Should we choose DDp or TIW?

[maznorm]

We are planning a 3 week visit to Disney next November. We will be AP holders. I am debating whether to go with Dining Plan or Tables In Wonderland. DP would be good because that way everything is paid up front. TIW would be good because we are planning on a few resort changes and I think it would be difficult to work out DDP points.

Does anyone use TIW? Is it worthwhile or would we better with DDP?

 

[lurkyloo]

Hi!

The posters on the Disney Dining Plan sub board have a ton of opinions on this subject that you might want to check out, but I think generally what they'll tell you is it comes down to how you dine at Disney.

We only really eat at Table Service restaurants, and most of those are 2 TS credit places, plus we often split meals and we usually drink water. So the regular dining plan doesn't provide enough TS credits for us and the Deluxe plan is way more than we'd normally spend per person per day for way too much food. I like TIW because we can eat wherever we want and get a little bit of a discount.

But people whose dining style fits the way the DDP is structured get a lot of value out of it, and sometimes it just comes down to liking the idea of having all your meals prepaid.

 

[n2mm]

I've tried QS DDP, basic DDP, Delux DDP and I have to say the TiW works best for us. Just recently we did the Delux DDP and I kept track of how much it cost vs how much the bill was. I took the appetizers away and half of the desert away and after my TiW discount was applied, I would've spent less OOP with the TiW vs paying for the delux ddp. We did an early lunch TS and a Signature dinner and while we sometimes get appetizers to split and sometimes get deserts to split we did not like having to be at a TS location twice a day and several times just wanted to cancel, but we couldn't because we would've wasted our pre-paid credits. I do like doing the ddp for one night when we come in early and stay on the AP discount (no tix requirement). We often will do the delux ddp for one night, get the mug each, and use the 3 TS credits over the 2 days (arrival and departure) and eat at the more expensive 1 TS locations. I'm glad I tried them all, but don't plan to buy them again for an entire trip. I was amazed at the outcome of my unofficial record keeping, which tells me that some meals I can splur, while others I may not. I also came away with 5 extra pounds that I'm still trying to get rid of (the trip was mid-July).

 

[Pakey]

We also prefer the flexibility of the TiW over the DDP. We've also tried the dining plan in its various forms and have not found that it fits us and I'm not interested in "prepaying" or ordering things I wouldn't normally order just to maximize some perceived savings. The TiW allows us to eat where we want and order what we want.

 

[maznorm]

Thanks for the advice. I think another concern is that I've been reading a lot on this board about the decline in quality and service.

We have never really dined at Disney much when we have visited as we mostly stay offsite. However, with this trip we are planning on staying on site.

We do tend to prefer appetisers to desserts. We don't really drink alcohol very often so that part of the DDP wouldn't matter too much to us.

The problem is we are going at the time of Free Dining although we wouldn't have gotten it because we are looking at staying on AP rates. I guess it wouldn't really be worth paying for something that they are offering sub standard options on because of free dining. At least with TIW we could eat at non Dining Plan restaurants. We also plan to eat offsite quite a bit.

Would we get any discount on in room dining with either TIW or our AP's?

Also, and this is a little off topic, does anyone know if AKL in room dining offer Jiko's steak with red wine sause and mac and cheese?

I would love to try it but I don't think that I can get the kids to behave long enough in the actual restaurant.

 

[jockey]

I have never taken the DDP as I feel it's just too much food for us. We use the TIW card and like the flexability of it

 

[MouseMomx2]

We only do the DDP for stays of one or two nights (usually before/after our main reservation). Three weeks on the DDP would be WAY too much food for us so we stick with our TIW card for those longer stays.

We find that we prefer the TIW card because it allows us to eat where we want without having to worry about what credits we have to use up and order just the items we want (i.e. not restricted to entree/dessert/beverage). We also find that we tend to break even, if not do a bit better, using the TIW card over the DDP.

Also, remember that the DDP requires you to pay the tip for every meal. Those tips can really add up, especially over a long trip, making the DDP more costly than it first appears.

 

[Hootch]

the TIW provides a little more flexibility in choosing what you want to eat and how you want to eat. Also, if you like a before the meal cocktail and wine with dinner the TIW will be a better fit since alcohol at participating restaurants and lounges is included in the discount.

 

[laughinplace199]

I think it depends on your family and how you dine. We've never done the DDP. We always use our TIW card, though. After our last trip, I crunched the #s, using our restaurant receipts, figuring out what would have been included if we had the DDP and what we would have paid for OOP. My kids often share CS meals and we eat at at 2 or 3 signature restaurants during our trips. For us, the TIW card works better.

Even if the DDP would have saved us a little money, I don't think I'd do it. When I'm on vacation, I want to be able to eat what I want, when I want. I don't want to be bothered keeping track of credits, not getting an app because it's not included, figuring out what counts as a snack, etc. Too much "work" for me on vacation. Of course, that's just me. I know a lot of people like the dining plan and have no issues with the above, but it would drive me nuts.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I had the same dilema...I decided on the TIW card since we go so often and we can use it at the bars too. I dont want to deal with the DDP, having too many credits or not enough or worrying that they are not handled properly and cause me grief....

The TIW saves me 2% or more and then I dont feel tied down to meal plans.

 

[Rip]

We use TiW unless they end up offering the DDP "free", then we use both.

 

[maznorm]

Ok, so it definitely looks as though TIW is the way to go.

Slightly OT:- Quick question, Rip, I thought you couldn't get free dining with AP's. Do you just get a 1 day ticket or something? Does it work out worth the cost without getting AP rates for the room?

Anyway, can anyone recommend a good off dining plan but on TIW restaurant?

We are foodies but with young kids so need sothing that is probably not signature dining but still really tasty.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Slightly OT:- Quick question, Rip, I thought you couldn't get free dining with AP's. Do you just get a 1 day ticket or something? Does it work out worth the cost without getting AP rates for the room?

Well, I'm not Rip, but I'll answer. To get the free dining you just need to pay rack rate for your room and get at least a one day park ticket. The cost for a one day ticket is $75ish so you're still getting a great deal!