Advice on TIW v. DDP v. OOP

[dnw25]

A couple of questions ...trying not to panic. Only 21 days to go.

99% certain going to get an annual pass and now pricing out tables in wonderland, dining plan and oop. This will be the only trip on this AP (discover apple pay promotion made it more cost effective since we wanted to add memory maker to just get an AP)


When I calculate tax on TIW and oop, 6.5%, correct? No tax on DP and included tip on everything....am I missing anything? For lunches, I just selected entrees and drinks we were likely to get - for oop and tiw (nothing covered). Didn't include any snacks.

Reason I ask is the numbers are coming in all close together - no clear advantage to any one choice. We are there 8 nights, doing ohana, cape may, Hollywood and Vine, Tusker House (breakfast), Crystal Palace (breakfast), Chef Mickey (brunch), Via Napoli, Teppan Edo. I keep reading all these posts that say since character meals and buffets, TIW way to go or ddp.....What am missing?

Thanks so much for an advice to help clarify how to figure this all out.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I'm kind of surprised the numbers are so close together because when I did a cost comparison of actual costs with the TIW & DDP, the TIW card saved us a significant amount and when I added our bar bill, it was blown out of the water. Are you planning on counter service lunches? Is that why you say nothing is covered? Maybe the fixed cost meals are leveling the field? Are you planning another trip with your annual pass? That would help you add value to the TIW card.

I'm sorry I am not much help but we'll always choose the TIW card over any dining plan and will only do straight out of pocket if we know we won't be able to recoup the cost of the card.

 

[Shellyb84]

Yes 6.5 is correct. Don't forget to add in the cost of the refillable mugs if you are going to purchase those either way. You should include money for snacks into the calculation since they are part of the DP.

Also, make sure you think about the tip - with TIW, 18% gratuity is always included (I'm a 15% tipper usually).

That being said, all the restaurants you've listed, with perhaps the exception of Via Napoli, are good values for credits on the dining plan. We tend to eat several signature meals which are not the best uses of a credit. I ran our numbers twice and we save money going with TIW and OOP.

 

[2girlsmom]

We find TIW is our best bet, we tip @ 18% pretty much all the time (higher if really good service), so that cost would be there anyway, and like the ability to do appetizers instead of an entree, etc.

 

[sharonabe]

If you have kids in the mix, that is why they are coming in about the same. With all the fixed price meals you are doing, you'll definitely save with the DDP if you have kids.

 

[dnw25]

DS is just shy of two so no "kids." Had not considered the appetizers and TIW option (or OOP). We always tip 20 so when I calculated the tip I just did across the board 18%.

We are not big drinkers, but my understanding is that TIW works at the lounges and at sit down restaurants, correct? We tend to drink through WS or a HS kiosks so I don't think we will really benefit there. I didn't include drinks in any of the numbers. For snacks, I tacked on $40 to TIW and OOP - to equalize the DDP. Any other snacks would be extra any way we go.

 

[sarahann77]

I'm also trying to make that decision for my trips next year. One question I had is the TIW expiration date based on the AP expiration date or is it based on when I purchase?

 

[cluvsdisney]

I'm also trying to make that decision for my trips next year. One question I had is the TIW expiration date based on the AP expiration date or is it based on when I purchase?

It's based on the date you purchase the TIW card.

 

[supersnoop]

I'm also trying to make that decision for my trips next year. One question I had is the TIW expiration date based on the AP expiration date or is it based on when I purchase?

The TiW expiration is one year from the end of the following month after you buy it. If you buy it on November 10th, it's good through December 31st of the following year, so somewhere between 13 and 14 months.

 

[sarahann77]

Thanks cluvsdisney and supersnoop. I have one trip in April right before my AP expires and have another trip planned in September. Neither trip will have the DDP due to the discounts I got. 2015 trips didn't make sense for TIW as it was just myself and 2016 will have my parents. So doing the math now that TIW will work for both trips as I had planned to renew the AP.

 

[bumbershoot]

http://allears.net/pl/disc_dining.pdf

No tax on DP and included tip on everything

Making sure you're saying that you accounted for the tip on everything? Because the way you shorthanded that it almost seems like you're saying the tip is included?

What am missing?

You're missing what happens on the NEXT trip.

Also, are you aware of the counter service places that are included? Food courts at the values, the food court at SSR, food court at POFQ, and the CS places at AK park.

For snacks, I tacked on $40 to TIW and OOP - to equalize the DDP.

The better way to look at the DDP is to figure out what and how you would eat. Then see if the dining plan makes sense. THEN work out the costs of the different options, based on how your family actually eats.

 

[dnw25]

wow bumbershoot - thanks. I never saw the all ears break down before. I keep forgetting the AP 10% at some places.

Yep - I added tip to every category. We sat down this weekend and nailed down the restaurants for each of our meals and a close estimate of meal costs. Since we plan on doing QS at least once a day, DDP was better than TIW. We are two adults sharing food with our almost two year old. DDP will cost a little bit more, but we will get more food which is good since really feeding three of us.

Now the real hiccup is the discover bonus with apple pay, which may or may not work depending on where you are at WDW. This is getting WAY too confusing....

 

[supersnoop]

We are two adults sharing food with our almost two year old. DDP will cost a little bit more, but we will get more food which is good since really feeding three of us.

The dining plan doesn't get you any more food than paying out of pocket.