Opinions...is DDE worth it?

[lisareneeo]

We are leaving in about 2 weeks and were considering getting the Disney Dining Experience card.

We are AP holders so the cost would be $65.
Our passes expire after this trip so we probably will not be going again in the next year before the DDE card expires. We will be in WDW for 9 nights and have some ADR which are on the card...Crystal Palace, The Plaza, The Brown Derby, San Angel. We will also eat at 1 0r 2 more sit downs but try for ADR when we get there.
We will also be dining in the foodcourt at POR which is on the card.

Do you think the DDE is worth it for us or will we just break even?
Thanks for your opinions,
Lisa

 

[Pakey]

If you get 20% off with the DDE, that means you have to spend $325 to get the $65 back. For us, it is definitely worth it as we spend far more than $325 on meals.

 

[crzy4mk]

I agree with above poster. Depending on the size of your group, it is well worth it. You can find the list of all restaurants that take the DDE card on Deb Wills' site (www.allears.net).

It should also be noted that with your trip being 2 weeks out, you'll need to make sure you can have it for your trip. Most likely you'll need to get some type of verification (via email or snail mail) in hand before you leave, and take it to Guest Services at the entrance to Epcot to get a temporary card until they can mail you your real one (I know all this, because I had to do the same thing a couple of years ago).

Bottom line . . . if you want it, get it quickly.

 

[RyMickey]

Like the above posters said, you'll just need to figure out how much you think you're going to spend. We were a party of 5 and it saved us money after the 3rd meal we had on property.

 

[UKDEB]

The discount is also good for alcoholic beverages, so if you enjoy wine with dinner (and maybe a pre-dinner cocktail or two ), it really is a no-brainer.

 

[dioxide45]

Do remember that with the AP you may also be entitled to discounts at some TS restaurants. Though there are not at many and the discount is less. Take that in to account when determining how much you would need to spend to recover your $65.

 

[ciera321]

It's definately worth it to us. Last August we stayed 11 nights and we saved $260 after the cost!!! Have a great time!!!

 

[pumba]

please check again on Port Orleans Riverside......only the sit down restaurant and not the food court is covered on the dde.......we used it at the food court at French Quarter and the food courts at ALL star movies......and a few places in AK......but sit down restuarants were well worth it for us.......we saved quite a bit and we used it three visits to the mouse in one year.......

 

[Allison]

please check again on Port Orleans Riverside......only the sit down restaurant and not the food court is covered on the dde.......we used it at the food court at French Quarter and the food courts at ALL star movies......and a few places in AK......but sit down restuarants were well worth it for us.......we saved quite a bit and we used it three visits to the mouse in one year.......

You're right. The food court at POFQ is included on DDE because the resort doesn't have a sit-down restaurant.

The POR foodcourt is not listed (or it hasn't been in the past).

 

[tjmw2727]

As pp's mentioned you have to do the math (sorry). For us we usually get at least two trips out of an AP and DDE and sometimes a few weekends as well so it's an easy decision.

We always do at least one TS meal a day as well as a few "beverages" in the evening. IN addition we also stay at POFQ where you can use the DDE at the food court so that helps as well.

If your leaving in two weeks I would go through your ADR's and the menus and figure out what you may be spending - including alcohol. If 20% of that is more than $65 get the DDE as you will likely spend more than you think. If not just use the minimal discounts on your AP and skip the DDE this time.

TJ

 

[disney1990]

I don't know where you are staying, but you can use your DDE card at the food courts for the 3 All Star Resorts and Pop Century because they have no sit down restaurants. Plus, you can use your card at Pizzafari in Animal Kingdom.

 

[byoung]

Saved over $600 with familly of 10 in 5 days in May!

 

[chamonix]

It should also be noted that with your trip being 2 weeks out, you'll need to make sure you can have it for your trip. Most likely you'll need to get some type of verification (via email or snail mail) in hand before you leave, and take it to Guest Services at the entrance to Epcot to get a temporary card until they can mail you your real one (I know all this, because I had to do the same thing a couple of years ago).

Bottom line . . . if you want it, get it quickly.

You do NOT need any kind of email or snail mail confirmation to pick up the temporary card at Epcot Guest Services. You only need to call on a business day (M-F) during business hours, and your temp card will be ready for you to pick up that evening. You may need an ID to pick it up. We called from the room when we got there, lol, but it would be better to do it earlier, of course.

 

[UKDEB]

I forgot to mention that we recoup the cost in one visit to V&A's (which we do at least once a year), so everything else is a saving.

 

[G's mommy]

You're right. The food court at POFQ is included on DDE because the resort doesn't have a sit-down restaurant.

The POR foodcourt is not listed (or it hasn't been in the past).

We were able to use the DDE card at the POR foodcourt back in July. Just ask, it is not on the listing but it was accepted each time we presented it. It is also good in the bar at POR.

 

[cdrn1]

Definitely worth it...IF you remember to use it. I forgot at CRT and Chef Mickey's so now I am going to have to take another trip before it expires so I get my $$ worth!!!!

 

[UKDEB]

Been there, done that!

 

[crzy4mk]

You do NOT need any kind of email or snail mail confirmation to pick up the temporary card at Epcot Guest Services. You only need to call on a business day (M-F) during business hours, and your temp card will be ready for you to pick up that evening. You may need an ID to pick it up. We called from the room when we got there, lol, but it would be better to do it earlier, of course.

Sorry if my information was incorrect. I thought I remembered having to take something with me when I picked mine up. Maybe I was just being overcautious.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

If you get 20% off with the DDE, that means you have to spend $325 to get the $65 back. For us, it is definitely worth it as we spend far more than $325 on meals.

Absolutely...

Even AP holders who visit WDW even as little as twice a year, it's virtually impossible not to spend $325 in food and drink over the course of the year that the DDE card is valid.

 

[honeybee30]

It's been worth it for our 3 trips this year (and possibly one next March...) We eat TS every day and have cocktails every night, so it really saves us a lot.

The deciding factors for me - how many days will you spend at WDW in the next year? & how much do you plan to eat and "drink" at TS restaurants?