Please help me decide

[jandbmom]

I am trying to weigh all my dining options for our next trip. In the past we have done the Basic dining plan and we didn't eat all of the food. That includes my toddler eating off of our plate. For our next trip in December I am ordering some breakfast stuff from wego shop. We like to eat dinner at a restaurant. Has anyone used the Tables in Wonderland card? If so how do you compare the value to the DDP?

 

[allshookup]

Ah you will find a lot of posts about this & it depends on where you ask. Here on the DVC boards, the majority seem to agree (including me) that the TIW card is a much better deal, especially if you are having breakfast/snacks in the room. If you ask on the Dining Plan Board you will find most people swear they are saving a ton of money on the DDP. Yes 18% gratuity is already added with the TIW, but we normally pay 20% if the service is good so we're saving even more.

I think it really depends on how you eat & it sounds like you got more than you would normally eat/order without the DDP so to me it's not a deal. I've crunched the numbers & when I actually figured out what I normally order out (including snacks & water), the DDP was about break even with what I pay out of pocket, but with the TIW card I saved above the DDP.

I think a lot of people do the DDP, see what the bill would've come to without the DDP & say "Wow look at all the money I saved with the DDP!" But they don't really take into account what their normal habits are. For us we sometimes share a dessert, but it's unlikely we'd ALL order desserts, sometimes we like an appetizer (which in no longer included), sometimes I even like an appetizer as my meal or I might just feel like a salad & then the DDP just does not work out to be the same savings, especially now that gratuity isn't even included. That's my 2 cents!

 

[Checkers]

When just my DH & I travel to WDW, we have APs and purchase the TIW card and it works for us. When we are traveling with my DD and her family and we "treat" them, we buy the DP as it is more economical for us. I think in your case, you would be satisfied with the TIW. Have a great time!

 

[jandbmom]

Thank you both so much!