DDP vs. TIW review

[kshark1958]

We have always done the DDP when we went to WDW in the past but this year we decided to try the TIW card.The reason we did this was because we decided there were some things we didn't like about the DDP. I don't care about the mugs,we don't always want desert and at the end of each trip we were packing our suitcase with snacks because we didn't always use all of them. Yes I know its very convenient but we felt like we were paying for stuff we didn't want. So we decided to try out of pocket with a discount.We always got the Regular DDP which was 1TS, 1QS, 1snack and 1 refillable mug. Their were 5 adults in our party for 7 nights which would have cost us 2,100.00 dollars total. We always eat at one signature restaurant(2 TS credits)during the week so we would have had to pay for at least one meal OOP.We always eat QS for lunch and TS for dinner. We eat breakfast in our room. The total out of pocket for the week when we used the TIW card was 1900.00 dollars which includes the 100.00 dollars for the card, 18% gratuity, about 180.00 dollars for beer and wine. My son and I would each have a beer with dinner my mom and wife a glass of wine. The other adult was 15 so not old enough to drink but still in WDW eyes an adult. Now correct me if I'm wrong but the DDP doesn't include gratuity or liquor so if you add those items to the DDP cost plus the extra meal I would have paid for,the savings are a heck of a lot more.Probably in the 300 to 440 dollar range.I also added the cost of the snacks we bought during the week to the out of pocket expenses.The best part of this was I didn't feel like I was paying for anything I didn't want. Also we were always so filled from dinner we never ordered dessert. I was actually surprised about the amount of money we saved. The only thing I didn't like about the TIW card was that it wasn't accepted at the QS restaurants in MK,HS and Epcot. I know everyone has different opinions about the DDP so I thought I would post mine. If there was a way to customize your own DDP instead of it being to structured my opinion would probably be different but right now I will definitely stay with the TIW card and say goodbye to the DDP. Sorry if this was a long read but the Disboards are always a great help to us and I hope this helps someone else.

 

[supersnoop]

One of the best parts about the TiW card as opposed to the dining plan; you can order an appetizer for your meal. At most places, the appetizers are the "signature" items that are actually designed for the restaurant.