validate. We also have lots of CM friends who work as servers (happens when you eat at the same place alot), so I will inquire what their restraurant policy is. I'm sure that you'll find each restraurant will be different because each manager runs them differently. Though I'm not signing up for this perk, I know one day I may if and when hubby decides that he's had enough of the Company and we again become regular guest. So I hope it stays around and is successful. Both of us are AP holders, contrary to what some believe, not all CMs get into the parks for free.

 

[goofy4tink]

At the risk of starting a huge flaming of myself, I have to wonder about those of you who are concerned about not being able to use the DDE card after your AP expires. You have the choice of getting the card or not. If you decide that the DDE card will save you enough money on your upcoming trip, then fine buy it. But, if you only have a 4 day trip (for example) planned before your AP expires I would say it wouldn't be cost effective to buy it.

If this is to be considered an AP perk for 2005, then I wouldn't have a problem with it ending at the end of 2005. I have one trip planned for 9 days this coming June. Dd and I are pretty light eaters so I'm not sure the DDE will be a good choice for us. I'm hoping to plan another trip in June of 2006 with another mom and her dd...ladies only type trip. It would be nice if my DDE (should I decide to buy one for 6/05 trip) didn't expire at the end of 2005. But if it does, it does.

I sometimes think that no matter what perk or benefit comes out, there is always someone saying..."Oh, this isn't a good one, it won't benefit me at all. How about if they change it to..... That would work better for me." DVC got a discount on AP passes. There were still people that complained saying they didn't buy AP passes so what was DIsney going to do for them as far as pass discounts. Same thing with the DDE. I would hope that CMs will ask to see an active AP along with the DDE card. After all, this is an AP holder perk. I would hate to see a few spoil it for the legitimate card holders.

 

[sunny04]

goofy4tink -
I understand what you are saying, but my understanding is that the purchasing of the DDE card is the AP benefit. The fact that you can buy it at all, and at a discount is awesome. The people from Fl who have bought them in the past show ID, so I think everyone will have to show ID. The AP is needed to buy the card, but then you have it, period. If this is incorrect, I'll be okay with it, it's just what makes sense to me at this point, since we have no idea. Maybe I'm completely wrong, and you're right that many people will complain about it. For me, I just want to know if I'll be able to use it or not!!

 

[goofy4tink]

goofy4tink -
I understand what you are saying, but my understanding is that the purchasing of the DDE card is the AP benefit. The fact that you can buy it at all, and at a discount is awesome. The people from Fl who have bought them in the past show ID, so I think everyone will have to show ID. The AP is needed to buy the card, but then you have it, period. If this is incorrect, I'll be okay with it, it's just what makes sense to me at this point, since we have no idea. Maybe I'm completely wrong, and you're right that many people will complain about it. For me, I just want to know if I'll be able to use it or not!!

Ahhh...excellent point. I see what you're saying. Basically it could be a question of 1. the AP discount is the actual perk, 2. you get the AP discount and the ability to use the card for the lenght of your AP, 3. at some point everyone will be able to get the card but AP holders get a break.

Wonder what the 'real' answer is.

 

[n2mm]

Ahhh...excellent point. I see what you're saying. Basically it could be a question of 1. the AP discount is the actual perk, 2. you get the AP discount and the ability to use the card for the lenght of your AP, 3. at some point everyone will be able to get the card but AP holders get a break.

Wonder what the 'real' answer is.

But again you still have to remember what it says on the Passholder website. Are folks not logging in to read the official language of what it says under AP perks? (BTW: there are alot of other new perks there too).

Dining Discounts

Discounts are valid for purchases made by the Passholder only and valid Pass ID is required for redemption.

I don't know how anyone can misunderstand what the AP information site is saying. I think the problem lies with the CMs in DDE. They are so use to dealing only for the Fl. Resident discount and were not ready, or did not know how to deal with AP questions. I wonder if anyone has called the PASSHOLDER hotline to get more official information regarding this perk.

I guess this will all get sorted out when the CMs at DDE and AP holders figure out that someone is passing wrong information.

 

[Terry S]

n2mm.... I have read the website and honestly it is still questionable. You are correct in that it does say "Discounts are valid for purchases made by the Passholder only and valid Pass ID is required for redemption" But does this mean that a valid pass id is required for the discount to purchase the actual card or the discount to use the card. Is the benefit the DDE $25 discount itself and is that what the valid pass is required to get? It can really be interpreted both ways.

 

[n2mm]

n2mm.... I have read the website and honestly it is still questionable. You are correct in that it does say "Discounts are valid for purchases made by the Passholder only and valid Pass ID is required for redemption" But does this mean that a valid pass id is required for the discount to purchase the actual card or the discount to use the card. Is the benefit the DDE $25 discount itself and is that what the valid pass is required to get? It can really be interpreted both ways.

I totally agree, it can be interpreted both ways--kind of a "grey" zone. I guess time will tell, and I sure would not want to be the first to use this perk....sounds like it could be complicated and frustrating, or completely effortless! who knows! There's not alot on the employee website "portal" either, other than the 2005 DDE information of what it covers and the participating restraurants.

 

[WDWguru]

Well, we leave tonight and we'll probably get a chance to use the DDE this weekend. We have APs and are using the confirmation letter we got yesterday. We get back Wednesday night, so I'll report back in then on how it went -- if not before.

 

[goofy4tink]

But again you still have to remember what it says on the Passholder website. Are folks not logging in to read the official language of what it says under AP perks? (BTW: there are alot of other new perks there too).

Dining Discounts

Discounts are valid for purchases made by the Passholder only and valid Pass ID is required for redemption.

I don't know how anyone can misunderstand what the AP information site is saying. I think the problem lies with the CMs in DDE. They are so use to dealing only for the Fl. Resident discount and were not ready, or did not know how to deal with AP questions. I wonder if anyone has called the PASSHOLDER hotline to get more official information regarding this perk.

I guess this will all get sorted out when the CMs at DDE and AP holders figure out that someone is passing wrong information.

 

[disgal1]

Ordered it yesterday, and called this morning to check on it.
The cm, who was very nice, said the phone and computer service had basically crashed due to the overload. Said it was taking up to 2 days to get the emails out.
She told me it expired jan 06, no matter when you bought it. Said no need to show ap when showing letter, but some servers may ask for it anyway.

we leave for wdw thursday, I'll post how it went when we return

 

[Luv2Roam]

I think sometimes with Disney you have to know what to ask and how to ask it to get a correct answer.
For example, asking "If I buy the DDE card today, can I use it until January 2006, even if my AP expires before then?"
Well sure you can. As long as you renew your AP too.
I am not saying that is the correct answer. But it makes sense.

I was wondering too how they are going to treat this. Disney may be assuming if you have a DDE card, you also have an AP. Otherwise how would you know about it and why would anyone buy it, if it is an AP only benefit? (I look at this as additional incentive to buy/renew an AP/PAP.)

Or no matter how much training, there are details that are not handed down. A lot of assumption goes on sometimes. One CM manger assuming another CM knows, or that another training CM has provided information, or that an e-mail has been read and clearly understood.

As it stands it may be something that only time will tell. And we all know, if you don't like the answer from one CM, the next might tell you what you want to hear. But that does not mean it may be enforced either.

I have not had many servers ask to see my FL ID when using the DDE card. But since so many cards will be in circulation now, along with e-mails, I am wondering if that policy will become more enforced.

That being said, the last thing Disney wants are unhappy guests. This all may be interesting soon.

 

[lenshanem]

If it is the case that I won't be able to use the DDE card after my AP expires, DESPITE what DDE told me when I bought it and after I had SPECIFICALLY told her my AP expired in June, I'll be mad. I'm sorry, but that would be like bait and switch. I asked before I gave her my credit card number. I wasn't trying to cheat the system. And also in that instance they should really have prorated it!

 

[Luv2Roam]

lenshanem -- I certainly do not disagree with you. And anything I am writing is just thinking out loud on my part.
I wondered from the start why they were selling these to AP holders when they will not be running in the same time frame as the guest's APs.
That is why I am wondering if they are using this as an incentive for guest to renew or become AP members.
It does seem like they would have prorated it otherwise.
On the other hand they may figure you will not be around to use it when you are no longer an AP member anyway. So why worry over nothing, or how few times the card would be used after your AP expires? You still may be spending meal dollars you might spend elsewhere, and it keeps the guest happy.
Just mullin' over their thinking is all.
My guess is they are hoping it wil make guests like yourself so happy, you will renew and return more often. I hope their strategy works.

 

[n2mm]

lenshanem -- I certainly do not disagree with you. And anything I am writing is just thinking out loud on my part.
I wondered from the start why they were selling these to AP holders when they will not be running in the same time frame as the guest's APs.
That is why I am wondering if they are using this as an incentive for guest to renew or become AP members.
It does seem like they would have prorated it otherwise.
On the other hand they may figure you will not be around to use it when you are no longer an AP member anyway. So why worry over nothing, or how few times the card would be used after your AP expires? You still may be spending meal dollars you might spend elsewhere, and it keeps the guest happy.
Just mullin' over their thinking is all.
My guess is they are hoping it wil make guests like yourself so happy, you will renew and return more often. I hope their strategy works.

I'm thinking along the same line. I personnally stopped renewing my AP when they changed the way it's activated several years ago. I now just buy a new one each year, saving about 3 months each times. I'm sure I'm not alone. By offering the DDE card, you will need that AP activated, so there will be more people renewing. It just seems like there is so much mis-information and a lack of coordination between the AP folks and the DDE folks. I'm sure we'll start hearing a mixed bag of reports because every restraurant will be treating this new perk differently.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I'm sure we'll start hearing a mixed bag of reports because every restraurant will be treating this new perk differently.

Agree 100%. It was this way prior too.

 

[MinnieM3]

Thanks to those who explained the valet parking question! Trying to save anyway we can!

 

[DMRick]

You must show your activated AP with usage.
***********
I just bought mine. I told her my AP expires in May, and I will not be renewing it, so what do I have to show when I use it after that time. She said this will expire Jan 31, 2006, and I may have to show my ID..then she said something peculiar...she said it's not tied in with my AP, so it doesn't matter if it (my AP) expires. Hmmm..interesting to me.

Usually, when I order something via Disney (like tours) it seems my AP ID comes up once I give my name and phone number. With this, I had to give all of my personal info (addy, phone number, etc) to her..almost like, well, it wasn'tconnected with my AP. I think anyone could have gotten it at the $50 price, unless she did pull up my AP.

 

[Luv2Roam]

She said this will expire Jan 31, 2006, and I may have to show my ID.

It would be interesting on how a DDE CM would explain this:
(just using this as an example)
The guest said their AP expired in May '05
The DDE card card they are buying expires Jan '06
Guest has to show valid AP as ID

No wonder we are all scratching our heads,

And if it is not tied in with an AP, why not sell the DDE card to anyone? Is that next if this works? Or is that what they really are doing now?
Could the DDE card be the MKC or Disney Club replacement? (And not their VISA card)
If it is not tied to being a FL resident, DVC member, AP, etc, that is they way I would look at it.
(Between the AP and DDE discounts, it reminds me of the old discount card.)