DDE is NOT available to everyone - please read About This Page:

[ladyt]

According to a self-proclaimed "experienced" CM at the Disney Dining Experience number, the DDE card is ONLY available to Annual or Seasonal Passholders and Florida Residents.

I know there was a post awhile back about the DDE being available to everyone.

There have been people who have ordered the DDE and not had AP's and not been FL residents. According to the CM I spoke with, this isn't supposed to be possible. When you order the DDE they are supposed to ask you if you are an AP holder and if not, if you are a FL resident.

She told me that you will not be able to activate your DDE card without an AP/Seasonal Pass or FL driver's license.

So, to all of you who have ordered a DDE card and do not have any of the above, I would suggest you call them and get your money back.

[ladyt]

This (below) was right from the Disney web-site back in January. This is how it all got started that DDE was for everyone. Some people even ordered it, no questions asked! This is really ashame for those people who ordered it and now are going to have to call and try to get a refund. Disney is a great place with great people, but sometimes they make me wonder!

**Effective January 2005, the Disney Dining Experience, once available only to Florida residents, is open to anyone 21 years or older. The Disney Dining Experience is a discount dining program offering 20% off food and beverage at many Walt Disney World Resort hotel and theme park restaurants and lounges.

Membership Prices:

General Membership $75.00
Annual/Seasonal Passholders $50.00
Renewals (for existing memberships received within 30 days of expiration date) $60.00


Disney's Dining Experience Benefits:

Members receive a 20% discount on all food and beverage (including alcohol) for up to 10 people at participating table-service Disney restaurants.
-- The discount applies to member's check only.
-- One Disney Dining card per table. Two cards cannot be combined.
-- Member must be present to receive discount.
-- Card must be presented when ordering.

1/2 price admission to Pleasure Island for card holder (hard-ticket admission excluded) and one guest.
-- The ticket will only be valid on the date of issuance.
-- The Guest must have their Disney Dining Experience Card to receive the discount.

Club Newsletter

Complimentary parking if the guest enters a theme park for a short period for the sole purpose of dining. The Guest should pay parking at the toll booth, then after dining, present their receipt and parking ticket at Guest Relations for a refund.

Exclusive invitations to Disney's Dining Experience events.

WDW-DINE (407- 939-3463) will book priority seatings for guests who are members of Disney's Dining Experience.

Theme park admission is required when dining in Theme Park restaurants.

Please remember that participating restaurants are subject to change. Guests will be notified of any changes in future newsletters.

Certain restrictions apply during holidays and special events, please check with the restaurant when you make your reservation.

Blockout Dates include major holidays: Mother's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years' Eve, New Years' Day

Disney's Dining Experience discount cannot be used in combination with any other discount.

MEMBERSHIP AND CARD INFORMATION
Membership is not available on property. Membership is only available by mail or phone.

-- By Mail: Disney's Dining Experience, Post Office Box 10000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.

-- By Phone: Call the Disney's Dining Experience office at (407) 566-5858 (option 3) Monday through Friday between 9:00am and 5:00pm.

Allow 4-6 weeks processing time to receive new cards and renewals. If you will not receive the DDE card before your trip to WDW, the DDE office can fax or email a confirmation letter for you to use on your trip.

DDE mailings are not forwarded. If you have a forwarding notice on your mail, all Disney's Dining Experience items will be returned to the DDE office.

Each DDE membership is issued 1 primary card and 1 spouse card. Both members must live at the same address and be 21 years of age or older.

[Plannergirl]

My TA was telling us about DDE and how we could now use it and we are not AP holders nor do we live in Fla

[LisaJ]

If Disney has, in print, that membership is "open to anyone 21 years or older", then I would assume that they have to honor this?

Sounds like this could be a mess!

[ladyt]

That's the key. The "had" it in print. I don't think it's still there. However, I am on my way to the website to see if I can find it!

[Plannergirl]

http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/dining/dde.asp

http://www.magictrips.com/dining/dde.shtml

http://www.cruisingco.com/mev/wdwdining.php

http://disneyworldtrivia.com/forums/...hp/t-1275.html

It seems that DDE is CHEAPER for AP and Fla but many sites including these indicate its for everyone.

Of course I scour the Disney site and I cant find mention of this program at all :-(

[Disneynutinlondon]

I have a letter of confirmation from The Disney Dining Experience that says
[ QUOTE ]
Memorandum
To: Whom it May Concern Date: January 19, 2005
From: Rosa FloresCoordinator – Disney DiningExperience & Food and Wine Festival Phone: 407-566-5858 option 3
Subject: Disney’s Dining Experience Card


This letter is to serve as validation that Isabel & Paul Davis are current members in good standing with the Disney’s Dining Experience. The membership is valid through 2/28/06. Please extend the 20% discount and all other benefits associated with this membership. This letter is valid through March 31, 2005.


If you have any questions, or require further information, please contact me at the above number. Thank you for your cooperation.



Rosa Flores
Disney’s Dining Experience

[/ QUOTE ]


This is on Walt Disney World Co. memorandum headed paper. What do you think I should do ?

[ladyt]

Well, according to the CM I spoke to, you will be required to show AP's or FL ID.

What I would do is play dumb. I would show them the letter at the first table service restaurant I went to. If they ask for ID or AP's I would tell them that when you ordered the card, they never told you that you had to be a FL resident or an AP holder. You're not lying. Then, if they tell you that it is only valid for AP holder's or FL residents, at least you can try to get your money back while you are down there instead of over the phone. Don't let it ruin your vacation however. Since you know ahead of time that it might not be valid, you won't be surprised if they turn it down. Heck, if you explain your situation that the CM you ordered it from never told you, they might let you use it anyway.

Put the burden on Disney, not yourself. They are the ones who made the mistake!

[Plannergirl]

Take it and run ;-) Sounds like Disney has their heads up their whatzits again with all the new stuff. Is it always this screwy when they intro new packages/promos or whatever? This has been sad. Im glad I did not buy into DDE.

[DopeyGirl]

Well . . . I am a Florida resident and I can tell you that the reduced rate is NOT for Florida Residents.

We got our DDE membership when it was ONLY for FL residents and we were able to get the AP/SP rate of $70 (this was back around July/August 2004) ----

According to Deb Wills' site AllEarsNet . . .

<font color="purple">NOTE: As of January 2005, membership in the Disney Dining Experience is open to Florida Residents OR Persons who are Annual Passholders (regardless of state of residence).</font>

The "General Membership" amount of $75 is the Florida Resident rate.

Hope this helps!

[doubletroublevb]

The Disney Dining Experience costs $75 for people without AP's and $50 for people who have them. So how could it be that Disney didn't intend it for everyone? I think your "experienced" CM just isn't up on the current rules...something that can happen to any employee where the business makes a rules change and it doesn't get to everyone.

[ladyt]

I can assure you, it's only for AP holders and FL residents. This has been verified by Disney on several occasions since this first was mentioned. $75 for FL residents and $50 for AP holders.

[susancl]

When we got ours, we were asked if we were Florida residents or passholders (January 15th).

[DrDolphin]

One thing I would like to clarify - there is no "activiation" of the DDE card - and since they went to AP holders - I have never been asked to prove I have an AP or am a Florida resident when I've used the card (on two trips in the last 2 months). So hopefully those folks that did get in w/o being FL residents or AP holders will be able to use their discount cards without issue.