2 totally random questions!

[mjc2003]

1) can you pay for another rooms housekeeping? We are traveling with family who wants extra housekeeping so we worked it into the cost. It'd be a bit awkward if its on their bill and I have to hand them cash, but something tells me Disney couldn't possibly be dynamic enough to clean a room but charge it to a different room....what next, a man on the moon?!

2) TIW is good for 10 people, but for 2 meals we will have 15. It's not going to be cost effective to get another card, so my question is can we choose which 10 meals are discounted? Can we do 10 adult meals on one check and the 5 kids on a separate check?

Thanks all!

 

[Chuck S]

For the answer to number 1, I would agree that Disney likely will not bill it out to a different room from where the service is used. Imagine the headaches if they did. "Why are you charging me for a cleaning I did not receive? I'm not paying for that, it was their room that got the cleaning, not mine."

Personally, in that situation, Id go to the front desk, and put cash onto their room account to pay for the cleaning. It would likely be the simplest thing to do.

For the TiW, I don't have any experience with larger groups.

 

[Deb & Bill]

1) can you pay for another rooms housekeeping? We are traveling with family who wants extra housekeeping so we worked it into the cost. It'd be a bit awkward if its on their bill and I have to hand them cash, but something tells me Disney couldn't possibly be dynamic enough to clean a room but charge it to a different room....what next, a man on the moon?!

2) TIW is good for 10 people, but for 2 meals we will have 15. It's not going to be cost effective to get another card, so my question is can we choose which 10 meals are discounted? Can we do 10 adult meals on one check and the 5 kids on a separate check?

Thanks all!

If you want all 15 meals discounted, you will need two TIW cards. We had eleven one time and they just separated one from the eleven for non-discounted. But all were adult buffet breakfasts at Chef Mickey's.

And you will have to pay for all the 10 discounted meals. Your guests will need to compensate you later.

 

[Dean]

If you want all 15 meals discounted, you will need two TIW cards. We had eleven one time and they just separated one from the eleven for non-discounted. But all were adult buffet breakfasts at Chef Mickey's.

And you will have to pay for all the 10 discounted meals. Your guests will need to compensate you later.

Agreed. They can pick the most expensive meals but they'll do it by seating I believe so you might want to consider other components besides just the entree and tell them which ones. If part of the meals will be kids meals, that'll make it easier. Also you might want to ask if they'll give you the discount on both if you do 2 checks, they normally won't but sometimes they will. Depending on your future trips and when your TIW expires, you could consider a separate new account for maybe $100 with the AP or DVC pricing. It's be more than an extra card but you might get another trip out of it and the savings from this trip on the extra people would decrease the cost proportionally. Or reconsider a second card for the $50, you'll cover around half of the cost from this one meal if all are adult meals. Maybe someone else in your group plans to return or needs it for their portion of the trip as well.

As noted, it does mean you'll have to pay it all yourself and hope for reimbursement for both tip and meals if applicable.

 

[RobDoc]

...
2) TIW is good for 10 people, but for 2 meals we will have 15. It's not going to be cost effective to get another card, so my question is can we choose which 10 meals are discounted? Can we do 10 adult meals on one check and the 5 kids on a separate check?

Yes, you will be able to select which meals will be on the TIW and the others will be a separate check. You will have two checks - one for the TIW meals and one for the non-discounted meals. The 18% gratuity is automatically added into the check when using the TIW. Guests are always welcome to add additional if they desire.

 

[mjc2003]

Personally, in that situation, Id go to the front desk, and put cash onto their room account to pay for the cleaning. It would likely be the simplest thing to do.

Never even thought of this--but it's simple and would be less awkward than handing cash back and forth with our guests.

If you want all 15 meals discounted, you will need two TIW cards. We had eleven one time and they just separated one from the eleven for non-discounted. But all were adult buffet breakfasts at Chef Mickey's.
And you will have to pay for all the 10 discounted meals. Your guests will need to compensate you later.

I did some loose math and I don't think it makes sense to do a second card if we can parcel out which meals get discounted. We have 10 adults and 5 kids so if I do 2 checks, with the 10 adult meals on the 1st check, I would basically be buying the second card to discount 10 kids meals...so it wouldn't work.

Why would the guests have to compensate me later? When we were there last year with my in-laws for 8 days we put every meal on the TIW, they gave us the bill and we gave them 2 credit cards to pay it?

Agreed. They can pick the most expensive meals but they'll do it by seating I believe so you might want to consider other components besides just the entree and tell them which ones. If part of the meals will be kids meals, that'll make it easier. Also you might want to ask if they'll give you the discount on both if you do 2 checks, they normally won't but sometimes they will. Depending on your future trips and when your TIW expires, you could consider a separate new account for maybe $100 with the AP or DVC pricing. It's be more than an extra card but you might get another trip out of it and the savings from this trip on the extra people would decrease the cost proportionally. Or reconsider a second card for the $50, you'll cover around half of the cost from this one meal if all are adult meals. Maybe someone else in your group plans to return or needs it for their portion of the trip as well.

As noted, it does mean you'll have to pay it all yourself and hope for reimbursement for both tip and meals if applicable.

Dean like I said above, it breaks down well with 10 adults and 5 kids so I don't think we'll need the second card. We actually have 10 for the first 6 days, and 5 are joining us the last 4 days, so we only are planning 2 group dinners with all 15.

Like I said to Deb above, your last comment indicates they won't split the bill on multiple credit cards; is this correct? Or new? Because we did this multiple times last year with my in-laws and it was never an issue.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've never been able to use more than the card with my husband's name on it to pay for the meal. The card had to match the TIW card holder.

 

[mjc2003]

We've never been able to use more than the card with my husband's name on it to pay for the meal. The card had to match the TIW card holder.

Wow--not the case with our November 2011 trip. Our Nov 2012 trip was just us, but in 2011 we had my in-laws with us. We split at least 5 of the meals, as I know I paid for one and they paid for one. We don't share a last name (obviously) and paid with credit cards both times.

In fact, my wife just reminded me that the first few meals we paid with an AMEX gift card that didn't have any name on it.

I'm sort of confused why it would matter at all who paid for it.

 

[Chuck S]

Wow--not the case with our November 2011 trip. Our Nov 2012 trip was just us, but in 2011 we had my in-laws with us. We split at least 5 of the meals, as I know I paid for one and they paid for one. We don't share a last name (obviously) and paid with credit cards both times.

In fact, my wife just reminded me that the first few meals we paid with an AMEX gift card that didn't have any name on it.

I'm sort of confused why it would matter at all who paid for it.

While traveling with others, they have been able to pay using their cards. But to do so, I did have to show some ID for the server to verify that I was the card holder, and that the card wasn't stolen or loaned.

The actual policy is that the card holder needs to pay, but they usually are flexible once the card holder ID is verified...but that can vary depending upon the server. They have always been sure, though, that it is one person paying and one ticket, no bill splitting.

Now, when they go to the wristband thing, and if they begin encoding the TiW onto the wristband, then I would guess that they'll only take payment from the card holder.

 

[Dean]

Like I said to Deb above, your last comment indicates they won't split the bill on multiple credit cards; is this correct? Or new? Because we did this multiple times last year with my in-laws and it was never an issue.

The rule is that the person with the name on the card must be present AND pay the check though Disney is nothing if not inconsistent. They will generally not split it up is my understanding but I know some have been able to do so.

 

[brkgnews]

I've usually had good luck getting the restaurant will take multiple payments, but only if I do all the math for them. Take the check (DON'T ask for it to be split), and write instructions on it such as:
Visa: $57.28
Amex: $28.22
(etc)

I've had pretty good luck with that method. Your mileage may vary. Ask your server first before you give him/her a page of math homework.

 

[k3chantal]

We've never been able to use more than the card with my husband's name on it to pay for the meal. The card had to match the TIW card holder.

It is Disney's policy that there is only one credit card that has to match the TIW card but over the course of a 7 day trip, we consistently had luck using two credit cards. We were prepared to pay with one however; in fact my guests bought some gift cards so we could use the gift card and my credit card which never had to be used in conjunction with the TIW card.

 

[mjc2003]

The rule is that the person with the name on the card must be present AND pay the check though Disney is nothing if not inconsistent. They will generally not split it up is my understanding but I know some have been able to do so.

It is Disney's policy that there is only one credit card that has to match the TIW card but over the course of a 7 day trip, we consistently had luck using two credit cards. We were prepared to pay with one however; in fact my guests bought some gift cards so we could use the gift card and my credit card which never had to be used in conjunction with the TIW card.

I would think it's generally not enforced because it doesn't make any sense. I can understand asking for proof that the cardholder be present and show ID, but who cares who pays---as long as you pay! If we pay cash are they going to make sure it all comes out of the cardholders pocket? Oh well, I guess we got lucky in the past because we never even thought that we couldn't use multiple credit cards, so just went ahead and did and nobody said a word.

Ultimately it's not a big deal, if we have to pay and then sort it out later we're fine with that but in my humble opinion, that's a rule that doesn't make much sense!

Thanks all for the clarification!

 

[Dean]

I would think it's generally not enforced because it doesn't make any sense. I can understand asking for proof that the cardholder be present and show ID, but who cares who pays---as long as you pay! If we pay cash are they going to make sure it all comes out of the cardholders pocket? Oh well, I guess we got lucky in the past because we never even thought that we couldn't use multiple credit cards, so just went ahead and did and nobody said a word.

Ultimately it's not a big deal, if we have to pay and then sort it out later we're fine with that but in my humble opinion, that's a rule that doesn't make much sense!

Thanks all for the clarification!

Here's the applicable info from the website.

Tables in Wonderland memberships are non-transferrable. The Tables in Wonderland member must be in attendance at the meal, present the Tables in Wonderland card, a driver’s license or state ID, and pay for the meal, in order to apply the discount.
The Tables in Wonderland discount is good for up to 10 people including the member, as long as everyone is on the same check, and the Tables in Wonderland member is paying the bill. If you have the Tables in Wonderland card, and your spouse or partner has the Tables in Wonderland secondary card, together you may cover up to 20 people. Both members must live at the same address and be 21 years of age or older.

IMO their game, their rules. They can make them, enforce them or not and change them on the fly. To me it's just like paying for other's meals with the DP, technically not allowed but they can enforce it or not. Since they are the one that is affected, they can chose not to enforce it if they want though I personally hate it when things are inconsistent. As compared to occupancy issues where the members are directly affected by lack of enforcement.

As it pertains to these rules I see 3 components.

• The cardholder must be present (and prove it)
• All meals must be on one check.
• The Cardholder must pay

Again their rules, it doesn't really matter whether we agree or not other than our decision to participate or not. IMO all rules are reasonable and do make sense though the who's paying is likely the most debatable. I suspect their intent is really for the cardholder to pay and not sort it out later but they have no way to control that portion.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Generally when we have more than one group having a meal with us and getting the discount under our TIW, they're also our guests staying the in the villa with us. We charge all meals to the room, then everyone can take their cards to the front desk on the last day and pay their portion of the room charge. It makes a little extra accounting for me -- I keep an excel spreadsheet. But it has the advantage that we don't have to barter deals with the servers and everyone still gets to charge to their credit card (rather than paying me back in cash). Everyone wants to earn their own reward dollars and/or use their rewards cards to pay, and making payments to the front desk instead of to me allows that.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I know what the rules are, & I tell them to my friends, but some try to pay in spite of what I say. In no case have they been refused. My card, I am there, on
Saturday, my friend took my TiW and her credit card, paid the bill, got the discount with gratuity added as if she were me. This has been my experience.

Bobbi

 

[k3chantal]

Generally when we have more than one group having a meal with us and getting the discount under our TIW, they're also our guests staying the in the villa with us. We charge all meals to the room, then everyone can take their cards to the front desk on the last day and pay their portion of the room charge. It makes a little extra accounting for me -- I keep an excel spreadsheet. But it has the advantage that we don't have to barter deals with the servers and everyone still gets to charge to their credit card (rather than paying me back in cash). Everyone wants to earn their own reward dollars and/or use their rewards cards to pay, and making payments to the front desk instead of to me allows that.

I haven't had to 'barter' deals. The servers always have accepted two cards yet we have never expected them too. My guests always have the cash or gift cards ready to go. They appreciate saving 20% and leave it as that.

I do agree with Dean. I hate it when rules are not followed and there isn't follow through. If Disney's CM's were better about following the rules this thread would have been really short.....perhaps it would have been more about providing good customer service though......

 

[mjc2003]

IMO their game, their rules.

I totally agree, and never disputed this rule existed (I didn't know about it). I do contend that it's not enforced because it doesn't make much practical sense.

I suspect their intent is really for the cardholder to pay and not sort it out later but they have no way to control that portion.

I don't think it's even that, I would think it's because they want to make it airtight that the card isn't passed around from table to table. To that end I agree with ID'ing the cardholder and making sure they present, but making a rule about who pays is over-regulating the process and I would guess they've figured that out (hence no stories thus far of it being enforced). I can't figure out why would Disney care who is paying?


I do agree though, Dean, that these are the rules and they can see fit to make up whatever rules they want. This one just confuses me, but obviously it's not a big deal; just curiosity, I guess.

 

[Dean]

I totally agree, and never disputed this rule existed (I didn't know about it). I do contend that it's not enforced because it doesn't make much practical sense.

Actually it would be easy to enforce if they chose to unless one paid in cash. You simply require one check for the discount and the same name on the room or CC, the only way around it would be cash. The first time a few servers get to pay the discount out of their pocket, the rules will be followed to the letter. I honestly don't know why they would make the rule then not enforce it just like I don't know why they would make a rule you can't pay for others meals on the DDP and not enforce it. It seems to be the Disney way to make rules and not follow them and to me, that's the issue, not that they have specifically chosen to ignore this one rule. Short of asking those in charge of the TIW, I'm not sure we can get any more info other than speculation.

I don't think it's even that, I would think it's because they want to make it airtight that the card isn't passed around from table to table. To that end I agree with ID'ing the cardholder and making sure they present, but making a rule about who pays is over-regulating the process and I would guess they've figured that out (hence no stories thus far of it being enforced). I can't figure out why would Disney care who is paying?

Honestly, passing it around the table is really no different than passing it around the restaurant other than the sheer dollars involved. There have been reports of it being informed over the past few years, I'm not sure we can say how frequently or not.