When to buy APs and DDE card?

[mrsminniemouse]

Hi!
We will be at WDW in September for 20 nights. At present the DVC part of our stay is booked for SSR but I hope to switch to OKW at 7 months.

Our last APs expired in December. We got 3 2 week trips from them and we got 2 weeks at The Beach Club with a whopping 40% AP discount. Now with the DVC discount we will definitely buy APs again for our next trip, hopefully we will get AP rate for our 4 nights at Contemporary Tower too.

Now I have heard about the DDE card I want that too. It will definitely save us money. THe problem is I am confused bout what to buy when. The DDE card begins once you order it so I would prefer to wait until nearer to my trip. This way I may get use out of it next year too. BUT I read online somewhere (just a rumour) that they may limit the DDE card so if I dont buy one soon I might not get it. Is this true? Sounds unlikely to me, but who knows?

So do I need to buy my DVC discounted AP online then call for the DDE card? Is it risky to wait to order the DDE card? I guess at $50 even if I use just for this one 20 day trip it will pay for itself. Well, when I bought into DVC I didn't expect any of these perks so they are a real bonus so I'm not complaining!!!

Any input much appreciated!
Mandy

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Replying to my own post here! Just noticed I have become a mouseketeer!!! Cool!!! How did that happen???????

 

[DebbieB]

I think the DDE will be available throughout 2005, it is listed as a 2005 benefit, not a "limited time offer". Disney sees this as a way to get AP holders to eat in the better restaurants and not go offsite. I would go ahead and order your AP voucher, then call for the DDE closer to your trip.

 

[CarolMN]

I agree with DebbieB. I'm not going to order my DDE until right before my December 2005 trip because I'd like to use it for our December 2006 trip, too.

I don't believe the perk will go away at least until 1/1/2006. Annual pass perks customarily change around the first of the year. Some old ones disappear, some new ones get added and some stay the change.

I personally expect the DDE perk itself to remain for several years as I think it will be a money maker for Disney. It's the $25 discount that may disappear.

Remember, this is JMHO. YMMV.

Best wishes -

 

[Terry S]

Okay, this is kind of funny, I really don't need the DDE card until our April trip but It has been hard for me not to make that phone call and order mine because I am worried that for some odd reason they may change their mind or stop giving this benefit just before I order mine or else I will just plum forget to order. I know I am being paranoid. But, hey, it says right on the benefits page that they are subject to change at anytime! I will continue to just hold back and make myself be calm (I hope). I think it will just make more sense for me to wait because my AP is up for renewal at the end of April (right in the middle of my trip) so if I order my card right before my trip, both my AP and my DDE card will be up for renewal at the same time!

 

[barb45]

You read my mind. I have been stressing about this also. We are going in March, December and then again in March. So if I wait until March I can use it for all 3 trips. We don't usually eat in too many restaurants but we are going to try with the DDE card, I don't want to lose out on my chance at the $25 discount though. If anybody hears of this offer ending, please let us know.

 

[CarolMN]

I'm not nearly as worried about losing the $25 discount as I am about losing the ability to just purchase the DDE. Fortunately, I'm not really worried about either. I can't remember ever seeing an AP/PAP perk go away before the annual change (unless it was clearly specified as time-limited to begin with).

LOL, TerryS. I've also had to stop myself several times from calling - maybe it's a "Pavlovian" reaction to calling for CRT or resort discounts!

 

[Disney-Kim]

Can we buy the DDE when we arrive? or is everyone ordering theirs thru the mail?

 

[athenna]

You have to call on the phone for the DDE-(407)566-5858. It might take a while due to demand, however, the are accepting the confirmation as proof if you don't receive the cards before the trip.

 

[disneyberry]

<font face="times" size="+0">Wow... Terry and Carol... I'm glad I'm not alone w/ being anxious about buying the DDE card even I'm not planning to travel to WDW until much later this year. I really want to be able to buy it w/o being an AP holder, and that's something that us DISers have only recently confirmed, and I would be super bummed out (but not surprised) if they change their minds about that... so I've been really really nervous about it. I hope I don't regret the decision to wait! </font>

 

[disgirl]

Add me to the list of worriers. Our trip is not until August, when we usually vacation. Therefore, I do not want it to expire until the end of August myself, so I am trying very hard to wait to order. I am hoping you are right Carol about the annual change. That sounds reasonable. It is nice to know others are thinking about the same things.

I hope everyone has great trips and we can all get the DDE card and with AP discount. That would be nice.

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the DDE program expires annually in Feb and you have to renew it annually in Feb. So, if you wait until Dec 05 to buy it for your trip, you'll have an expiraton date of Feb 06.

This is the impression I got when I contacted them about questions on my upcoming trip. If any one can confirm this, it may answer a lot of questions.

 

[CarolMN]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the DDE program expires annually in Feb and you have to renew it annually in Feb. So, if you wait until Dec 05 to buy it for your trip, you'll have an expiraton date of Feb 06.

This is the impression I got when I contacted them about questions on my upcoming trip. If any one can confirm this, it may answer a lot of questions.

The DDE cards expire one year from the date they are issued. The cards people are ordering right now will expire at the end of February, 2006. If you wait until December, 2005, your card should be good until the end of December, 2006 (or maybe even January, 2007. I think people are getting a little extra time now because it is taking longer than usual for Disney to get the cards out, but that might not be the case after they get caught up).

Best wishes -

 

[Terry S]

That is my understanding as well Carol. Your card would expire a year later in the month that you ordered it! She said they extended the date recently to expire at the end of February instead of the current month because they are taking 6 weeks to get them because so many people have ordered them. I don't really understand that though sense they will fax you a confirmation on the day you order it.