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.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Thanks for your thread.
Sounds great. Glad you posted.

 

[heynowirv]

We became a TIW convert on our trip last year,and were able to use it for V&A's.That meal alone paid for the cost of the card.It's funny that most snack bars take it at the rersorts but not the QS in the parks.

 

[davedmaine]

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.

No comparison: Tiw wins every time.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney doesn't offer the DDP or TIW to save us money, they do it to make themselves tons of money.

Sometimes we can benefit from a program but the majority do not.

The only way to find out if it saves you money is to price out your meal, decide if the "extras" are worth it and decide if you are really going to eat that much food.

Like most Disney deals, each year they raise the price and reduce the benefits. IMO they also modified the menus to make the DDP even more of a financial success.

Bill

 

[Kidanifan08]

I think most people would come out ahead with the TIW, rather than DDP. DDP is tempting cause you can "set it and forget it". But for us, it just doesn't work. First of all, it's more food than we want. Secondly, like OP, we don't want dessert with every meal -- particularly the CS meals. We find that TIW offers much more flexibility, as we generally like having 1 appetizer at our TS meals, and we almost alway have an adult beverage (or two). I like that TIW can be used at the resort lounges. It would be nice if it worked at CS locations, particularly at HS and EP, but it's not a deal breaker.

I do worry that Disney will eventually price the TIW out of the range of being an advantage, like everything else. Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to use it for V&A before that place was blacked out. We will continue to buy a TIW as long as we can get two 7-10 days trips in on one card.

 

[kshark1958]

We became a TIW convert on our trip last year,and were able to use it for V&A's.That meal alone paid for the cost of the card.It's funny that most snack bars take it at the rersorts but not the QS in the parks.

I agree but they actually take it at a couple of them in AK. Pizzafari and Flame Tree Barbeque. But why AK and not the other parks.

 

[kshark1958]

Disney doesn't offer the DDP or TIW to save us money, they do it to make themselves tons of money.

Sometimes we can benefit from a program but the majority do not.

The only way to find out if it saves you money is to price out your meal, decide if the "extras" are worth it and decide if you are really going to eat that much food.

Like most Disney deals, each year they raise the price and reduce the benefits. IMO they also modified the menus to make the DDP even more of a financial success.

Bill

I agree behind all the magic it comes down to money.But hey you're in the park so where else you going to eat. I'm not heading back to my room for every meal. So while I'm there I might as well try to save a buck or two. But like I said in my OP its not just about the money but also about choices.

 

[JimC]

We became a TIW convert on our trip last year,and were able to use it for V&A's.That meal alone paid for the cost of the card.It's funny that most snack bars take it at the rersorts but not the QS in the parks.

V&A has left the TIW program. QS locations in AK generally take TIW.

We use TIW as much for their special events as the discount.

It used to be that the gratuity was not added. Then it became an automatic add-on at table service locations. Now most table service locations add the gratuity and a few do not.

 

[Meriweather]

We always use TiW.
We never do dessert or use a mug. Very few snacks.
We usually go for several long trips a year, so it works out best for us

 

[Dean]

It really depends. The Dining Plan variations are specialty items that work for certain situations and not for others. As a rule you get little to no savings from the QS plan, minimal to modest from the basic plan and the most for the Dlx plan if it works otherwise. The TIW card likewise works better for some situations and not for others. For many the simple built in discounts like DVC, AP and CC is the best option. One simply needs to run the numbers on their specific situation. The benefit to the other options and negative to the DP are the prepaid use or lose they require. One is literally gambling that no one will become ill and that there are no trip interruptions. For me that requires at least a 20% savings or added and desired value.

 

[hakepb]

I agree but they actually take it at a couple of them in AK. Pizzafari and Flame Tree Barbeque. But why AK and not the other parks.

When AK opened, there were not enough TS options, so TIW included the QS options. It's also the reason you can get TIW discounts at value food courts and SSR (because SSR opened with no TS option)

 

[disfanforlife]

We came to the same conclusion and decided to buy the TIW on our last trip in March. Now, we will be using it again in December.

 

[wdwfan1]

We also use TIW. We used our last one for 4 trips and will be buying another one next month for use in October, December and March.

 

[edk35]

It really depends. The Dining Plan variations are specialty items that work for certain situations and not for others. As a rule you get little to no savings from the QS plan, minimal to modest from the basic plan and the most for the Dlx plan if it works otherwise. The TIW card likewise works better for some situations and not for others. For many the simple built in discounts like DVC, AP and CC is the best option. One simply needs to run the numbers on their specific situation. The benefit to the other options and negative to the DP are the prepaid use or lose they require. One is literally gambling that no one will become ill and that there are no trip interruptions. For me that requires at least a 20% savings or added and desired value.

 

[allshookup]

I completely agree with OP and we've done the comparison as well & the TIW saves a ton over the DDP. We would never order dessert at every meal for every person and especially not for days on end. However, that being said, we do the dining plan if we are just going for a couple of days & we pick Narcoosees or Cali Grill for a really nice sit down meal so we can live it up!

 

[sherylcin]

I'm another TIW fan. We take large family trips with our kids and grandkids and as the grandkids began to "graduate" to Disney adult status, the dining plan didn't look so attractive. Last trip there were 13 of us and TIW saved us money over what the DDP (regular one) would have been. I even did the math after we came home and we saved more than I even thought. If nothing else, in my mind it pays for tips which are automatically added (but in our case would be anyway).

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

I agree but they actually take it at a couple of them in AK. Pizzafari and Flame Tree Barbeque. But why AK and not the other parks.

I ask a CM last time.. (Who knows if it's true)
Both those places are categories as restaurants under some bylaw filed with FL.
Quick services or Counter service are filed different..

I still down see why it would matter.. Disney is the one controlling the TIW.

 

[dlhvac]

We used to do tiw but prefer the ddp we love to eat at the better rest and it saves us a lot of money we usually run short on meal and no one knows who used them lol

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Msmithmd]

We used to do tiw but prefer the ddp we love to eat at the better rest and it saves us a lot of money we usually run short on meal and no one knows who used them lol Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

If you think the DDP is saving you a lot of money, I suggest you take a closer look at your math.

I have nothing against the plan at all, as I've used it prior to owning DVC several times.

But every trip we take now, when I price the DDP out it doesn't save at all versus the TIW prices including purchase of a new card.

The issue is that Disney has so aggressively increased the price of the plan that they've priced all the savings out of it, unless you truly are someone who eats dessert with every meal and adds on a snack every day as well. And, if you do more than one week's trip in a year, then you really increase the benefit of the TIW card.