Annual Pass and Disney Dining Experience

[DisneyCrazyGirl]

Hey everyone!

Here I am with yet another question! :lookaroun I find I get the best and most accurate answers on this board though! So thank you!

Wondering if anyone has participated in the Disney Dining Experience program available to Florida Residents and AP holders? If so, how is it and is it worth it? I looked at the list of restaurants on allearsnet.com and I eat at a majority of those places when I visit Disney.

I will be purchasing my PAP in about 2 weeks (my next paycheck) at my local Disney Store. Do I need my annual pass to be activated in order to purchase my Disney Dining Experience membership? I will not be able to activate until my trip in May, but I would like DDE for this trip also! Since, DDE membership is not offered on Disney property but only through mail or phone this is extremely important! I heard it also takes 4-6 weeks to receive it!

Anyone who has info please respond! Thanks again!

 

[Master Yoda]

The Disney dinning experience is definitely worth it. With a family of five I saved $40 on only 2 table service meals. As of late Disney has really cracked down on the AP requirements for the Disney Dinning Experience. Theory is that they sold them to a bunch of people that don’t have AP. Once you get your voucher at the Disney store you should be able to give them the number off the back and get your card. The only drawback right now is timing. Your pass DDE card is active from the time you pay for it unlike your AP that doesn’t activate until you use it. It also takes 4-6 weeks to get your card but they will send you a confirmation e-mail that will work in the cards stead. (I used the e-mail myself twice with no problem)Where the whole timing thing comes into play is if you do 2 trips on 1 AP (one when you get it and 1 right before it expires.) and then go a few months to a year before you get another AP. In that case you DDE might expire before your next trip. If you are not planning to do the 2 trip thing spaced nearly a year apart then no worries mate. Either way you only need to spend $250 on food to break even and we all know that is not hard to do.

 

[Moustronaut]

I'm not sure if you can use an AP voucher to order one by phone or not. I had a renewal certificate at the time I ordered mine, but technically I did have an active annual pass and was in Disney's system. So when they asked for my name and address, I'm sure they found me in the computer since they asked for no other information.

I ordered mine two days before I left for a weekend trip. I told them I was leaving right away and they emailed a letter explaining I was a member of DDE. I had no problems with my letter be accepted at any of the restaurants we ate at. I just made sure to show it to our waiter before we ordered. Since the discount applies to alcohol purchases as well, your savings can add up pretty quickly. I think we saved $50 for the two of us for the two days we were at DisneyWorld (Spoodles, Jiko, and breakfast at Kona Cafe).

Even though I ordered my card in mid January, my DDE membership says it expires the end of Feb 2006. So I guess they take into account the shipping time to get your card. I still haven't received mine... and they didn't bill my credit card until two weeks ago. So I guess they are kinda overloaded.

Happy Eating!

 

[Rcoaster809]

I have been looking into this for a while, and we are getting a membership for our trip in June. I was just wondering, can this discount be applyed to a Fantasmic Dinner Package?

 

[Master Yoda]

I asked the same thing when I ordered my card and they said that it did not apply to special events like the dinner packages.

 

[Master Yoda]

Even though I ordered my card in mid January, my DDE membership says it expires the end of Feb 2006. So I guess they take into account the shipping time to get your card. I still haven't received mine... and they didn't bill my credit card until two weeks ago. So I guess they are kinda overloaded.

Happy Eating!

I just checked out the expiration date on my card and it does look like they are tacking on 4-6 weeks. I ordered mine in mid January and it shows an expiration of February 28 2006 as well.

 

[nicholas]

Mine also lasts longer than a year, and I echo what everyone said about it being worth it. We had a big meal at Coral Reef and the card saved us 50 dollars just in that one meal. So it payed for itself right then and there.

 

[Laura]

I'm glad this topic came up. After reading the responses I'm worried that I won't be able to get the dining card. I guess I assumed you could just buy the dining card down there.

I've never had an AP before, but I'm hoping to buy one along with the Dining card for my next trip. Can someone help me with these questions?

1. I was planning to buy the AP from Shades of Green on the first day of my trip since it is only $385 there and tax free. I was then going to use it that same night to go to a theme park. Is this going to be possible?

2. I was also planning to buy a dining card at the same time I bought the AP to save 20% on all my meals during my vacation. But from the sounds of it, it takes 4-6 weeks to get the card??? So how would I do this??

I guess I don't fully understand the process of obtaining both the AP and the dining experience card. If someone could explain it to me I'd appreciate it.

 

[DisneyCrazyGirl]

I'm glad this topic came up. After reading the responses I'm worried that I won't be able to get the dining card. I guess I assumed you could just buy the dining card down there.

I've never had an AP before, but I'm hoping to buy one along with the Dining card for my next trip. Can someone help me with these questions?

1. I was planning to buy the AP from Shades of Green on the first day of my trip since it is only $385 there and tax free. I was then going to use it that same night to go to a theme park. Is this going to be possible?

2. I was also planning to buy a dining card at the same time I bought the AP to save 20% on all my meals during my vacation. But from the sounds of it, it takes 4-6 weeks to get the card??? So how would I do this??

I guess I don't fully understand the process of obtaining both the AP and the dining experience card. If someone could explain it to me I'd appreciate it.

As I understand it from my fellow posters you need an AP or a voucher for an AP to purchase the Disney Dining Experience membership BEFORE you go to Disney World. It cannot be purchased without a AP or voucher and it cannot be purchased on Disney property. It can only be purchased via phone or good old regular mail!
I am 98% sure this is how it works. If I am wrong, someone please correct me

 

[slappy magoo]

Laura22, I don't know the answer, but perhaps you should get our answer from the horse's mouth on this one, considering how much $$$ is at stake. Call 407-WDISNEY, explain to them that you were intending to purchase an AP when you got down to WDW and ask if you will be able to buy into the Dining Experience then. Since everyone is saying that Disney will email you a confirmation letter that's as good as the actual card to prove you're a member of the Disney Dining Experience, I would say, worst case scenario, maybe after getting your APs, do the following...

1: Call up 407-WDISNEY as if you're not there...
2: Explain to them you just purchased an AP and want to join the DDE
3: Pay for the DDE over the phone
4: Give them your email address so they can send confirmation.
5: Go anywhere in WDW where you can rent internet access
6: Log on, find your email and print it out.

A little extra time but for the money saved, I'm sure it would be worth it.

 

[Laura]

Hmm ok so the email confirmation is just as good as the real thing? I'll have to call Shades of Green as well, maybe they'll sell me an AP over the phone so I could get it ahead of time.

Another question - I thought I read somewhere that your AP expires 1 year after you purchase the voucher, not one year after you activate the card. So does this mean if it takes 4-6 weeks to get the dining card then I'd need to buy the AP 1 1/2 months before my trip and those 1 1/2 months would be wasted? This just doesn't seem right.

 

[Master Yoda]

Hmm ok so the email confirmation is just as good as the real thing? I'll have to call Shades of Green as well, maybe they'll sell me an AP over the phone so I could get it ahead of time.

Another question - I thought I read somewhere that your AP expires 1 year after you purchase the voucher, not one year after you activate the card. So does this mean if it takes 4-6 weeks to get the dining card then I'd need to buy the AP 1 1/2 months before my trip and those 1 1/2 months would be wasted? This just doesn't seem right.

Disney seems to be tacking about 6 weeks on to the life of the card so you will get a little more than a year. I have personally used the e-mail confirmation and had no problem.

 

[KevinPage]

Also the DDE card gives you free valet parking at any resort.

Good for us "locals" who are too important to park at the TTC, get on a tram, then get on a monorail, just to get to the Magic Kingdom

Even if I don't spend any $$$ on food, the price of valet parking pays for itself over the course of the year.

 

[DisneyCrazyGirl]

Hmm ok so the email confirmation is just as good as the real thing? I'll have to call Shades of Green as well, maybe they'll sell me an AP over the phone so I could get it ahead of time.

Another question - I thought I read somewhere that your AP expires 1 year after you purchase the voucher, not one year after you activate the card. So does this mean if it takes 4-6 weeks to get the dining card then I'd need to buy the AP 1 1/2 months before my trip and those 1 1/2 months would be wasted? This just doesn't seem right.

No no. Your AP expires one year after you ACTIVATE it. I had the same question. I read somewhere that people were activating vouchers that were 5 years old. You do need your voucher or AP to get your DDE membership.

 

[Jekyll Baker]

Hmm ok so the email confirmation is just as good as the real thing? I'll have to call Shades of Green as well, maybe they'll sell me an AP over the phone so I could get it ahead of time.

Another question - I thought I read somewhere that your AP expires 1 year after you purchase the voucher, not one year after you activate the card. So does this mean if it takes 4-6 weeks to get the dining card then I'd need to buy the AP 1 1/2 months before my trip and those 1 1/2 months would be wasted? This just doesn't seem right.

Actually, the AP expires 1 year after the voucher is turned in at a park and you receive the actual ticket (activated). Renewed AP's expire on that same anniversary date, even if the renewal voucher is not activated until several weeks after your anniversary date.

As for the DDE, I ordered mine also in mid-January (like a few posters above), and they sent me a confirmation email which can be used in place of the actual card. I too have not yet received my card, though it was finally billed to my credit card in mid-February. I used it just 3-4 days after I ordered it, and it saved my family (parents, my brother & me) about $80 on a 5-day, 4-night vacation at WDW (even used at Sassagoula Floatworks for breakfast every day - that was about $6 saved each breakfast). So it's already paid itself off.

 

[Laura]

Actually, the AP expires 1 year after the voucher is turned in at a park and you receive the actual ticket (activated). Renewed AP's expire on that same anniversary date, even if the renewal voucher is not activated until several weeks after your anniversary date.

Ok THAT'S where I got confused. I knew I had read that somewhere, that's right, it was about the renewed AP's. Ok that makes sense. Thank you!

It sounds like I'm going to have to suck it up and pay the extra $35 to get the AP ahead of time so I can get the dining before my trip unless I can figure out a way to get a military discounted AP up here.

 

[Moustronaut]

1: Call up 407-WDISNEY as if you're not there....

Disney Dining Experience Office number is 407-566-5858. It's open M-F 9-5 so if you're arriving on a saturday or sunday, you'll have to call ahead of time. It would be worth a call to them today and explain your situation. I'm sure they can help you out.

4: Give them your email address so they can send confirmation.
5: Go anywhere in WDW where you can rent internet access
6: Log on, find your email and print it out.

A little extra time but for the money saved, I'm sure it would be worth it.

They will also fax a copy of the letter to you, so it could be faxed to the resort.

But the letters are not instantaneous either. They told me when I would get an email within 1-2 business days, so in my case, either the Friday (the next day) or Tuesday (They were closed for Martin Luther Kind day). I told them I was leaving that weekend and I got my email copy the same day. So if you want to use if for dinner that night, call early and have them fax it to your resort.

 

[Dwarful]

sorry to ask a silly question but what is the easiest way to find out all the benefits of this card? I think we will be a party of six in early may and we already have our ap's so this might be financially wise for us to do this if its good at places we most like to eat. ( 3 adults, 3 children) or it will be (2 adults, 3 children)

 

[Laura]

sorry to ask a silly question but what is the easiest way to find out all the benefits of this card? I think we will be a party of six in early may and we already have our ap's so this might be financially wise for us to do this if its good at places we most like to eat. ( 3 adults, 3 children) or it will be (2 adults, 3 children)

Here's how I figured out the benefits of it.

If you go to allearsnet.com you can look up the prices for all the sit down restaurants you'll be eating at.

Look them up, add them all up. Take that total and subtract 20% of it. That's how much the dining card will save you. If the amount saved is greater than $50 then definitely get the card.

For the trip I am planning (which includes about 11 sit down meals) the card will save me hundreds.

 

[Dwarful]

Thanks, I am not sure how many sit down meals we will do, but it might be worth it for us.