Tables in Wonderland card?

[Uncleromulus]

They can be purchased at any Guest relations spot. We get ours at Downtown Disney.

 

[disneyfan55]

Do you need to preorder the TIW Card? Last time we picked one up right inside Hollywood Studios, can I get this at the World Showcase entrance to EPCOT too?

Thanks!

Any guest relations has the TIW card. I don't recall one at that entrance but I guess there can be. There are 2 guest relations at EPCOT and MK that I recall. In EPCOT across from Spaceship Earth (left side looking at it from the main gate and to the right as walking from the bus area.

 

[shellybaxter]

It's not suggested that guests join TIW for one trip (unless they're bringing lots of people and spending lots of money on TS food and booze). Annual passholders often make multiple trips in a year and that's what it's best for. If you're considering it for a single trip, you'll need to add up where you plan to eat, how many people, what they might order, whether drinks in bars will be consumed, etc. to see if you'll get your money's worth out of the membership.

I think that really depends on how long the trip is and where you plan to eat. DH and I buy a TIW card each trip. We go for about 2 weeks and eat at mostly signature restaurants for dinner and sit down for breakfast or lunch. We usually hit the $375 between days two and three.

 

[Luv2Roam]

TiW (formally DDE) is one of those things not as good as it use to be. But it is what it is. (We stopped renewing a few years ago.)
One downside is the additional card is $50. Unless the price increased on that too. It use to be free. But I think too many people were saying they were the main cardholder's spouse or in the same household to get a free one. Hence even a lost card will cost $50 to be replaced.
Also, servers will no longer split tickets. So that really was a pain too. It's fine when it is one bill. But when splitting it 2 + ways it was just a pain IMO.
Yes, great for savings. But even like the DDP, it has it's limitations and not a one size fits all.
I also use to have to carry around the letter stating what the perks were. Otherwise I spent a lot of time arguing with the server to get beverage discounts. (On any beverage. Not even alcohol.) That got old fast too.
My last straw was being refused by the server and manager at GF Cafe on a DDE discount for our juice and coffee for breakfast. (Didn't have the dang letter on me. Hence I just got tired of justifying my discount to servers.)
But maybe now the servers are better informed.

 

[disneyfan55]

I think that really depends on how long the trip is and where you plan to eat. DH and I buy a TIW card each trip. We go for about 2 weeks and eat at mostly signature restaurants for dinner and sit down for breakfast or lunch. We usually hit the $375 between days two and three.

Yes, I agree. We went for a week Feb 5-12 and saved over 220 over the cost. We had 5 adults for most of the trip and 1 under 3 (purchased a kids meal 2-3 times) While we did eat at 2 signature rest (might not have otherwise) with that many we saved quite a bit and the card is good through Mar 31, 2011.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Can you purchase the TIW card at a resort? We're staying at Boardwalk Villas, and we're not going to a park on check-in day. I'm also not sure if we will be going to Downtown Disney on that first day but we have a dinner ADR at Chef Mickey's so we'd like to use the card there.

If I already have my park tickets, how do I upgrade to an AP with the DVC discount? I added the basic DDP to our reservation a while ago but I have to cancel it 72 hours before check-in or sooner, per DVC trip rules. I want to be sure I can upgrade my ticket to an AP when we arrive, at the Boardwalk Resort, and also purchase the TIW card at that time so we can use it right away even though we're not going to a park that day.

 

[disneyfan55]

Can you purchase the TIW card at a resort? We're staying at Boardwalk Villas, and we're not going to a park on check-in day. I'm also not sure if we will be going to Downtown Disney on that first day but we have a dinner ADR at Chef Mickey's so we'd like to use the card there.

If I already have my park tickets, how do I upgrade to an AP with the DVC discount? I added the basic DDP to our reservation a while ago but I have to cancel it 72 hours before check-in or sooner, per DVC trip rules. I want to be sure I can upgrade my ticket to an AP when we arrive, at the Boardwalk Resort, and also purchase the TIW card at that time so we can use it right away even though we're not going to a park that day.

Upgrades are done at Guest Services. I don't know if the DVC is different but I'm sure you can't upgrade a ticket at a hotel or purchase TIW. If you are going to chef mickey's just walk over to MK to get the upgrade and TIW.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I would just call in and order and one and do a Will Call on it to pick up. It use to be they could only be picked up at the front of Epcot. But I do not know if that is still the case.
The membership begins once you pay for it though. It's not activated at first usage as park tickets are.

Oops -- see you are not yet an AP-er.

 

[disneyfan55]

I would just call in and order and one and do a Will Call on it to pick up. It use to be they could only be picked up at the front of Epcot. But I do not know if that is still the case.
The membership begins once you pay for it though. It's not activated at first usage as park tickets are.

Oops -- see you are not yet an AP-er.

I think the reason they are valid for longer than 1 year is that they used to only be able to be purchased through the mail. You can get one at any Guest relations now (purchased Feb 5 good through Mar 31 next year)

 

[goldielocksraj]

One PP mentioned that another perk to the TiW card is FREE VALET parking at resorts when you go for dining. I've only used it twice for that, but it sure was fun to valet for almost free (I still gave tip, of course), since hubby will never pay for it.

 

[TDC Nala]

Can you purchase the TIW card at a resort?

No, only at Guest Services at parks or Downtown Disney. Same with an annual pass - you can't purchase one at a resort. You'd have to go to a Guest Services to upgrade your pass to an annual. At the same time, once you've done the upgrade, you can purchase a TIW membership.

You do not have to enter a theme park to access Guest Services. All parks have Guest Services windows outside the park gates.

If your trip is in July, be informed that TIW is blacked out on July 4 and you won't be able to get a discount on meals should you be at WDW that day.

 

[bangzoom6877]

No, only at Guest Services at parks or Downtown Disney. Same with an annual pass - you can't purchase one at a resort. You'd have to go to a Guest Services to upgrade your pass to an annual. At the same time, once you've done the upgrade, you can purchase a TIW membership.

You do not have to enter a theme park to access Guest Services. All parks have Guest Services windows outside the park gates.

If your trip is in July, be informed that TIW is blacked out on July 4 and you won't be able to get a discount on meals should you be at WDW that day.

Thank you! I asked some questions about the APs on the Theme Parks Attractions & Strategies Board and it was suggested to walk from BWV to the Int'l Gateway at Epcot to upgrade my ticket to an AP and also buy the TIW card. That way I can easily do this right after checking in and use the discount at Chef Mickey's that night.

We will be arriving July 13th, so no worries of the July 4th blackout date. Any other blackouts in July I should know?

 

[TDC Nala]

No, just the 4th. The 8 blackout dates in each year are January 1, Easter Sunday (April 4,2010), Mother's Day (May 9, 2010), July 4, Thanksgiving Day (November 25, 2010), December 24, December 25, and January 31.