Tables in Wonderland.. Worth it?

[darthspud]

Hey every one!
I'm going solo to the world this summer and plan on getting myself an annual pass since ill be headed back a few times with in the coming year..So heres me question..

Is it worth it to get tables in wonderland? Its 20% off the bill but they add an 18% gratutity so basically im only getting 2% off.. I only have 2 table service restaurants planned or is it simply better to book the free dining offer and then upgrade my park pass..?

There are way to many decisions to make..or rather to many options to choose from

Thanks
Jill

 

[Pax]

Hey darthspud... My folks are in Chelmsford! I'm from Lowell.

We had the T.I.W. card (then D.D.E.) on our honeymoon and it worked awesome. You just need to have enough table service meals planned to save more than the cards fairly significant price tag. We went to Victoria and Albert's so pretty much broke even with one dinner. Depending on what you pay for the card, you may have to spend $500 on meals before it's really saving anything.

We don't consider an 18% tip excessive, or even optional, so we don't weigh that against the savings.

For our trip, since we ate all table service, the card and steep room discounts were far, far better than rack rate and free dining... and that was back before they hobbled the dining plan (which they should still drag out back and shoot).

Good luck, and go get some Tony and Ann's for me will you? I miss it.

Enjoy your solo trip!

Pax

 

[wdwfan16]

Are all trips just you?

I find that TIW + AP resort discount is far better than free dining. We do not to a TS each day and at some places you get a discount for CS type food (all values, PRFQ come to mind.)

 

[vicki_c]

If you were going to tip anyway, it's not a 2% savings, it's a 20% savings. I don't know why people look at it that way -- assuming you were going to tip at least 15% anyway - even that makes it a 17% savings.

The break even point for the card (as an AP holder) is $375 in eligible meals and beverages.

Unless you have a large party, I don't see how you would hit the break even point with 2 table service meals, or if one is Victoria & Albert's or something. The CS locations where you can use it are very limited, and not in the parks except for a few in AK.

 

[SondraC]

Hey every one!
I'm going solo to the world this summer and plan on getting myself an annual pass since ill be headed back a few times with in the coming year..So heres me question..

Is it worth it to get tables in wonderland? Its 20% off the bill but they add an 18% gratutity so basically im only getting 2% off.. I only have 2 table service restaurants planned or is it simply better to book the free dining offer and then upgrade my park pass..?

There are way to many decisions to make..or rather to many options to choose from

Thanks
Jill

It's only a 2% reduction if don't don't plan to tip.

 

[darthspud]

thats true i never thought of tipping regardless... no this and maybe another trip later next year will be solo, I'm going twice in december once with my BFF and we are hoping for free dining but that was before i planned to get an annual pass for this solo trip.. and then im going again for christmas with the family and then I hope to go for star wars weekend next year

 

[eliza61]

Are you planning on going more than once this year. You have an annual pass so I'm assuming that you may get there again. You can also use your TIW card every time so factor in the long term usage.

We love it for my family of 4. Dh & I do enjoy an adult beverage with our dinners so we generally save with the card since it gives 20% off the entire bill.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I was trying to figure out the same thing recently. Here's what I came up with.

Both my June and August trips include dining plans. For my family, even with having to buy the 2 day passes it's still a better deal to get free dining (4 Disney adults with my kids' ages). We won't be doing any TS meals in June (we have QSDP and we'll get plenty of TS meals in August). For the few drinks and appetizers we'll order, it doesn't amount to much of a savings.

We'll likely be going back in 2011 February and maybe April and/or June and/or December. While our APs will expire in June (we'll be upgrading our tickets from our June trip to APs), if we buy TiW in February, the TiW card expiration will not in any way be tied to the AP expiration. It might be worth our while to buy the TiW at that time and have it for the next year. I'll evaluate when I'm looking at the options for our February trip. It just doesn't make sense for our June or August trips.

 

[darthspud]

The break even point for the card (as an AP holder) is $375 in eligible meals and beverages.

Unless you have a large party, I don't see how you would hit the break even point with 2 table service meals, or if one is Victoria & Albert's or something. The CS locations where you can use it are very limited, and not in the parks except for a few in AK.

Yes but I am going several times with in a year time period... it is a little disappointing that no counter service places are on the list with in the parks but it is nice for the hotel for breakfasts and snacks while at the hotels..

 

[Golf4food]

You have to spend a total of $375 to break even for the $75 cost. If you think you'll spend that much on TS meals on solo trips over the next 365 days, go for it. We love it. No guess work, order whatever the heck you want, and the free valet parking at resorts is awesome as well ($12 for valet parking now, and even subtracting a $2 tip for the valet still saves $10 and is well worth the $2 to not have to find parking, go out in the rain, etc.). DW and I just did four days/five nights and probably easily broke even alread. I haven't done the math yet, but with our TS meals and three valet parkings, we're getting close and will easily pass it with our trips in October and Nov/Dec, not to mention 2011.

Another advantage of TIW is the 20% is off anything - appetizers, entrees, desserts, alcohol... things you are often limited from on the DDP and no thinking about the tip. Makes everything very simple and easy to understand, unlike the DDP which generates about 8,000 questions per day on the DIS...