Please explain TIW card

[RCM]

We are planning a trip in June and the difference of DDP & TIW would be appreciated.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Table is Wonderland is a discount card that you pay for. It entitles you to a 20% discount at most table service and some counter service restautants within WDW. To purchase TIW you must either be an Annual Pass Holder ($75) or Florida resident ($100). For those spending a lot of time at WDW or with big families, TIW may be the better value when you consider the discounts.

We used TIW for the first time this past June when we went in a party of 10. The discount at California Grill for our party more than covered the cost of the card.

Note that whoever has the TIW card must be present to get the discount, so if for some reason you plan to split up with members of your party, those not with the card holder won't get the discount.

Check out this page for more information: http://allears.net/din/dde.htm

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are a FL resident or an AP holder, you can purchase the Tables In Wonderland Card. It's good for 20% off on most table service meals, including alcoholic beverages. There are a few counter service places included, but mostly table service. It costs $75 for AP members and $90 (if I recall correctly) for FL residents. It's good for about a year - maybe a few days longer.

It's good for up to ten guests at a table.

 

[MDNH4]

Paging Tom nailed it. We feel TIW offers us the best value because we don't eat 3 major meals per day.

We have split up on some trips (small kids sometimes run out of steam) and we haven't had any problems if the actual card holder wasnt there. Maybe we just got lucky on those occasions????

 

[TyGuy]

We bought a TIW card for the first time for our trip the beginning of December. This trip was just my DW and I. I kept all of our receipts and calculated our savings using the TIW card vs the cost of the DDP.

Basicly, we saved almost the full cost of the TIW card on this trip (we have another trip in November that we'll also use the card).

As far as the DDP, we would of used 12 of the 14 table service credits, 10 of the 14 Counter Service credits and all of the snacks. We saved about $56 compared to the DDP. Now if we had eaten every meal like we would if we were on the DDP, then it would have been a savings over the TIW... but we would of been stuffed!!!

 

[Dee77]

Is the TIW card valid for the same dates that an annual pass is good for? I plan on buying annual passes with the DVC discount soon but they won't be activated until we go in late November. When can I get the TIW card, once I get the AP vouchers or when we get to Disney and activate the AP? TIA

 

[erionm]

Is the TIW card valid for the same dates that an annual pass is good for? I plan on buying annual passes with the DVC discount soon but they won't be activated until we go in late November. When can I get the TIW card, once I get the AP vouchers or when we get to Disney and activate the AP? TIA

You won't be able to get the TiW card until you have an active AP. You can get it when you go to guest services to exchange for your AP.

 

[LilGMom]

Sorry to sound like an idiot but I have a question about the TIW too.

We are a family of four, DH, Me, DS8 & DS4. The last few trips we've had the Basic DDP and found ourselves often paying OOP for an additional food item (like a burger) for my DS8 because those four little pressed chicken part nuggets just weren't enough for him. And there were times at some of the TS meals that he would have liked to have had something off of the adult menu but was restricted due to being on the childen's DDP. We go at least twice a year for a total of 10-14 days and always have at least one TS a day, sometimes two.

I'm completely open to hearing if anyone has any thoughts on if the TIW would be a good idea for our family. TIA!

 

[CarolMN]

Moved from DVC Boards

 

[vicki_c]

Sorry to sound like an idiot but I have a question about the TIW too.

We are a family of four, DH, Me, DS8 & DS4. The last few trips we've had the Basic DDP and found ourselves often paying OOP for an additional food item (like a burger) for my DS8 because those four little pressed chicken part nuggets just weren't enough for him. And there were times at some of the TS meals that he would have liked to have had something off of the adult menu but was restricted due to being on the childen's DDP. We go at least twice a year for a total of 10-14 days and always have at least one TS a day, sometimes two.

I'm completely open to hearing if anyone has any thoughts on if the TIW would be a good idea for our family. TIA!

You can't use TiW at most of the counter services places in the parks. There are a few exceptions at AK, and you can use it at counter services at resorts that do not have a table service location (like the values). So it wouldn't help for buying an extra burger at most CS lunch places.

I can just say that we never do the DDP, but have really felt that the TiW card was worth it to my family of 4. The savings paid for the card in our first trip which was only 4 days (we did Akershaus, probably 3 other TS, and used it Artists' Palette at SSR). Plus it's also 20% off alcohol as well as food, so if you have a drink with meals, that's covered too.

You really have to crunch the numbers to see if it makes sense against the DDP though. It just depends on your family and eating style.

 

[LilGMom]

Another question... Is the 18% gratuity on the original bill total or on the bill total after the 20% discount has been applied? And is there a relatively current list of TS/CS restaurants that accept the TIW?

Thanks again!

 

[rgf207]

Another question... Is the 18% gratuity on the original bill total or on the bill total after the 20% discount has been applied? And is there a relatively current list of TS/CS restaurants that accept the TIW?

Thanks again!

The 18% is added on to the total before discounts are taken

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

As others have mentioned, Tables in Wonderland is a program that offers Florida Residents and Annual Passholders a discount on hundreds of dining locations. The discount covers food and beverages (alcohol included!) and is 20%. There is a slight catch, there is an automatic 18% gratuity added onto all TIW transactions. So some say the discount is only 2%. I look at the card as saving me the tip & tax on all my WDW meals, which REALLY adds up over a week.

The card costs $100 for Florida Residents, $75 for Annual Passholders and it is $50 for an additional spouse card.

There are some blackout dates: Mother's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day.

It can be a fantastic deal. We have used the card for the past few years and most recently at Victoria & Alberts. (V&A adds a 20% gratuity)

If your mind works mathematically (like mine does in these situations), I'll show you how much we saved on V&A alone.

V&A costs $125/person for the meal and an additional $60/person for wine pairings. There were 3 people in our party. I can assure you that we would have tipped 20% regardless. The service was outstanding.

Without TIW
$125 + $60 = $185
$185 x 3 = $555
$555 x 0.2 = $111 (gratuity based on subtotal)
$555 x 1.065 = $591 (total w/ tax BEFORE gratuity)
$591.07 + 111 = $702 GRAND TOTAL

With TIW
$125 = $60 = $185
$185 x 3 = $555
$555 x 0.2 = $111 (gratuity based on subtotal)
$555 x 0.065 = $36 (tax on subtotal)
$555 x 0.8 = $444 (new subtotal based on 20% discount)
$444 + 36 + 111 = $591 GRAND TOTAL
SAVINGS $111

The tax and 18% gratuity are calculated on the original subtotal. That subtotal is then discounted by 20% and the tax and gratuity are added.

So just by dining at V&A I've balanced out the $75 i paid for the card and I've saved $36 on top of that.

We will end up using it at 8 more meals over the course of our stay and in total it will save us:

DINNERS
$46 at California Grill
$42 at Flying Fish
$40 at Artist Point
$32 at Chefs de France
$30 at The Wave

LUNCHES
$17 at Liberty Tree Tavern
$17 at Le Cellier
$17 at Chefs de France

TOTAL Savings (with the $75 cost already deducted) $277

We will also use the card on at least 1, if not 2 more trips this year!

The DDP offers great savings as well, but I'm not as well versed in it so as to provide a detailed breakdown like I did above.

 

[LilGMom]

The 18% is added on to the total before discounts are taken

Thanks! I figured that was how it was figured since that is how you should tip with any discount.

Looks like we'll pay for half of the card during our May trip and then more than pay for it during our Fall trip. Now I just need to show, and explain, my spreadsheets to DH to show him the estimated savings of the TIW over OOP or DDP.

 

[disneyfan55]

As others have mentioned, Tables in Wonderland is a program that offers Florida Residents and Annual Passholders a discount on hundreds of dining locations. The discount covers food and beverages (alcohol included!) and is 20%. There is a slight catch, there is an automatic 18% gratuity added onto all TIW transactions. So some say the discount is only 2%. I look at the card as saving me the tip & tax on all my WDW meals, which REALLY adds up over a week.

The card costs $100 for Florida Residents, $75 for Annual Passholders and it is $50 for an additional spouse card.

There are some blackout dates: Mother's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day.

It can be a fantastic deal. We have used the card for the past few years and most recently at Victoria & Alberts. (V&A adds a 20% gratuity)

If your mind works mathematically (like mine does in these situations), I'll show you how much we saved on V&A alone.

V&A costs $125/person for the meal and an additional $60/person for wine pairings. There were 3 people in our party. I can assure you that we would have tipped 20% regardless. The service was outstanding.

Without TIW
$125 + $60 = $185
$185 x 3 = $555
$555 x 0.2 = $111 (gratuity based on subtotal)
$555 x 1.065 = $591 (total w/ tax BEFORE gratuity)
$591.07 + 111 = $702 GRAND TOTAL

With TIW
$125 = $60 = $185
$185 x 3 = $555
$555 x 0.2 = $111 (gratuity based on subtotal)
$555 x 0.065 = $36 (tax on subtotal)
$555 x 0.8 = $444 (new subtotal based on 20% discount)
$444 + 36 + 111 = $591 GRAND TOTAL
SAVINGS $111

The tax and 18% gratuity are calculated on the original subtotal. That subtotal is then discounted by 20% and the tax and gratuity are added.

So just by dining at V&A I've balanced out the $75 i paid for the card and I've saved $36 on top of that.

We will end up using it at 8 more meals over the course of our stay and in total it will save us:

DINNERS
$46 at California Grill
$42 at Flying Fish
$40 at Artist Point
$32 at Chefs de France
$30 at The Wave

LUNCHES
$17 at Liberty Tree Tavern
$17 at Le Cellier
$17 at Chefs de France

TOTAL Savings (with the $75 cost already deducted) $277

We will also use the card on at least 1, if not 2 more trips this year!

The DDP offers great savings as well, but I'm not as well versed in it so as to provide a detailed breakdown like I did above.

While the tip is on the total amount, the tax is on the discounted amount (or at least it was in May) That's a little savings as well. Some that say how it's not really a discount (only 2% because of the tip) Wouldn't they be tipping on the whole amt anyway if they didn't have the card? That just never made any sense to me!! Also, we did get the 20% off on our resort mugs at ASMu in May as well!! It does really help out if staying at a Value and eating at those CS.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

I just read on another post that one can be on the DDP and also use the TIW for alcohol at your meals. This person said the 20% he saved on the wine, drinks, etc made up for the $75 charge...
Hope this helps someone.
Gretchen

 

[TosaTrio]

TIW Card can be a great deal if you know you will have enough savings in your normal eating activity. One thing of caution...If you lose the Card or forget it, Disney will not replace it. We found out the hard way. We bought it knowing it would save us money over two trips. Well we forgot it at home with our expired annual passes. We figured it would be no big deal because Disney must have record just like our APs..go to Customer Service and pick up a duplicate. No one told us when we bought it that they will not replace the cards....Unless we will save money in one trip, I don't think we would purchase again...