OK full steam ahead... I went ahead and bought AP's....now to TIW or not????

[edk35]

Nice comparison of discounts here.

Great ....thanks so much.

 

[lovin'fl]

We like the TIW card. We get it if we will have a couple-few trips during the 13+ months...and if it's the 5 of us (all adults now) most of the time. We have had TIW twice. First TIW card we used for about 68 adult meals over the 13 month period (not 68 ADRs but the number of people at each ADR added up)...second TIW card we will use for about 58 adult meals over the 13 months. If you figure at least $20/meal (likely a lot more than that), well...I have definitely gone above the $500 break even. I think I figure 5 TS ADRs for all 5 of us (so 25 adult meals) and we break even (and then some...especially if any buffets are in there).

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We were at WDW for 11 nights in June. 3 adults, grand total of ALL food & beverage purchases was $2375. That total is EVERYTHING, CS, TS including gratuities, cocktails, bottled water from the resort shop - all of it. We saved a total of $262.34 with TIW. Take out the cost of the card and we still saved $162.

Standard dining plan would have been right around $2000, but we did 4 signature dinners so there would have been 4 nights we would have been paying OOP since the credits would have been gone. Plus tips and alcohol, so in the end we would have spent WAY more than what we did.

Deluxe dining would have cost $3614 PLUS tips AND alcohol!

We are going back for F&WF in October, and if our son does the College Program next Spring we will likely get in at least 3 more trips before the TIW expires.

 

[bumbershoot]

We were at WDW for 11 nights in June. 3 adults, grand total of ALL food & beverage purchases was $2375. That total is EVERYTHING, CS, TS including gratuities, cocktails, bottled water from the resort shop - all of it. We saved a total of $262.34 with TIW. Take out the cost of the card and we still saved $162.

Standard dining plan would have been right around $2000, but we did 4 signature dinners so there would have been 4 nights we would have been paying OOP since the credits would have been gone. Plus tips and alcohol, so in the end we would have spent WAY more than what we did.

Deluxe dining would have cost $3614 PLUS tips AND alcohol!

We are going back for F&WF in October, and if our son does the College Program next Spring we will likely get in at least 3 more trips before the TIW expires.

That's fabulous!

And to be clear....you got to dine exactly how you wanted, right? That's the key, to me. Get what you want, don't change how you eat because of your discount card or dining plan, and get a discount.

 

[lovin'fl]

That's fabulous!

And to be clear....you got to dine exactly how you wanted, right? That's the key, to me. Get what you want, don't change how you eat because of your discount card or dining plan, and get a discount.

Exactly!

 

[georgeat]

and don't forget the free valet parking at the resorts that have it. That can save you $15 at resorts like Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach, etc.

 

[lovin'fl]

and don't forget the free valet parking at the resorts that have it. That can save you $15 at resorts like Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach, etc.

Does Poly have it? We are doing Luau in Aug.

 

[jco_direwolf]

Does Poly have it? We are doing Luau in Aug.

The TiW/DDE free valet is for 3 hours while dining at the resort. My experience is they need the receipt and are pretty strict about the time

Yes the poly has valet.

It's was much nicer when DVC had free valet period. I still hate they stopped that perk

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

That's fabulous!

And to be clear....you got to dine exactly how you wanted, right? That's the key, to me. Get what you want, don't change how you eat because of your discount card or dining plan, and get a discount.

Exactly!
We enjoy appetizers sometimes, which are no longer included with Dining Plan unless you have the Deluxe one. (Which would have cost us over $1000 more. No thanks!) And I think CS desserts are vile for the most part, so having them included is of no value to me. We also don't do refillable mugs. The dining plans do not fit the way we eat, but TIW is perfect for us. We make ADRs for the places we enjoy, we order exactly what we want when we get there, it all comes out on a single ticket, gratuity figured in, so simple.

 

[georgeat]

The TiW/DDE free valet is for 3 hours while dining at the resort. My experience is they need the receipt and are pretty strict about the time

Yes the poly has valet.

It's was much nicer when DVC had free valet period. I still hate they stopped that perk

I agree with you on DVC perk. I have used valet at Poly. Have never had a problem with the 3 hours, receipt and showing TIW card.

 

[Nanajo1]

We work around the black out dates by having our holiday meals earlier or later in the week. On the actual holiday we do something special in the villa, like a big breakfast with eggs, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, bacon, sausage lots of juices, hot chocolate. Or order Papa John's pizza. We stopped doing Buffets during the surcharge period. We are a family of 22 so $4/ pp adds up. I don't know why Disney does this. Doesn't the larger crowds increase profits enough?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Since we usually eat at Le Cellier and Chefs de France and we have two trips in March planned, we won't be getting TIW again this trip. It's not the bargain it used to be.

 

[edk35]

We were at WDW for 11 nights in June. 3 adults, grand total of ALL food & beverage purchases was $2375. That total is EVERYTHING, CS, TS including gratuities, cocktails, bottled water from the resort shop - all of it. We saved a total of $262.34 with TIW. Take out the cost of the card and we still saved $162.

Standard dining plan would have been right around $2000, but we did 4 signature dinners so there would have been 4 nights we would have been paying OOP since the credits would have been gone. Plus tips and alcohol, so in the end we would have spent WAY more than what we did.

Deluxe dining would have cost $3614 PLUS tips AND alcohol!

We are going back for F&WF in October, and if our son does the College Program next Spring we will likely get in at least 3 more trips before the TIW
expires.

Our dd did the college program in 2012 and we went 4 times while she was on program. We had AP's and the TIW. Well my son and I did an extra trip so.... we were there 5 times that year. LOL

 

[smcabee]

As long as Shulas, Blue Zoo and Il Mulino take it we will continue to get it. We spend the $500 to break even at just these 3 meals which we do pretty much each trip so anything else is gravy.

 

[MJ6987]

If it costs $100, with a 20% discount you break even at $500. I use my Disney credit card points to buy ours. I do think the price has doubled since we began buying it.

Isn't the break even higher than that since many restaurants give a 10% discount to DVC members anyway? Plus, you have to pay an 18% gratuity, which seems on the high side.

 

[jco_direwolf]

Isn't the break even higher than that since many restaurants give a 10% discount to DVC members anyway? Plus, you have to pay an 18% gratuity, which seems on the high side.

Well I've never done the detailed breakdown between the places (and times) I eat for TiW vs ap/DVC discounts but it don't think its a large overlap. Plus TiW gets the adult drinks discount DVC/ap normally not

The 18% is low for me. I typically do 20% rounded up to the nearest $. But with that added to the bill I generally just pay the bill thus saving me about 2%. But I consider it a wash since I'm going to tip anyway.

 

[MJ6987]

Well I've never done the detailed breakdown between the places (and times) I eat for TiW vs ap/DVC discounts but it don't think its a large overlap. Plus TiW gets the adult drinks discount DVC/ap normally not

The 18% is low for me. I typically do 20% rounded up to the nearest $. But with that added to the bill I generally just pay the bill thus saving me about 2%. But I consider it a wash since I'm going to tip anyway.

Is alcohol not included in the DVC discounts then?

Also, does TIW give any discounts at bars and lounges?

 

[edk35]

Is alcohol not included in the DVC discounts then?

Also, does TIW give any discounts at bars and lounges?

I believe at the lounges it does....like the one at BLT. Now sure where else? Regular resort bars.. ???? Not so sure.

 

[edk35]

Since we usually eat at Le Cellier and Chefs de France and we have two trips in March planned, we won't be getting TIW again this trip. It's not the bargain it used to be.

We seemed to eat less and less TS restaurants on property with each trip. I totally understand.

 

[Nanajo1]

DVC discount doesn't include adult beverages.