DDP vs TiW

[mccathy]

So... I'm sure this discussion has taken place before - what are all your opinions on the Disney Dining Plan vs the Table of Wonderland - or whatever that discount card is called???

Anyone have a spreadsheet all figured out on which is the best deal and how much you'd have to eat/spend on food to make which one the best for you?

Just curious... that's all.

We've only done the DDP, but since we just purchased DVC and will have access to a "full" kitchen... we're thinking about the ToW. Have breakfast and lunch in the room and than pay out of pocket for table service dinners?

 

[Disneycouple99]

This is what were are doing as well. A couple of meals out of pocket with the TIW card and the rest in the villa. We like to have the flexibilty to get what we want to eat and not worry about getting the biggest bang for the buck out of the DDP. To recoup the cost of the TIW card, you will need to spend $375 dollars.

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

If you spend $375 on food, you break even with the TIW card. However, which deal is better, depends on how and what you like to eat. I just made a spreadsheet to figure out which would be best for our upcoming trip, and here's what I did:
-(Plan meals and make ADRs first so you know where you'll be going)
-Calculated DDP cost for the length of our stay PLUS cost of alcohol PLUS cost of any meals that you might pay for OOP (like we eat at Beaches and Cream, but wouldn't use a TS for that since its relatively cheap.)
-Calculated dinner costs if we paid OOP for the foods we wanted with NO dining plan and NO TIW card
-Calculated meal costs with 20% off at places where you can use TIW card (most TS places, and a couple CS places like at AK) PLUS cost of TIW card ($75)

When I did all this Mickey Math...it looked like we'd be paying about $12 more by paying OOP and using TIW card than using DDP...I estimated our meals a bit higher so it might even be less than the DDP. But, I think it will be better for us because:
1. You have more freedom (I got so mad when I had a million snack credits but didn't really want any of the snacks on the DDP...I wanted one of the yummier things at the bakery in France.) Also, I like to eat dessert places other than where we eat.
2. You can share meals or eat appetizers as meals and still get your 20% off.

 

[Wigit12]

We decided on TIW and it was definitely the best choice for us.
We knew we wanted a signature restaurant (or two) and didn't want to have to worry about whether it was worth 2 credits. Saving 20% on drinks helped a lot! And we really don't snack much. Ended up spending less than dining plan cost.
We more than paid for TIW on this trip.

 

[Pakey]

We are TIW people. I have no idea about cost but I prefer the flexibility of the TIW. Not only do we enjoy alcohol, we also enjoy having a meal that doesn't include an entree or a dessert. TIW gives us the ability to do so.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I've analyzed two trips comparing DDP and TIW. TIW always wins for us.

 

[Hootch]

some good advice already. A couple of additional factors would be whether you imbibe in adult beverages (TIW provides a discount including at most lounges but not covered under DDP), whether you want more than one TS meal per day or whether you prefer to have appetizers. The DDP does not include appetizers for adults. I personally prefer an appetizer at most meals over dessert.

A couple of drawbacks of TIW is that it is usualy not accepted at CS locations where there is a TS location (Animal Kingdom is an exception for some reason) and there are some blackout dates - usually major holidays.

 

[vicki_c]

I just skimmed but didn't see anyone mention this, including the OP --

you can only buy TiW if you are an AP holder or Florida resident.

So if you're currently neither of those things, you would have to factor in the additional price of buying an AP too (or moving to Florida, but that might be a little extreme to save money on your dining)!

 

[mccathy]

I just skimmed but didn't see anyone mention this, including the OP --

you can only buy TiW if you are an AP holder or Florida resident.

So if you're currently neither of those things, you would have to factor in the additional price of buying an AP too (or moving to Florida, but that might be a little extreme to save money on your dining)!

Ahhh - so now I have to consider an AP. I was all set to buy one last trip, but found out the 15 month thing was only for those renewing their AP.

Moving to Florida... 30 more years... 30 more years...

So, after reading all these great reviews for the TiW, looks like it's not really an option... Unless they do extend the AP year from 12 months to 15 months for new holders?!?

Thanks everyone for your opinoins!

 

[BriarRosie]

Ahhh - so now I have to consider an AP. I was all set to buy one last trip, but found out the 15 month thing was only for those renewing their AP.

Moving to Florida... 30 more years... 30 more years...

So, after reading all these great reviews for the TiW, looks like it's not really an option... Unless they do extend the AP year from 12 months to 15 months for new holders?!?

Thanks everyone for your opinoins!

Get $100 off a standard AP for yourself with the DVC member discount. It's not that much more money than some of the multi-day tickets. Something you might consider. I used some of my Disney Visa rewards against mine, so I had an AP for the cost of a 3 day hopper.

 

[mccathy]

Get $100 off a standard AP for yourself with the DVC member discount. It's not that much more money than some of the multi-day tickets. Something you might consider. I used some of my Disney Visa rewards against mine, so I had an AP for the cost of a 3 day hopper.

Wow - thanks... next trip will just be my husband and I - and only 4 park days... though if we did do an AP we could visit a park our first night/last morning... just more things to think about...

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

Ahhh - so now I have to consider an AP. I was all set to buy one last trip, but found out the 15 month thing was only for those renewing their AP.

We got 15 months as new passholders...purchased them in October. I haven't looked lately...are you sure its just for existing passholders? I had actually bought mine in June before they were offering this...but didn't exchange my certificate until October and was shocked when the CM said I got 3 more months

 

[mccathy]

We got 15 months as new passholders...purchased them in October. I haven't looked lately...are you sure its just for existing passholders? I had actually bought mine in June before they were offering this...but didn't exchange my certificate until October and was shocked when the CM said I got 3 more months

Grrr... that's what they told me in Hollywood went I went to upgrade our park tickets to APs. It would have worked out perfectly for 15 months. I should have tried again somewhere else. But, if on this next trip it's 15 months - it would make sense for us to do it then.

 

[vicki_c]

The 15 month is only for renewals and through last December (I think) also for new APs if you are a FL resident. So if you got 15 months on a new pass, I think that was a bit of pixie dust -- I don't think they were doing that for new passes last year. And I know they're not now.

(the 15 months on renewals is also scheduled to end this August)