Is TIW worth it?

[TeeterTots]

We are a family of four with two young children. At times my mother joins us. Would this be good for us? We've never bought the dining plan.

 

[a742246]

Is it worth it? Most of the time it is, especially if you drink. But first check the restaurants that you get DVC or AP discounts to. If you eat at those places
you may get by with those discounts alone.

 

[gonzalj1]

TiW costs you $100. Then it saves you 20%. So basically if you spend $500 in food, the card pays for itself (that's food eligible for TIW discount). Someone did the math down to the penny, and I think the break even point is actually like $492 or something. 3 trips of 7 days each? Most likely you will make it up and then save some....but only you know for sure based on your sit down eating habits. Also TiW also includes alcohol at sit down places and lounges like TOWL.

TiW also adds 18% automatic gratuity. I don't include this in the math because I would have tipped without the card. If anything....as a typical 20% tipper....it saves me another 2%.

I disagree on the assumption that TiW gets a 20% discount. The way I see it we get 10% at many restaurants just for being DVC members (or AP or Disna Visa). In my calculations I took this into account to show what we would really get for our $100.

Turns out, for us the price was worth it. We ended up getting enough of a discount on our meals that the first trip to WDW essentially paid for the card. Our next trip will be pure savings. So a decent deal for us (Me, DW, DD (12) and DS (10)). We ate what we wanted, when we wanted and didn't feel the pressure of DDP to eat enough to get our value. The disocunt on alcohol was a semi-significant factor in our savings. We tend to have 1-2 drinks with dinner. One downside is the lack of a quick service discount at most locations. But show your DVC, AP etc at these locations to perhaps score a discount.

Keep in mind that $100 gets you 1 card good for up to 10 people at a time. An additional card will run you $50, I believe and should be considered in your calculations if you wish to have it. Also, take into account the black out dates to be sure you will be able to use the discount. We did not factor in any savings for the free valet but it was a nice perk. Had we not had free valet we simply would have self parked.

 

[zavandor]

Does the TIW card give free valet parking at resorts when going for an ADR?
That could be another saving.

 

[LauraLea]

Does the TIW card give free valet parking at resorts when going for an ADR?
That could be another saving.

Yes.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

The person whose name is on the card must be the one paying, per the terms of the card. If they see you exchanging cash, they've been known to deny the discount.

Yep. Actually had that happen to me once. They finally let it go because I Stood my ground that it was none of their business but I learned my lesson. We did it outside after that.

Just another of the reasons I don't do TIW anymore.

 

[kittyab]

I think it depends on how you like to dine. TIW does not cover quick serves.