Tables in Wonderland Discount

[Corinne]

I found a listing of participating restaurants here.

As you can see, few (if any?) counter service options, and definitely none at the parks.

Uhm, the whole point of the TIW program is the discount on table service dining. The only reason the food courts at the resorts accept it is because those particular resorts do not offer any TS dining.

As other's have mentioned, it pays for itself in just a few meals. We have had the card since it was first offered to AP holders, we love it!

 

[jco_direwolf]

As you can see, few (if any?) counter service options, and definitely none at the parks.

Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park – Tusker House Restaurant, Pizzafari, Flame Tree Barbeque, Restaurantosaurus

Pizzafari, Flame Tree and Restaurantosaurus are all considered Counter Service and are in a park. It's because the Tusker House only recently became a TS and Yak and Yeti doesn't take DDE/TiW (it being not operated by Disney.)

Assuming this really is the current list (pulled it out of the previous post.) I was thinking once Tusker house opened they would pull out the other 3 CS. Because I've used them numerous times for a quick snack when I was at AK.

I was in line at Restaurantosaurus with my Mother-in-law, and I had just explained to her that the DDE didn't work at Counter Service in MK so when I pulled it out and paid for the stuff at AK she asked me about. I explained it to her. The CM at the register smiled at me and said "So you're an ex cast member?" I said nope...just know the rules...

johno

 

[rutgers1]

Uhm, the whole point of the TIW program is the discount on table service dining. The only reason the food courts at the resorts accept it is because those particular resorts do not offer any TS dining.

As other's have mentioned, it pays for itself in just a few meals. We have had the card since it was first offered to AP holders, we love it!

Corrinne, I understand that the point is to get a discount on table service dining, but considering most people's vacations feature a mix of table service and counter service, and since people weighing the options (TIW or DDP) tend to be looking for the best savings, I thought that I should point out that the discounts you get with TIW are much more limited when it comes to counter service. For some people, that is a significant point. Well, it is for me.

For me, if there were counter service options at all of the parks, I would consider it an even better deal.

 

[rutgers1]

I don't quite get this...I suppose you are saying that if you eat counter service for lunch and table for dinner, DDP is better? In my experience, we don't eat much CS, period, so TIW is a much better deal for us. And my son eats next to nothing at most restaurants, unless they can make him a grilled cheese sandwich (we're accustomed to feeding him before we eat if we think there'll be nothing for him), so the DDP is a total waste for him with the exception of breakfasts.

I can see why someone wouldn't have understood what I was saying. The main issue is that we all have different dining habits, so saying one thing is better than another is difficult because we are not all comparing apples to apples. So, with that said, here was my reasoning......As we all know, the DDP is a fixed price, whether you order dishes that are on the high or low end of the price spectrum, or whether you take full advantage of the offerings (dessert, snacks, etc.). So, supposing (and this is a big supposition because I do realize that some people eat multiple table service meals a day) you eat one table service meal per day (which is what the most popular DDP offering includes), you are MORE likely to make good use of your money spent on the DDP if you eat that table service meal at dinner. I say this because dinners generally cost more. Eat a nice steak for dinner at a more upscale restaurant, and you will definitely be saving money by getting the DDP over paying out of pocket (even with the TIW card). Eat a salad at lunchtime, and you won't be saving with the DDP.

I worked it out many different ways for my family - with dessert, without dessert, eating table services at lunch, eating table services at dinner, etc. I worked it out so many ways that my head was spinning. In the end, I basically concluded that the savings are so minimal from one plan to the other (given my family's dining habits) that it was hard to declare one to be "hands down" better than the other. The only scenario whereby one will be clearly better than the other is when my sons cross from "child" to "adult" in the DDP pricing category, as there is no way that they will eat enough to justify an adult DDP price. At that point, TIW is definitely the way to go.

Now that we just joined DVC, one thing that might steer us away from DDP is the fact that DVC doesn't let you pay for your DDP prior to getting there. Now this might sound silly, but we used to like paying for our meals months in advance. When we'd pay early and pay off that debt off of our credit card prior to our arrival in Disney, it almost felt like the food was "free". I have seen others mention that feeling on the disboards before. However, if you have to pay with your credit card upon arrival, it doesn't feel quite the same way anymore. At that point, I don't really consider it prepaid. I know it is silly, but that is the way we feel.

 

[Anal Annie]

I can see why someone wouldn't have understood what I was saying. The main issue is that we all have different dining habits, so saying one thing is better than another is difficult because we are not all comparing apples to apples. So, with that said, here was my reasoning......As we all know, the DDP is a fixed price, whether you order dishes that are on the high or low end of the price spectrum, or whether you take full advantage of the offerings (dessert, snacks, etc.). So, supposing (and this is a big supposition because I do realize that some people eat multiple table service meals a day) you eat one table service meal per day (which is what the most popular DDP offering includes), you are MORE likely to make good use of your money spent on the DDP if you eat that table service meal at dinner. I say this because dinners generally cost more. Eat a nice steak for dinner at a more upscale restaurant, and you will definitely be saving money by getting the DDP over paying out of pocket (even with the TIW card). Eat a salad at lunchtime, and you won't be saving with the DDP.

I worked it out many different ways for my family - with dessert, without dessert, eating table services at lunch, eating table services at dinner, etc. I worked it out so many ways that my head was spinning. In the end, I basically concluded that the savings are so minimal from one plan to the other (given my family's dining habits) that it was hard to declare one to be "hands down" better than the other. The only scenario whereby one will be clearly better than the other is when my sons cross from "child" to "adult" in the DDP pricing category, as there is no way that they will eat enough to justify an adult DDP price. At that point, TIW is definitely the way to go.

This is kinda what I was trying to say. If you eat primarily TS meals at "participating restaurants" it's a good deal or say if you're a family of 5 with 3 teenage boys who eat like 10 ppl 6 times a day the TIW card is a fantastic deal 'cuz it's a 20% off discount. So the more you spend the more you save. For a little family of 3 like us with a 65 Lb "Disney Adult" who still eats his share of mac & cheese...not so much of a deal for EITHER plan as Mr. 65 Lbs Soaking Wet does not eat anywhere close to the amount of food they charge for on the DDP either. The buffets are certainly a hard pill to swallow for him too as he heads for the pastas & maybe has a little chicken on the side.

We are trying 2 TS restaurants on our next trip that we've never done before and neither takes the TIW card but I still wanted to eat there. We CAN get the AP and/or DVC 10% off tho so I think for the 10% difference we'll manage just fine. Personally, I get tired of 1) planning when & where we want to eat 90 days out and 2) Dislike having to go thru the list of participating restaurants to make sure we only eat at those places. I feel so restricted and scheduled. But thanks to the DDP that's how it's gotta be if you want to eat TS. Just another reason we do a lot of CS meals.

 

[Jeremy&Susan]

Is there a web site that lists where the card is accepted? I used to have it bookmarked but can't find it.

quote]


I thnk all ears site has a listing.

We also agree that TIW could use more participating restaurants. We used to always get the card but it seemed to be a job to make sure we at least broke out even with the cost of the card verses our savings.
Now with even fewer restaurants (at least fewer that we go to) accepting the card, we chose just not to get it.

If your family is not a large # of people or a big appetizer, desert and flavored or alcoholic drink family; it will be more difficult to save money buying and using the card. Our family or three is usually just a main course and water with lemon family and that made it hard to save the $75 purchase price for the card once a few of our favorite place no longer took the card. We also dont like to plan our meals around who will take a discount, we usually go based on what we feel like eating at that time.


BTW Our family's eating habits are the same reason we dont use the DDP. We just can't or don't eat that much food.

 

[gkrykewy]

BTW Our family's eating habits are the same reason we dont use the DDP. We just can't or don't eat that much food.

Same reason why I've never found the DDP to make sense for us. It's just my wife and I for now, and we usually eat 1 CS and 1 TS meal per day - no lunch, really.

For us, DDE/TIW pays for itself via TS dinners and the occasional breakfast (Boma buffet heaven!!) alone. Really savoring the card this year, since we probably won't have APs most years.

 

[Chuck S]

Same reason why I've never found the DDP to make sense for us. It's just my wife and I for now, and we usually eat 1 CS and 1 TS meal per day - no lunch, really.

For us, DDE/TIW pays for itself via TS dinners and the occasional breakfast (Boma buffet heaven!!) alone. Really savoring the card this year, since we probably won't have APs most years.

I totally agree.

While it takes longer to recoup the initial $75 investment, the DDE/TIW can be beneficial for parties of two adults that travel to WDW a few times per year.

We never spend enough or dine in a way that makes the DDP of any value to us, and I have added up our dining after every trip. We usually save $100 over what the DDP would cost, and we are able to dine our way, not Disney's way.

 

[Tara]

I can see why someone wouldn't have understood what I was saying.

Right, I didn't follow it, which is why I said I didn't get it but I assumed you meant... (what I said above - not quoting it again here for simplicity's sake).

The main issue is that we all have different dining habits, so saying one thing is better than another is difficult because we are not all comparing apples to apples.

Which is why I also said this:

Guess that's why they offer a couple of different discount programs - something for almost everyone.

I just didn't get your first comment about the difference between TS for lunch vs dinner...or I wasn't sure if I got it so I said what I thought you meant. That's all. I then went on to explain why TIW works well for us to illustrate the point that each plan -- TIW or DDP -- has value when used in certain ways, but those ways vary from family to family. Based on your comment about different dining habits, I think we agree!

 

[jfinke]

We purchased APs and TiW this year. We will be doing two trips if not three this calendar year. The card will pay for itself with one trip to Victoria and Alberts.

I was able to use it to pay for my family's meals and then they reimbursed me for their meal. It worked out well as we did a couple of TS meals with 8 of us.

 

[PinkTink63]

We got it a couple of years ago and found that it took a lot of planning to break even with it being a small family of 3 with a DS who may or may not eat off the adult menu. Being on a daily budget, we typically eat mostly CS meals and only do 2 or 3 TS meals in a week. Probably 3. So as a family of 3 it took us 10 days (2 trips) before we got our $60 back last time (even with several "Glowtini's" at Boma figured in). Our 3rd & final trip with the card was finally worth it when we used it for dinner at Jiko, breakfast at Boma and a lunch in the the AK park venues. Now that it is up to $75 I don't think we'll get it because it's not accepted everywhere. We have 2 TS meals planned over Memorial Day weekend and it is not accepted at either of the 2 restaurants we're going to (in DTD)!!! So that means probably the only time we'll use it on that trip is maybe for a CS lunch at the AK park. That will save us like $5. Still $70 to go. I don't know where we are eating yet when we go in August but I just don't think we'll get our money back on it if I have to sit & plan for only places where it's accepted... I don't know. I guess I have to start planning our August meals already so I can call for ADR's on May 18. Just our luck they announced the free dining plan starting on our first day in August. I really hate planning the TS meals in advance.

So my view is that if you do many CS meals or if your family is smaller it's harder to break even for what you pay for it. If you do a lot of TS meals and don't mind planning all of them around places that take the card or if your family is larger then it's a great idea.

I don't know if we will get it this time either! I just checked and it is not valid at two of the resorts we will be staying at this summer at their counter service area. I know the last time we had it we used it at Artist Pallete quite a bit!

I'm also really disappointed that the FD starts the day we arrive! That makes getting ressies very difficult! We don't like to plan our whole trip over where we will be eating every day!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Since we eat at only Signature restaurants, the Tables card works great for us! Just the one meal at V&A and we usually recoup the cost.
And since we don't do snacks, CS, or lunch, the DDP holds no attraction for us.

 

[cj9200]

I don't know if we will get it this time either! I just checked and it is not valid at two of the resorts we will be staying at this summer at their counter service area. I know the last time we had it we used it at Artist Pallete quite a bit!

I'm also really disappointed that the FD starts the day we arrive! That makes getting ressies very difficult! We don't like to plan our whole trip over where we will be eating every day!

Not sure I am going to renew either. In addition to not taking it at CS places they have a lot of "holiday" blackouts where the discount does not apply. These holiday restrictions are pretty generous to Disney.

I also hate free dining and am against the whole dining package idea. The menus have been dumbed down because of it. I remember waiting almost 30 minutes at the Boardwalk Bakery while this person took forever to figure out how many CS and snack credits she had and what she could use them on.

It is a shame. DDE used to be a great program and really introduced me to fine dining at WDW.

 

[Telcogirl]

Now that we just joined DVC, one thing that might steer us away from DDP is the fact that DVC doesn't let you pay for your DDP prior to getting there. Now this might sound silly, but we used to like paying for our meals months in advance. When we'd pay early and pay off that debt off of our credit card prior to our arrival in Disney, it almost felt like the food was "free". I have seen others mention that feeling on the disboards before. However, if you have to pay with your credit card upon arrival, it doesn't feel quite the same way anymore. At that point, I don't really consider it prepaid. I know it is silly, but that is the way we feel.

You can pay for the DDP in cash when you check in. I agree that I don't want that balance on my credit card either. We just take the cash and pay it when we get there.

 

[Inkmahm]

If you prefer TS over CS, like we do, the card will pay for itself in a few days. With the 20% and the 18% tip added, I save about 22%, since I'm typically a 20% tipper.

Us, too! Some CM are smart and don't add the tip automatically. They still get the 20% from me.

 

[Inkmahm]

I don't quite get this...I suppose you are saying that if you eat counter service for lunch and table for dinner, DDP is better? In my experience, we don't eat much CS, period, so TIW is a much better deal for us. And my son eats next to nothing at most restaurants, unless they can make him a grilled cheese sandwich (we're accustomed to feeding him before we eat if we think there'll be nothing for him), so the DDP is a total waste for him with the exception of breakfasts.



We much prefer appetizers to dessert, but to us, the flexibility of ordering either -- or both! -- is more valuable. Guess that's why they offer a couple of different discount programs - something for almost everyone.

In the end, if you eat CS frequently, don't order appetizers or alcohol (or don't mind paying extra for them), and don't eat at many signature restaurants, then DDP might work. Since we do eat at signatures, eat more TS than CS, like appetizers and often order wine/beer, the TIW is perfect for us.

However, with two sons who are going to age out of the "child" category on the DDP, I guess I'll be going with the TIW for a while.

[/QUOTE]

We have eating habits much like you and have the TIW card. We've ALSO done the deluxe DDP at the same time. I've done that twice now and we come out head with the DDP but only based on comparing the cost using DDP to what we'd have paid without the deluxe plan. If we don't have the plan, I am likely to NOT order both appetizer and dessert. So... I think we'll stick with just the TIW card in the future. While we "saved" a little more with the Deluxe DDP, I think I will spend less overall just using the TIW card and ordering exactly what I want.

 

[vicki_c]

I didn't think the holiday blackouts were bad at all - it's very few days at year - just the day of the big holidays I think (maybe an "eve" or two as well) and Mother's Day - not that many.

At the $60 price, our card was paid for in one 4 day trip which included a few TS meals, and a few trips to Artists Palette. But then we used it for a 3 day weekend trip with 2 TS meals, and again on a 13 day Christmas/NY trip. We feel we have made out really really well, and get to use it again in June for 8 days before it expires! We usually tip 18-20%, so I just look at it as if it has paid for all the tips on all the table service meals we had over almost 30 days.

It's all about HOW you eat while you're there - I calculated it against the DDP for our upcoming trip, and OOP with the card was about $100 cheaper than the DDP for our family. And I like that it's more flexible than the DDP so I don't feel like anything is wasted if you cancel an ADR.

But I can understand that others like having everything paid for in advance with the DDP (or at least paid for when you check in if you're DVC).

 

[jco_direwolf]

Us, too! Some CM are smart and don't add the tip automatically. They still get the 20% from me.

Can they do that? It was part of the union contract, I doubt they can remove the 18%.

johno