Tables in Wonderland card for annual pass holders

[Deffenm]

Sorry I don't know exactly what it is called but can anyone share with me information about the discount card you can purchase if you are an annual pass holder? I never thought I would be one but DH suggested I take a small trip in March for my birthday, we are going in June and then again in Sept/Oct. So if I do all of these trips it would be good for me to have the annual pass and we don't do the dining plan so I thought this card would be good for food discounts. Any information would be great. Thanks,

 

[catne]

Tables in Wonderland. Here's some info:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneydiningexperience.htm

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

It basically gives you a discount equal to the amount of your tip. You have a 20% discount and it adds on an 18% tip. We find it worth the price because it can be used on alcohol and we often share a meal, two things that would not be discounted if using a Dining plan. This is the same card that was formerly known as the Disney Dining Experience card which they renamed after the DDP came out to eliminate confusion.

 

[Dizzyworld]

How can I decide if this is a good deal for my family?
Thanks.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

We go several times a year and got it for $75. If you eat a lot of TS it will pay for itself quickly. We don't get the DDP. It also works at the the food courts in the hotels so that works out great as well. There is no tips there so it is a real 20% off. I guess you have to think about where you are staying, where you will be eating (TS or CS) to see if it is worth it for you. You can see all the menus and prices at allears.net .

 

[goofy4tink]

We go several times a year and got it for $75. If you eat a lot of TS it will pay for itself quickly. We don't get the DDP. It also works at the the food courts in the hotels so that works out great as well. There is no tips there so it is a real 20% off. I guess you have to think about where you are staying, where you will be eating (TS or CS) to see if it is worth it for you. You can see all the menus and prices at allears.net .

It doesn't work at ALL food courts though...only at those resort food courts that are in resorsts without a table service restaurant....such as POP.


If you are going to save enough (basically in tips) to make up that initial $75 cost, then go for it. That's the way I think of it. I just total of the amount of tips that I am not paying (just figure out the total of your meals and then what 20% of that is. Add up those numbers and there you have it.

 

[goodferry]

Not worth it then if you plan on doing a dining plan, right?

 

[JDUCKY]

Not worth it then if you plan on doing a dining plan, right?

Not unless you plan to down copious amounts of alcohol or dine off the plan someplace lots of times.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Not worth it then if you plan on doing a dining plan, right?

That depends. If you are planning on drinking wine with dinner, or getting appetizers, you can use the TiW card for your OOP expenses. Over the course of the year, that can add up.

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

If you spend $375 or more on food during the year, then your TIW card pays for itself. We spend this in 3 days or less easily, so its definitely worth getting if you are not doing the dining plan.

 

[JUJU814]

I think it's worth it if you're going for a good amount of time. We saved money. I don't understand how the tips has anything at all to do with it. Wouldn't you leave a tip (20%) regardless?? Most people do. Therefore, you are saving 20% of the bill.

Example: my bill is $100 I will leave a $20 tip so I would pay $120

With tables in wonderland, my bill will be 80 after the discount (but I will still leave a 20 tip based on the bill amount) so I pay $100 ...I've saved $20

You should always tip based on the main bill amount...not the discounted bill amount.

I have an annual pass and always get the tables in wonderland and make out well with it..better than the dining plan.

Plus I like that you can use it at many counter service places too.

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

It doesn't work at ALL food courts though...only at those resort food courts that are in resorsts without a table service restaurant....such as POP.

I'm pretty sure it works at AK CS places too since the TS choices are limited.

And I agree with the above poster, I don't think tip has anything to do with it other than you save 20% and it adds a 18% tip...as PP said, you would (hopefully) be tipping that with our without the TIW card.

 

[pixarmom]

Not worth it then if you plan on doing a dining plan, right?

Just a suggestion if you aren't locked in to the dining plan yet - this took a while, but I think it's worth it. I pulled up the menus for all our dinner ADRs and the CS we planned for lunch (here or on allears) I compared the value of the dining plan vs. TIW for our family based on what we would likely order. For us, it turned out TIW alone is the best value, but I know some discover that either TIW + dining plan or just dining plan is best. Either way, I think doing the math can be really helpful!

 

[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 gratutity added.

100.00 - Original 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 - Amount of Bill
*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.

 

[Tiger926]

For us it doesn't work and here is why:

1. Peak Surcharge periods - Disney adds an 'upcharge/surcharge' of 4.00/adult and 2.00/child for buffet meals during peak seasons for buffets. We go for almost 2 weeks each July, and most if not all of our trips are during this period, so if doing TIW, we would have an additional cost to meals. Not worth it to us. Please don't tell us to not attend buffet meals as we have kids, and they are worth it for us to get autographs and cool down from heat!

2. Don't drink alcohol - We don't drink alcohol at all.

3. Mandatory tip - Not going to debate or discuss as per tipping guidelines on these boards, but DH hates this, so no go.

4. Increased cost of card - Card has gone up and up the past few years, and I'm sure, it will go up even more too.

5. Small kids - DP is more of a value to us with small children. We have run numbers a million times before each and every trip (hubby is a banker and I'm a highly detailed-oriented planner), and DP is still cheaper for us each and every time - whether it's DP or DxDP, plans are still cheaper due to our family make-up at this time in our lives.

We just ran numbers for upcoming trip next month, and we are just about even for DP and TIW, but then we have to add in cost of card, and that puts us over. Then we have to look at July, and again, we are in 'upcharge/surcharge' territory for whole trip, so TIW is more expensive for us for both of these trips.

We have done DDE before when it was cheaper card and no manadatory tip, and that is what we like. Can't seem to make it work for us at this stage...

Just a different perspective, Tiger

 

[DisneyMim]

We do both, Tables in Wonderland and The Dining Plan. We like some restaurants that use 2 points. We usually do at least one show, either Spirit of Aloha or Hoop de doo, and at least one signature restaurant. We then pay OOP for some meals and use TIW. It also works with drinks. We are by no means big drinkers, but we like wine with dinner and both our kids are over 21 so for us it's worth it. As with everything else, you have to decide if it's right for YOUR family.

Enjoy The Magic!!

 

[mousefan1972]

For us it doesn't work and here is why:

1. Peak Surcharge periods - Disney adds an 'upcharge/surcharge' of 4.00/adult and 2.00/child for buffet meals during peak seasons for buffets. We go for almost 2 weeks each July, and most if not all of our trips are during this period, so if doing TIW, we would have an additional cost to meals. Not worth it to us. Please don't tell us to not attend buffet meals as we have kids, and they are worth it for us to get autographs and cool down from heat!

2. Don't drink alcohol - We don't drink alcohol at all.

3. Mandatory tip - Not going to debate or discuss as per tipping guidelines on these boards, but DH hates this, so no go.

4. Increased cost of card - Card has gone up and up the past few years, and I'm sure, it will go up even more too.

5. Small kids - DP is more of a value to us with small children. We have run numbers a million times before each and every trip (hubby is a banker and I'm a highly detailed-oriented planner), and DP is still cheaper for us each and every time - whether it's DP or DxDP, plans are still cheaper due to our family make-up at this time in our lives.

We just ran numbers for upcoming trip next month, and we are just about even for DP and TIW, but then we have to add in cost of card, and that puts us over. Then we have to look at July, and again, we are in 'upcharge/surcharge' territory for whole trip, so TIW is more expensive for us for both of these trips.

We have done DDE before when it was cheaper card and no manadatory tip, and that is what we like. Can't seem to make it work for us at this stage...

Just a different perspective, Tiger

Just wanted to say I agree w/this 100%. We are AP holders who choose not to get the TiW card for the same reasons.

 

[clkelley]

We love our TiW card!! I even like the fact that the tip is added automatically!! It actually saves me even more money because before it was added automatically, I would just add back the 20% rounded up to the next dollar, so my servers were getting 21 - 22% tip. Now because they insist on adding it automatically, that's all they get.

We actually spend $125 a year cause I also get the spouse card for hubby at an extra $50, because we take together trips and solo trips.

We have saved WELL over that each year.

We will not purchase the dining plan, as I don't feel it's a good value for purchase, but we have done a free dining trip about every 2 years.

FYI, we are down there a minimum of 5 trips a year and we do eat at least one signature meal each trip, and a sit down most days. (Mostly breakfast).

 

[tinkandonaldfans]

OK, I have just found out about TIW.

We are getting married in Disney in Sept 2011. As part of our package we will receive 2 Annual Passes so this is why I have been reading about TIW.

I just need to get this sorted in my head and want to check with you guys that it will be beneficial


For example we will be paying for dinner at Yachtmans Steakhouse for 16 people along with drinks in the Crew Cup lounge prior to dinner

Assuming our guests spend approx $75 each

the total would be $1200
18% tip would be $216
20% discount would be $240

total forgetting tax as i dont know how much that is would be:

$1,176 rather than $1416 - Is this right?

Also how does it work in the Crew Cup lounge is exactly the same- do they add a tip for alcoholic/non- alcoholic drinks?

 

[clkelley]

OK, I have just found out about TIW.

We are getting married in Disney in Sept 2011. As part of our package we will receive 2 Annual Passes so this is why I have been reading about TIW.

I just need to get this sorted in my head and want to check with you guys that it will be beneficial


For example we will be paying for dinner at Yachtmans Steakhouse for 16 people along with drinks in the Crew Cup lounge prior to dinner

Assuming our guests spend approx $75 each

the total would be $1200
18% tip would be $216
20% discount would be $240

total forgetting tax as i dont know how much that is would be:

$1,176 rather than $1416 - Is this right?

Also how does it work in the Crew Cup lounge is exactly the same- do they add a tip for alcoholic/non- alcoholic drinks?

Yes, you have it exactly right. Also, the tax is 6.5% and it will be based on the $960. (The total minus the discount. The tip is not taxed.)

The Crew Cup Lounge will work exactly the same way.

Now, one more tidbit. Technically, I think the TiW card is good for a party of 10 max. Sooo, for an additional $50 you can get a spouse card and then you will need to split the checks into a party of 10 and a party of 6. However, you might want to ask on this board with a separate thread if anyone has done this with parties greater than 10.