Tables in Wonderland Card or DDP

[Sur]

Using the spreadsheet listed above, inputting character meals for every day of our next short trip (4 nite), tiw was cheaper.

 

[bumbershoot]

Wow..That is something that I did not know. I thought that the DDp had it factored in and I have never looked at the final bill once I paid it. Thanks.

No, I think what they mean is that it's taken care of; you pay it when you pay for the dining plan. There's nothing extra to pay (beyond a tip for table service) with a bill on the dining plan, as long as you ordered nothing that is not on the dining plan.

 

[bumbershoot]

Trust me, I've done all that before; I tend to be a little obsessive about it.

Oh, OK. It didn't seem like it from what you read before. Like I think I mentioned here, we had already recouped the $100 in under 8 days of dining, so it had barely even hit the CC before it was already saved.

After we got back this time I tried to work it out if DDP would have worked, and gave up a quarter of the way through. We just don't eat in a dining plan sort of way, LOL.

 

[myxdvz]

I'm in the same dilemma. I was fully prepared to go with TiW since this is the first time we're getting APs.

But we are 2 adults and 3 kids (1 kid under 3) -- so based on what I read here, DDP is better? Our kids don't eat much fine dining so we mostly to hotdogs/chicken nuggets/pizza meals and character dinings.

We only have 2 character dining booked so far for this trip.

 

[AmyB2006]

My mother is a numbers person and I just recently had her look at the benefit of us getting the DDP this October because I want to do the HDDR.

However, it is still not beneficial for us to get the DDP vs the TIW. And you can't even use the TIW for HDDR.

For us, DDP is a waste of money. We eat mostly TS. Even with two little kids. There are plenty of options on the menus for little kids. We usually do 1 or 2 character meals, and the rest are just regular TS. Then we'll get a few snacks here and there. Plus I bring snacks for the kids a lot.

So DDP would be forcing us to eat CS meals when we don't really want to. Not only that, for the TS meals, it forces you to order dessert to get the value out of it. We hardly ever choose to eat dessert, so again waste.

I think you have to look at how you like to eat. If that way of eating fits in with the DDP, then go that route. If you're like us and you don't like CS meals and like to mainly eat at sit-down restaurants, TIW is probably the way to go.

 

[erionm]

My mother is a numbers person and I just recently had her look at the benefit of us getting the DDP this October because I want to do the HDDR.

However, it is still not beneficial for us to get the DDP vs the TIW. And you can't even use the TIW for HDDR.

You can use the TiW for the HDDR, but only for certain show times.
From TablesInWonderland.com:

Pre-Paid Reservations and Dinner Shows:

• For any participating Walt Disney World restaurant where reservations are pre-paid, please make a reservation and pay full price at the time of booking. Upon arrival to the restaurant, present the Tables in Wonderland card for a 20% refund.
• For the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, the show times are 4:00pm, 6:15pm and 8:30pm.

• From September 30, 2012 through March 7, 2013, the Tables in Wonderland discount will be offered only at the 8:30pm show.
• From March 8, 2013 through August 31, 2013, the Tables in Wonderland discount will be offered only at the 4:00pm show.
• From September 1, 2013 through September 27, 2013 the Tables in Wonderland discount will be offered only at the 8:30pm show.
• Tables in Wonderland discounts for show times are subject to change without notice.

 

[BrerNashville]

But we are 2 adults and 3 kids (1 kid under 3) -- so based on what I read here, DDP is better? Our kids don't eat much fine dining so we mostly to hotdogs/chicken nuggets/pizza meals and character dinings.

We only have 2 character dining booked so far for this trip.

Yours is one situation where I would sharpen my pencil and run the numbers. If you are there for a shorter amount of time (3-5 days), the DDP may end up being better. In my view, the longer you are there, the bigger chance you run of not being hungry for a meal, skipping it, and then trying to figure out how to make it up. When our kids were under 10, we seemed to alternate trips -- one trip we would do the DDP and try to stuff as many character meals and buffets into the trip, and the next we would do maybe only one character meal (Chef Mickey's is more tradition for us than fine dining) and just live off the TiW. If you are wine drinkers, you can still be on the DDP and use your TiW card for your noncovered beverages.

Also, the longer you are there, the more the savings with the TiW piles up from not ordering a full complement of meals (maybe your 3 paying kids split 2 plates, or something) and you just ordering a salad for dinner because of the 2 mickey bars and the funnel cake you had at the parks. With the DDP, I feel obligated to order that $30 steak and dessert, because I've paid for it, whatever I've eaten in the parks.

The savings on the DDP definitely comes with the kids, though, because the price of one kids buffet is close to, if not more than, the cost of one day for the child on the DDP.

 

[AmyB2006]

You can use the TiW for the HDDR, but only for certain show times.
From TablesInWonderland.com:

Yes, but I don't think when they October 2013 schedule is released, it's going to be one that we want. We want the early or middle seating most likely. I can't eat at 8:15 with my two littles. Usually it's the earlier or late seatings you can use it for. I don't know... time will tell. I'm counting on it not being valid though.

 

[belias21]

Yours is one situation where I would sharpen my pencil and run the numbers. If you are there for a shorter amount of time (3-5 days), the DDP may end up being better. In my view, the longer you are there, the bigger chance you run of not being hungry for a meal, skipping it, and then trying to figure out how to make it up. When our kids were under 10, we seemed to alternate trips -- one trip we would do the DDP and try to stuff as many character meals and buffets into the trip, and the next we would do maybe only one character meal (Chef Mickey's is more tradition for us than fine dining) and just live off the TiW. If you are wine drinkers, you can still be on the DDP and use your TiW card for your noncovered beverages.

Also, the longer you are there, the more the savings with the TiW piles up from not ordering a full complement of meals (maybe your 3 paying kids split 2 plates, or something) and you just ordering a salad for dinner because of the 2 mickey bars and the funnel cake you had at the parks. With the DDP, I feel obligated to order that $30 steak and dessert, because I've paid for it, whatever I've eaten in the parks.

The savings on the DDP definitely comes with the kids, though, because the price of one kids buffet is close to, if not more than, the cost of one day for the child on the DDP.

I'm in the same boat here. Two adults and three kids with one under 3yo. I ran the numbers using the spreadsheet I linked to on the previous page and frankly all the options were within maybe $50 of each other for our 6 night trip.

I think I'm going to go the TIW route because it will keep us from getting more desserts than we would get on the DDP.

 

[myxdvz]

I'm in the same boat here. Two adults and three kids with one under 3yo. I ran the numbers using the spreadsheet I linked to on the previous page and frankly all the options were within maybe $50 of each other for our 6 night trip.

I think I'm going to go the TIW route because it will keep us from getting more desserts than we would get on the DDP.

We have 2 trips planned for the year, a split stay BCV/BWV (4N/3N) this June and another 4N stay in November pre-cruise.

Am also looking to book Spring Break March/April 2014. Yes, I am absolutely maximizing our APs! so in total we will probably have 15-18 days at WDW from June - May, so TiW? I can try the DDP for JUST the 2nd part of the split stay. Is it valid 1d before and 1 day after?

Sorry for hi-jacking thread, but same problem so didn't want to create a new one.

 

[bumbershoot]

I can try the DDP for JUST the 2nd part of the split stay. Is it valid 1d before and 1 day after?

Sorry for hi-jacking thread, but same problem so didn't want to create a new one.

The dining plan can be used from the time that you check in to the resort (even if your room isn't ready) until midnight on the day you check out. You get the number of entitlements for the plan you choose per person, per NIGHT of the reservation.

So yes you can just buy the dining plan for the first resort, then not buy it for the second. And you can use it until midnight of the day you check out of the first and check in to the second. Assuming you have entitlements left, of course.

 

[staceymay00]

I'm in the same boat here. Two adults and three kids with one under 3yo. I ran the numbers using the spreadsheet I linked to on the previous page and frankly all the options were within maybe $50 of each other for our 6 night trip.

I think I'm going to go the TIW route because it will keep us from getting more desserts than we would get on the DDP.

That is what I found several years ago when all three of our kids were between 3 and 9 - pretty much a wash, even with a couple of character meals a trip. Even back then we never did DDP, just TIW because of the flexibility and being free to order (or not order) what we want.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[zackspal]

I may be in a small minority here. we do both DDP & TIW. Beauty of TIW is it not only give discount on what is not covered by dining plan, it covers drinks. drinks for 6 adults for a week can run into a few pennies and 20% off is nice, it is easy to reach the break even point. Wh we go we dont worry about what every thing costs, we go to enjoy our selves & leave the craziness home.

 

[ltmoko]

We found TiW to be about $50 cheaper than DDP for us. That did not include adult beverages so, we are going to run with TiW and see how it goes!

 

[luvformickey]

We stopped using the DDP 3 years ago and switched to the TIW card. We usually save a little using TIW than we would paying for the DDP, and that's factoring in a couple drinks with dinner each night (a 20% savings adds up really quick on those). I like the flexibility of eating what I want and not what I'm told. DS10 shared a few entrees with me and a couple nights we just chose several appetizers and dessert. I like the flexibility, but I know there are those who would rather have it paid for in advance.

 

[mariafh]

We just got back from disney using the TiW card for myself, my 16 yr daughter, and DH. After the initial $100, we saved about $70 dollars overall. Resturants we went to included Boma, Kona, Chefs de France, Shula, Hoop de Doo, Pucks cafe, and Sci Fi for lunch. Otherwise fast food and breakfast in the room. Unfortunately, couldn't use for Hoop de Doo because it was the wrong sitting. At this time period only the 4pm show applied. The biggest savings was at Shula where we saved about $40. We never do the dining plan because we don't eat that much. For our family, three people is about break even for TiW and for 2 people, stick with the DVC regular dining discounts.

 

[goofyredraider]

I may be in a small minority here. we do both DDP & TIW. Beauty of TIW is it not only give discount on what is not covered by dining plan, it covers drinks. drinks for 6 adults for a week can run into a few pennies and 20% off is nice, it is easy to reach the break even point. Wh we go we dont worry about what every thing costs, we go to enjoy our selves & leave the craziness home.

We are getting ready to do the same for June, but no dining plan in December. I think we will reach our break even very quickly in June though -