Am I a Masochist? I Changed Our Dining Strategy - Again - Advice Apprciated

[Whipperwhirl]

I started out with a few room only reservations at different resorts then . . .

. . . the whole - Christmas week is the busiest week of the year knowlege hit us and I switched us to one resort and all 4 of us on the DXDP. I made all the great dining reservations we could ever want - and then . . .

. . . After much deliberation I decided this was way too much food - Since I lost the weight I find Im full for the day after one meal - my kids pick all day long - we switched to basic dining. I was happy with this selection for a while - and now . . .

. . . I just found out I will be going to Orlando 4 times in the next year and decided an annual passes is the best value for us (DH is tagging along with me early this December and we will probably book another whole vacation next September for the 4 of us). Disney does not allow you to upgrade your package to purchase annual passes - so after 4 calls to figure out if I was really doing the right thing - I dropped the dining plan because you loose dining if you change your package to room only.

Now - I have to budget for food. All of our reservations have been made - I just need to make sure we have above adequate funds available. Do you think we should buy the tables in wonderland dohickey? Is it applied to your bill on a one-one - meaning do I need 4 cards?

Thanks - Whip

 

[TDC Nala]

You can buy one TIW membership and it will cover up to 10 persons as long as they are all on the same restaurant bill.

The restaurant must participate in the program. This site

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneydiningexperience.htm

has a list.

That membership comes with one TIW card. If you want a second card for a spouse, there is a $25 charge. If you lose the card or leave it at home, there is a $25 charge to replace it.

 

[vicki_c]

I would definitely buy the TIW card if you plan on eating table service -- it's $60 and gives you 20% off table service meals at most places. Our card paid for itself on 1 4 day trip this summer. You only need 1 card -- it's good for a party of 10, I think. The only reason you would need multiple cards is if you were going to split up your party and dine separately at times. An additional card is $25.

 

[jenjersnap]

This might be too late for you but you can upgrade your MYW tix to an AP ... just not as part of your initial package. You use one - or more - day(s) of your tickets, take them to guest services at any park, pay the difference and - voila - AP. You want to make sure you've used them first because Disney then assesses the MYW tix at the slightly higher gate value. We did this in January and it worked like a charm.

Your other option, if you really wanted the dining plan back, is they now let APholders books the DDP. Buy your AP voucher now, then book the package with dining. You will not be required to buy tix with this package.

This might all be too late but I wanted to lay out other options. In any case, Tables in Wonderland would be a great choice for you with all those TS ADRs and no dining plan. You need to buy just one card for up to 6 people (can someone confirm the number of people? I haven't purchased the card since 2006 myself).

Good luck!

 

[TDC Nala]

You need to buy just one card for up to 6 people (can someone confirm the number of people? I haven't purchased the card since 2006 myself).

Good luck!

The number is 10.

It's also of note that no matter how many persons are in your party, if you are using a TIW membership at a TS restaurant you will be charged an automatic tip of 18%. (You may need to budget for the tip if you are using TIW.)

 

[jenjersnap]

The number is 10.

It's also of note that no matter how many persons are in your party, if you are using a TIW membership at a TS restaurant you will be charged an automatic tip of 18%. (You may need to budget for the tip if you are using TIW.)

Thanks, that is what Vicki C said too - we posted at the exact same time. We've never used it for more than the immediate family but it's good to stow that in the memory banks.

 

[mmmears]

Like a pp said, I was thinking that you could upgrade your passes to APs after you get to WDW.

We did the AP & DDE (now wonderland) card last time. Not only did the card pay for itself, but we spent less than we would have on the dining plan. The DDP provides way too much food for us, and we prefer to go to mostly sit-down meals but never order 3-4 courses each.

One thing -- be careful about the name on the DDE/now TIW card. They asked us for ID sometimes. The person on the card HAS to be at the restaurant when you use it, so if you or DH wont always both be there, pick carefully which name you want to use.

Have a great trip!

 

[Whipperwhirl]

Thanks for all the great info - I talked over the upgrade option but unfortunately one of the trips we are taking is in early december and we are staying off property (Gaylord palms - simply for the itallian buffet they have there - yum). We still want to go to the parks so I think the AP/TIW ccard is going to work out best for us. Thanks again for the info - Whip

 

[onelilspark]

Just an FYI, has nothing to do with dining, but you might find helpful to know since you'll be staying off site on one of your trips... The Annual Pass (NOT the Seasonal!) gives you free parking at all the theme parks!

 

[Whipperwhirl]

Thanks! Im liking this idea more and more!