Break even point on DVC TIW?

[taaren]

Debating between DVC TIW and OOP for our upcoming 2 week trip. (We already have 10-day hoppers so won't be getting APs, since it requires 12 hours of flying + layovers we won't be going twice this year, or probably any year.)

We're used to a lot of CS coming from DLR, so definitely won't go with a DDP, and only have 1 TS or less per day scheduled, and a few of them aren't on the TIW like T-Rex. When I total up my "what we'd probably order" at the restaurants we have ADRs at that take TIW, my total for DH, DS5 and I comes to $459 before tax and tip. For my entire party of 8 staying in the villa with us its $747, though I won't be paying for the other family so they may or may not be able to use the TIW discount if we can't get them to put the bill on 2 CC's (don't want to hassle with room charges and having to be the bean counter at the end of the trip). Currently planning on just using the TIW, then putting a post-it-note on each credit card with the amount each family wants on their card when we pay at the end of each meal.

It seems like the break even point on the DVC TIW is when one spends $500 on dining at TIW restaurants over the course of a trip, correct? But would that be $500 before or after tax and tip? Sorry my brain balks at the math of those scenarios. Its like a bad word problem I have to solve for my vacation.

Is the actual break even point slightly less than $500?

 

[JWG]

You area correct, the break even point is $500 in total food/drink spend. 20% of $500 is $100 and the card costs $100.

Keep in mind, the Disney website is norotriously inaccurate as to which restaurants accept the TIW card (usually on the side of they say it doesn't but it really does).

We didn't eat at a single restaurant that didn't accept it last October, even thouh not all had the logo for TIW on their restaurant page. I would cross-reference the restaurant list with the listing here on wdwinfo or other sites to confirm eligibility.

You are right in your example though, T-Rex and Rainforest Cafe do not accept TIW.

The list is available here:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneydiningexperience.htm#restaurants

Subject to change of course.

 

[Harlemgirl720]

I know TRex and Rainforest give DVC members a 10% discount.

 

[AmyLand98]

Just as a quick response about paying with TiW on 2 different credit cards....the bill has to be paid by the TiW cardholder not anyone else, so I would assume they won't put 1/2 on yours and 1/2 on John Smith's credit card. We are looking into TiW for our Feb 13 trip so that was an inquiry of mine too.

 

[Kidanifan08]

The rules at www.tablesinwonderland.com specify that the TIW member needs to pay the bill, but that has not been my experience.

We were able to use two forms of payment on our June trip. I put my family's charges on a room charge and my BIL used a Disney Visa Rewards card. We just told them how much to put on each and it was not a problem. When we were there in March, we had a meal with my mother and she used her CC and they still honored the TIW.

With those two experiences, I think that you can probably get away with using two different CC's, even if one is not the TIW member. You could always have one party load a Disney Gift Card and use that plus the primary member's CC to pay. That way the TIW member to give both forms of payment and indicate how much to put on each.

 

[JWG]

Just as a quick response about paying with TiW on 2 different credit cards....the bill has to be paid by the TiW cardholder not anyone else, so I would assume they won't put 1/2 on yours and 1/2 on John Smith's credit card. We are looking into TiW for our Feb 13 trip so that was an inquiry of mine too.

Valid, we never tried to split bill. However, we did go to Jiko (a restaurant that Disney's own restaurant site page doesn't show the TIW symbol) and the credit card used (our friends) did not match the name on TIW (mine). So, I don't think they'll pay attention to the name on the credit card. Only once in many many meals did I ever even get asked to show my annual pass (it was an AP discounted TIW card) and ID. That was at Kona, and the server in general wasn't pleasant.

 

[Muhlenberg]

If you think you'll be spending $750 in TS meals at restaurants that accept TiW, then your savings with the card would be $150. The card costs $100. Is it worth it, to you, to count beans at the end of your trip to save that extra $50? Split two ways, you'd each save $25, assuming each family eats in an "equal" fashion.

That may not be worth the "hassle" of figuring out who owes what. Only you can answer that.

It certainly is "cleaner" to not have to figure out who ate what, and to just pay OOP.

The other issue is, you THEORETICALLY think you'd spend $750 in food. It might be more...it might be less.

Clear as mud, huh?

 

[AmyLand98]

The rules at www.tablesinwonderland.com specify that the TIW member needs to pay the bill, but that has not been my experience.

We were able to use two forms of payment on our June trip. I put my family's charges on a room charge and my BIL used a Disney Visa Rewards card. We just told them how much to put on each and it was not a problem. When we were there in March, we had a meal with my mother and she used her CC and they still honored the TIW.

With those two experiences, I think that you can probably get away with using two different CC's, even if one is not the TIW member. You could always have one party load a Disney Gift Card and use that plus the primary member's CC to pay. That way the TIW member to give both forms of payment and indicate how much to put on each.

Valid, we never tried to split bill. However, we did go to Jiko (a restaurant that Disney's own restaurant site page doesn't show the TIW symbol) and the credit card used (our friends) did not match the name on TIW (mine). So, I don't think they'll pay attention to the name on the credit card. Only once in many many meals did I ever even get asked to show my annual pass (it was an AP discounted TIW card) and ID. That was at Kona, and the server in general wasn't pleasant.

Thanks for the information, we are going with friends so it is nice to know!!! I thought it seemed a little "strict" but we have never used it so I didn't know

 

[k3chantal]

Debating between DVC TIW and OOP for our upcoming 2 week trip. (We already have 10-day hoppers so won't be getting APs, since it requires 12 hours of flying + layovers we won't be going twice this year, or probably any year.)

We're used to a lot of CS coming from DLR, so definitely won't go with a DDP, and only have 1 TS or less per day scheduled, and a few of them aren't on the TIW like T-Rex. When I total up my "what we'd probably order" at the restaurants we have ADRs at that take TIW, my total for DH, DS5 and I comes to $459 before tax and tip. For my entire party of 8 staying in the villa with us its $747, though I won't be paying for the other family so they may or may not be able to use the TIW discount if we can't get them to put the bill on 2 CC's (don't want to hassle with room charges and having to be the bean counter at the end of the trip). Currently planning on just using the TIW, then putting a post-it-note on each credit card with the amount each family wants on their card when we pay at the end of each meal.

It seems like the break even point on the DVC TIW is when one spends $500 on dining at TIW restaurants over the course of a trip, correct? But would that be $500 before or after tax and tip? Sorry my brain balks at the math of those scenarios. Its like a bad word problem I have to solve for my vacation.

Is the actual break even point slightly less than $500?

We just back from a six night stay with friends and bought the TiW card the first day. We had nine in our party; four adults and five kids. All restaurants worked with us and we were able to either split the bill right there or our friends used a Disney gift card and we told the waiter to put half on the gift card and half on our credit card. No issues.

Though I haven't done the math; I know we saved money. We went to Wolfgang Pucks one night and ran up a five hundred dollar bill. Our savings that night paid for the card.

 

[BillPA]

Remember you get 10-20% off many meals being a DVC member. So it will complicate the calculation of a break even point. The TIW card will automatically add 18% tip on the bill, so if you go that way, make sure to not double tip. A plus with the TIW will give you a 20% discount on any adult beverages.

Have a great trip.

 

[MSUmom]

Teppan Edo in Japan doesn't accept any discounts -

 

[BestDadEver]

Remember you get 10-20% off many meals being a DVC member. So it will complicate the calculation of a break even point. The TIW card will automatically add 18% tip on the bill, so if you go that way, make sure to not double tip. A plus with the TIW will give you a 20% discount on any adult beverages.

Have a great trip.

Well TIW make it 30-40% with the card our they cannot be combined.

 

[erionm]

Well TIW make it 30-40% with the card our they cannot be combined.

Discounts can not be combined.

 

[taaren]

If you think you'll be spending $750 in TS meals at restaurants that accept TiW, then your savings with the card would be $150. The card costs $100. Is it worth it, to you, to count beans at the end of your trip to save that extra $50? Split two ways, you'd each save $25, assuming each family eats in an "equal" fashion.

That may not be worth the "hassle" of figuring out who owes what. Only you can answer that.

It certainly is "cleaner" to not have to figure out who ate what, and to just pay OOP.

The other issue is, you THEORETICALLY think you'd spend $750 in food. It might be more...it might be less.

Clear as mud, huh?

Yep, its that theoretical amount that is bugging me right now. I don't know if we're going to get there and be super hungry because we're walking 2x as much as we do in DLR, or if the kids will be snacking and skipping meals. Our budget is pretty straightforward in DLR but there's not the same "dining experiences" offered so I'm not sure of which way to lean as we're pretty good at not spending too much in Disney even though getting DVC has gotten us to the point where, since we don't have a hotel bill and are older with a larger budget than our earlier trips, we don't really pinch pennies anymore and just enjoy.
If we do the multiple credit card thing, we'll probably just guess-timate at each meal and ballpark what each family owes (its further complicated by the fact that its me/DH/DS5, DFs 2A2C, and one friend who is a single but will probably be forking over cash to either his brother or us). Actually it will probably multiple gift cards as we're both planning on using up our Reward Dollars from our Visa that we've been saving so at least the name matching the TIW card won't be an issue.
You have a great point about whether saving $50 is worth figuring all this out. We definitely won't be eating in an "equal" fashion due to the fact that there are 4 of them and 3 of us, and also we're staying for 2 weeks and they're only staying for one of those then we're switching resorts and heading for a 1 bedroom.

Remember you get 10-20% off many meals being a DVC member. So it will complicate the calculation of a break even point. The TIW card will automatically add 18% tip on the bill, so if you go that way, make sure to not double tip. A plus with the TIW will give you a 20% discount on any adult beverages.

Is the list of restaurants on the Member website? Or is there a more complete list somewhere else, since apparently Disney isn't great at listing all the places that give which discounts? This may be the way to go for us.

I'm so accustomed to just going with an Annual Passholder discount at DLR which is much simpler since almost every place, CS or TS takes it and all the CMs ask you for it at every meal or transaction. Seems like Florida is so much more work! We typically tip 15 percent at lunch and 20 percent at dinner, and have more lunches scheduled than dinners (in fact I think the only dinner is at T-Rex). We're also probably just going to drink in the room or at TOTWL.

Thanks for giving me more to chew on folks! Its looking like plain old OOP might be the way to go for us.

 

[marynvince]

As previously mentioned when TIW card is used an 18% tip is automatically added to bill. We usually tip 20% or more so this addition could save an additional 2%. Also the 20% off of adult beverages is big. The DVC discount is never off of adult beverages and never seems to be even the 10% claimed. We love getting the discount as an AP holder it was only $75.

 

[Tara]

OP, will you have a car onsite? If so, the TIW also provides you with free valet parking at resorts where you dine. That might help in your break-even calculations.

 

[taaren]

OP, will you have a car onsite? If so, the TIW also provides you with free valet parking at resorts where you dine. That might help in your break-even calculations.

No we won't have a car on-site, and if we did we probably wouldn't use Valet as we're self-parking kind of folk. Thanks for the thought though.

The idea of driving inside our Disney bubble when we don't know our way around was a bit daunting, plus cost prohibitive if we're trying to fix 8 people in a large car, probably a van, so we decided to stay at BLT/BWV so we have access to 2 parks via monorail/walking at any given time, then we'll budget for a combination of bus and taxis to the other two parks, and still come out ahead compared to car rental.

 

[taaren]

Remember you get 10-20% off many meals being a DVC member. So it will complicate the calculation of a break even point.

So I checked out the member website, and looked at which restaurants currently offer the DVC discount, and 5 out of the 10 ADR's I have are at places that offer it, and 2 of them give 20%.
Thanks for the suggestion. Definitely sticking with OOP now that I know I can save about 1/3 of the amount I would have using the TIW just by showing my blue member card.

In case anybody else is looking at a similar quandry, here's the list from the member website of the DVC discounts

Resorts

• Captain's Grille at Disney's Yacht Club Resort - Take advantage of a 10% discount on lunch at this nifty nautical-themed café with offerings sure to please all you landlubbers—including beef, chicken, seafood, vegetarian meals and signature appetizers.
• ESPN Club at Disney's BoardWalk Resort - Take advantage of a 10% discount on lunch every Monday through Friday and feast on satisfying clubhouse-style menu choices in this ultimate sports entertainment complex, featuring nonstop action and great food.
• Big River Grille at Disney's BoardWalk Resort - Receive a 10% discount on lunch or dinner and feast on savory house specialties and frothy beers made in-house. Discount not valid on alcohol.
• The Wave at Disney's Contemporary Resort - Take 10% off your breakfast and lunch tab and enjoy hearty American-style cuisine blended with world flavors at a great value.
• Grand Floridian Café at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa - Drink in the sweeping views along the veranda that overlooks the courtyard and sparkling pool and receive a 10% discount on breakfast.
• The Turf Club Bar and Grill at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort - Get a 10% lunchtime discount on classic American fare, and enjoy the panoramic views of the Downtown Disney® Area and Disney's Lake Buena Vista Golf Course.
• Sanaa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort - 10% off lunch at Sanaa, featuring rich African cuisine with Indian flavors for meals with ethnic flair.
• Kouzzina at Disney's Boardwalk Resort - Receive a 10% discount for breakfast and dinner and enjoy renowned chef Cat Cora's time honored Mediterranean family recipes and personal favorites in a casual environment.
• Olivia's Café at Disney's Old Key West Resort - Tempt your taste buds with flavorful, fresh Florida seafood and receive 10% off on all meals, from pan-seared crabcakes to grilled filet mignon, lobster and more.
• Trail's End Restaurant at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground - Dig into the heartiest eatin' in the wilderness and dine on American down-home cooking at this all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet. 10% discount on breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney's Wilderness Lodge - Load up your family-style skillets with wood-smoked pulled pork and ribs, oven-roasted chicken and more as you enjoy stories, games, and even a song or two. 10% discount on breakfast and lunch.

Parks
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park

• Rainforest Café® - Enjoy a 10% discount on breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees for Members and up to three guests as you dine in an atmosphere reminiscent of a rain forest that features fantastic fare, along with animated wildlife and special effects. Call (407)938-9100 for reservations.
• Yak and Yeti - Indulge in delicious Pan-Asian cuisine and enjoy good-spirited family fun at this new restaurant located near Expedition Everest™. 10% discount on lunch and dinner entrees for Members and up to three Guests. Call (407) 824-9384 for reservations. Offer not valid at Local Foods Café.

Epcot

• Tutto Italia Ristorante (Italy pavilion) - Savor the flavors of Italy from Liguria to Tuscany to Sicily. Enjoy handmade pasta done just al dente, fresh-baked bread and a mouthwatering menu of regional specialties — and everything is 10% off for lunch and dinner.
• Restaurant Marrakesh (Morocco pavilion) - Hop on board the Marrakesh express for a 20% discount at lunch and dinner (not applicable on daily specials), and relish the remarkable roast lamb, chicken, veggie shish kebab, couscous and more!
• Chefs de France (France pavilion) - Sample the fabulous French cuisine and receive a 20% discount on lunch and 10% on dinner at this beautiful Parisian-style brasserie, featuring croque monsieur, salad Nicoise and other authentic gourmet specialties.
• Nine Dragons Restaurant (China pavilion) - Enjoy a 10% discount on both lunch and dinner as you dine on delicious Cantonese, Mongolian, Szechuan, Hunan and Kiangche-style specialties while you sit among exquisitely carved wood figures and Chinese lanterns.
• Via Napoli (Italy pavilion) - 10% discount on lunch and dinner. Discount does not apply to alocholic beverages, discount is not available on the day of a holiday. Located at the Italy Pavilion.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

• Hollywood & Vine - 10% discount on breakfast.

Downtown Disney

• Cap'n Jack's Restaurant - Enjoy a 10% discount on lunch at this casual waterfront restaurant that serves scrumptious seafood and American dishes.
• Cookes of Dublin - 10% discount on lunch and dinner (Located near Raglan Road™).
• Fulton's Crab House - Ramble on down to this riverboat replica for a 20% discount on lunch and a 10% discount on dinner (Excluding alcohol. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount).
• Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop - Save 10% off any chocolate purchase, or $1 off any sundae purchase. Offer expires 6/30/2012. Cannot be combined with any other offers.
• Hill Of Beans - Funnel Cake Kiosks located at Epcot, Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, and Disney's BoardWalk Resort. Members receive 10% discount on purchase.
• House of Blues Restaurant - Members enjoy a 20% discount on lunch and dinner. As an added bonus, Members may take advantage of a 20% discount when purchasing tickets in advance for the famous all-you-can-eat Sunday Gospel Brunch by calling teh box office, or buy three brunch tickets and get a fourth one FREE (the loest priced ticket is free). Other restrictions apply to brunch discount, which isn't valid with any other offer. For details or reservations, call (407) 934-BLUE (407-934-2583).
• Paradiso 37 - 20% discount on lunch daily until 4:00 pm.
• Planet Hollywood - Celebrate like a star with a 10% discount on lunch or dinner.
• Portobello Yacht Club - Indulge in delicious Italian cuisine and receive a 20% discount on lunch and a 10% discount on dinner. Discounts do not include alcohol. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. For reservations, call (407) 934-8888.
• Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant - Bask in the hospitality of the Emerald Isle as you dine on Irish fare with a modern flair. 10% discount on lunch and dinner (excluding alcohol).
• Rainforest Café at Downtown Disney Marketplace - Enjoy a 10% discount on lunch and dinner entrees for Members and up to three guests as you dine in an atmosphere reminiscent of a rain forest that features fantastic fare, along with animated wildlife and special effects. For reservations, call (407) 934-8888.
• T-Rex Café - Unleash your prehistoric appetite at this dinosaur-themed family restaurant with a 10% discount on lunch and dinner entrees for Members and up to three guests. Call (407) 828-8739 for reservations.
• Wetzel's Pretzels and Häagen-Dazs - Whether you want to warm up or cool off, this tempting duo has a treat for you. Take 20% off any food item from Wetzel's Pretzels, home of hot-from-the-oven, chewy and delicious pretzels or Häagen-Dazs, serving super premium ice cream, gelato, sorbet and frozen yogurt.
• Wolfgang Puck Café - This lively restaurant serves the famous chef's unique fusion of Asian and California cuisine. Enjoy a 20% discounton lunch and 10% discount on dinner each day (excluding alcohol. Cannot be combined with any other offer). For reservations, call (407) 938-9653.
• Pollo Campero/Fresh-A-Peel- 20% off dining.

 

[erionm]

So I checked out the member website, and looked at which restaurants currently offer the DVC discount, and 5 out of the 10 ADR's I have are at places that offer it, and 2 of them give 20%.
Thanks for the suggestion. Definitely sticking with OOP now that I know I can save about 1/3 of the amount I would have using the TIW just by showing my blue member card.

In case anybody else is looking at a similar quandry, here's the list from the member website of the DVC discounts

You can't count on the member dining discounts to always be available. Those are offered by restaurants that feel they need to provide a discount to boost business. They can be stopped at any time. Some of the member discounts may be valid only for breakfast and/or lunch.

The TiW discounts don't change during the year. In the last several years, they've added locations without any being removed.

 

[Halle]

We love the TIW card. AS PP have written the alcohol benefit is worth taking into consideration. Good luck with your decision making and have a wonderful trip.