Tables In Wonderland Questions

[discorsner]

Hi I have some TIW questions.

We are going to have park tickets that we are going to upgrade to APs the first day we arrive.

Can we buy the TIW membership right then and there once we are AP holders?

Does it go into effect immediately?

If we have a large party on one of the meals (14 with 8 being 10 and up, 3 being ages 3-9, and 3 being free at a buffet since they are under 3) could we use the membership? We would all be on one check since I am treating my nieces and nephews to the meal.

I have heard that the discount is only good for up to 10 people but would we just get the discount on the 8 adults and 2 of the kids and then just pay full price for the one remaining kid or will they not even allow you to use TIW at all for a party bigger then 10?

Thanks for any info!!!!

 

[chamonix]

Yes, you can buy it right there and then; yes it is good to use right away.

While I have never done this, it should not be a problem to have the child who is eating the cheapest/least amount of food (lol) on a separate ticket. Hopefully someone who has done this will chime in here.......

 

[BriarRosie]

Yes, you can buy it right there and then; yes it is good to use right away.

While I have never done this, it should not be a problem to have the child who is eating the cheapest/least amount of food (lol) on a separate ticket. Hopefully someone who has done this will chime in here.......

Agreed. The original poster should be able to ask the server to designate the 10 people covered for TiW and the separate bill for the non-TiW child's meal.

 

[kristenrice]

Agreed. The original poster should be able to ask the server to designate the 10 people covered for TiW and the separate bill for the non-TiW child's meal.

Oh, this is great to hear!!

I am planning to have the TiW for our big family trip in June 2012. We will be a party of 14 and my parents are footing the bill. It would be great if we could put the 9 adults and one kid on one check and the other 5 kids on a separate check.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Yes, as long as you do it at a Guest Relations Office, as opposed to a ticket booth, you can purchase the TiW at the same time you do the upgrade to APs. And it will be effective immediately.

You may need to have the server give two checks, one for the 8 adults and two children and the other for anyone else. Just discuss this with the server.

 

[LhasaMomPilotWife]

I've heard TiW isn't worth the cost because it is now so difficult to walk-in to a sit-down restaurant without ADR. Thoughts?

 

[pmdeve]

We have had TIW for the past three years. We always make our ADR's at 180days out. Over the course of the three years, the TIW has saved us a lot of $.

 

[BroganMc]

I've heard TiW isn't worth the cost because it is now so difficult to walk-in to a sit-down restaurant without ADR. Thoughts?

In that case the Dining Plan wouldn't be good either. Your logic escapes me.

It is getting much harder to walk-in to any restaurant in Disney. Especially if you are going for the prime seating hours for a meal or during a busy time of year. But ADRs are pretty easy to make online nowadays.

I think the reason for all the advance bookings is the Dining Plan popularity. People are planning their trips around meals these days.

 

[Firefly09]

New question: when they calculate the 18% tip, is that before or after the 20% discount??

I ask because that could add up significantly after a week of dining.

 

[DebbieB]

New question: when they calculate the 18% tip, is that before or after the 20% discount??

I ask because that could add up significantly after a week of dining.

Before. You should always tip on the non-discounted amount. That's why they automatically add the tip, so that the server does not get less.

 

[discorsner]

Thanks so much for the info. Everyone confirmed what I was hoping to hear and confirmed how I thought it worked. It is always a better feeling when you back up what you are saying with other people on the Dis! Then I know it's true!

As for the above post where someone said it might not be worth it because of needing ADRs, I can understand where that would be a problem but I would never leave for WDW without ADRs. Does anyone get in as a walk in anymore? I couldn't picture that working anyway. Plus even if it worked for others I am way too OCD to not have a plan with typed in ressie numbers.

We have paid OOP before and we have done the dining plan tons of times too. I prefer the dining plan but this time we are going with others and we are staying off property (boo!) and so I thought we would try TIW since we are going to upgrade to the APs.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Firefly09]

Before. You should always tip on the non-discounted amount. That's why they automatically add the tip, so that the server does not get less.

Thanks! We always do when we go out at home, but that's tipping on a $30 tab not >$100 before discount and it makes a difference.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Here is a working example, using $100.00 as the original bill to make the math show up easily. Note this is for Table Service. At Counter Service there is no gratuity added.

100.00 - Original Amount
*20.00 - Discount
*80.00 - Subtotal
*18.00 - Gratuity Added based on $100
**5.20 - Sales Tax on $80
103.20 - Final amount charged, takes into consideration discount, gratuity and tax.

Without TiW Discount (and still figuring 18% Gratuity)

100.00 - Amount of Bill
*18.00 - Gratuity
**6.50 - Sales Tax on $100
124.50 - Total

$21.30 - Savings using TiW Card.

(Note - At Victoria and Albert's the added gratuity is 20% instead of 18%.)
* Ignore the asterisks; they are there only so the columns/numbers line up properly.

 

[chamonix]

I've heard TiW isn't worth the cost because it is now so difficult to walk-in to a sit-down restaurant without ADR. Thoughts?

It depends what time of year you go, among other things. We have had TIW for several years (since it became available to AP holders) and find it very worth it. Did you know you can make ADRs on the day you are there? How flexible are you? Sometimes we don't make any ADRs until we get to WDW (last minute, quick trips) and we find it's not "difficult" to get in to sit down restaurants. We are a small party, very flexible, and nearly always eat at the signatures. Because of kids, eating early or late is fine with us. Sometimes after we get there we just see what's available for the next few days and go with it. It's worked out for us 90% of the time at least.

That being said, I recommend you make ADRs if at all possible. Flexibility is key though.

Heck, we save the cost of the TIW in one night! Nice wine helps, lol. YMMV, of course. It depends when you go, what you spend, etc etc.

 

[vicki_c]

In that case the Dining Plan wouldn't be good either. Your logic escapes me.

Me too. Don't see how the availability of walk-ups make the TiW a value or not. It's a value if you eat @ TS. If you don't or can't eat @ a TS, then it won't be. We make 99% of our reservations in advance.

 

[hockey6]

I am just learning about TiW card, do you have to have a AP or is it just cheaper that way? Also, is it good for 20% off at all disney parks & resorts? Sit down & walk up? Does anyone have a link to the dining spots it supports?
Thanks!

 

[vicki_c]

I am just learning about TiW card, do you have to have a AP or is it just cheaper that way? Also, is it good for 20% off at all disney parks & resorts? Sit down & walk up? Does anyone have a link to the dining spots it supports?
Thanks!

You have to have an AP or be a FL resident. It's mainly TS. Sorry I don't have the link with the list bookmarked.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

All Tables in Wonderland Restaurants as of August 2010

Disney's All-Star Movies Resort – World Premiere Food Court
Disney's All-Star Music Resort – Intermission Food Court
Disney's All-Star Sports Resort – End Zone Food Court
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge – Boma, Jiko, Sanaa, Victoria Falls
Disney's Beach Club Resort - Beaches & Cream Soda Shop (excludes take-out shop), Cape May Cafe, Martha's Vineyard Lounge
Disney's BoardWalk – Belle Vue Lounge, Big River Grille & Brewing Works, ESPN Club, Flying Fish Cafe, Kouzzina by Cat Cora
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort – Shutters at Old Port Royale
Disney's Contemporary Resort – California Grill, Chef Mickey's, Outer Rim, The Wave
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort – Maya Grill
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground – Crockett's Tavern, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (9:30 p.m. show only), Trail's End Restaurant (Excludes take out shop)
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – 1900 Park Fare, Citricos, Garden View Tea Room, Grand Floridian Cafe, Mizner's Lounge, Narcoossee's, Victoria & Albert's (excludes Chef's Table and Queen Victoria Room)
Disney's Old Key West Resort – Olivia's Cafe
Disney's Osprey Ridge Golf Course - Sand Trap Bar & Grill
Disney's Polynesian Resort – 'Ohana, Kona Cafe, Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (Late show only), Tambu Lounge
Disney's Pop Century Resort – Everything Pop Shopping and Dining (excludes merchandise from shop)
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter - Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory, Scat Cat's Club
Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside - Boatwright's Dining Hall, River Roost
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort – The Artist's Palette, The Turf Club Bar & Grill, Turf Clubb Lounge
Disney's Vero Beach Resort – The Green Cabin Room, Shutter's, Sonya's (Excludes Sunday Brunch)
Disney's Wilderness Lodge – Artist Point, Territory Lounge, Whispering Canyon Cafe
Disney's Yacht Club Resort – Ale and Compass Lounge, Captain's Grille, Crews Cup Lounge, Yachtsman Steakhouse
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort – Garden Grove, Il Mulino New York Trattoria, Kimonos, Shula's Steak House, Todd English's bluezoo

Magic Kingdom Park – Cinderella's Royal Table, Liberty Tree Tavern, The Crystal Palace, The Plaza Restaurant, Tony's Town Square Restaurant
Epcot – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Biergarten Restaurant, Bistro de Paris, Chefs de France, Coral Reef Restaurant, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Nine Dragons Restaurant, Restaurant Marrakesh, Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room, San Angel Inn Restaurante, The Garden Grill Restaurant, Tokyo Dining, Tutto Italia Ristorante, Via Napoli
Disney's Hollywood Studios – 50's Prime Time Cafe, Hollywood & Vine, Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, The Hollywood Brown Derby, Tune-In Lounge
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park – Flame Tree Barbecue, Pizzafari, Restaurantosaurus, Tusker House Restaurant

DOWNTOWN DISNEY – Marketplace - Cap'n Jack's Restaurant, Fulton's Crab House
DOWNTOWN DISNEY – Pleasure Island – Paradiso 37, Portobello, Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant
DOWNTOWN DISNEY – West Side – Bongo's Cuban Cafe, House Of Blues (Excludes Sunday Brunch), Planet Hollywood, Wolfgang Puck Cafe

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex - ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill

 

[bumbershoot]

info page from wdwinfo.com here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneydiningexperience.htm


More than halfway down the page is the info on the restaurants...

 

[Deb & Bill]

I've heard TiW isn't worth the cost because it is now so difficult to walk-in to a sit-down restaurant without ADR. Thoughts?

Nothing is going to work if there are no ADRs available because you didn't make any before you left. TIW works great if you plan ahead.