Our dining with DDE and DDP last week

[BCV23]

We returned last Friday from the World. We used the DDP for the DVC portion of our trip and DDE for the AKL portion as well as adult beverages throughout the trip and a meal at B&C. We absolutely love being able to purchase the DDE card. The DDP was even better value but if I had to choose only one it would be DDE. Still not used to counter service meals and we also did order desserts which don't do too often if not on the plan.

Breakfasts:
Kona Cafe (2)
Boma
AKL room service
BC Marketplace (3)
in room

Lunch:
Plaza
Rainforest Cafe at AK
Brown Derby
Coral Reef
Mama Melrose
Grand Floridian Cafe
Sci-Fi
BC Marketplace

Dinner:
Jiko
California Grill
Cafe D'Antonio in Celebration
Mara and I think room service
Chefs de France
Raglan Road
Hurricane Hannahs
room service at BCV and B&C

Highlights were California Grill. Jiko and Cafe D'Antonio. Mama Melrose was a wonderful break as always. We asked for Dori or Kevin as our server and were lucky to get Dori and still see Kevin. They are both great and now that I learned you can request it with your ARs I will be doing so. Gary is a longtime server at Kona and although we didn't have him this trip, he'll be another we request in the future.

We were also glad to have tried Raglan Road. It is a beautiful restarant and we enjoyed our food and had good service. We will be back.

Anyway, I'd be happy to answer any questions.

 

[CapeCod53]

Hi, I'd love to know more about Raglan Road. We are going to be a group of 13,3 generations, 7 "kids" 16-25 all but 2 21 or older. I thought RR wd be fun for such a group(we tend to be a little loud sometimes). Also Chefs de France & California Grill, my concerns are with so many different tastes & some somewhat picky eaters that prefer plainer meat & potatoes type food. Is there enough variety on those menus? Thanks.

 

[BCV23]

Raglan Road's descriptions make it sound like very unusual food but the few things we had were fine for a picky eater I would think.

My husband wasn't hungry and just ordered the Dalkey Duo which are small sausages in a breading with a mustard sauce. The presentation of these was cute as 5 or 6 were on forks sticking up from the platter. It was a good size portion and the sausages were really like the sausages that we've had served to us in Ireland. Very finely ground and with a different taste than most US sausage. A tasty dish.

Our son and I split an appetizer called Smokie City. It is described as cod layered with Wexford cheese and double cream. It comes with a generous portion of bread for dipping. Our older son and his wife had enjoyed this dish at RR. It isn't my cup of tea as the consistency is almost like a creamy soup. Not the best for dipping in my book.

For his entree, DS2 had a cheeseburger which is NOT listed. It looked delicious. I had Kevin's Kudos which was very tasty. It is the signature dish and is described as roast loin of bacon. It was several thick slabs of very tasty meat which to me tasted like very good Canadian bacon....but not thin and crispy. It came with creamed potatoes and braised cabbage which were very tasty and the potatoes were a perfect consistency..not too runny and not too firm. We took our desserts to go. My husband had the chocolate one at some point and it must have been good because it was gone in the blink of an eye...well almost. The other one was a strawberrry and apple crisp which sadly we never got around to eating. It looked delicious though.

CG is fine for nonadventurous eaters I think because there is such variety and they are so flexible. There is always a four cheese pizza on the menu or something like it and it is excellent. You can order things without sauces or ask for a substitution. For instance if you don't want polenta with the pork dish, they will substitute a different starch.

With Chefs, I would have everyone make sure they see something they would be happy with before you go. Although we do enjoy it, there isn't the variety of CG. And they are not as flexible. There is a warning of "no substitutions." It is in small print and a trip or two ago, my husband didn't notice it and asked. Our server didn't answer him but just pointed at the small print. But our service there has usually been fine and friendly in recent years including this trip.

 

[CapeCod53]

Thanks for the response, I think RR will definitely go on our list.

 

[catrinuk]

Can you tell me what a DDE card is please, taking first DVC vacation in December from UK and confused is it different to the dining plan?

 

[BCV23]

Sorry. DDE is short for Disney Dining Experience. It is a membership card available to annual passholders for $60/year or Florida residents for I believe $75.

Special events are offered to members but for those of us who live farther away the biggest benefit is a 20% discount on food and all beverages, even alcoholic, at WDW owned table service restaurants and lounges. It is even good at Victoria and Albert's although not for the Chef's Table. For those of us who enjoy full service restaurants, it is fantastic.

Counter service restaurants are for the most part excluded but the last I knew it was good at food courts in resorts that do not have a full service restaurant....Pop Century, the All Stars and Port Orleans French Quarter.

Enjoy your first DVC stay. We love our DVC membership. Are you a SSR owner?

 

[Cyndibear]

We are new DVC owners also. Taking our first trip back home in June. We added on the dining plan. So, if we get the DDE and have alcohol at dinner could we get seperate checks and use the DDE for the 20% off? Thanks!

 

[starseed]

We are new DVC owners also. Taking our first trip back home in June. We added on the dining plan. So, if we get the DDE and have alcohol at dinner could we get seperate checks and use the DDE for the 20% off? Thanks!

Subscribing! I would like to know this as well.

We are hosting several dinners for 10 people and wondering if it's worthwhile to invest in AP and DDE, as well as the DDP during our ten-day stay. I am a big foodie and would definitely take advantage of the DDP pts.

But if we can also use the DDE to get the discounts on food (for our guests) and bevvies (for everyone!) in combo with DDP, this can result in some pretty decent savings!

TIA!

 

[BCV23]

We are new DVC owners also. Taking our first trip back home in June. We added on the dining plan. So, if we get the DDE and have alcohol at dinner could we get seperate checks and use the DDE for the 20% off? Thanks!

Yes, you can. There is a seperate bill for alcohol in any case when you use the Disney Dining Plan. The server just applies the discount to that bill.

starseed, unless you are a DVC member staying on points, you need to buy a package which includes admission to get the DDP.

As for splitting bills with some people on the DDP and others on the DDE, I'm not sure. It might be possible but I would call DDE and ask before investing in the card. 407-566-5858

 

[starseed]

Yes, you can. There is a seperate bill for alcohol in any case when you use the Disney Dining Plan. The server just applies the discount to that bill.

starseed, unless you are a DVC member staying on points, you need to buy a package which includes admission to get the DDP.

As for splitting bills with some people on the DDP and others on the DDE, I'm not sure. It might be possible but I would call DDE and ask before investing in the card. 407-566-5858

Yes, I should've mentioned - I am staying on points at DVC and have the DDP on my reservation.

I am going to sit down today and do the math, but we will be hosting and paying for at least two full dinners for 10 people. So I think the DDE would really come in handy, but will definitely do some more research.

Thanks for the info!

 

[catrinuk]

yes we bought into SSR when we were last over in sept 2004, cant wait to go home properly for the first time.

 

[loveFL]

Hey, welcome back! What did you have to eat at Rainforest, Grand Floridian Cafe, and California Grill?

Thanks!!!

 

[erikthewise]

BCV23,

Welcome back!
We've never eaten at Hurricane Hanna's and would be interested in your take on it. Is it "Beaches & Cream by the Pool", or is the food quality lower?

 

[Gina35]

Found that Hurricane Hannas is not like Beaches and Cream, but some of the food is very decent. My family particularly liked the chicken fingers. Great sized portion....very good for a CS on the DDP.

 

[BCV23]

Gina, welcome to the DIS. THat is good to know about the chicken strips at Hurricane Hannah's.

Erik, the only thing I can comment on are the cheeseburgers. Sadly, they do not measure up to B&C which I do enjoy. My son and I both had cheeseburgers at HH. THe meat may be the same quality as B&C. But ours were not juicy at all. That of course can just be the result of flipping the burgers too often. We used to have a tavern in town that was famous for its burgers. The cook said his secret was to flip them only once.

But the big difference is in the bun. At HH it is a sesame seed bun that is served room temperature. It is not buttered either which I think is part of the allure of the B&C burgers.

loveFL, I need to hunt for the receipts for California Grill and Rainforest Cafe. I thought I had all the dining receipts together but turns out I'm missing those from the AKL part of our trip which included those two restaurants. My husband says he gave them all to me so I'll search today and then get back to you. If I have no luck, I'll post what I remember!