DDP vs. Pay out of pocket?

[JenGray]

We have never gone to WDW without the DDP. What would be your suggestions if we chose not to get it next time?

We will deffinitley go to Chef Mickeys and a show package for the candle light persession. That would be 2 TS for a three night stay. Would it be cheaper for us to get the DDP or pay outright?

I am only questioning this after the recent changes to the DDP. Does anyone know if this will take affect now or 2008?

Thanks,
Jen

 

[JimMIA]

The changes -- no appetizer, and gratuity no longer included in DDP -- take effect for stays starting 1/1/08 or thereafter.

 

[kimberh]

Jen,
If you buy an Annual pass, you can purchase a DDE card for $65.00. This card will give you 20% off of your food and drink bill. You will have to weigh out the cost vs how many trips you make in a year to see if it will be cost effective for you. The card is good for 13 months, Disney includes ordering and mailing time. Other than that, try the family style meals or the buffets to keep the costs down as much as possible. This is what we do.

 

[JenGray]

Thanks for the effective dates and advice.

We just bout APs for the first time. How do we know what discounts are avalible to AP holders, including the DDE?

 

[kimberh]

When you pick up your AP there is a number on the back of it, you can log on to Disney's web page, at the top right corner there is a place to click on for Annual pass holders. You will go there to register your pass. The discounts, events, etc are there. You will also be given a sleeve with the Ap to read over with some of the discounts. If you already have your AP's then you can apply for your DDE card and pick it up at will call at Epcot's guest services' if you are close to your travel date.

 

[JenGray]

When you pick up your AP there is a number on the back of it, you can log on to Disney's web page, at the top right corner there is a place to click on for Annual pass holders. You will go there to register your pass. The discounts, events, etc are there. You will also be given a sleeve with the Ap to read over with some of the discounts. If you already have your AP's then you can apply for your DDE card and pick it up at will call at Epcot's guest services' if you are close to your travel date.

Great info, thanks!

 

[Anthony1971]

DDE aside.
as a general rule DDP depends on the way you eat. If you always have an appetizer and dessert (this year)with dinner at a TS and eat either breakfast or lunch at a CS then it is a good deal. I point out dinner as the lunch TS menu is cheaper and Breakfast TS is cheap period. (cheap = to what you are paying for DDP)
with that said If you were going to use only two TS credits than it is not worth it as for a three night stay you would have 3 TS credits.

 

[JenGray]

DDE aside.
as a general rule DDP depends on the way you eat. If you always have an appetizer and dessert (this year)with dinner at a TS and eat either breakfast or lunch at a CS then it is a good deal. I point out dinner as the lunch TS menu is cheaper and Breakfast TS is cheap period. (cheap = to what you are paying for DDP)
with that said If you were going to use only two TS credits than it is not worth it as for a three night stay you would have 3 TS credits.

Thanks for the advice.

It bothers me that they did not decrease the price by much after removing the appetizer and tip. No, we don't eat a lot, but it is nice to try new things.

This past trip we decided to share meals at each TS, that made us less miserable and able to visit the Brown Durby without any problem.
We are lucky the DDP wont change until 2008. That means we have one more time to enjoy it. The DDP was always nice because we knew ahead of time how much to save up for food. Who knows, we may end up getting over the change and continuing to purchase it.

But.. we just had our first kido. He might keep us out of the TS for a while. May actually use the kitchen!