Should we do Tables of Wonderland?

[NemoMOm]

Hello Everyone!

It has been awhile since I posted. We are leaving in just a few days!!!! We were going to do the DDP, but then realized that we could eat in the world cheaper than $144 a day. We are a family of 5 : DH, Me, and three boys. The youngest is 20 months, although he eats more than the 4 year old!

I saw on one of the websites that the discount card would be $75 for annual passholders. We are eating at Garden Grill, Hollywood and Vine, and Tusker House. Do you guys think it is worth it? Or should we just stick with the 10% we get from the AP?

We plan on taking drinks and snack for the whole family; so I really think we can keep it under 144. We are also eating breakfast made by mom at the hotel.

What are your thoughts and experiences?

TIA

 

[kathie859]

We love the TIW card since it discounts adult beverages as well as food. It's a much better deal for us since I adore appetizers, desserts only once in awhile. We also will get three trips in this use year for our AP amd TIW including one with DD, DSIL'S and 3 gkids.

I think you should do some Disney math to see what your savings would be and if you will you buy enough food over the next 13 months to make it a good deal for your family.

Happy planning

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Here is a working example, using $100.00 as the original bill to make the math show up easily. Note this is for Table Service. At Counter Service there is no gratuity added.

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*20.00 - Discount
*80.00 - Subtotal
*18.00 - Gratuity Added based on $100
**5.20 - Sales Tax on $80
103.20 - Final amount charged, takes into consideration discount, gratuity and tax.

Without TiW Discount (and still figuring 18% Gratuity)

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*18.00 - Gratuity
**6.50 - Sales Tax on $100
124.50 - Total

$21.30 - Savings using TiW Card.

(Note - At Victoria and Albert's the added gratuity is 20% instead of 18%.)
* Ignore the asterisks; they are there only so the columns/numbers line up properly.

For the complete list of locations and the rules, go to www.tablesinwonderland.com which is the Official Disney site.

 

[Marionnette]

Hello Everyone!

It has been awhile since I posted. We are leaving in just a few days!!!! We were going to do the DDP, but then realized that we could eat in the world cheaper than $144 a day. We are a family of 5 : DH, Me, and three boys. The youngest is 20 months, although he eats more than the 4 year old!

I saw on one of the websites that the discount card would be $75 for annual passholders. We are eating at Garden Grill, Hollywood and Vine, and Tusker House. Do you guys think it is worth it? Or should we just stick with the 10% we get from the AP?

We plan on taking drinks and snack for the whole family; so I really think we can keep it under 144. We are also eating breakfast made by mom at the hotel.

What are your thoughts and experiences?

TIA

In order for the TiW card to be a benefit, you will have to spend $375 on dining just to break even. After that, you will be saving money on table service and some resort counter service locations. The advantage would be that you can order whatever you want from appetizers to specialty drinks and you will still get your discount. The disadvantage is that you probably need to do at least 4-5 table service meals in order for your family to break even.

The TiW card is good for a full year, so if you plan to return to Disney before it expires, you will get your money's worth. But if this is the only Disney trip that you will be making for a year and the 3 restaurants you listed are the only table service meals you plan to do, then I don't think that it will be a good investment for you.

 

[NemoMOm]

Thank you everyone!!! We are going to check and see how much the buffets will run us. We just moved to GA, so frequent trips are now part of our lives! The kids are little a LOVE the character buffets!

I am truly grateful for the help!

 

[Geomom]

Just wanted to note that TIW can't be used on holidays or for packages (like Fantasmic or Candlelight Processional).

We loved the TIW when we had it. We'll get it again next time we get an AP as we'll get our money's worth over 2 trips.

 

[nunzia]

just as an added note. I'm a bit fuzy on the details since I don't go to WDW, but have heard that DVC members can now buy the TIW card without having to have an AP, so if that is an option it could work for those who own DVC but do not have a WDW AP

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The cost for AP holders is $75, and the break-even point is actually menu prices of $352.11.

The cost for Florida Residents or DVC Members who do not have APs is $100, and the break-even point is $469.48.

Note that these break-even points take into consideration that the sales tax is also adjusted.

 

[nvrenoughdisney]

How do you calculate the break even point of $353? Just curious.

Note that we have the card and love it. We do eat a table service meal every night and we get two trips out of it. As someone else pointed out, I prefer it to the dining plan because of the freedom to order what I want.

 

[cvjw]

We purchased the TIW card in October, and love it. We have always purchased the dining plan thru DVC, but always struggled with too much food, and only eating at certain restaurants that ensured that we got our money back after paying for the dining plan. Once we purchased the TIW, our dining at Disney has changed. We can eat at restaurants where the entrees aren't as expensive, that we always skipped before. The best part is that you don't even have to order an entree if you don't want to - I make many meals off of appetizers and salads. We end up spending less money with the TIW, with the discount, and with eating less full entrees.

 

[Marionnette]

How do you calculate the break even point of $353? Just curious.

$353 + $22.95 (6.5% sales tax) = $375.95

You need to spend $375 to break even on the cost of the TiW card if you are an AP holder.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

$352.11 plus $22.89 tax (6.5% of $352.11) = $375.00.

20% of $375 = $75 which is the cost of the card.

 

[RichieTruxillo]

Just got back from my second trip this year this morning. Anyway, we are premium passholders and have the tables in Wonderland card.

We saved a good amount of money since we dine with table service almost every evening. Just be aware there are a handful of places that do not accept TiW in world showcase (Teppan Edo is one off the top of my head).

If you plan on consuming adult beverages with your dinner, you go twice in a year or stay longer than a week, and you eat at least one table service meal a day, then it is definitely worth it.

Time to start planning a new trip!

 

[NemoMOm]

Thanks for the replies!

I forgot to mention that we will be eating at Liberty Tree Tavern and Germany's Biegerten? as well.

So, I figured we are looking at close to $475, due to the buffets being so expensive. That seems like the discount would be worth it, of course means we have to come back to enjoy it

 

[jiminy14]

Another plus to TIW that has not been mentioned is the free valet parking at the hotels while dining there. This came in especially handy on a recent trip when we dined at the Grand Floridian. There were several events scheduled that night including a wedding and parking spots were hard to find.

 

[mossy1]

Interesting seeing everyone's thoughts on TIW card. I have a few trips planned so I am not so worried about getting the pay back all in one trip. We have several lunches/dinners planned and our party size is 7. They would have automatically added the 18% for us anyway.

 

[kathie859]

There's another thread about this from yesterday. I assume you have the $75 AP TIW card. If so, you need to spend $375 in food/beverages to recoup your $75. After that, it's gravy!!!

Oh heck!! This IS that thread. Question has been asked and answered!!!

Off to get some coffee