We forgot to order the DDE card...Is it too late?? **UPDATE**

[SeaSpray]

We're leaving for WDW in 18 days. I had meant to order the DDE card a few weeks ago, but totally forgot about it until now. I remember reading that it takes about a month to get the card once you order it. Is this still true? If I call tomorrow morning and order it, and if I don't get it in time, is there some kind of voucher or anything I can use as proof that we bought it??


Thanks.

 

[Boston5602]

I've read here on the Dis that people order it and instead of having them send it , they pick it up at the front of Epcot at guest relations . When you call to order it see if they can/will do this.

Good Luck

 

[makinorlando]

I've read here on the Dis that people order it and instead of having them send it , they pick it up at the front of Epcot at guest relations . When you call to order it see if they can/will do this.

Good Luck

Yes, they can do this. When you call to order, tell them that most likely you will not receive the card before your trip, and they will arrange for a temporary card to be available for you at Guest Relations (out front by the entrance) at EPCOT. When I had ordered mine a few months ago, the CM told me I could pick up a temporary card as soon as the next business. day.

 

[slimplaw]

If you wait until May 8 or 9 to order the card, it will probably be good through June 2007 instead of expiring in May 2007. If you plan on going in June 2007 this would be the best for you.

 

[SeaSpray]

Thanks for the replies, everyone... but now I have a small dilemna We'll be arriving at WDW on a Thursday afternoon and having dinner at Jiko at AK Lodge that night, not sure we'll have time to run over to Epcot in order to get the voucher from Guest Services there. Is Epcot Guest Services the only location that they'll be able to give us the voucher from? We were planning on checking into AKL, running over to AK park for a short while, then head back to AKL for dinner. Maybe we'll have to run over to Epcot instead...

 

[makinorlando]

Thanks for the replies, everyone... but now I have a small dilemna We'll be arriving at WDW on a Thursday afternoon and having dinner at Jiko at AK Lodge that night, not sure we'll have time to run over to Epcot in order to get the voucher from Guest Services there. Is Epcot Guest Services the only location that they'll be able to give us the voucher from? We were planning on checking into AKL, running over to AK park for a short while, then head back to AKL for dinner. Maybe we'll have to run over to Epcot instead...

Yes, EPCOT is the only place.

 

[SeaSpray]

Yes, EPCOT is the only place.

Ok, thanks! We'll just have to make a change in our plans so we can pick up the voucher on the first day.

 

[LisaS]

I am in the same situation. We are also going in early May and spending our first night at AKL, dining at Boma that night. I waited until the second week of April to order the card because I wanted to get a May 31, 2007 expiration date. The woman I spoke with said it would take 2-4 weeks to get the card in the mail. Given I only had 3 weeks until my trip, she said she would send a temporary card over to Epcot for me to pick up when we arrive. We're renting a car this trip so we're going to stop by Epcot on our way from MCO to AKL. I'm still hoping the real card will arrive before we leave however someone who ordered his card just a few weeks before I did said it took just over 4 weeks for the card to arrive so I'm not too optimistic.

As another poster said, if you order on Monday you will get a May 31, 2007 expiration date. If you wait to order it until May 8, you will get a June 30, 2007 expiration date. Since you won't get your card in time even if you order on Monday, you could wait a bit longer to get another month on your expiration date, if that happens to work out for your future travel plans.

I'm sorry I'm going to miss you and your family at AKL, SeaSpray! We'll miss you by less than 1 week. I've always enjoyed all of the wonderful photos you post here on the DIS. I'm quite sure I would recognize you, your DH and your two DSs if I ran into you there. Have fun! It's an amazing resort.

 

[SeaSpray]

Lisa, thanks for the kind words I'm sorry we'll be missing you at AKL! I can't wait to see this resort for the first time I hope you have a great trip

Thanks to all for the tips about ordering the DDE card.

Our APs will expire on May 11th, 2007 (we'll be activiting our AP vouchers on May 11th, this year), so I think if we order the DDE card now, it'll be fine that it expires on May 31st, 2007. I'm glad I didn't order it last month though, because then it would've expired at the end of April 2007, instead of May 2007.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

It is never too late. We ordered ours AFTER we got there, picked up our APs, then called them. Went back to EPCOT about an hour later and it was there waiting for us.

 

[jwfla422]

Just for the record I ordered our DDE card on 3-27-06 and received it exactly 2 weeks and 2 days later. The expiration is for April 2007. So, if you order it tomorrow I'm sure you'll get that extra month out of it. As already mentioned, never too late.

 

[LisaS]

It is never too late. We ordered ours AFTER we got there, picked up our APs, then called them. Went back to EPCOT about an hour later and it was there waiting for us.

That will work provided you aren't arriving on the weekend. Unfortunately the DDE office is only open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. So if you plan to order your DDE card after you get to WDW and you are arriving on the weekend (any time after 5pm on Friday evening) you won't be able to order the DDE card until Monday morning. You could miss out on a few meal discounts in the meantime.

 

[SeaSpray]

Last night, a dear DIS friend of ours who will be arriving at WDW a couple of days before us, offered to go to Epcot and pick up the card for us, IF Disney Dining would allow her to.

I just called DDE and ordered my card, and the CM said that someone else CAN INDEED pick the card up for us; I simply had to give her my friend's first and last names. We're staying at the same resort as our friend, and having dinner together (and almost every other meal of this trip! LOL) that first night, so it'll be wonderful to have the card immediately and not have to run to Epcot to pick it up. THANKS LEANNE!!!

Just wanted to post this info, in case someone else might have the same situation.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Thanks for the update, seaspray! I am so glad it worked out for you!

 

[LisaS]

I just called DDE and ordered my card, and the CM said that someone else CAN INDEED pick the card up for us; I simply had to give her my friend's first and last names.

That is good to know. The CMs in the DDE office really are great, aren't they? I've always found them to be very helpful.

 

[QJ411]

It's been a long time since I've last visited this board...what's DDE? We're going in May and I'm searching this board for tips again and I was wondering what DDE stands for! Thanks!

 

[LisaS]

I thought I would post an update here about delivery times. I got my DDE card today! I ordered it on April 11th so it took 2 weeks + 4 days to arrive. We leave on Saturday so I am very happy that it came so quickly. Now we can head straight to AKL from the airport without stopping by Epcot on the way.

So, SeaSpray If your card takes roughly the same amount of time, you should get it before you leave. Here's some pixie dust for you:

ETA: I just re-read your original post and at that time you were 18 days away. It took 18 days for my card to arrive. So that's tighter than I thought. Here's hoping that it arrives just in time!!

 

[makinorlando]

It's been a long time since I've last visited this board...what's DDE? We're going in May and I'm searching this board for tips again and I was wondering what DDE stands for! Thanks!

DDE is the Disney Dining Experience card which is available to AP holders and FL residents. It gives you a 20% discount off of food and beverages at many of the TS restaurants.

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