Question regarding Disney Dining and Vacation Club members

[TChrist05]

Hello all....my wife's cousin and husband are also vacation club members. She called regarding the Disney dining experience and was told vacation club members are not eligible. We on the other hand are vacation club members and annual passholders. Is it available to annual passholders but not vacation club members who are not annual passholders? (I hope I am not confusing with my question)...It seems like a great deal....and would not be fair if we members do not get the opportunity to participate. We are going down on Sunday for 5 nights staying at the Boardwalk....one of my favorites....so any info would be appreciated....we will be calling in the morning to see what is up but I would like any info you guys may have.

Thanks all....
Tom

 

[RobDoc]

The Disney Dining Experience (DDE) is not a DVC program. It is available to AP holders and FL residents. The annual cost of the DDE card is $50 for AP holders and $75 for FL residents. The DDE card will get the holder a 20% discount at most WDW restaurants and includes beverages.

DVC members may purchase AP and PAP at a discount ($100/$125 respectively) and would then be eligible to purchase the DDE, but it cannot be purchased thru DVC directly.

I hope this helps.

 

[starwood]

I agree that it is not fair to exclude DVC members from this opportunity. I would like to have the option to purchase the DDE.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree that it is not fair to exclude DVC members from this opportunity. I would like to have the option to purchase the DDE.

You DO have the option to purchase it, and it's even cheaper now that DVC members get the $100 discount on APs.

 

[starwood]

But we only go to WDW for about 6 days a year - with DS in school we can't be sure we can make another trip within 1 year so it isn't worth getting an AP. An AP with the discount was about $20 cheaper than the 10 day non expiring MYW park hopper that I did buy.

 

[pumpkinboy]

All you need is one AP, so if the rest of your party gets the 10 day no-expiry MYW tix and you get the AP for the discounts, it all works out. Another way to do it (and the way we do it) is to schedule our Disney vacations 10-11 months apart - this year we did April vacation and next year we have February scheduled - so APs work great. Of course this always tempts us to do a trip for Food & Wine in the fall, which we are also doing.

All you need is one AP, so you do in fact have access to the DDE, and pretty good access at that.

 

[starwood]

It's still not worth it because adding the dining would add $50 to the AP (making it more than a 10 day park hopper)and only be used for 6 days. We also get a discount at certain restaurants with the DVC (we got 10% off at Mama Melrose and Tony's). I also know that (with my luck) DS's spring break would not fall earlier each year (which is when we would be going).

 

[Luigi's Girl]

To me the extra money is worth it even if you can't get back within the same year just to be able to enter a park whenever you want. Even if it's just to grab something to eat or do a few things more that you might not have been able to otherwise. That's just my opinion though!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Maybe I'm deluded but I thought you could get the Dining Experience without an AP?...it would just cost you more (like $75?). It still isn't related to DVC at all...

Addendum: I was sufficiently curious to call. A Florida resident can get the card for $75 without a regular AP.

Edit to add: Also I just got my card and the total time its good for was from March 4th, 2005 through May 31, 2006. So even though my AP will expire in January I'll have time to enjoy dining in the non-park restaurants when I visit Universal next year.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Any way you look at it, the AP discount IS a great deal for most of us. If you don't happen to be able to take advantage of it, that's a problem for you, but I think DVC has given us a fantastic perk with the AP discount. I also think even if you only buy 1 AP, you will come out ahead with the DDE card, because it gives you 20% discount on all food AND drinks for up to 10 in a party. We figure we will more than pay for the card with just one meal for teh 5 of us at Artist Point.

 

[Dean]

It's still not worth it because adding the dining would add $50 to the AP (making it more than a 10 day park hopper)and only be used for 6 days. We also get a discount at certain restaurants with the DVC (we got 10% off at Mama Melrose and Tony's). I also know that (with my luck) DS's spring break would not fall earlier each year (which is when we would be going).

It may not be a good deal for you, if not, so be it. But you might try to get two years one one AP and thus get 12 days usage plus the other benefits. But with the other discounts available to members, it's not a good deal for everyone.

The DDE is only available to FL residents and any type of annual pass holders. There was some confusion about the first of the year where it appeared to be open to everyone and some even bought it that didn't truly qualify, but they corrected this after a couple of days and now we're back to pass holders and FL residents.

 

[Cmadsen]

We saved $60 with the dining card on our recent five day trip. We also bought AP's because of the $100 discount and planned two trips to fall within one year. Will probably take next year off (NOT!)

I can understand that it may not work for everyone, but we've been very pleased with both options.

 

[MagikMom]

We purchased the Disney Dining experience for our upcoming trip. We are also annual pass holders for the 1st time. My BIL and SIL and 11 year old neice are coming with us for a week this time so there will be 4 adults and 3 kids ages 12, 11, and 9. It only cost $50 dollars and like someone else mentioned, it's 20% off both food and drinks!! That's an awseome savings for us!!

 

[NMW]

We purchased PAP's and plan to use them for 2 9 day trips, Dec 05 and Oct 06. We eat out every meal (2 adults, 3 kids) and drink mixed drinks and beer. I think for us, the DDE card will save us quite a bit of money. I already ordered it for our Dec trip. I thought about waiting to get it and try to use it for both upcoming trips. It just seems like it takes sooo long to get the DDE card, I didn't want to chance any kind of problems. I think for us that buying the card every year ($50) is a pretty nice savings on food and drink.
I still think that DVC members should be able to purchase the MYW dining plan if they buy MYW tickets though!

 

[BethA]

Is the DDE good at all Disney restaurants? Is there somewhere I can look this up? We are debating whether to get the annual passes and are taking 2 teenage friends who LOVE to eat with us--so if they don't have to have the annual pass it may be worth it.
thanks for any help.
Beth

 

[JimMIA]

Is the DDE good at all Disney restaurants? Is there somewhere I can look this up? We are debating whether to get the annual passes and are taking 2 teenage friends who LOVE to eat with us--so if they don't have to have the annual pass it may be worth it.
thanks for any help.
Beth

It's good at most Disney restaurants, including just about anywhere you would want to eat. There is a current list on the main Disney website - just search for Disney Dining Experience.

Bear in mind that you only need one DDE card, and you only need one AP to get one DDE card. The card is good for the cardholder and nine others, as long as you are all on the same check and the card is presented at the time you place your order.

The card gives 20% off all food and beverage, including alcoholic beverages - which are excluded from all of the other discount plans. With a group, it won't take long to get back the little bit extra you pay for one AP plus the $50 for the DDE.

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

As a solo traveler, the DDE is harder to justify, although I toyed with the idea.
Also, the 10 day no expire parkhopper for $340 makes the AP with discount almost a toss-up for a lot of us. I decided to forego the DDE and buy the AP for this trip. But then my d and sis decided to join me, and they were thinking only 2 days in the parks..and I felt bad going without them SO I ended up using old leftover day passes this trip and I 'll start my AP in October...Since I loved the lack of crowds this trip, I'll plan another for next May and another for October,2006..That way I'll manage 3 trips on one AP and certainly get my monies worth!

I think with your family trip and the number in your family, IF you buy wine and alcoholic bevies with your meals that the AP plus DDE will be financially beneficial. Maybe you could steal away one special weekend with just you and your spouse to get that '10' day break even on the AP and as someone said, the DDE will probably pay for itself on the family trip, so the weekend dining would be lagniappe.

BTW..is Victoria and Albert included on the DDE?

 

[Candace]

Where do we call to purchase the DDE? I know it's not MS, but I don't recall seeing the number to call. Thanks

 

[DebbieB]

Where do we call to purchase the DDE? I know it's not MS, but I don't recall seeing the number to call. Thanks

(407) 566-5858

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dde.htm

 

[lllovell]

BTW..is Victoria and Albert included on the DDE?

Yep, for everything except the chef's table.