Question about AP and TiW for frequent visitors

[davper]

I am making 2 trips in a one year time frame. 4 nights in 2015 for the last week in April and 12-14 nights in 2016 for the last 2 weeks in April.

The 2015 trip is just my wife and I and we have the Deluxe DDP on property. The 2016 trip may be off property with a group of 10 for one week while the other week will be on property with just the 2 of us.

So I was wondering if getting the AP and the Tables in Wonderland would be a better value instead of getting the Deluxe DDPs each trip when I am on property. I looked at the DDP calculator. But it hasn't been updated in 2 years.

I know I get free parking when off property with the AP and 10% off merchandise. Is there an AP discount for staying at OKW villas? If so, how much? Any other benefits I may not be aware of?

 

[LSUfan4444]

I was wondering if getting the AP and the Tables in Wonderland would be a better value instead of getting the Deluxe DDPs each trip when I am on property

I would certainly think so.

 

[msb578]

One benefit I can think of is that TiW includes some well-regarded Signature restaurants that are not on the Deluxe DP.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I am making 2 trips in a one year time frame. 4 nights in 2015 for the last week in April and 12-14 nights in 2016 for the last 2 weeks in April.

The 2015 trip is just my wife and I and we have the Deluxe DDP on property. The 2016 trip may be off property with a group of 10 for one week while the other week will be on property with just the 2 of us.

So I was wondering if getting the AP and the Tables in Wonderland would be a better value instead of getting the Deluxe DDPs each trip when I am on property. I looked at the DDP calculator. But it hasn't been updated in 2 years.

I know I get free parking when off property with the AP and 10% off merchandise. Is there an AP discount for staying at OKW villas? If so, how much? Any other benefits I may not be aware of?

We stayed at OKW with an AP discount of 35% last month, so I know that it is available.

We bought the TIW card and it is good for something like 14 months. The nice thing about the TiW card is that alcoholic drinks are also discounted 20%, something that you don't get with either the dining plans or AP or Disney Visa discounts. The Tiwdiscount is available at most resort lounges, too, which is nice. They automatically add an 18% tip onto the bill when you use the TiW card, which actually is rather convenient. The discounts add up fast and we recovered the initial $100 cost before the first trip was over. It covers almost all the restaurants in the parks and resorts and some DTD restaurants, too. You can also use it in the food courts at the value resorts.

 

[loves to dive]

The AP discounts for resorts are not always there and do not always apply to every resort so it is hard to say if you would get a discount. When I decided to get my AP I just took the cost of tickets for two trips that I knew I was taking and if the AP was less, made sense to get it. I didn't even factor in discounts or free parking since I park my car at the resort and don't look at it again until I leave. My upcoming trip in May had a 35% discount but I actually ended up spending less booking through Orbitz since they not only had the spring discount but had a discount on their own on top of it. I always get park hoppers, even if I'm only going for 3 days so worked for me. As far as TIW, there is a thread somewhere (I think on the restaurants board) that shows you your break even point for it, I think you have to spend about $500 for food to break even but I'm not sure. The TIW does cover adult beverages and includes an 18% gratuity. It's really according to how you eat. I'm a light eater and tend to eat kids meals during the day then an appy or two and a dessert for supper so neither the dining plan or the TIW makes sense for me, even factoring in a glass or two of wine.

 

[supersnoop]

I am making 2 trips in a one year time frame. 4 nights in 2015 for the last week in April and 12-14 nights in 2016 for the last 2 weeks in April.

The 2015 trip is just my wife and I and we have the Deluxe DDP on property. The 2016 trip may be off property with a group of 10 for one week while the other week will be on property with just the 2 of us.

So I was wondering if getting the AP and the Tables in Wonderland would be a better value instead of getting the Deluxe DDPs each trip when I am on property. I looked at the DDP calculator. But it hasn't been updated in 2 years.

I know I get free parking when off property with the AP and 10% off merchandise. Is there an AP discount for staying at OKW villas? If so, how much? Any other benefits I may not be aware of?

I'm confused by your dates. While a TiW card is valid for 13-14 months, an annual pass is good for 366 days. Will the annual pass still be valid for your second trip?

 

[rpcvpanama]

It doesn't appear, based on the projected time frames you mentioned, that the annual pass will work for you. If your first trip was the last week in April and your second trip was the first 2 weeks of the following April it would most likely work. But otherwise your AP will expire before you second trip is complete. We always do TIW and find it well worth the cost. But, we eat primarily at table service restaurants and order drinks with dinners most nights.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

We got APs on our last trip because we had 3 trips planned in a 10 month span. We also bought TIW. I really enjoyed it and felt we got more value than the DDP would have offered. It's nice feeling like you have more freedom to choose whatever you want to eat, rather than being forced into a formula. At the end of the vacation, we spent less on food than we'd spent on prior trips. It wasn't a lot (maybe $100) but that was just one trip; we have two more coming up.

 

[davper]

I'm confused by your dates. While a TiW card is valid for 13-14 months, an annual pass is good for 366 days. Will the annual pass still be valid for your second trip?

Yes, I leave the day after it expires.

I just added a 3rd trip in November. So now it is a no brainer.

 

[Dan Murphy]

TiW also gives you complimentary valet parking (3 hours) at the deluxe resorts. Tipping still assumed to be given to drivers.