What do you think? DDE or Meal Plan?

[vascubaguy]

Well, here's my issue... we are going to WDW on March 26 (before the meal plan is available) and we check-out of the BWV on the 31st.... then we move over to POR on March 31st until April 6th, but we have APs....

We had the dining plan last year and liked it and would like to use it again, but we wouldn't be able to get it on this trip.... so, I'm wondering if I should just get the DDE to use over the next year, or just use the various AP and DVC discounts on meals and get the dining plan for our trip in October and December/January.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks!
Chris

 

[TLinden16]

I think with a trip as long as you have planned, the DDE card would be worth your while if you are planning several sit down meals during your trip. I don't know how big your family is, but even if you are just a couple, you can probably save the cost of getting the card in about five or six sit down meals.

 

[Dean]

For that trip, I'd get the DDE. But if you do now, it will be good for all the trips you mentioned. If you ordered today, it would likely be good through the end of March, 07 but at least Feb.

 

[JimMIA]

For that trip, I'd get the DDE. But if you do now, it will be good for all the trips you mentioned. If you ordered today, it would likely be good through the end of March, 07 but at least Feb.

There is a cutoff date after which DDE card purchases carry the additional month, and the CM can tell you that when you buy, so you'll know exactly how long the card will be valid.

I agree you should come out ahead with DDE on this trip alone, and if you decide to use the dining plan on subsequent trips, you can still use DDE for adult beverages and meals outside the dining plan, extra people not in the dining plan, etc.

 

[llp479]

We've got the DDE and have saved a ton of $$. The nice thing is that those "adult beverages" are part of the discount as well. On our December trip we ate at Yachtsman and the discount was over $30 for me, DH, and our 3 dds.

For us we usually only eat two "meals" a day. We tend to eat brekafast in the room and many times then either a late lunch or early dinner, so the meal plan would end up costing us more than paying for meals and snacks. This will be our fourth trip using DDE in March. Well worth every $ spent on it!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Hi Chris,
You might want to call MS and check closer to your arrival date as someone mentioned in a previous thread that they were fine-tuning the DDP for DVC and you may be able to get it earlier than April 1st. If that's the case, I would do DDP for the first half of your stay and still get the DDE to use for the second half (especially since the food court @ PO is included on the DDE card).

 

[yitbos96bb]

Well, here's my issue... we are going to WDW on March 26 (before the meal plan is available) and we check-out of the BWV on the 31st.... then we move over to POR on March 31st until April 6th, but we have APs....

We had the dining plan last year and liked it and would like to use it again, but we wouldn't be able to get it on this trip.... so, I'm wondering if I should just get the DDE to use over the next year, or just use the various AP and DVC discounts on meals and get the dining plan for our trip in October and December/January.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks!
Chris

Get the DDE and then use it WITH the DP on your December trip. We are doing that for our Dec30-Jan7 trip. Will probably use the CS for Breakfast or quick lunch and then use the DP for Dinner (where the value is biggest at most due to higher costs). For sitdown lunches we will use the DDE as well for our first Victoria and Albert's trip (since this isn't a DP option) as well as any alcohol at the meals. Plus with the PI discount and free Atlantic Dance entrance, it is worth having. You will probably make up your DDE cost on Trip 1, so figure it as a bonus to use for Drinks and such on trip 2.

Of course we are Foodies, so this may see extreme to some, but the V and A trip pays for the card (we will have 6 adults in the party), and I know there will be days I want to two TS meals and days I was a CS meal. Plus where I am more apt to eat the Dessert and appetizer at Dinner, I prefer not to have it at lunch. DDE lets me still eat cheap.

 

[vascubaguy]

I was just glancing over the DDE info and application on the AP site. $25 to add a 2nd card? That kinda bites... since MOST of the time the 2 of us will be dining together. It's just a few days that I'll be in conference meetings that David will have to fend for himself for breakfast/lunch. Not sure it would be worth the extra for that (maybe he can use some AP discounts or DVC discounts somewhere).

Anyway, I also noticed that it takes 3-4 weeks to be mailed... meaning I'd need to order now. Unless I can pick it up somewhere. Any idea if they will mail the DDE to the BWV for me to pickup at check-in, or maybe one of the guest services locations? Heck, can I just buy the DDE there?

BTW, thanks for all the posts. I think DDE might be the way to go. As I recall from last year, we gained weight from being on the DP. It might not be a good idea to do that again (we are currently trying to get our weight back down so we can fit back into our "little people" clothes we were wearing back then!).

Hrmm... speaking of which, I think it's lunchtime now!

 

[LisaS]

If you want to order the DDE closer to your travel dates (to get the additional month) and that leaves too little time for the card to arrive in the mail, you can ask them to leave a temporary card for you at Guest Services at the front entranace of Epcot. Currently that is the only place you can pick up a temporary card at WDW.

You can't really buy the card at WDW any easier than you can order it from home. You would still have to call the DDE office (open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) to place your order.

 

[JimMIA]

When we ordered (November) it took only about two weeks for the cards to arrive.

The $25 second card idea is indeed a pain, and we will not buy a second card (we got our second card for free). Seems like a right-outta-college-MBA idea to me (Hey...We can CHARGE for this!). It is of no value unless you anticipate the second person having $125+ in solo meals without the primary cardholder. I think that will go away when they realize nobody's buying it.

You CAN buy the DDE on-site, provided the first day you will need it is M-F, and that you order it early in the day. They'll fax a temp card to the Epcot Guest Services location, as noted above.

If you are buying from home and aren't sure the cards will arrive on time, they will fax the temp cards to be sure you are covered.

 

[vascubaguy]

Thanks again... I called today about ordering the card and the CM told me if I waited until March 6th that it wouldn't expire until April 30, 2007. I don't forsee us going in April 2007, but I figured I'd just wait until then just in case!

 

[canwegosoon]

I think you did the right thing....we are also going ing March and December and either Feb, March or April of 07, but my current DDE expires in April 06. I think I really want to do the dining plan for the Dec trip...so I might put off a new DDE card..we don't do alot of adult beverages. .

I hope you have a great trip!!! I will miss you in March...but I think we might be there together in Dec!!!

 

[byoung]

In your case get the DDE card it will save you.