Why is the DDE still so popular with mandatory tip incl?

[Tiger926]

We have done lots of different eating scenarios over the years: DDE, DP, DxDP, OOP and OOP with AP & DVC discounts. We are currently re-evaluating our dining options for next trip as we prefer 2-3 TS meals per day, but we are more open to good CS places now that we have a 2nd child.

We've had the DDE 2x in past 3 years, and we liked it, but we no longer care for it now that there is a mandatory 18% tip included. With mandatory tip, it makes for only a 2% discount - hardly worth it any longer for us (we don't drink alcohol at all, so even less worth it), seeing as how we still have to factor in the actual cost of the card itself.

I don't want this to be a tipping debate, so I am approaching this from a cost basis. For our little family of 2 parents who don't drink alcohol, 5 year old and 1 year old, it doesn't make sense - we don't need the ability to get a discount for more people as the card provides either, plus, there are blackout dates on my son's birthday (July 4th). I normally overanalyze everything, but I don't think I'm doing that this time.

What am I missing? Tiger

 

[Tricia1972]

-Free Valet $10/parking
-We order alcohol so we get a discount there
-We feel that 5 appetizers for our party is overkill, we order an appetizer to split. DDP does not cover any, and DxDDP is too many - so we save there.
-When we aren't hungry enough to all get an entree we may share. No worries about prepaid credits. Just a flat discount on what we order.
-It's only a 2% discount if you weren't going to tip at all. Prior to the change, with the 2% logic - it was only ever a 5% discount card. The difference now only amounts to $3/$100 spent and generally we tipped more. Free Tips for a trip are not a bad thing.
-We rarely order desserts at TS and if we do we order a dessert or two - not five. The DDP is a bad value for us because of this.
-We never order desserts at CS, so we lose money on the DDP there.
-DDE Covers experiences not covered by the DDP. Victoria & Albert's - takes DDE not the DDP. Lounges, for snack type foods take the DDE and not the DDP. For us it's vastly more flexible.
-We save a little more because they tax on the discounted amount. When you have 5 adults and 1 child - that's a big discount and the tax savings is an added bonus.

There are more reasons why it really works for us, but those are the highlights for our group. I can get into the actual numbers if you want.

 

[MickeyNicki]

It is a great thing for DH and I. We purchased it in March for the first time, used it on over a dozen TS places in that 9 day vacation. We went back in June, August, another 9 days in Oct, back in January and March and April! It doesnt expire until 4/30/09 so it will cover all those trips.

We normally tip 20% or higher so the DDE does save us money

 

[Tricia1972]

Excellent point about the multiple trips! We generally pack our trips for two years into one year with our AP's. We used the DDE last year for:
April 2007- 4 day trip (anniversary for DH and I)
October 2007- 14 day trip (family trip DH, Me, Mom, Dad, Sister, 4 year old son and 1 year old son)
October 2007-3 day trip (Me)
March 2008- 8 day trip (family trip DH, Me, Mom, Dad, Sister, 5 year old son and 2 year old son)

 

[EpcotSweetHrts0512]

My dh and I think it is a good deal for us as well... it's great getting the discount on alcohol... we also usually tip over the 18%, so it's a good deal for us. We also mostly eat at TS places as well though.

 

[plutolovr]

I am still dumbfounded when I read posts like these. The DDE card still gives you 20% discount on your food bill. An 18% tip is fairly normal, and we usually tipped 20% anyway. I just tipped back in what the discount was. My guess is that Disney did this because people were tipping based on the discounted amount, which is wrong!!! You need to tip on the non-discounted amount. The addition of the 18% tip just makes it easier IMO. I usually add a few more dollars in anyway for great service.

 

[TDC Nala]

Because you still get a discount. The only dimunition in the discount would be for users who did not usually tip, or tipped very small percentages. Without it, if you tipped anyway, you'd be paying the regular amount of the meal PLUS the tip.

Because all tipping questions and observations are to be addressed to the tipping info thread, I am closing this one. The tipping info thread is at

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1870320