DDP vs. TiW

[Creslane2]

Hi All,
We have always used DDP because it's paid for in advance and we don't have to worry about buying meals while we're there, only extra meals or snacks if desired. I've been hearing about Tables in Wonderland but really know nothing about it. Is it just for DVC members? What is the difference between DDP and TiW? Does it work the same way?
Any info, comments, recommendations would be be appreciated!

 

[AmyLand98]

I can't give you much information because I am in the same situation but this is what I have found in my research this week. Please correct me if I am wrong....

TiW is not like the dining plan, it is a discount card that is taken at most TS restaurants and very few CS restaurants. You get 20% off your bill (including alcohol). There are not credits or certain entitlements you get it is a flat 20%. When you use the TiW card it does automatically add an 18% gratuity regardless of your party size.

The TiW card is available to Florida Residents and DVC Members for $100 and to Passholders for $75. It is good for 1 year from the date of purchase.

I am sure there is more information but this is what I have found so far. Hope this helps

 

[tripletsmama]

Also, I know there are block out dates when you can't use the card. I think they are mainly holidays. Someone probably has a list of those...

 

[Butterbunkins]

Here is a link with all the info:

http://tablesinwonderland.com/

 

[jdubs808]

We used the TiW card on our last trip and it worked out well. To break even, you'll need to spend approximately $500 on food in the Resort within the 1 year that the card is good for. The card includes drinks and alcohol, so depending on your traveling party it may work out. You'll need to consider your length of stay also.

 

[Creslane2]

So, if I'm understanding correctly, it makes sense if you and your party tend to use it for alcohol as well as TS restaurants. For a family with children, or just a couple (occasional glass of wine or beer), it may not be your best bet. For a couple (no alcohol), you get a 20% discount on meals PLUS 18% gratuity is automatically added. So ... doesn't that end up being only a 2% discount?
Not sure this is a great deal for a non-drinking couple or a family. Am I missing something?

 

[jo-jo]

So, if I'm understanding correctly, it makes sense if you and your party tend to use it for alcohol as well as TS restaurants. For a family with children, or just a couple (occasional glass of wine or beer), it may not be your best bet. For a couple (no alcohol), you get a 20% discount on meals PLUS 18% gratuity is automatically added. So ... doesn't that end up being only a 2% discount?
Not sure this is a great deal for a non-drinking couple or a family. Am I missing something?

Someone will come along with the exact math, but roughly if your bill is $100- 20 (discount)+ 18 (tip) = $98 Without the card, your bill would be $100 + 18(tip) = $118

We don't drink, but we do use the card for three trips in one yr. So it is a savings for just the two of us. Of course, more so when the kids and grandkids are along.

 

[AmyLand98]

We don't drink a lot either but I still think it will be a better deal if the DDP goes up much more in price. You say it only gives a 2% discount but don't you tip anyway? We usually tip at least 18% so we are still saving the 20%. If you don't tip....well then that is a whole other conversation....

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

The TIW card also frees you -- no rushing from this meal to that meal. No eating more then you want because "it's paid for." We love theTIW. It allows us flexibility to eat what we want when we want. Honestly - sometimes I think the DDP should be called the "veal" plan.

 

[Creslane2]

Yes, we do tip but the amount tipped varies. It is not always 18%. We're used to having the DDP so our food is basically paid for before we get there except for tips (I like that). How do you normally pay for meals, drinks, snacks - with your TiW card + cash or CC? I hate having to carry a lot of cash in the parks. Maybe a prepaid Visa card might work. Instead of paying Disney for DDP, I could put aside meal money on a Visa card and use TiW. Guess I'll have to do some math and figure out what works best for us. Thank you for the info!

 

[Eventer98]

We are closing in on the end of our first year of TIW...we will have done two 7 night trips an one 4 night. DH still likes the convenience of DDP but I think TIW did save some cash. We always tip around 18% so that is not an issue for us. What is is that we have two kids that are 4 and 3. The DDP is a better deal for them. I'm going to go back and see what we saved. As for paying..we use room charge for everything in Disney unless we have gift cards saved up. Having TIW does not effect how you are allowed to pay. Best bet..try to figure out what you will eat at any TS restaurants, and the cost, on any trips you are planning over the year you have TIW. I kinda work it as the tip negates the discount so just base it on the price of the meal with no discount and don't factor in a tip. Then figure out price of DDP. We don't drink alcohol and still made out ok.

 

[Creslane2]

Thank you ..... I will do some figuring. Maybe TiW will work for us. I did wonder though (off the topic kind of) - your countdown image said something about "1st free dining". What is that? DVC members can get free dining? I thought that was impossible!

 

[Eventer98]

No I wish! We ran out of points for this year and instead of renting we are staying at the Art of Animation in a Little Mermaid room. It will be a shocker compared to DVC but my daughter is obsessed with Ariel so it's mainly for her. It comes out to about the same cost as what we would have paid for a DVC trip..just with smaller (and more crowded!) accommodations.

 

[kristenrice]

How do you normally pay for meals, drinks, snacks - with your TiW card + cash or CC? I hate having to carry a lot of cash in the parks. Maybe a prepaid Visa card might work. Instead of paying Disney for DDP, I could put aside meal money on a Visa card and use TiW.

I like the "pre-paid" idea of the DDP too, but I didn't like how I felt when I used it. I always overat. I'd order the most expensive items because I felt like I wanted to get my money's worth. I'd get CS meals when I wasn't really hungry because I had credits to use up. I'd stuff myseld silly and then eat a dessert because it was included.

Now that we've switched to the TiW card, I eat what I want. We recently ate at 50's PTC. I shared the sampler with BOTH of my DD's and then we ordered the brownie sundae for dessert. Had we been on the DDP, each DD would have had her own meal AND I would have had an entree and dessert all to myself.

I still "pre-pay" for my dining, though. I buy Disney gift cards at Target and save 5% off of them by using my Target RedCard. I figure out what restaurants we will want to eat at, look at the menus and get an idea of what we might want, and then I add about $50 more as a cushion. This way, my meals are still "pre-paid" and I still come out better (financially and physically!) with the TiW card.

 

[Creslane2]

LOL!!!! You are exactly right and you are describing ME! I do the same thing and end up not feeling my best. I've heard a lot of people talk about using Disney Gift cards. I'll have to look into that. How are they used at restaurants ... just like a credit card?

 

[AmyLand98]

I still "pre-pay" for my dining, though. I buy Disney gift cards at Target and save 5% off of them by using my Target RedCard. I figure out what restaurants we will want to eat at, look at the menus and get an idea of what we might want, and then I add about $50 more as a cushion. This way, my meals are still "pre-paid" and I still come out better (financially and physically!) with the TiW card.

A little off topic but since you mentioned using the Target RedCard and saving the 5%, does your Target have gift cards higher than $25? That is the only option mine offers and I was worried about taking 50 gift cards with me. How do you do this?

 

[Tara]

I've done it all - no dining plan/TIW...DDP, DxDP, free DDP, TIW...

I found that I generally save money with TIW and I don't have to worry about credits and what is or isn't included. I also don't feel the pressure to "get my money's worth" by ordering more than I would normally eat.

 

[kristenrice]

A little off topic but since you mentioned using the Target RedCard and saving the 5%, does your Target have gift cards higher than $25? That is the only option mine offers and I was worried about taking 50 gift cards with me. How do you do this?

Ours has $50 cards (over by the DVD/CD section) and the $25 are available by the checkouts.

I wish Target would stock $100 cards.

 

[kristenrice]

LOL!!!! You are exactly right and you are describing ME! I do the same thing and end up not feeling my best. I've heard a lot of people talk about using Disney Gift cards. I'll have to look into that. How are they used at restaurants ... just like a credit card?

Yes, exactly like a credit card. They are also accepted at the food carts and kiosks too.

 

[Pixieflip]

My hesitation with TIW is the lack of counter service options. If it offered that, we'd do it in a heartbeat. And we don't drink, so the alcohol savings doesn't do anything for us either.

We like TS, but find that one every single day of our trip is too much. It's too hard to rush around and plan our entire day around that ADR, every day. And it takes so long, at least according to my 3 teens and 1 preteen! Believe me, we have our favorite TS and I'm all for trying new things...and they are wonderful a few times on a week long trip, but not every day, not for us. We have found our happy medium with the QS DDP. We throw in a TS and everyone is happy. (My DS17 can eat the extra credits not used when we went to the TS, so no worries there either!)

(Just read the other thread, should also say that the TIW QS options are not at the resorts we usually stay at and AK is only a one day park for us, so those QS options would only be one day, too.)