Sizable Price Increase on Tables in Wonderland Membersip

[The_Banking_Scot]

Thanks rfc0001, my first week is at Club Level at WL so will have breakfast there and maybe evening snacks so need to do some planning

 

[RachaelA]

If we weren't going to do 2 trips in a year, we would be adding the standard DDP for this upcoming trip rather then getting TIW. But since we are doing 2 trips in a year (thank god we bought our AP vouchers even before the increase before this last increase) TIW is still a better deal for us.

BUT not for 1 trip in a year anymore like it was previously.

 

[bumbershoot]

It really bothers me that the dining discount isn't included in the AP prices as it is at DL. Yes I know there are some token Dining Discounts included in the AP but nothing that I would make use of.

In case you haven't seen it, or if it will help someone else, a breakdown of TIW, DVC, and AP discounts is here: http://allears.net/pl/disc_dining.pdf



For calculations, the tip is on the undiscounted price but the taxes are on the discounted price. So even right now it's not a straight "spend $500 to start getting the discount" thing. Because the taxes lower that, it's in the high 400s, but not quite to 500. So it wouldn't be quite 750 to hit the discount mark.

 

[SarahInMN]

In case you haven't seen it, or if it will help someone else, a breakdown of TIW, DVC, and AP discounts is here: http://allears.net/pl/disc_dining.pdf

I know this makes me and the husband sound like total lushes but keep in mind, folks, that the DVC and AP discounts are not inclusive of alcohol. For us, this is where the TiW value really comes in: 20% off a 200$ bottle of wine adds up quickly.

 

[porschegrl]

In case you haven't seen it, or if it will help someone else, a breakdown of TIW, DVC, and AP discounts is here: http://allears.net/pl/disc_dining.pdf

Thank you for posting that link. I have found essentially the same information elsewhere, but not nearly as nicely laid out.

 

[travelbuffnj]

Math is not my strong suit. So just to be clear, today the AP price went up $90 and TIW price went up $50? Was planning on buying both this November and making a return trip in June to justify it. No longer! Just saved a couple grand I guess.

 

[Jennasis]

TiW just priced itself out of our lives...before we ever bought it LOL! Was going to pick it up in December for our first of 3 trips. We don't drink alcohol. We don't typically spend enough on meals that it will be worth the hassle. Pretty sure this is Disney's way of killing the TiW program off.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

And if you're trying to justify the $150 cost by using the 20% savings, you have to consider other discounts you can get for "free". If you can save 10% at a restaurant with a Disney Visa or AP, without having TiW, then you're really only saving 10% at those places (plus 20% on alcohol that is otherwise excluded).

So if I spend $100 at The Wave and use my Disney Visa, I'd save $10 anyway. I'm only going to save an additional $10 with TiW. So be sure to take into account any built-in discounts you already have when figuring if this is actually worth it or not.

 

[robinb]

As far as TIW, it all depends on how much you use it as to whether it's still worth it. Assuming family of 4, 2 sit downs a day, that's around $2,500/wk. So, savings are:

1. 1 week @ $2,500/wk x .2 = $500-$150 = $350/$2500 = 14% (probably better off with a standard DDP)
2. 2 weeks @ $2,500/wk x .2 = $1000-$150 = $950/5000 = 17%
3. 3 weeks @ $2,500/wk x .2 = $1500-150 = $1350/7500 = 18%

Of course, it also depends if you normally eat all sit downs. If you don't the Standard DDP is probably a better deal. I still think Disney needs to fill the gap between DDP and TIW with a "Table Service DDP" -- similar to the Quick Service DDP but 2 Table Service credits per day -- with an advertised discount of 20% (compared to 15% for Standard and 25% for Deluxe). This would give me all the benefits of TIW (except discount on alcohol) plus snacks and refillable mug without the $150 cost

I'm sure that there are many people who spend $2500 per week on dining at Disney, but it says a LOT to me that you had to pick such a ridiculously (IMO) large number of $7500 spent in a single year to make the discount come out to be something reasonable. I don't think I've spent $7500 on Disney meals in the last TEN years and yes, I've had the TIW card since 2007 or 2008 and it was called the "Disney Dining Experience" when it was only $60.

Here is how priced have increased since I started getting the card

DDE - Feb 2009 - $60
TIW - Mar 2009 - $75
TIW - Dec 2012 - $100
TIW - Oct 2015 - $150

That's a 150% INCREASE in just 7 years and a 100% INCREASE in less than 3 years. Thanks Disney !

 

[Minniesgal]

While I appreciate that a 50% increase is a "BIG" jump from a percentage perspective. Why does that increase make purchasing the TWI card no sense any longer? What is the evidence that you're using to make that statement?

Really I understand the upset about this but................a 20% discount that includes alcohol is still big. If you spend $750 on food and alcohol during a Disney trip.....(I've done it ) without the TIW......that's $750. If you have the TIW card aren't you saving $150? Doesn't that 1 trip pay for the card?

Just trying to understand.

Doug

I've done the math. We are going next Easter. We are dining at Shula's (not included), Chef Mickeys, Beaches and Cream, Jiko, T-Rex, Narcooses, California Grill, Kona Cafe and Via Napoli. Once I take off the Dvc discount we get at T-Rex and Via Napoli and the $150 for the card and include the black out dates, I only save $15 buying TIW and we will spend over $1000 on food and drink before tip and tax. If we so much as cancel one meal we will lose money. It isn't as straightforward as a saving $150 for every $750. You need to do the math in more detail for your individual situation.

For us it was marginal at $100 but we probably would have bought it and had $50-60 in our pocket but we won't be buying at $150. We don't use the Valet parking perk as we like a bottle of wine with dinner. Had we missed the black out dates I might still have bought it but I don't see the point in paying $150 to basically break even.

Last time we bought it in 2013 we made the cost back in 1 meal at V&As, it is far from being the discount it used to be.

 

[travelbuffnj]

I think Shula's is included, based on the link posted above, at least.

 

[dkrauss]

I've done the math. We are going next Easter. We are dining at Shula's (not included), Chef Mickeys, Beaches and Cream, Jiko, T-Rex, Narcooses, California Grill, Kona Cafe and Via Napoli. Once I take off the Dvc discount we get at T-Rex and Via Napoli and the $150 for the card and include the black out dates, I only save $15 buying TIW and we will spend over $1000 on food and drink before tip and tax. If we so much as cancel one meal we will lose money. It isn't as straightforward as a saving $150 for every $750. You need to do the math in more detail for your individual situation.

For us it was marginal at $100 but we probably would have bought it and had $50-60 in our pocket but we won't be buying at $150. We don't use the Valet parking perk as we like a bottle of wine with dinner. Had we missed the black out dates I might still have bought it but I don't see the point in paying $150 to basically break even.

Last time we bought it in 2013 we made the cost back in 1 meal at V&As, it is far from being the discount it used to be.

The math...........is the math. Question, if you were to do another trip, wouldn't your savings increase..........because you've already paid for the $150 for the card? Now if you visit only once in that year........your math is what it is, and seeing how you've thought it out I agree. But my thought process in getting TIW (via an AP - and I know there are AP discounts that mute it) is I'm planning at least 2 trips in the year...........and now seeing your calc..........I don't know that I'll save as much money as I first thought but I don't believe I'll just break even.............agree/don't agree?

 

[Dannek]

If you don't use the card enough to get a discount bigger than the cost of the card, you would be wasting money to buy it.

For example, if you spend $600, the 20% saves you $120. It was worth it to buy the card at $100. It is no longer worth it to buy at $150.

It all depends on a person's specific situation.

This is true but also keep in mind the valet parking aspect of it. Everyone's situation is different, but in my case I eat dinner alone at Disney restaurants over 20 times per year, with 3/4 being signature.
Since I'm local and have my own car, there is terrific value in having the free valet parking, which is getting quite expensive now. Especially when I'm dressed in slacks and a dress shirt and it's raining cats and dogs outside when we arrive at the resort for dinner. Not having to run in the pouring rain from the back of the parking lot is a great benefit that has served me well several times already this year. The increase is a bummer, and I think too much, but the card will still save me good money and keep me dry... I'll nickel and dime Disney in other areas to get my $50.00 back...

 

[Minniesgal]

The math...........is the math. Question, if you were to do another trip, wouldn't your savings increase..........because you've already paid for the $150 for the card? Now if you visit only once in that year........your math is what it is, and seeing how you've thought it out I agree. But my thought process in getting TIW (via an AP - and I know there are AP discounts that mute it) is I'm planning at least 2 trips in the year...........and now seeing your calc..........I don't know that I'll save as much money as I first thought but I don't believe I'll just break even.............agree/don't agree?

Like I said everyone has to do the math for their individual situation. Going back within 12 months isn't an option for me this time we have done that in the past though.

As I said I did the math for my trip with my restaurants and what we will likely eat and we break even. I'm not saying your corcimstances are the same I'm saying so the math. But don't just assume because you spend $750 you save because when I looked at our number at that level we didn't

 

[rfc0001]

Thanks rfc0001, my first week is at Club Level at WL so will have breakfast there and maybe evening snacks so need to do some planning

Yeah, if you are snacking for breakfast in CL, then I'd definitely do a QS DDP (2 QS meals, snacks, mug -- advertised up to 10% savings) or Standard DDP (1 QS, 1 TS, snacks, mug -- advertised up to 15% savings). With one sit down a day you are looking at max $700 spend in 2 week trips, so saving $700 x .2 = $140-$150 = -$10 (negative).

In case you haven't seen it, or if it will help someone else, a breakdown of TIW, DVC, and AP discounts is here: http://allears.net/pl/disc_dining.pdf

For calculations, the tip is on the undiscounted price but the taxes are on the discounted price. So even right now it's not a straight "spend $500 to start getting the discount" thing. Because the taxes lower that, it's in the high 400s, but not quite to 500. So it wouldn't be quite 750 to hit the discount mark.

Keep in mind tip is pre-tax, and tax is post-discount -- which have some unexpected effects -- e.g. if you normally tip 15% post-tax TIW still saves 19.275%:

1. Tipping 15% post-tax w/o TIW: $100 x 1.065 x 1.15 = $122.475
2. Tipping 18% pre-tax w/ TIW: $100 x .18 + $100 x .8 x 1.065 = $103.2 (savings = $19.275 on $100 = 19.275%)

I know this makes me and the husband sound like total lushes but keep in mind, folks, that the DVC and AP discounts are not inclusive of alcohol. For us, this is where the TiW value really comes in: 20% off a 200$ bottle of wine adds up quickly.

Not at all -- if you are going to splurge on vacation and get $10 drinks, saving 20% on said drinks adds up!

Math is not my strong suit. So just to be clear, today the AP price went up $90 and TIW price went up $50? Was planning on buying both this November and making a return trip in June to justify it. No longer! Just saved a couple grand I guess.

AP went up every which way to Sunday (literally) depending on if you are talking new/renewal, AP, Premium AP, Florida, DVC, etc. See my previous post for price increases for each:

Here is my Comparison Chart of old/new WDW Passes Prices/Benefits I posted on other forums last night (DIS was down):

(click for online spreadsheet, incl. After-Tax rates)​

Sources:
https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/ticket-tour/walt-disney-world-pass/
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/florida-residents/passholder-program/
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/m...enefits/WDW-AnnualPass-Blockout-Calendars.pdf
https://shop.omniticket.com/wdw/renewal/index.cfm

I'm sure that there are many people who spend $2500 per week on dining at Disney, but it says a LOT to me that you had to pick such a ridiculously (IMO) large number of $7500 spent in a single year to make the discount come out to be something reasonable. I don't think I've spent $7500 on Disney meals in the last TEN years and yes, I've had the TIW card since 2007 or 2008 and it was called the "Disney Dining Experience" when it was only $60.

Just the facts, ma'am . It's just to illustrate the savings calculation we each must do, not to "justify" the cost. If you spend $2500 annually, you are saving 14% with TIW. Standard DDP saves 15% for reference -- but may not match your usage (e.g. Standard DDP is 1 QS/1 TS per day). For us, we do 2 TS/day. $2500 is very reasonable to assume for 2 sit downs a day for 7 days for family of 4. If you eat 2 sit downs a day for a 7 day trip and stay under $2500 God Bless. If you don't eat two sit downs a day for 7 days for at least one trip per year I'd question why you have TIW in the first place, regardless of price.

 

[cluvsdisney]

We were just talking about buying the TIW when we go in December. The $50 hike for DVC members is quite a leap but we will still save money between our bar bills and valet plus the extra 10% on meals over the DVC discount where eligible and the 20% everywhere else.

 

[rili]

We are DVC members and AP holders. The increase makes it so we won't purchase it when ours expires next summer. We typically go twice a year. With the break even point now at $750 it just doesn't make sense for us to buy it. We don't eat that many big meals, but it was nice to have.

AM I remembering wrong, or was it pretty recently TIW was only $75 for either AP or DVC members? I can't remember exactly, but I thought we used to pay $75.

 

[rili]

We are DVC members and AP holders. The increase makes it so we won't purchase it when ours expires next summer. We typically go twice a year. With the break even point now at $750 it just doesn't make sense for us to buy it. We don't eat that many big meals, but it was nice to have.

AM I remembering wrong, or was it pretty recently TIW was only $75 for either AP or DVC members? I can't remember exactly, but I thought we used to pay $75.

I paid $75 about 4-5 years ago. We are FL residents and passholders. It was a good deal then. Since AP gets 10-15% off at a lot of restaurants already, you really need to figure that into how much you will save!

 

[roselark]

Unfortunately, this increase makes it not cost effective for me. I was always right at the edge anyway. I very rarely have a drink with dinner, it is often just me on solo trips, I never have a car, and most of the places I visit regularly have DVC or AP discounts. Too bad...I really liked having the card.

 

[jwfla422]

Regarding the TIW increase...I was looking for a thread about this and ended up posting a new one and then found this one and I agree with the "nayers"...we probably won't be "renewing" next year (if you want to call it that since it's full price to renew anyway). I didn't even realize it was on the "table" (no pun intended) for TIW to increase ESPECIALLY as much as it did... $175 for FL resident is absolutely ridiculous!! Maybe for a family of 10 it works but for 2 people who go once a month for a weekend, not so much ESPECIALLY when they've added so many "RULES" (blackout dates for holidays, certain days for specific restaurants during the year when you can't use it, blaa blaa blaa, etc) and still have barely added any new restaurants. It's well over $800 before breaking even for a FL resident, just very disappointed......I can't believe we started with this membership so many years back at $25 but then again I remember the days when a 1 day FL resident park ticket special was $19!! (LOL!!)