Please help:should I purchase the TIW card??

[mimmiepnp]

I will be staying with DD for 12 nights next May at AKV and BCV. We will be celebrating her 21st birthday. I have an AP and right now was thinking of doing the DDP.

I just made my dining reservations for our 12 nights. Table service restaurants everynight (probably with an alcohol drink), Brown Derby Fantasmic package and one night at Jiko as part of the Wayanama Sunset Safari Tour. Lunch would probably be counter service and then just our daily water and snacks.

I am still confused about the TIW card. Based on my dining plans, would I be better off with purchasing the TIW card or purchasing the DDP which would cost me roughly $1100 or so.

I would appreciate any advice.

Thank you

Mimmiepnp

 

[Tara]

If you are doing some signatures on the DDP, then you will be short credits in the end. In these cases, I think TIW works better than DDP and results in better savings and honestly a lot less work to keep up with credits and figure what to pay for with cash or credits.

ETA - I have found DxDP to be equal to or better than TIW, but only in very specific instances (for us, it was a non-DVC stay where we ate a buffet breakfast every day and a signature meal later every night). If you enjoy signatures, I find it hard to believe that DDP could work out better than TIW.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think you'll do much better with the TIW card than you will the DDP. We have tracked it for a couple of trips with and without DDP, and we always came out several hundred dollars ahead when we paid out of pocket using the TIW card over the DDP. I think part of that might be because we rarely eat at Counter service places. We jut couldn't eat enough to make the DDP worth it to us. Besides, the DDP excludes appetizers and drinks, so you would catch those on the TIW card as well. You would not be able to use the DDP for your Waynama safari, but you COULD use the TIW card for the drink part of that dinner.

 

[Figment2]

I love my TIW card mainly because I'm more of an appetizers & salads type of person. I rarely order an entree. Then there is the fact that it covers alcohol...

Cyn

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I would go with TIW. The booze being one reason, but also remember the card is good for a year, not just this trip.
Personally I don't like the DDP as I feel roped into ordering certain things, and not ordering others.

MG

 

[Hopefully]

The DDP has always worked for our style at WDW. We eat breakfast in the Villa, a CS lunch and a TS dinner. Last year we also purchased the TIW card (we were a party of 6 adults). We used TIW to cover appetizers and adult beverages not on the DDP. We also used it for HDDR, which we were paying for OOP in order to get Cat 1 seating.
We went back within the year to VB and were able to use the TIW card there as well. So we did recoup the cost of the card.
Remember if you choose to go the TIW route, all CS in the parks and most all everywhere, are to part of the TIW program.
Good Luck with your decision

 

[krikiter]

I've used the DxDP, and will be using TIW for my next trip. Running the numbers, it looks like you can save ~20% either way, but I like the flexibility of TIW over the dining plan.

 

[DebbieB]

Be sure to check the list of where TIW is accepted. It is not accepted for most counter service.

 

[dmoore22]

We have found the TIW card to be a better deal than DDP for many of the same reasons that have been stated in the previous posts. We found it to be cheaper than DDP. It covers the entire meal at participating locations. It includes the tip. It provides access to special TIW events plus free admission for the card holder and a guest to the Atlantic Dance Hall on Boardwalk and valet parking to just to name a few of the benefits. We get multiple trips out of our card so it has more than paid for itself many times over. http://www.examiner.com/disney-trav...ng-discount-card-for-walt-disney-world-guests

 

[Tara]

The DDP has always worked for our style at WDW. We eat breakfast in the Villa, a CS lunch and a TS dinner. Last year we also purchased the TIW card (we were a party of 6 adults). We used TIW to cover appetizers and adult beverages not on the DDP. We also used it for HDDR, which we were paying for OOP in order to get Cat 1 seating.
We went back within the year to VB and were able to use the TIW card there as well. So we did recoup the cost of the card.
Remember if you choose to go the TIW route, all CS in the parks and most all everywhere, are to part of the TIW program.
Good Luck with your decision

I was able to book Cat 1 seating at HDDR using DxDP this past August.

Also, not all counter service is included. In fact, it's the opposite - very few are. The food courts at any resort without a TS restaurant are included, as is Artist's Palette at SSR. There are a couple in AK included but that's about it, I believe.

 

[dmoore22]

I will be staying with DD for 12 nights next May at AKV and BCV. We will be celebrating her 21st birthday. I have an AP and right now was thinking of doing the DDP.

I just made my dining reservations for our 12 nights. Table service restaurants everynight (probably with an alcohol drink), Brown Derby Fantasmic package and one night at Jiko as part of the Wayanama Sunset Safari Tour. Lunch would probably be counter service and then just our daily water and snacks.

I am still confused about the TIW card. Based on my dining plans, would I be better off with purchasing the TIW card or purchasing the DDP which would cost me roughly $1100 or so.

I would appreciate any advice.

Thank you

Mimmiepnp

Based upon the description of your trip and ADRs I believe you will find that you will come out ahead with the TIW. Simply put your dining itinerary is very similar to what we do when we visit and eat at the world. As for lunches we sometimes do quick service but oftentimes will eat at a sit down restaurant. Since the servings are so generous my DW and I will often split an entree which, of course, is discounted with TIW. And we'll also have an adult beverage which is discounted. We always keep track of our expenses and find that we save a couple of hundred dollars over the cost of the DDP which does not include tips and libations while including tips and libations with TIW. If we factor in tips and libations plus the cost of DDP then savings is much greater.

 

[JJ721]

I would go with TIW. The booze being one reason, but also remember the card is good for a year, not just this trip.
Personally I don't like the DDP as I feel roped into ordering certain things, and not ordering others.

MG

Totally agree. If you like decent TS restaurants and enjoy some beer/wine/cocktails with your meal, TIW is the way to go. Over the course of one year (three 4-7 day trips), I saved over $500. One of the meals was at CRT, where I hosted a group of 8. I believe the card paid for itself with that meal alone.

 

[AKV707]

We love our TIW card. It always pays for itself and then saves us a bunch. On a 12 day trip. it is truly worth it. And you can order anything you want to eat or drink!

 

[DiznyDi]

DH and I generally do 2 trips per year with 9-12 days per trip. We have used the TiW card exclusively since appetizers and tip were deleted from the dining plan. I could never eat all the desserts included in the dining plan. And as the OP, I favor appetizers and salads over entrees.

 

[Tamar]

I'm a fan of TIW. I sometimes just get an appetizer (or two) and a glass of wine (or two). DDP would cramp my style.

 

[Chellymouse]

We are recent converts from DDP to TIW and found that we came out WAY ahead on our last trip! We saved quite a bit more than we would have with DDP and we were able to eat the way we wanted. We made ADRs for our most important, but we were also able to wing it a bit. It was nice not to be held to ADRs the whole trip. We prefer apps and we do like alcohol with our meals.

 

[DMKEDM]

Warning: "heresy" coming!

I agree that unless your eating patterns track what you get on the DP you're better off using TIW...BUT!!!

I got the TIW card this year--and discovered as I went from restaurant to restaurant (over the course of 3 trips) that my AP and/or my Disney Visa got me essentially the same discount, pretty much all the time.

Didn't track it "scientifically" but did ask at each restaurant which of my possible discounts was best (TIW, Disney Visa, AP or DVC)...in all but about 2 places, AP and/or Disney Visa were as good as TIW; one place didn't take TIW at all and at no place was the DVC discount as good as the TIW, Disney Visa or AP...

So, if you have an AP and a Disney Visa, you can probably save most, if not all, of what you'd save w/the TIW card...

I know I'm not going to buy it again next year...

Of course, if you don't use APs and don't have a Disney Visa, this is irrelevant!

Have fun w/whatever you decide...

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Warning: "heresy" coming!

I agree that unless your eating patterns track what you get on the DP you're better off using TIW...BUT!!!

I got the TIW card this year--and discovered as I went from restaurant to restaurant (over the course of 3 trips) that my AP and/or my Disney Visa got me essentially the same discount, pretty much all the time.

Didn't track it "scientifically" but did ask at each restaurant which of my possible discounts was best (TIW, Disney Visa, AP or DVC)...in all but about 2 places, AP and/or Disney Visa were as good as TIW; one place didn't take TIW at all and at no place was the DVC discount as good as the TIW, Disney Visa or AP...

So, if you have an AP and a Disney Visa, you can probably save most, if not all, of what you'd save w/the TIW card...

I know I'm not going to buy it again next year...

Of course, if you don't use APs and don't have a Disney Visa, this is irrelevant!

Have fun w/whatever you decide...

As far as I know TIW is the only discount that includes alcohol. For us, that's a large amount of money.
In addition, I always thought the "other" discounts were 10-15% (versus 20%), and not offered at all restaurants.

Is that incorrect info?
MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

The AP dining discounts as published on WDW Info (looks pretty weak compared to TIW):

Restaurants
Fulton’s Crab House - 20% off the regular price of food and beverages (excluding tax/gratuity) during lunch (seating prior to 3:30) and 10% off dinner for passholder and up to 3 guests

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop - 10% off in retail shop and soda fountain

House of Blues - 20% off food and non-alcoholic beverages prior to 4:00pm, 10% discount after 4:00pm for passholder and up to 5 guests. (excludes alcohol/tax/gratuity)

Planet Hollywood - 10% off the regular price of food and beverages (excluding tax/gratuity) during lunch/dinner for passholder and up to 3 guests

Portobello - 20% off the regular price of food and beverages (excluding tax/gratuity) during lunch and 10% off dinner for passholder and up to 3 guests

Rainforest Café - Downtown Disney and Animal Kingdom Theme Park locations - 10% off the regular price of food and beverages (excluding tax/gratuity) lduring breakfast/lunch/dinner for passholder and up to 3 guests

Wofgang Puck Café ( West Side) - 20% off the regular price of food and beverages during lunch and 10% off dinner (excluding alcohol/tax/gratuity) for passholder and up to 3 guests

Wolfgang Puck Express (Downtown Disney Marketplace) - 10% off the regular price of food and beverages (excluding alcohol)

EPCOT - 10% off the regular price of food and beverages (excluding alcohol/tax/gratuity) during lunch from Monday thru Friday at the following:
Nine Dragons Restaurant
Tutto Italia
Les Chefs de France Restaurant
Restaurant Marrakesh
San Angel Inn Restaurant
Coral Reef Restaurant
Teppan Edo
Tokyo Dining
Get 10% off of your total lunch bill (alcoholic beverages excluded). Passholders can include up to 3 guests for this savings. This offer is valid Monday through Friday.

The following Disney Resort restaurants are participating:

Sand Trap Bar and Grill at the Bonnet Creek Golf Club (Lunch Only)
The Wave at the Contemporary
ESPN Club at the Boardwalk (Lunch Only)
Trail’s End Buffeteria at Fort Wilderness (Breakfast and Lunch)
Grand Floridian Café at the Grand Floridian Resort (Breakfast and Lunch)
Olivia’s Café at Old Key West
Captain's Grille at the Yacht/Beach Club Resort
Turf Club Grill at Saratoga Springs (Lunch only)
Disneys' Hollywood Studios: Studio Catering Compan

 

[Tara]

I got the TIW card this year--and discovered as I went from restaurant to restaurant (over the course of 3 trips) that my AP and/or my Disney Visa got me essentially the same discount, pretty much all the time.

The majority of AP discounts are only good for lunch as Maistre Gracey's previous post points out, so that rules out a significant portion of dining right there. And none of the signature restaurants participate. 1-2 of those alone can make the TIW worth the $75 investment.

Moreover, TIW provides for free valet parking at resorts that offer valet when you dine at that resort using TIW.