DxDp or TIW?

[MAJ RN]

Am I better off doing the DxDP or purchasing the TIW card? There are four of us going, My mom, my two boys 15 and 12 and myself. My 15yo will definitely eat an app, entree and dessert, as will I. My 12yo is more likely to share a app and dessert and eat a full entree, just like my Mom. I have ADR's for 6 Signature restaurants and 14 regular TS restaurants. What do you think would be a better value? This is a list of the restaurants we are eating at.

San Angel Inn L
Teppan Edo D
Crystal Palace L
Tony's Town Square D
Yak and Yeti L
Boma D
Brown Derby L
WCC D
Flying Fish D
Coral Reef L
Le Cellier D
Kona B
Narcoossee's D
Artist Point D
Tusker House L
Sanaa D
Sci Fi L
50's Prime Time D
Yachtsman D
Beirgarten L
Tutto Italia D
Cali Grill D

Any info on your past experiences or general info would be so helpful! Thanks in advance!


Melissa

 

[camsmomE]

This is just my opinion but, with all those signature restaurants (and I counted 7), you are better off with the deluxe dining plan this time. For my trip in May, I plan on eating in higher cost restaurants with my mom and MIL, so we're on the DXDP, but for my shorter, less elaborate trips, I use my TIW card. I view my TIW card as the TIP CARD, as once they take off the 20% for your meal, they go right ahead and add the 18% tip (taken from the original cost of the meal before discount) right back on.

 

[Halle]

I think that TIW is better. We've done both and we always do signature restaurants but it's a lot of food and we tend to order less as the week goes on.

 

[camsmomE]

I think that TIW is better. We've done both and we always do signature restaurants but it's a lot of food and we tend to order less as the week goes on.

Good point.

 

[MAJ RN]

I forgot to add that we will be at WDW for 2 weeks and any credits not used I planned to use for CS, not the best use of the Deluxe plan!


Melissa

 

[pkdof]

I have a TIW card that we purchased on our trip last December (didn't even think about dining plans then). For our trip later this month, I decided to get DxDP, because based on where and what we plan to eat, we will save more than if we used the TIW card alone. If you think you would like to order any beer/wine/cocktails, then the 20% off with TIW might pay for the card over the course of a 2 week trip.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

You will probably break just about even on DxDDP vs TiW with that many signatures. So it just depends now on whether you want to prepay for your food 45 days early or pay for it as you eat. But like some PP said, TiW also applies to alcohol, so bear that in mind if you like to have a glass of wine with dinner.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am TIW all the way. I do not like the dining plan. It is not flexible enough. I'd have a terrible time eating appetizer, entree plus dessert at all of those restaurants. By the time that was over I would never want to see food again. And if your group includes meal sharers, you're not going to get maximum value for them.

Plus, TIW applies to booze, and you can use it on any future trips. If it's going to be a wash on the cost I'd say use TIW. It will definitely pay for itself with the schedule you have.

The only restaurants you listed that won't accept TIW are Yak & Yeti and Teppan Edo. You would have to pay full price for those unless you qualified for the annual passholder discounts there (which are only 10% - on Teppan Edo it's lunch on weekdays only and you've got it for dinner; at Y&Y the AP discount is good only on the entrees).

 

[MAJ RN]

Thanks to everyone who replied!! My mom and I were discussing this and she thinks that I should go with TIW. She has had gastric bypass and my youngest son has to watch what he eats. So this will put away the temptation to eat all that is before us and the thought that "hey we paid for it might as well get it" I have always done the dining plan in the past because it is so convienent and our meals are paid for so I have on less thing to think about. Again, thanks for all the replies!! As always everyone is so helpful.


Melissa

 

[dismichael]

In this case, it is better to do the Dining plan. This is cuz you have some pretty expensive restaurants on your list, and you mentioned you will be getting more than just an entree in some cases. With this said, the restaurants you picked could easily be $40+ a person. Since the DDP is only about a little more than that per person for the day, it would probably be your better option. The TiW card benefits those who are eating one sit down meal per day w/ one counter service. In this case, going to more reasonable restaurants can save you a lot of money.

 

[Cafeen]

Thanks to everyone who replied!! My mom and I were discussing this and she thinks that I should go with TIW. She has had gastric bypass and my youngest son has to watch what he eats. So this will put away the temptation to eat all that is before us and the thought that "hey we paid for it might as well get it" I have always done the dining plan in the past because it is so convienent and our meals are paid for so I have on less thing to think about. Again, thanks for all the replies!! As always everyone is so helpful.


Melissa

If you don't think that all of you will be using the all of the entitlements per meal the majority of the time (or using the majority all the time), the TiW is going to save you more money than DxDDP will.

Not quite sure how long you're staying (you say 2 weeks, but that can be anywhere from 12-14 nights depending on how you count). Splitting that and saying 13 nights (thus 14 days), that would give you each 39 credits, 29 of which you have spent. While that makes (and exceeds) the 2/3 rule for breaking even, the extra 10 CS plus the restrictions listed above will lessen the amount of savings after that point.

If you feel the need to prepay (or at least prepay some), pick up some gift cards and use them to pay off the room charges (it's easier just to charge to room, then pay off with GCs, rather than fiddling with GCs at the restaurants).

This is my long-winded way of saying that TiW looks to be the right choice in your case.

In this case, it is better to do the Dining plan. This is cuz you have some pretty expensive restaurants on your list, and you mentioned you will be getting more than just an entree in some cases. With this said, the restaurants you picked could easily be $40+ a person. Since the DDP is only about a little more than that per person for the day, it would probably be your better option. The TiW card benefits those who are eating one sit down meal per day w/ one counter service. In this case, going to more reasonable restaurants can save you a lot of money.

She's talking DxDDP (deluxe), so it's a cost of $79/night per adult. Even signature meals rarely break $45 for an entree.

The TiW actually benefits those who are straying outside of the dining plans more. 1 TS/1CS (assuming all entitlements eaten) would likely benefit more from DDP than TiW (though, with DDP, a lot depends on what you order and where you go). Along with the different usages (apps instead of desserts, or even entrees, splitting meals, less expensive locations, on vs off plan locations, etc). Coupled with the fact that there are few CS locations that even accept TiW.

 

[MAJ RN]

If you don't think that all of you will be using the all of the entitlements per meal the majority of the time (or using the majority all the time), the TiW is going to save you more money than DxDDP will.

Not quite sure how long you're staying (you say 2 weeks, but that can be anywhere from 12-14 nights depending on how you count). Splitting that and saying 13 nights (thus 14 days), that would give you each 39 credits, 29 of which you have spent. While that makes (and exceeds) the 2/3 rule for breaking even, the extra 10 CS plus the restrictions listed above will lessen the amount of savings after that point.

If you feel the need to prepay (or at least prepay some), pick up some gift cards and use them to pay off the room charges (it's easier just to charge to room, then pay off with GCs, rather than fiddling with GCs at the restaurants).

This is my long-winded way of saying that TiW looks to be the right choice in your case.


She's talking DxDDP (deluxe), so it's a cost of $79/night per adult. Even signature meals rarely break $45 for an entree.

The TiW actually benefits those who are straying outside of the dining plans more. 1 TS/1CS (assuming all entitlements eaten) would likely benefit more from DDP than TiW (though, with DDP, a lot depends on what you order and where you go). Along with the different usages (apps instead of desserts, or even entrees, splitting meals, less expensive locations, on vs off plan locations, etc). Coupled with the fact that there are few CS locations that even accept TiW.

Thanks for the idea about the gift cards, I do like the idea of having things paid for in advance. I went through all of the restaurant menus where we are dining and averaged what I thought we would spend, and it looks like I will be better off with the TIW. My mom would make herself eat more than she can just because it has already been paid for so she won't "waste"!!

Melissa

 

[quirty30]

I'm one of those people who is simply jaded with Disney food on the regular dining plan after a week; what can I say, I'm compelled to get my money's worth. So I can't imagine how I'd feel after 2 weeks on the DxDP. Every time I've considered going deluxe, I back off when I really start thinking about how much food it is and I feel like the trip would revolve around food. (And keep in mind, I have a VERY healthy appetite.) We got a TiW card on our last trip and used it with the regular plan. Next week we I'm undecided if I will add the dining plan or not (I may very well add it since we have a HBD Fantasmic Package booked, as well as Yak & Yeti.) DD is 9, so I still have one "child" price for the DDP. She turns 10 in May, and after that, with 2 kids who are technically adults on the dining plan, no doubt we will use only the TiW card. I very likely will skip entrees on occasion; I'm likely to order an appetizer, side and a glass of wine and be perfectly content. With TiW, I have a lot more flexibility to order what I want and not feel like I have to order the most expensive entree on the menu to maximize the value of the DDP.