Tables in Wonderland for this trip?

[waldiddy]

I'm vacationing in June in a group of 11, and we're planning on several on-site table service meals (9, I believe).

I've already made all the reservations and bought the tickets. Does it make any sense for me to upgrade 1 ticket to an AP and buy the TiW for the meal discount? On average, I think our meals are going to cost ~$260 or so for our group.

Thanks in advance for your suggestion!

 

[TDC Nala]

You'll get the money out of the TIW membership - the answer will depend on if you will save enough to justify purchasing the annual pass as well as the TIW membership. There aren't any TIW blackout dates in June and it isn't known if you are attending any restaurants (Yak & Yeti or Teppan Edo, basically) that do not accept TIW.

 

[waldiddy]

Yes, all of our restaurants show up on this list:

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

2 in our party are paying me in advance for their meals, but I'm paying for the other 9. So, I underestimated the average meal cost. It's actually ~$320.

Looks like we'd save ~$550 all together, after backing out the TiW fee. I've got a 7 day hopper ticket I could upgrade to an AP .. if they let you do that. Is upgrading relatively straightforward?

 

[TDC Nala]

Can't really answer about the upgrading, I know you can do it but I haven't done it. But the TIW discount will apply to 10 persons and you have a party of 11. If you don't have any infants in the party you may want to have a child's meal excluded from the discount (if you have children along who will want child's meals)

 

[snykymom]

Yes, all of our restaurants show up on this list:

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

2 in our party are paying me in advance for their meals, but I'm paying for the other 9. So, I underestimated the average meal cost. It's actually ~$320.

Looks like we'd save ~$550 all together, after backing out the TiW fee. I've got a 7 day hopper ticket I could upgrade to an AP .. if they let you do that. Is upgrading relatively straightforward?

Yes, the upgrading is relatively straightforward (always depending, of course, on the CM you get!). I have upgraded a 7 day hopper to an AP a couple of times, just to get the TiW!

1) USE your 7 day park hopper to enter a park. (I recommend MK or Epcot) to lock in the then-current gate price of the ticket. This is especially true if you bought your tickets from a discounter like Undercover Tourist, or even from Disney if purchased before a price increase.
2) Go to Guest Relations in the park. In MK it's in Town Hall.
3) Ask to upgrade your ticket. Know exactly what you should pay. The equation is "Price of AP minus the then-current gate price of the 7 day-hopper." (Or as Robo says, subtract the price of the ticket you HAVE from the ticket you WANT.) This year, the prices would be $531.44 - $320.57, including tax.
4) If the CM gives you any other price, ask if they "bridged" the ticket to the current gate price.
5) Buy the TiW once you have your AP.

I've heard that Animal Kingdom is not good at this process; I've had no problem at either MK or DHS.

 

[Tigger's ally]

why are you upgrading your ticket? Are you going back within a year. If not, just buy the TIW card. It will cost you $100 instead of the $75 that AP holders pay, but $25 is alot less than upgrading to the AP.

Edit- Don't know where I got it, but I was thinking you were fla resident.

 

[waldiddy]

Interesting ... so I can buy the TiW without having to buy an AP? I didn't know that. Can I buy the TiW at any ticket kiosk, like at the Transportation Center at MK?

Ideally, I'd rather wait until I'm there to buy the TiW. I had the impression that it was something you needed to get 3 weeks in advance or so.

 

[TDC Nala]

Interesting ... so I can buy the TiW without having to buy an AP? I didn't know that. Can I buy the TiW at any ticket kiosk, like at the Transportation Center at MK?

Ideally, I'd rather wait until I'm there to buy the TiW. I had the impression that it was something you needed to get 3 weeks in advance or so.

You can if you are a Florida resident. Otherwise, no.

You can buy TIW at Guest Relations at any park or Downtown Disney. I do not think you can buy them at regular ticket kiosks. There are Guest Relations areas located inside and outside the gates of each theme park. You must show your annual pass or proof of Florida residency. If you have not already purchased your annual pass, you can buy it first at Guest Relations and then purchase the TIW membership.

 

[waldiddy]

Seems like a pretty straightforward process. I think I can save about 10% off my dining bill in total, after factoring everything in, like tips, AP parking benefit, etc.

Which is sort of a justification for tacking on another meal for the vacation

Thanks so much for all the info.

 

[dismichael]

not sure since you have to upgrade the ticket as well. TiW pays for the tip (essentially) at each restaurant so you would have to do the math.