Dining Plan vs Tables in Wonderland

[coopersmom]

We're thinking of making a second trip to Disney World next September (before we even make our first in December) and therefore are planning to upgrade the park tickets for my son and I to annual passes once we get to Disney. So, my question is: Should we also get Tables in Wonderland?

Right now we're booked with the dining plan (regular, no deluxe) but since I switched to a room-only discount this week the plan is no longer gratis (we're paying $575 for it).

We plan on eating at 2-3 signature restaurants, probably with wine, and one or two character breakfasts, so there's going to be some $$$ out-of-pocket, even with the dining plan. When I go back next fall it will be a girlfriend-kids trips so it will likely not include any signature meals or wine, but would have some character meals.

I'm having trouble running the numbers myself as I'm not 100 percent clear about TIW exclusions and the whole mandatory 18% tip (not that we wouldn't normally leave a tip) combined with the 20% discount makes it hard for me to wrap my head around. Seems like kind of a wash mentally; though I know that's not totally fair since, as I said before, of course we'd tip anyway.

Hopefully someone with real world experience using TIW can guide me. Obviously, if you live in Orlando and go to Disney all the time, it seems worth it, but is it even worth it for someone who might spend 12 days a year in the parks?

 

[rlovew]

I can't tell you what is beeter for you - we do live in FL and use TIW. I can say this about it. When I order I know that the price on the menu will be the price I will pay with my tip and tax included- normally if you add up the menu prices it comes out to about $1-$2 cheaper with TIW. It can be used on anything you order- so if you order appetizers, drinks, anything it is included- you can also use it at many of the bars if you just want to go for a drink in the evening. If you stay/eat at a value food court you also get the 20% off meal there as well.

One thing I like about it is that I can order whatever I want and not worry about it- if I want a less expensive dish I don't have to feel like I should order more- wheather I want a appetizer or dessert is up to how appealing and hungry I am.

 

[Faldred]

I think if you're going often enough to make full use of the TiW card (that is, enough to offset the card's costs and well beyond), that it is generally a superior option to the dining plans.

The advantages are that it's good at pretty much any TS location (though not so many CS locations), and for whatever you order, so you're still saving money if you choose to order something other than the dining plan entitlements. You can change your plans on the fly and not be stuck with extra credits, or wind up not having enough. If you travel with a larger party (say, a family of 6 as opposed to a couple), the cost of the card is offset that much quicker.

The main drawbacks are that many of the CS locations don't accept TiW and some people simply prefer the convenience of having things be prepaid. Also, you have to make good use of the card to recover the initial cost before you can see any savings.

On the balance, TiW seems the better choice, but some people may still prefer the dining plans.

 

[Sandisw]

We are thinking about getting this next summer as we will be doing two trips within one calendar year.

I figured that we had to do approximately 3 TS meals (there are 3 of us) to cover the cost of the card. Anything beyond that would be savings. Since we typically do 3 TS meals each trip, the first trip covers the cost of the card and everything in year two is at a savings.

It sounds like you will make good use out of the card. You will be paying tips anyway so those are not really an added cost with TIW and I am not sure your thinking on how they wash out savings.

For example, if your meal is $200, and you leave even only a 10% tip, your total cost without the card is $220.

With the TIW card, your $200 meal is only $160, but your tip is 18%, which bring it to $198. This is still saving you $22.00 for that meal.

If you normally tip more than the 10% I used, the savings would be even greater and you will make back your initial investment even sooner.

 

[Faldred]

I thought that the poster's point was that between the savings, and then adding in tip and tax, that the final bill would be roughly equivalent to the menu price.

I actually get $206.40 for a $200 meal after TiW, tax (based on the discount price), and 18% automatic gratuity (based on the non-discount price) are accounted for.

In other words, the TiW basically, but not quite completely, offsets tax and tip.

 

[sophie832]

We have APs and are using the DDP in December. It's our first time at WDW, but we basically looked at the menus on All Ears, and then decided what we might order at each TS restaurant we have ADRs for (or an average cost for each meal). We also added in the average cost of a CS meal (most CS' charge about the same price). Now, if that total with tax (tips are not included in the DDP) had exceeded $80/day, we would probably have gone with TIW.

That being said...most of the worksheets I've seen have TIW working out to about the same savings as DDP. Yet, when I did the calculations, it seemed like DDP would save us a lot more this time around. It could just be because of the restaurants we chose.

However, if you aren't going to eat everything that you are forced to eat on DDP, or are going to eat more (desserts for each person, no appetizer, no alcoholic beverage), then I'd go with TIW. You can't beat the flexibility. DH and I rarely order appetizers at restaurants, but do often order dessert...and we don't do alcoholic beverages too much. DDP just seems like the way to go for us.

 

[coopersmom]

I ran some very rough numbers for my family, and here's what I came up with about how I THINK it might work out for us ...

DISNEY DINING PLAN=$575 for plan (3 signature TS meals, 6 counter service, plus 6 snacks; value roughly $720 to us based on a quick menu check); out-of-pocket character breakfasts x2=$120; tips=$155 (figuring 15% on buffets and 20% on signature restaurants); wine with dinners=$225; valet parking at resorts for signature meals=$30 ... TOTAL COST=$1,105

TABLES IN WONDERLAND=$75 for card; signature meals, with wine, and character breakfasts=$925 (including mandatory tip and discount); quick service and snacks $180 (probably would have more snacks, less meals if not on plan; not planing on getting any discount for these) ... TOTAL COST=$1,180

So, I guess, the way I look at it, it's probably pretty darn close and the TIW would give us more flexibility regarding menu choices (we can control our costs if we want/need to) and restaurants (places Shula's not on the dining plan, but in TIW). It would also allow us to eat/not eat what/when we want without guilt of "wasting" already paid for credits. For instance, if something happens and we drop just one of those signature reservations, the dining plan ceases being a good deal. Or if we get the TIW discount at one or two snack/counter service meals (e.g. Beaches and Cream) than TIW could actually be a bit less than projected. Plus, if we go to Disney more than once in the year, as we're planning to, it would likely at LEAST balance out the savings next time ... Unless, of course, we go with a free dining offer vs. the room discount we have this time, in which case the card becomes a bust.

What I've learned from the above is (prepare to be shocked): eating at Disney is freaking expensive. ;-) Seriously though, not sure all that math helped me decide or not.

Anywho, a couple Tables in Wonderland questions ...

1) I know there are only a few counter service restaurants listed where you get the discount ... But at those limited places, mostly hotel food courts or places like Beaches and Cream, is a tip factored in there as well? (Confused about that one, since I wouldn't usually tip counter service and the "discount" there would be pretty much void if they added in mandatory tip.)

2) Valet parking is included with TIW, which would be great driving resort to resort to eat BUT what if we're eating at the resort we're staying at, would our valet charge for that night be comped? (Not necessary, but an extra benefit to factor in if that's the case.)

3) And maybe most important ... We were planning to upgrade our 7-day park hopper passes (just for my son and I, not my husband, who is unlikely to return) at guest services the night we arrive (BEFORE we use any admissions, obviously). Can I buy a TIW card at the same time AND start using it right away?