Trying to get an official answer on purchasing AP + DDE

[Laura]

I'm planning to take 2-3 trips to WDW in the next 12 months, so buying AP's is the way to go. Being a Disney table service addict, I'll also need the Disney Dining Experience card.

In 2005-2006 I was an AP holder and purchased my AP a couple months before my trip and ordered DDE over the phone and got the card in the mail a few weeks ahead of time.

This year, I would prefer to buy all of the AP's for my family AFTER arriving at WDW. The reason is, if I can purchase them at Shades of Green I will save $36.21 on each adult pass and $31.83 on each child pass ($136.08 overall).

I'll be arriving on June 10th and my first stop will be to SOG to grab the annual passes. My first sit down meal will be June 13th. If I call DDE and order a card immediately after purchasing my AP's on the 10th, will I be able to get some sort of receipt or proof of purchase delivered to my resort prior to June 13th that I can use for lunch?

Preferably, I'd love to have that receipt right away to get the discount at the resort food court.

 

[slappy magoo]

sorry i'm not 100 percent sure. I think Guest Svcs can print out a "temporary" certificate to be used as proof. Similar situation happened to my sister (though she was already a member who misplaced her card). Even still some restaurants weren't sure it was valid and she occasionally had to talk w/ a manager. I'd suggest calling SoG direct and asking the front desk. I'd guess this has come up before.

Worst case scenario, buy ONE AP ahead of time. You only need one AP to get the DDE. Buy the rest when you get there, you'll still save 100+ dollars.

 

[Laura]

Worst case scenario, buy ONE AP ahead of time. You only need one AP to get the DDE. Buy the rest when you get there, you'll still save 100+ dollars.

Yeah that's what I'm thinking, but if there's anyway to avoid wasting that $36 then I can buy a souvenir or 2. :lol:

 

[Master Yoda]

A temporary card can be picked up at Epcot guest relations however you might run into one problem. I just renewed my DDE and they are asking for the number off of your AP or your AP voucher. I don't know if they actually check it against anything so you might be able to give them an old number. I would call explain the situation and see what happens. I would inquire as to how long it takes to get the temporary pass to Epcot guest relations. If it is an instant thing then you can call DDE on your way from SOG to Epcot.

 

[hokielutz]

So it sounds like you will have a lead time of 3 days between the purchase of the AP's in WDW and when your first dinner is. I picked up our AP's on a Wednesday and then the following morning, I called the DDE office phone and ordered the card. They had the Temp card ready for me at the Epcot Guest Svcs office in the early afternoon of that same day & I was able to use it immediately. So I don't see a problem. You will just have to have your AP # ready when you order the DDE card.

Have fun in June!

 

[Laura]

So it sounds like you will have a lead time of 3 days between the purchase of the AP's in WDW and when your first dinner is. I picked up our AP's on a Wednesday and then the following morning, I called the DDE office phone and ordered the card. They had the Temp card ready for me at the Epcot Guest Svcs office in the early afternoon of that same day & I was able to use it immediately. So I don't see a problem. You will just have to have your AP # ready when you order the DDE card.

Have fun in June!

That sounds great. Just the information I needed!

 

[hokielutz]

A temporary card can be picked up at Epcot guest relations however you might run into one problem. I just renewed my DDE and they are asking for the number off of your AP or your AP voucher. I don't know if they actually check it against anything so you might be able to give them an old number. I would call explain the situation and see what happens. I would inquire as to how long it takes to get the temporary pass to Epcot guest relations. If it is an instant thing then you can call DDE on your way from SOG to Epcot.

Its not that instant.... their office said to give them half a day to process the order and then the temp card would be available at their office for pickup. So driving from SOG straight to Epcot is not going to work too well.

 

[GatorDi]

Are you military, or retired military with access to a base? (I assume so if you are staying at Shades of Green). If so, the bases used to carry Disney passes at a substantial discount (I don't know if they still do, or if they offer AP's, but they would probably offer them at the same rate as SOG). You might check there to see if you can go ahead and get your passes.

 

[Laura]

Are you military, or retired military with access to a base? (I assume so if you are staying at Shades of Green). If so, the bases used to carry Disney passes at a substantial discount (I don't know if they still do, or if they offer AP's, but they would probably offer them at the same rate as SOG). You might check there to see if you can go ahead and get your passes.

We're actually staying at Pop Century. We just purchase our tickets at Shades of Green.

You cannot get annual passes on base. Their ticket selection is very limited (I think 4-7 day hoppers is all they offer) unfortunately.

 

[Monty]

Laura,

Just to be sure, phone DDE [407-566-5858] and ask them what you need to do in your situation. When I called for my DDE, the woman I spoke with was very pleasant and informative.

Worst case, it costs you a phone call and whomever answers can't/won't help. :shrug:

 

[tigger1968]

Picking up a DDE card can be a bit of an adventure. On our last trip, I managed to leave mine at home. As previously mentioned, the only place to pick up a new or replacement card is Epcot Guest Services. When I called to get mine replaced, that was not a problem. However, nobody bothered to tell me until I was standing at the window at Epcot that the cards are printed offsite and merely delivered there. I arrived late in the day but that didn't matter as they only make one trip a day apparently. :brick: Soooo I then got to make a second trip back the next day to finally pick it up. Not the best way to spend the day, but since I'm a hopeless monorail addict, and we were staying at the Poly, the multiple trips on the monorails made it bearable.

 

[Laura]

Picking up a DDE card can be a bit of an adventure. On our last trip, I managed to leave mine at home. As previously mentioned, the only place to pick up a new or replacement card is Epcot Guest Services. When I called to get mine replaced, that was not a problem. However, nobody bothered to tell me until I was standing at the window at Epcot that the cards are printed offsite and merely delivered there. I arrived late in the day but that didn't matter as they only make one trip a day apparently. :brick: Soooo I then got to make a second trip back the next day to finally pick it up. Not the best way to spend the day, but since I'm a hopeless monorail addict, and we were staying at the Poly, the multiple trips on the monorails made it bearable.

That is also good to know, and saves me a trip, as I was planning to stop in the first night and see if it was ready. :lol:

 

[KevGuy]

I thought you had to live in Florida to get the DDE?? I take it you can get one if you buy the AP??:veryconfu I'm a noob so forgive my ignorance lol, I just joined DVC so we are debating the AP and I would like to get the DDE if we do that and see how much it would cost us without the DDP. I love the DDP by the way too, but it is sooo much food.

 

[Laura]

I thought you had to live in Florida to get the DDE?? I take it you can get one if you buy the AP??:veryconfu I'm a noob so forgive my ignorance lol, I just joined DVC so we are debating the AP and I would like to get the DDE if we do that and see how much it would cost us without the DDP. I love the DDP by the way too, but it is sooo much food.

AP holders can get it as well. And they get it for a discounted price (around $70 after tax I believe).

 

[Master Yoda]

I thought you had to live in Florida to get the DDE?? I take it you can get one if you buy the AP??:veryconfu I'm a noob so forgive my ignorance lol, I just joined DVC so we are debating the AP and I would like to get the DDE if we do that and see how much it would cost us without the DDP. I love the DDP by the way too, but it is sooo much food.

Don't feel too bad. I am a Florida resident and an avid Disney fan since about 1999 and I did not even know the card existed until it became available to AP holders and the forums exploded about it a few years ago.