Tables in wonderland card? Worth it?

[jeast]

I'm thinking about getting this, as I have a seasonal pass and may not be able to do the DP this trip.

Anyone have any experience with this card?

 

[disneyfav4ever]

It's worth it as long as you spend at least $400 on food within the year you have it. The last time I had it, I had three trips within the year, and it paid for itself during the first trip.

 

[webprinter]

Do you get any kind of discount off the F&W Festival kiosks with the TIW card? I know you don't with the CP pkg.

 

[D&R love Disney]

I used it this past 4 night trip and saved over $50 with it. I also got 2 previous trips on it so it really paid for itself. I'll get another one next year!

 

[wdwfan1]

I have not bought a card in a few years. Last time I got one (DDE then) the card did not expire exactly 12 months from purchase. They gave you a few extra months. Is that still the practice, or will it expire exactly 12 months from purchase? Thanks.

 

[TDC Nala]

Do you get any kind of discount off the F&W Festival kiosks with the TIW card? I know you don't with the CP pkg.

No, you don't. However, you can pre-book the $8 culinary and wine seminars for $5 if you have a membership. (You could also do that if you had an AP or were a DVC member though)

I bought mine August 29 and it expires September 29 of next year.

 

[ahill004]

I think it depends on how many onsite meals you plan to eat at on your trips? We have one and used it for a two week trip back in December 2008. We were a party of 6 and it more than paid for itself (I even bought the annual pass so we could buy the TIW card and the money spent on the annual pass and the TIW combined was far less than the savings that trip alone)! I am using it again this Sept. trip. I've loved the card and think it is a great deal!

 

[wdwthanksgiving]

i think it is great! you do have to know you will recoup your initial cost to make it worthwhile but it is good for alcohol as well as food...and if you are on the ddp you can you it for the items that are not covered (like appetizers, salads, drinks, etc)
we have certainly saved by having this card - we did not renew our annual pass so when ours expires at the end of november, i don't know what we'll do!!! i believe you can only get it with an annual pass and if you are a florida resident - is that correct?

 

[jeast]

i believe you can only get it with an annual pass and if you are a florida resident - is that correct?

Yes, that's true.

I spent a few hours going over our plans, now that we're staying offsite. Pulled up the menus, TS and CS that we will most likely hit. Turns out that we will actually spend LESS money paying OOP than the dining plan. We're also planning a night or two of off site restaurants. Also, TIW will not pay for itself in this trip since CS is not covered (except AK). And since our APs expire in March, it's unlikely we will return for a while.

Therefore, we are better off just going and paying OOP. Wow. That's 3 hours of my life I won't get back, but I saved myself a little $!

 

[BellyBaby]

It says somewhere that 18% gratuity is automatically added to your bill, regardless of party size. Does anyone know if that's just for table service? (I'm assuming it should be, and not added to counter service, but Lord knows Disney adds every little ding it can for $ )

We're thinking of buying one, and I understand it's also available for Seasonal Passholders as well in Florida.

Someone also mentioned it's good for booze, is that for certain? Seems odd booze would be included, but boy, would Loooooove that benefit! We've never shelled out $12 + for a drink in Epcot, just too pricey! It would make it at least plausible next time we're there!

 

[IluvKingLouis]

We had the DDE several years ago. We were staying at a Value (ASMu), 3 adults and DD4 (at that time). So we got a break on the breakfast at ASMu, and we are the types that always do one TS a day. Most are the Character types, so the 20% was great.

In fact, a lot of TS's (simpler ones) are only about 20% more then a CS, so we'd often choose a sitdown burger somewhere for $10.00 (less the 20%) vs. a $7.00-$8.00 burger. Nice to sit down in air conditioning and in a less chaotic atmosphere.

The tip use to not be included, and what we'd do is pay the before discounted price so our server made a 20% tip. So this change in policy really wouldn't change our tipping.

We loved the card, but only did it if we had plans to go twice in a 12 month period.

 

[MickeyNicki]

For us it is totally worth it...we go many times throughout the year and have alot of TS meals...not to mention the bars we frequent!

 

[jakenjess]

It says somewhere that 18% gratuity is automatically added to your bill, regardless of party size. Does anyone know if that's just for table service? (I'm assuming it should be, and not added to counter service, but Lord knows Disney adds every little ding it can for $ )

We're thinking of buying one, and I understand it's also available for Seasonal Passholders as well in Florida.

Someone also mentioned it's good for booze, is that for certain? Seems odd booze would be included, but boy, would Loooooove that benefit! We've never shelled out $12 + for a drink in Epcot, just too pricey! It would make it at least plausible next time we're there!

The gratuity is added to the bill. The TiW card is only good at TS restaurants, with very few CS locations included. Here is the list:

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

It is good for booze, but only at the TS restaurants and lounges where the card is accepted. You wouldn't be able to use it at a kiosk in Epcot, for example. We find we definitely get our money's worth, with a family of four. Hope this helps!

 

[JohnnyB2]

We have the card and they add 18% gratuity but you receive 20% off your bill (drinks included). We plan a couple of trips a year so it pays for itself usually after the first trip.So in a way the card covers the expense of the tip

 

[LONES]

I really must be missing something here...!!
It says the TIW card costs $75.00 for an AP holder, and then $50.00 for an additional card. What would be the point of a second card?

 

[eliza61]

I really must be missing something here...!!
It says the TIW card costs $75.00 for an AP holder, and then $50.00 for an additional card. What would be the point of a second card?

I never understood that either.

Op, we loved ours. I didn't renew for this year because I knew I would be either off site alot but we always recoup the price of the card. Since we don't make a lot of adr's we don't have to worry about losing "points".

 

[jharrowell]

I really must be missing something here...!!
It says the TIW card costs $75.00 for an AP holder, and then $50.00 for an additional card. What would be the point of a second card?

Only reasons I can think of are that your party splits up for some reason, allowing both to use TiWL or that you have a party larger than 10. Both pretty rare I admit.

I did do this once however as my partner and I got a "free" second card during a DDE promotion. So during a mass TS meal for one of the meets at Mousefest I sat at one table and my partner sat at another giving us I think 19 people in total that we got a discount on. Those cards paid for themselves during that one TS meal!

 

[TDC Nala]

Another reason for a second card is that only the cardholder may use the card, and the cardholder is required to be present - you are not even supposed to be able to give it to your spouse to use. They don't always check for ID on the cardholder but sometimes they do.

 

[3floridarays]

Where can I find info about where this card can be used? We are getting annual passes before our next trip and will probably go 3 or 4 times during 2010 - so I'm guessing it would be worth the price??

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I can remember when it was the DDE card, it was $20 for the first card & the second was free...
yes, the second card is for your spouse/partner. This way if you weren't there, they could get the discount. The card has one name on it and only that person gets the discount. You cannot send your DH to a CS area to get the food if his name isn't on a card... To be honest, since Disney has raised the price of this so much and added the crazy $50 fee for the second card, I no longer get it. It doesn't pay off for me anymore. My family of 5 no longer travel together up there anymore and it is just cheaper to do without it.