Florida Residents:Disney Dining Experience

[1HourAway]

Florida residents can enroll in the Disney's Dining Experience, which offers a 20% discount at participating Resort and Theme Park Restaurants/Food Courts. Membership features a wide range of benefits, including a newsletter exclusively for DDE members with invitations to future private events. (I have yet to attend one of these events, but they do sound like fun, just a little pricey!)

As a member each cardholder and one guest will receive half-price admission to Pleasure Island, with the exception of specially priced events. Plus, admission is free for club members to the Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney's BoardWalk Resort.

The cost for membership into this program is $75 for an annual card. However, if you are a Florida Resident Seasonal or Annual Pass, the card can be purchased for $70 ($60 for renewal). A spouse will be entitled to an additional card at no extra charge. Proof of Florida Residency will be required to obtain the DDE. A Florida driver's license or Florida state issued ID card, with a valid Florida address, is an acceptable form of identification. Please note, the DDE card MUST be presented with a valid Florida driver's license or ID at time of use or you will NOT get the discount. (Although, I have never been asked to show ID.)

DDE discounts can be used for parties up to six (6). Park admission is required if you are dining at one of the restaurants within a theme park. It will also be necessary to pay any parking lot fees before getting into the park. Parking fees will, however, be reimbursed if you present your dining and parking receipt at Guest Services.

Certain restrictions may apply during holidays and special events, so please check with the restaurant when you make your reservations. DDE discounts cannot be used in combination with any other discount.

For more information, or to purchase membership, please call: (407) 566-5858, Option #3. For Priority Seating call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463).

Participating Restaurants and Lounges (As of January 2003):

Magic Kingdom:
Cinderella's Royal Table
The Crystal Palace
Liberty Tree Tavern
The Plaza Restaurant
Tony's Town Square Restaurant

Epcot:
Biergarten Restaurant
Bistro de Paris Restaurant
Coral Reef Restaurant
The Garden Grill
Le Cellier Steakhouse
Les Chefs de France
L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Restaurant
Nine Dragons Restaurant
San Angel Inn Restaurante
Restaurant Akershus
Restaurant Marrakesh
Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room

Disney-MGM Studios:
50's Prime Time Cafe
Hollywood & Vine
The Hollywood Brown Derby
Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
Tune-In Lounge

Disney's Animal Kingdom:
Flame Tree
Pizzafari Barbeque
Restaurantosaurus
Tusker House Restaurant

Downtown Disney:
Cap'n Jack's Restaurant and Bar
Wolfgang Puck® Cafe - Westside Location

Disney's Bonnet Creek Golf Club:
Sand Trap Bar & Grill

Disney's All-Star Movies Resort:
World Premiere Food Court

Disney's All-Star Music Resort:
Intermission Food Court

Disney's All-Star Sports Resort:
End Zone Food Court

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge:
Boma - The Flavors of Africa
Jiko - The Cooking Place

Disney's Beach Club Resort:
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop -- Excludes Take-out Shop
Cape May Cafe
Martha's Vineyard Lounge
Rip Tide Lounge

Disney's BoardWalk:
ESPN® Club
Flying Fish Café
Spoodles

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort:
Shutters at Old Port Royale

Disney's Contemporary Resort:
California Grill
California Grill Lounge
Chef Mickey's
Concourse Steakhouse
Outer Rim Lounge

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort:
Maya Grill

Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground:
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue -- 9:30pm Show Only
Trail's End Buffeteria

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:
1900 Park Fare
Cítricos
Garden View Lounge
Grand Floridian Cafe
Mizner's Lounge
Narcoossee's
Victoria & Albert's -- Excludes Chef's Table

Disney's Old Key West Resort:
Olivia's Cafe

Disney's Polynesian Resort:
'Ohana
Kona Cafe
Polynesian Luau -- Late Show Only
Tambu Lounge

Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter:
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory
Scat Cat's Club

Disney's Port Orleans Riverside:
Boatwright's Dining Hall
Cotton Co-op Lounge
Colonel's Cotton Mill

Disney's Wilderness Lodge:
Artist Point
Territory Lounge
Whispering Canyon Cafe

Disney's Yacht Club Resort:
Ale and Compass Lounge
Crews Cup Lounge
Yacht Club Galley
Yachtsman Steakhouse

[adambreakey]

1hr - I was unaware of this discount card. Sounds like a good idea - especially for those of us that visit so often. Although, $70 for a discount card seems pretty steep (of course, it is Disney). But I paid $50 for my Disney Golf Discount card, and that gives me 50% (or more) off of greens fees at all of the Disney courses.

Do you find that the price is easily overcome just by your regular dining habits at the parks? Or do you feel you have to 'plan' to use it in order to get the value?

Thanks

adamb

[1HourAway]

Adam - 20% is a pretty good discount. I can make the $60 back (renewal rate) in no time at all! Just the other night - saved $16.00 at the Biergarten! With adult buffet cost of $19.99 - $16 is almost a free meal!

I have had it the last 2 years and really get my money's worth! Yes, the $70.00 is quite a chunk of change, but in the long run you are saving more with frequent visits.

The only thing is...

You have to make sure your meals are at the places that take the card! So we usually plan lunches at places that take the card (lunches being cheaper anyway) Dinners at places that don't take the card and their prices don't go up for dinner. (like counter service places.)

When staying at the resorts, it is even better because most resort places take it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

[adambreakey]

1hr - I guess it does add up quickly. I should really look into it more. -- Of course, this will have to be a purchase that is made later in the year, as we are expecting our second child in just a few short weeks - and won't be visiting the parks until later in the spring.

Thanks for the tip.

adamb

[BethBreakey]

Got a question Adam - When I live down there this summer and get my liscence - does that mean I could get a residence pass to the parks? I know we talked about this a little - but I didnt know if I would get just a discount off admission or the whole schabang...



:->

[ladymarganne]

As long as you have a Florida i.d. you eligible for Florida discounts...like residents rates on AP's, seasonal passes, and the Disney Dining card. And, while we're on this subject let me tell you this...I discovered last year that we actually get another 4 weeks extra on the dining card! And, yes, it is definitely worth every penny of it, for, as you have to know how often we Florida residents go to WDW...even if it's just for dinner at 'Ohanas!

[wdw4us2]

The DDE is a great program if you go to WDW a lot, even with the $70 price tag. We have been with the program for about 5 years, I wish we'd done it sooner.

The main thing we have used the card for is sit-down meals rather than counter service for lunch. The price is almost the same for discounted sit-down as counter service.

I think it was a better deal when the card was $50, but we will stay enrolled unless the price goes up too much.