Is TIW card worth it?

[brandip22]

We will be staying in May at AKV. We will have APs and of course the DVC card so those discounts. Would it be worth it to buy the TIW card as well? I am having a hard time figuring it all. Some of our rest have AP discounts, some DVC. So, I'm thinking maybe not if they already discount with those. I'm confusing myself!! It'll be myself, DH, DS(7) and DS (23 mos). I've already figured out that the DDP doesn't save anything. Thanks in advance!

 

[brandip22]

Never mind! I think I just found the best thing ever! Allears has a PDF with a breakdown of all restaurants and what discounts, if any, they give. That is a wonderful thing! I think I'll be able to plug my numbers in better this way. If anyone needs it, it's here: http://allears.net/din/dining.htm scroll to bottom left and look for disc pdf.

 

[Inkmahm]

The TIW card is great if you eat at table service restaurants. If you eat counter service fast food type places, then no.

We avoid the CS food and almost always eat at TS locations. For us, the TIW card saves us BIG bucks.

 

[dmoore22]

The TIW card is great if you eat at table service restaurants. If you eat counter service fast food type places, then no.

We avoid the CS food and almost always eat at TS locations. For us, the TIW card saves us BIG bucks.

Ditto here! We manage to get a couple of trips a year out of our TIW card. Our dining habits are such that it is more cost effective for us than the DDP. Plus, if you enjoy a libation, it discounts those as well.

 

[kristie03]

We will get the annual passes this year, and for some trips we will use the DDP, some not. Do you know whether you can use the TIW card for the "extras" that end up on your bill on the DDP (appetizers/alcohol etc.)?

 

[CarolMN]

We will get the annual passes this year, and for some trips we will use the DDP, some not. Do you know whether you can use the TIW card for the "extras" that end up on your bill on the DDP (appetizers/alcohol etc.)?

Yes, you can.

 

[kdepot]

We got the TIW card when we bought APs last March. We used it for 14 TS dinners between that trip and our Dec trip. Well worth it as I have been know to tip a few

 

[DenLo]

It is a cool PDF, however it is for 2009. It's a shame Allears hasn't updated it for 2010. I know that restaurants sometimes drop out of discount programs (or change the amount of their discount).

I do have a question for those of you with TIW cards. Is the card a calendar year card? So if we buy the card in October 2010, will it still expire December 31, 2010?

 

[JimMIA]

One often-overlooked benefit of the TiW card is that the discount is not just for one person. The discount applies to up to TEN people in your party, providing that all are dining together and the cardholder is paying the check. (We had it applied for 11 once at the princess dinner at Norway).

For anyone who has a large party, the discounts quickly pay off the cost.

As far as the duration of the card, ask the CM when you buy the card. They will be able to tell you exactly. The basic answer is that it is valid about 12 1/2 months from the time you purchase it. I've actually had CMs tell me to hold off buying for a few days to get an extra month. When we've used TiW, we've always managed to get at least two trips in, the same way we do with APs.

 

[dizfan]

We bought the TIW card Dec 4, 2009 and it shows an expiration date of December 31, 2010.

 

[brandip22]

Aw, I didn't realize the pds was just for 2009. I will see if I notice any of my TS places have changes, though. We don't eat a ton of TS, but when we do, we like to have a drink or ten. Just kidding, maybe two, depending on the day. Anyway, from what I figured we'd eat and just a little alcohol, I showed a $60 savings for this trip. But, we'll use it for the next trip as well, so I think it'll pay off for that. Plus, we may end up having a few more drinks or even add a TS or two. It all depends on how the baby does while there. Thanks for the advice, guys!

 

[DMKEDM]

I bought a TIW card on my last trip, last month...we were three adults (DS and a friend in their 20s and me, a "child" w/a middle (going on senior) aged body) and we ate mostly TS...it would have been great (we all liked to get appetizers and at a couple of meals we had an appetizer to start, and then another for an entree)--clearly superior to DDP for us on that trip.

BUT, I discovered that almost every restaurant we went to offered a 10%-20% AP, Disney Visa or DVC discount...there wasn't a single restaurant we went to that didn't--and a couple did not take the TIW, but did give me the same 20% discount for my AP (or Disney Visa or DVC)...I quickly got confused and lost track of who was offering what...but did come away with the sense that I would have saved almost as much, or maybe more after factoring in the cost of the TIW, w/out the TIW--equal discounts were pretty much always available.

Now, that may be one of those "it's the rotten economy/promo" situations, and so may not last--but neither will the TIW (mine expires 2/28/11; I bought it 1/10/10)...

Anyway...that was my experience last month. I was going to use it again on my Feb trip, but Snowmageddon cratered that trip...don't know yet when we'll reschedule it...and we're going again for T-giving, but TIW doesn't work on T-giving Day (but will on the days around T-giving)...so I don't know if I'll break even or not...but one good thing it did prove to me: the DDP is NOT the be-all and end-all of cost-efficient dining at WDW...sometimes it's great, but other times it's just not...

Good luck w/your decision...if you have the patience to research which restaurants offer which discounts at which times, you could probably save a mint, maybe even w/out buying the TIW...

 

[n2mm]

I've had my TiW card since they started offering it to AP holders and would never not have it. We eat alot of TS and sometimes have parties up to 10. We get about 6-7 trips a year out of it.

OP, there are many new additions to the 2009 list like several locations in DtD, Swan/Dolpin, Kouzzina.

You can use it as some counter service, like Animal kingdom and the value resorts and PO-FQ. I especially like that valet parking is free when dining at certain resorts, esp. Grand Floridian.

And yes, if you use the DDP, you can use the card on the extra stuff. I think the AP website has a up to date list.

 

[jelliott04]

Just FYI about the TIW card. It gives you free valet parking. All you have to do is show them the TIW card when you give them your keys and then show the dinner receipt when you pick your car up.

DH was SO mad when they dropped the free valet for DVC members and I can't tell you how excited he is about this perk for TIW. He wants to valet everywhere just because he can for free again!

So that is a good perk for it too if you drive.

Jen

 

[dmoore22]

We have compared our TIW meal costs to those w/DDP. Considering our eating habits the cost were about the same as it would have been with DDP. However, our comparison may not be valid since we included the cost of alcohol and the gratuity, which is automatically figured in with TIW, and did not with DDP. Hence, TIW was cheaper for us. In most sit down restaurants the servings are so generous, and we no longer have the hollow legs we had as kids, that my DW and I would split an entree so we would have room for desert -- liquid and otherwise.

For this year it was announced that several restaurants have been added to the program. They are Kouzzina by Cat Cora at the Boardwalk, Fulton’s Crab House, Portobello, Wolfgang Puck Cafe and House of Blues at Downtown Disney, Tokyo Dining at Epcot, ESPN® Sports Cafe at the Wide World of Sports, Il Mulino New York Trattoria, Kimonos, Shula’s Steak House and Bluezoo at the Swan and Dolphin.

The card is good for 1 year.

 

[granmanh603]

I bought a TIW card on my last trip, last month...we were three adults (DS and a friend in their 20s and me, a "child" w/a middle (going on senior) aged body) and we ate mostly TS...it would have been great (we all liked to get appetizers and at a couple of meals we had an appetizer to start, and then another for an entree)--clearly superior to DDP for us on that trip.

BUT, I discovered that almost every restaurant we went to offered a 10%-20% AP, Disney Visa or DVC discount...there wasn't a single restaurant we went to that didn't--and a couple did not take the TIW, but did give me the same 20% discount for my AP (or Disney Visa or DVC)...I quickly got confused and lost track of who was offering what...but did come away with the sense that I would have saved almost as much, or maybe more after factoring in the cost of the TIW, w/out the TIW--equal discounts were pretty much always available.

Now, that may be one of those "it's the rotten economy/promo" situations, and so may not last--but neither will the TIW (mine expires 2/28/11; I bought it 1/10/10)...

Anyway...that was my experience last month. I was going to use it again on my Feb trip, but Snowmageddon cratered that trip...don't know yet when we'll reschedule it...and we're going again for T-giving, but TIW doesn't work on T-giving Day (but will on the days around T-giving)...so I don't know if I'll break even or not...but one good thing it did prove to me: the DDP is NOT the be-all and end-all of cost-efficient dining at WDW...sometimes it's great, but other times it's just not...

Good luck w/your decision...if you have the patience to research which restaurants offer which discounts at which times, you could probably save a mint, maybe even w/out buying the TIW...

I didn't know that Disney Visa offers any food/restaurants discounts, where did you find that info?
As someone else posted there is good food court at PO and there are a few CS at AK Flame Tree is great...