When to buy DDE

[bugbugmom]

I plan on purchasing AP when we arrive @ MCO. Can you purchase the DDE in advance without voucher? Also, what is the breakeven price with dining? We're not big foodies. However, we planned a TS every day. The AP is great for the room discounts that are currently offered. We are saving approx 1000.00 of room. But, not sure if the DDE is for us a family of four me, DH, DD11 and DS5. Any advice appreciated.

 

[Shelby5514]

When we called for our DDE card we had to give them the AP voucher number. We saved a TON of money the week we were there, and we've still got two more trips to use it! Go to allearsnet.com and look at the menus of the restaurants where you'll be eating. Figure out what you might order and what you'll save and see if it's worth it. We were a family of 5 so basically one of us ate for FREE all week!

 

[bugbugmom]

Thank you Shelby!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Hi I posted a similar question yesterday on the budget board. I found out that you can upgrade your ticket(or buy your AP) the day you arrive, call the DDE phone number and give them your AP# and CC#, they will process your charge and issue a temporary DDE card for you to pick up the same day after 5:30pm. Hope that helps. You can check out the post over on the budget board too

 

[StinkerbellsMom]

I love how the Psychic DIS folks work around here!
I was about to log on here and ask this question too!
I have heard that it can take up to 8 weeks for a 'card' to
arrive in the mail and was concerned because we have not
yet received our AP's. Being that we are in NYC, I will hop
over to the World of Disney Store and buy at least one AP
there so I can call and order the DDE, but wondering if it will
in fact take 8 weeks to arrive. Its good to know that I can
get a 'temporary' onsite though in case I don't receive it in
time for our Easter trip.

 

[Shelby5514]

We ordered ours on Jan 18th, we picked up a temp at Epcot's guest services. Our card arrived on Feb 20th, 2 days AFTER we got home from Disney!

 

[weluvpluto]

If my math is right when you spend $300 in meals is when you would recoup the cost of buying it

We bought one last year and I would do it again if we buy APs again

 

[LisaS]

Hi I posted a similar question yesterday on the budget board. I found out that you can upgrade your ticket(or buy your AP) the day you arrive, call the DDE phone number and give them your AP# and CC#, they will process your charge and issue a temporary DDE card for you to pick up the same day after 5:30pm. Hope that helps. You can check out the post over on the budget board too

Just be aware that the DDE office is only open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm. If you are arriving on the weekend, you won't even be able to call to order your DDE card until first thing Monday morning. And even once you order it, your temporary card won't be available for pickup at Epcot until 5:30 pm so you could miss out on a lot of meal discounts during that time.

 

[jeast]

How long are they good for? I want to order one in Sept. for a late oct. trip and use it the following year for an early October trip. I'm afraid if I order it in sept, it will only be good until september. does anyone know?

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

We got "lucky" with ours. We ordered in early Feb 2005 and it took so long to get here, that it is good through April 2006. This was back when they first opened the DDE card to AP members, and they were just swamped. I had an e-mail I had to print off and show as my "card" for the Feb/Mar trip! I assume the reason they discontinued the e-mail was because they didn't put it into a pdf or anything - just a straight Word document that could very easily be manipulated. We didn't do that, but I bet there were lots that were!

Of the October trips, I'd wait and order it early October so it would be good for both trips.

 

[jeast]

If it takes 8-10 weeks to arrive, I'd be afraid it wouldn't get here in time.

 

[bzzelady]

Thanks for this crucial piece of advice about the office only being open Monday to Friday-we are arriving on a Saturday and had you not posted this, I would not have known. I will order mine from home

 

[cobbler]

They DDE cards are good from one year from the time you order it, not when you first use it like an AP. If you time it right, like towards the end of the month, you can get 13 months out of it. Say order at the end of March 06 it will be good until the end of April 07.

And also the breakeven point is $300. So anything more than 300 in meals you will start to see savings.

 

[r5moores]

just subscribing

 

[bzzelady]

They DDE cards are good from one year from the time you order it, not when you first use it like an AP. If you time it right, like towards the end of the month, you can get 13 months out of it. Say order at the end of March 06 it will be good until the end of April 07.

And also the breakeven point is $300. So anything more than 300 in meals you will start to see savings.

Thanks for the information. We are going twice this year that I know of (June and December) so it's good to know that we definitely will get our money's worth out of it.

Do you happen to know how long they are taking when you call and they are mailed?
Also, can someone else pick it up for you (we have a friend who is a CM and if so, I could have him pick it up for me the Saturday before we are due to arrive).
Thank you

 

[disneyfan551]

Can someone point me in the right direction to find out more info. on the DDE card? I'd love to know which restaurants it is accepted at.

Thanks!

 

[alliebug]

I get confused with the different Dining plan options? Can someone give me a quick overview of how the DDE works? (and what exactly the letter stand for?) Disney Dining E....?? Do you only have to purchase it once for your entire party? Ours is a family of 3, me, DH, and DD 2 years old.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Aurora63]

And yet ANTOHER question!

If I buy the DDE card, will that cover the bill for the whole party, or does everyone need their own card?

Thanks!

 

[eliza61]

Can someone point me in the right direction to find out more info. on the DDE card? I'd love to know which restaurants it is accepted at.

Thanks!

If you go to www.wdwig.com which is Deb's allears net she has a comparison of restaurant discounts. It shows all the restaurants and what type of discount is eligable. For example at Cinderellas royal table dde holders get 20% off of the bill. It also shows discounts for DVC members and AP holders. It's really informative

 

[eliza61]

And yet ANTOHER question!

If I buy the DDE card, will that cover the bill for the whole party, or does everyone need their own card?

Thanks!

Covers the bill for a party up until 8 I believe.