DDP or TIW?

[Spikerdink]

I am scheduling a trip in late February with seven other people, and am wondering what would be the better deal - going with the DDP or getting the TIW?

I have purchased the DDP before, and came out somewhat ahead, but never close to the 40% savings Disney says can be achieved. The one great thing about the DDP is that I didn't have to worry about carrying cash, didn't have to sit and wonder if I could get this menu item, or that menu item with my funding...

The party I am going with all like to have a drink or two with dinner. The TIW card will get me the discount on the drinks, which may pay for the entire cost right there!

Right now we are planning Hoop De Doo, Narcoosees, 50s Prime Time and possibly the Spirit of Aloha and another 'good' restaurant. I am wondering would our budget be better off with the DDP or TIW? Anyone have any advice?

Thanks

 

[vicki_c]

DDP is now advertised as "up to" 30% savings, I think.

TiW = are you an AP holder? You have to have an AP to buy it, and you didn't mention that.

Once you spend $375 on dining using the TiW card, you will have broken even on its purchase price of $75 for AP holders.

I can't remember if those 2 dinner shows can be used with TiW or not - probably, but it's just fuzzy to me. I'm sure someone else will confirm.

You really have to sit down and figure it out based on your own situation, if you want to come close to knowing which is better for you. Last time I did the calculations for a particular trip, it was a wash. But with different restaurants chosen, it might have come out differently. There is no easy answer.

 

[TDC Nala]

the DDP advertising is now "up to 20% savings." The OP is correct, when the DDP was first released it was advertised as "up to 40% savings" which would be very difficult to achieve at this point. And the amount of savings actually realized is totally dependent on where you go and what your party orders. You may have to decide whether you want DDP as a moneysaver, or just because it's convenient. With so many 2 credit choices on your list you might also want to look at the deluxe dining plan.

I know TIW gets a discount for Hoop De Doo only on the last show of the night. Not so sure about Spirit of Aloha.

 

[janabananas]

I have it and love it. If you are an AP holder or FL resident, I would have to suggest it. You have to do the math on it to make sure you are getting a better deal for your party. But it does give you more freedom on your choices and the deal on alcohol is great, as well at the tip is figured in for you too.

I figured with the Dxdp that for each meal credit you would have spend at least $30 per for it to equal or make out better with the Dxdp than TIW. Not sure about the regular DDP though.

 

[DDM101]

If you are comfortable splitting the bill with others, then the TIW card is definitely worth it. People can order the food they want, including drinks, and the discount really adds up! Last year, my husband and I were able to get the TIW discount at the Spirit of Aloha show without a problem. I mentioned the card at the time of booking and then gave the server my card when we paid. No issue whatsover, although it was for the latest show, which was 8:00 p.m. Not sure if the timing of the show made a difference.

 

[sharadoc]

Hi. We love TIW for the drink reason, and also because we usually like to get one or two appetizers and the kids like dessert. We used it on two trips so far and will use it again on our January trip, so definitely getting our money's worth.

With TIW, you can eat at the casual TS restaurants for around the same cost as a family meal at CS, places like The Plaza for lunch. It's also good at Flame Tree and Pizzafari in AK, and at all resorts that do not have a TS restaurant.

Good luck deciding and have a great trip.

 

[bangzoom6877]

We used the DDP in 2008, and then in 2010 I upgraded my ticket to an AP (with DVC discount) and bought the TIW card. We loved the TIW card! It allowed us the freedom to order anything we wanted, and everything was covered by the discount. Sometimes at a TS lunch, I like to order an appetizer as my entree, and there was no second-guessing whether or not this would be accepted with a dining plan credit. We just ordered what we wanted and everything was 20% off. The discount on the drinks was an added bonus for us, since we frequently like to get a drink at a restaurant.

I also liked the TIW for the kids...let me explain. I'm not sure if Disney still does things this way, but one of our servers on our July 2010 trip informed us that if the kids do not want one of the appetizers on the kids' menu, then the kids' meal price is reduced. They said that there is actually a way to just order a kids' entree if you want, at a reduced price...or just 2 components out of the 3 (app, entree, dessert) if you want. Once we found this out, we didn't just order chicken noodle soup because it was included with the meal and the kids could try it...if they said they only wanted the entree, then that was what we ordered. No food wasted, no money wasted. On the dining plan, the children's app, entree and dessert are all included, but for my kids sometimes all of those things are not necessary.

 

[Spikerdink]

I forgot to mention that, yes, I am a AP holder. (It is one of the things I refused to give up on when I became under-employed. I keep holding out hope that I will find a full time job and can resume my twice a year trips...)

I didn't see where Disney changed the savings on the DDP to 'up to 20%'. To me, that's like the old diet pill commercial where they boasted, "Lose up to 20 pounds or double your money back!' If you lost an ounce, you lost 'up to' 20 pounds, and if you lost more than 20 pounds, boy you were thrilled. In every year I used the DDP, I kept meticulous notes (I harassed my friends who traveled with me - 'what did you buy for snack? where's the receipt?') to determine if we broke even or not. The last time I did this, for a party of 4, we saved just over $150. In reality, we didn't save that because the refrigerator was packed with desserts that we never eaten, and I had a shopping bag full of muffins, brownies, cinnamon rolls from Main Street Bakery to burn off all of the left over snacks. If all of the food we 'bought' was factored out, it would have made more sense to not purchase the DDP.

I am leaning towards the TIW, because we *do* like to drink and saving money there sounds great...plus we wanted to explore a couple of other restaurants for lunch...I just can't figure out how to determine if it would pay!

 

[kittylady1972]

With a large party like that, I would DEFINITELY say go TIW card! We went in June with a party of 10 people and I think after one or two table service meals (which usually included some alcohol too) the card had paid for itself! I save all of my receipts and have grand plans to go back and add it all up one day, but that hasn't happened yet. I'm sure it saved us tons though as we had meals at Kona Cafe, California Grill, Mama Melrose, Rose & Crown, The Wave, Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace and The Brown Derby and for most of those we ended up with alcohol on the bill too.

 

[jnfr2424]

The late show of Spirit of Aloha is included on TiW
With TiW, gratuity is already included and 20% comes off of everything DDP was just not worth it IMO felt too restricted
Happy planning!

 

[peabody58]

TIW all the way. The best part of DW and my WDW trips is sharing time together at the many many TS restaurants. It will be a long time before we have dined everywhere, but the quest continues. Our vacation planning revolves around being able to have a TIW card, hence the need for an AP, hence planning 2 - 3 trips into a 365 day period. All great fun.

Having the flexibility to dine where we want, eat what we want, and drink what we want at 20% off and no mental math on tips - priceless.

 

[NorweJenNY]

I'm glad to see all the support for TiW! We love the freedom of this card! Apps, drinks, entrees, desserts... all discounted at most TS restaurants! And there's a little thing that people often forget - it's also good for CS at value resorts, POFQ, and AK! All the savings really adds up, so don't underestimate the true value of it! And OP mentioned traveling with a party of seven... You'll pass your break-even point after purchasing the card in no time!

 

[missminniemouse]

We've had the TiW card for a number of years now.....even back when it had a different name. We've had the DDP for free twice. Biggest problem with the DDP is we love appetizers (not included) and don't always each order our own dessert because we're too full to eat it. I did a very detailed analysis of this several years ago and determined that TiW is by far the better way to go, especially if you like to have a drink or two with your meal. Sounds to me that with the size party you have you'll make out very well with TiW.

 

[cbg1027]

Will you spend at least $375 on food and alcohol at TIW eligible places? If so, then go with TIW. There won't be any question that you're saving money that way. After that $375, you've recouped your initial investment, so every thing spent over that amount you're saving 20% on.

The advertising for the DDP makes the savings difference clear. DDP is "up to 20%". I'm guessing most people rarely make that 20%. TIW is a clear 20%....no question, and no crazy math to figure out if you saved any money. It's right there on your receipt!

Plus, you won't have to worry about any wasted food, burning credits, or restrictions on what you can order.

 

[kaligal]

I save a LOT more using AP discounts for the rooms and TIW for the meals than I would with "free" dining.

 

[krb2g]

I ran the numbers for TiW for our next trip and it didn't quite make sense (we'd have to upgrade a 6-day ticket to an AP in addition to paying for the card), but I think especially if you have a big group and are planning on doing a fair amount of TS + drinking, you can save more money with TiW than DP. We also find the amount food provided by the DP too much and we'd rather have the freedom to eat what we want!

 

[Nermel9]

Will you spend at least $375 on food and alcohol at TIW eligible places? If so, then go with TIW. There won't be any question that you're saving money that way. After that $375, you've recouped your initial investment, so every thing spent over that amount you're saving 20% on.

The advertising for the DDP makes the savings difference clear. DDP is "up to 20%". I'm guessing most people rarely make that 20%. TIW is a clear 20%....no question, and no crazy math to figure out if you saved any money. It's right there on your receipt!

Plus, you won't have to worry about any wasted food, burning credits, or restrictions on what you can order.

I don't mean to take over this thread or anything, but where does the $375 come from? I'm kind of interested in getting a TiW card, but I'm not really sure it's worth it, it's just my DH and I, but we have an AP and we are going to Disney in December and in May, so I'm thinking it would be better than doing the DDP, especially since it includes alcohol! I'm just not really sure I understand how to use it...I haven't really done my research yet. I'm just wondering about the $375 thing...how was that number determined?

Oh-and I would just need one TiW card to cover my DH and I, right? We don't both need to buy one, do we?

 

[plutolovr]

I don't mean to take over this thread or anything, but where does the $375 come from? I'm kind of interested in getting a TiW card, but I'm not really sure it's worth it, it's just my DH and I, but we have an AP and we are going to Disney in December and in May, so I'm thinking it would be better than doing the DDP, especially since it includes alcohol! I'm just not really sure I understand how to use it...I haven't really done my research yet. I'm just wondering about the $375 thing...how was thatof number determined?

Oh-and I would just need one TiW card to cover my DH and I, right? We don't both need to buy one, do we?

Because the card costs $75 you would need to spend $375 to recoup the cost of the card. (20% of $375 is $75) anything over and above is added savings.

 

[JennyDrake]

You don't mention where you stay but you may have already noted that you can use TiW at all of the values and the CS at POR & POFQ. I'm not much of a drinker, but I've had TiW for I think 5+ years; the saving add up quickly with TS meals.

 

[janabananas]

I don't mean to take over this thread or anything, but where does the $375 come from? I'm kind of interested in getting a TiW card, but I'm not really sure it's worth it, it's just my DH and I, but we have an AP and we are going to Disney in December and in May, so I'm thinking it would be better than doing the DDP, especially since it includes alcohol! I'm just not really sure I understand how to use it...I haven't really done my research yet. I'm just wondering about the $375 thing...how was that number determined?

Oh-and I would just need one TiW card to cover my DH and I, right? We don't both need to buy one, do we?

You only need 1 card for both. Unless you plan on going seperately several times, then you need 1 for you and 1 for him. But if you plan on having all your meals together only 1 is needed.