Tables in Wonderland... am I missing something?

[jo_de_vil]

Exactly,and also, as opposed to AP restaurant discounts and DVC restaurant discounts, the 20% TIW discount is the only one that applies to alcohol! We aren't alcoholics but for 6 people, a before dinner drink and a glass of wine with dinner can be steep at Disney and 20% helps!

We have the Deluxe Dining Plan and normally tip 20%, as we have just join DVC and looking at TIW, can you use both? Have you meal on the DDDP and use TIW for Drinks. I know then you will get the 18% added for drinks and could pay tip on the DDDP. We go for 14 nights so even just drinks on TIW would cut costs??? TTFN Jo

 

[WebmasterDoc]

We have the Deluxe Dining Plan and normally tip 20%, as we have just join DVC and looking at TIW, can you use both? Have you meal on the DDDP and use TIW for Drinks. I know then you will get the 18% added for drinks and could pay tip on the DDDP. We go for 14 nights so even just drinks on TIW would cut costs??? TTFN Jo

Yes, you can still use the TIW card and the DDP. The TIW will get you the same 20% discount on any meal items not included in the DDP. You can also use it if you choose to go into a WDW lounge and just order drinks.

 

[KBoopaloo]

I always tell them up front that we have the card and we have never experienced bad service. On this last trip, I had to do some serious math ahead of time to be sure buying the card would be worth it since we only plan for one trip this year. In the end, we saved $46 beyond the $100 cost of the card so it was still well worth it.

Keep in mind that you can also use the card at a lot of the lounges. We often like to have a drink before bed when returning to the resort and used the card for that at Victoria Falls Lounge. We also used it at Top of the World the night we went up to view Wishes.

We don't drink a ton but do like to have some wine at dinner and a fancy drink here and there on vacation and it is nice to get some savings on that.

 

[44Majestic]

If you weren't planning on leaving tips then don't purchase the card. That isn't a conversation we want to get into.

Personally I will have saved over $700 this year by purchasing the TIW card. When the server asks if we are on a dining plan we tell them Tables in Wonderland. I do not recall there ever being service issues because of the "guaranteed tip". For exceptional service we leave more. We are headed back to WDW for six nights with 8 adults and I know there will be some hefty dinner bills. We are very happy with TIW.

 

[Brian Noble]

Add me to the list of people who have never had bad service as a result of an automatic service charge---either due to having TIW, or just having a large party. I half-suspect that most WDW guests tip well under 18% based on some of the reactions I've seen from servers.

 

[kristenrice]

My DSiL and I took a trip in Oct 2011 and bought AP's. My dad was treating the entire extended family to a trip in June 2012 so I decided to buy a TiW. We used it at a few restaurants and lounges, but we had a split stay and used the DxDDP for 2 nights/3 days which covered most of our TS meals.

When we went in 2012, my DSiL decided to buy a TiW card too. We used the cards for our group meals (splitting the check sinc we were a group of 13-15). In just two meals, we recouped the cost of the cards. Our total at Chef Mickey's was $492 before tax so our discount was abour $98. Then our dinner at O'Hana was about $350 before tax and that discount was abou $70. Besides those two group meals, we also ate with groups of 4-10 at LeCellier, Garden Grill, Sanaa, Boma, Olivia's, 50's Prime Time Cafe and Coral Reef. Obviously, we saved a LOT by using our TiW cards.

 

[Jousey]

We have not had any bad service when using TiW, actually the opposite. One night at ToTW we got excellent service when we mentioned tables. We saved a lot this last trip with 5 adults and 3-4 meals totaling over $200 checks we more than paid for it. Plus we found out the items at our hotel quick service not covered by AP were discounted by Tables. If we travel more than a week we will get tables every time.
It has been really nice to order drinks and know the discount will work and we had a CM say "tables is just as good as a DDP" so that made us feel great.

 

[Chuck S]

We have not had any bad service when using TiW, actually the opposite. One night at ToTW we got excellent service when we mentioned tables. We saved a lot this last trip with 5 adults and 3-4 meals totaling over $200 checks we more than paid for it. Plus we found out the items at our hotel quick service not covered by AP were discounted by Tables. If we travel more than a week we will get tables every time.
It has been really nice to order drinks and know the discount will work and we had a CM say "tables is just as good as a DDP" so that made us feel great.

Where were you staying? I though Tables discounts were only applied at the quick services places at value resorts, SSR and maybe Port Orleans.

 

[maburke]

Correct me if I'm wrong but TIW is 75.00 if purchased with an AP and 100.00 if just a DVC discount.If that's correct then either spending 375.00 or 400.00 lets you break even.

Just to be clear, to break even on a DVC $100 TIW card, you need to spend $500, not $400.

 

[crisi]

If you eat a lot of quick service or eat in your room a lot, TIW really isn't worth it. And, as was said above, if you don't tip, it isn't worth it - but lets not go there.

If you eat a lot of sit down dinners - especially signature - or buffets, it can be worth it. Add a larger party, a group who will order a drink or wine with dinner, a evening or two in a lounge, a DVC family who is down for several weeks every year - and a lot of DVCers think that the TiW is one of the best deals going.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Where were you staying? I though Tables discounts were only applied at the quick services places at value resorts, SSR and maybe Port Orleans.

You get the discount on quick service food in locations where Disney does not operate a full service restaurant...Animal Kingdom park (except for Yak & Yeti quick serve which is not run by Disney) and the Value resorts.

Some have reported getting the discount at the Sassagoula Floatworks food court at Dixie Landings French Quarter since the full service restaurant at PO is at Riverside. I am not sure if that is official policy.

Since Saratoga has a Disney-run full service restaurant you do not get the discount on quick service there.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Correct me if I'm wrong but TIW is 75.00 if purchased with an AP and 100.00 if just a DVC discount.If that's correct then either spending 375.00 or 400.00 lets you break even.

Just to be clear, to break even on a DVC $100 TIW card, you need to spend $500, not $400.

The actual break-even points are $469.48 for Florida Residents or DVC Members and $352.11 for any Annual Passholders with the TiW Card. This is because the savings is actually $21.30 per $100 of menu pricing as the Sales Tax is adjusted.

 

[bumbershoot]

You get the discount on quick service food in locations where Disney does not operate a full service restaurant...Animal Kingdom park (except for Yak & Yeti quick serve which is not run by Disney) and the Value resorts.

Some have reported getting the discount at the Sassagoula Floatworks food court at Dixie Landings French Quarter since the full service restaurant at PO is at Riverside. I am not sure if that is official policy.

Since Saratoga has a Disney-run full service restaurant you do not get the discount on quick service there.

From the official website of TIW, tablesinwonderland.com, Sassagoula is definitely officially included. Also The Artist's Palette at SSR is, and that is Quick Service. And it's listed (along with the Turf Club and Turf Club Lounge) on the TIW site as being a participating location.


Their new, official, website is really good!

 

[marie1981]

You do get the 20% discount at the quick restaurant of Saratoga (The Artist's Palette )

You also get it at the Sassagoula Floatworks
& Food Factory at the Port Orleans.

Here is a link to the official TIW page. You have a list of all the restaurants who accept the card:

http://tablesinwonderland.com/

 

[weathernlu]

As a DVC member don't I already get 10% off at some of these restaurants or no? I know there are some you do. Grand Floridian and at SSR for sure. I am trying to figure out if this would be worth it for me and I am thinking not.

 

[Jousey]

Where were you staying? I though Tables discounts were only applied at the quick services places at value resorts, SSR and maybe Port Orleans.

We were at SSR

 

[Sammie]

As a DVC member don't I already get 10% off at some of these restaurants or no? I know there are some you do. Grand Floridian and at SSR for sure. I am trying to figure out if this would be worth it for me and I am thinking not.

It doesn't work for us. We don't eat many full service meals while there or order alcohol. Also not always sure we will make two trips inside a year. Might be 13 months before the next trip.

 

[Jousey]

As a DVC member don't I already get 10% off at some of these restaurants or no? I know there are some you do. Grand Floridian and at SSR for sure. I am trying to figure out if this would be worth it for me and I am thinking not.

Big seller for us was that TiW discounts drinks most other discounts are only on food.

 

[Dean]

Assuming you normally tip the recommended amount of 18% on top of the total for your meal, you save on the tips plus another 2%.

The TIW should not affect your costs either way if you would normally tip 18%. There is no savings unless you tip 18% but would otherwise tip more and no cost unless you would have tipped less than the recommended amounts. Tips should normally be calculated based on the pre-discount amount.

 

[erionm]

As a DVC member don't I already get 10% off at some of these restaurants or no? I know there are some you do. Grand Floridian and at SSR for sure. I am trying to figure out if this would be worth it for me and I am thinking not.

Another thing to look at when comparing the discounts is the DVC (and Passholder) Dining Discount may only be offered on weekdays or only for breakfast and lunch. The TiW discount is valid for all meals though there are about 6 black out days. There are also far fewer places that offer dining discounts to Passholders and DVC Members when compared what available with the TiW Card. And as other have pointed out, the TiW discount is valid for alcohol.