What is the DDE Card

[buzz1fan]

Can anyone get the DDE card, or is it just for Florida residents? Do you get a certain discount off of food only, or do drinks count too? Do all loations, hotel CS and TS take this card? ANy information would be helpful.

We are a family who like to eat 2TS a day, and i am trying to find an alternative to the Deluxe plan. DDp we would pay a lot out of pocket.

 

[Donald is #1]

The DDE (Disney Dining Experience) card is available to both Florida residents and AP holders. The cost is between $60 and $75 depending upon whether you have an AP or are a Florida resident. It provides at 20% discount on food and beverages, including adult beverages, at most TS locations. It can not be used at CS locations except for those in AK.

 

[sharonkurland]

Here's more info:

http://allears.net/din/dde.htm

 

[jennib5426]

If you use your DDE card for a 20% discount they automatically put on an 18% tip to your bill no matter how many people are in you party.
To some who don't usually tip high this may end up being a wash and you only save 2%.
I bought it last year and have used it quite a bit and have been happy with it, I usually tip 20% anyways. But I think it is the most important thing to know before buying the card.

 

[soontobebride]

This card sounds great. I am slightly confused though the the gratuity being automatically added for places like the food courts, where nobody actually serves you, you help yourself. How does this work?

Thanks

 

[Donald is #1]

This card sounds great. I am slightly confused though the the gratuity being automatically added for places like the food courts, where nobody actually serves you, you help yourself. How does this work?

Thanks

Unless I am forgetting a food court or 2, the DDE card is not valid at food courts.

 

[soontobebride]

it mentions that you are able to use it in some of the hotel food courts like at the all stars. How does this work

Thanks.

 

[Donald is #1]

it mentions that you are able to use it in some of the hotel food courts like at the all stars. How does this work

Thanks.

I don't know. I have never used it there. Hopefully someone else has.

 

[BriarRosie]

it mentions that you are able to use it in some of the hotel food courts like at the all stars. How does this work

Thanks.

Gratuity is added only at table service places. You won't get charged at counter service places that accept it (like the Value resorts food courts).

Most counter services places don't accept the DDE, with the few exceptions outlined when you buy the card.

 

[aribelle]

If you use your DDE card for a 20% discount they automatically put on an 18% tip to your bill no matter how many people are in you party.
To some who don't usually tip high this may end up being a wash and you only save 2%.
I bought it last year and have used it quite a bit and have been happy with it, I usually tip 20% anyways. But I think it is the most important thing to know before buying the card.

I look at it this way....I'm not really saving 20% because of that tip that is added in...BUT....I figure I'm only paying $60 for the ENTIRE YEAR in tips.

In other words, if you look at it as they take 20% off, add 18% back on you really are pretty much paying for your meal at menu prices, but your tip is covered. That 2% savings is so little that it really is just a wash in my mind.

BUT...considering that I'm probably gonna spend hundreds of dollars each week for our meals, to only be paying $60 in tips makes me feel good....especially when I've already used the DDE card for 4 weeks and I'm going to use it for another 4 weeks before it expires. So it really a couple thousand dollars in meals and still only $60 in tips, lol.

 

[DebbieB]

Unless I am forgetting a food court or 2, the DDE card is not valid at food courts.

It's only good for food courts at the resorts that don't have a table service (All Stars, POP, POFQ).

 

[vicki_c]

It's only good for food courts at the resorts that don't have a table service (All Stars, POP, POFQ).

It's also good at the counter service at Artist's Palette at SSR.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

I look at it this way....I'm not really saving 20% because of that tip that is added in...BUT....I figure I'm only paying $60 for the ENTIRE YEAR in tips.

In other words, if you look at it as they take 20% off, add 18% back on you really are pretty much paying for your meal at menu prices, but your tip is covered. That 2% savings is so little that it really is just a wash in my mind.

BUT...considering that I'm probably gonna spend hundreds of dollars each week for our meals, to only be paying $60 in tips makes me feel good....especially when I've already used the DDE card for 4 weeks and I'm going to use it for another 4 weeks before it expires. So it really a couple thousand dollars in meals and still only $60 in tips, lol.

You were not planning to tip at all?

 

[BriarRosie]

You were not planning to tip at all?

She acknowleged that the tips are covered. I think what she's getting at is that for the $60 she paid for the card, she's getting a year's worth of tips covered. I've always thought that way about the card. The discount covers the tips. She's just marvelling at the value that $60 dollars covers that many tips.

 

[Chedstro]

DDE is also good at Flame Tree Barbeque in AK. No gratuity added there either.

 

[aribelle]

You were not planning to tip at all?

She acknowleged that the tips are covered. I think what she's getting at is that for the $60 she paid for the card, she's getting a year's worth of tips covered. I've always thought that way about the card. The discount covers the tips. She's just marvelling at the value that $60 dollars covers that many tips.

BriarRose is correct. The server will get 18% which is the tip that Disney and the servers' Union has chosen to add to all bills paid by DDE (same thing they do to the folks on the dining plan). From what I've read from servers on this and other boards, there are apparently a lot of cheapskates who will leave a few dollars for a 3 figure check....or nothing, and then there are the foreigners who do not understand our custom of tipping (and having lived outside the USA, I can say it is not a worldwide custom by any means!). While I can symphatize with the foreigners who don't realize, I'm saddened by my fellow American who can spend multiple thousands of dollars on a vacation and leave $5 for a $100+ meal! My advice to them would be eat CS.

And yep, I do marvel at the value of that, as overall it definitely is cheaper for me in tips. I typically tip 15% for medicore service, 20% for very good service and more for excellent "went out of their way" service. And our last trip I would put almost all of the servers squarely in the very good to excellent category. If the service is so bad that I'd not even leave a 15% tip, rest assured the manager would be involved long before the time for the bill came. If we have a truly excellent server I probably would drop an extra tip, and also let management know of their service. Our last trip, that would have been the ladies at the GF tea, it was my girls' first time at a real teahouse, and they had lots of questions which were answered with such enthusiasm and never with even a hint of impatience at the extra time we were requiring, the server even coming over a few other times to tell us some other special little tidbit about the custom of tea.....it was just awesome. Before we left the server presented each of my girls with a rose, which we brought all the way home to press into their memory book. Let's just say that this wonderful woman got a very generous tip, higher than I can recall ever giving, lol. And she was worth it. I also wrote to Disney after we got home to thank her again, it was that great an experience, and we'll be doing it again in December.

It's really all in how you look at it.....and I choose to look at the DDE not as a discount card, because to me a 2% net discount is actually kinda insulting.....I wouldn't be persuaded to go to a store that was offering 2% off...it wouldn't get me in the door. So instead, I try to see the positive in the DDE card....that for the flat fee of $60, they cover all my tips for me. As my husband would say...it's my Pollyanna way of seeing the world, lol.

So rest assured Eeyore's Pal....my servers will all get the 18% that they have requested.

 

[tinknme]

It's also good at the counter service at Artist's Palette at SSR.

Even though it is not listed the DDE card is accepted at the POR food court as well!

 

[budbeerlady]

We are looking at it in the same light, it will cover the tips for us. So we are paying the $19.95 pp at the breakfast buffet and the tip is included.

 

[Tricia1972]

It's only good for food courts at the resorts that don't have a table service (All Stars, POP, POFQ).

An exception to this is Artist's Palette at Saratoga Springs - they accept it there too.