Tables in Wonderland questions

[Iowamomof4]

I'm looking at possibly getting an AP for our next trip and thinking TiW seems like it would be a good deal for our scenario. We will have a party of 7, including 2 Disney Adults (12yo boy and 10yo girl) and will be looking at a 10- or 11-day trip, so I was already planning to purchase 10-day ph tickets for everyone now (to avoid the price increase coming up in a few days). Since an AP discount is only good for the AP holder and 3 guests, and considering we're paying OOP for all our food on this trip and all the table service restaurants I want to eat at are currently eligible for TIW (which is good for the card holder and up to 9 guests), it actually seems like a pretty easy choice to make.

Anyway, I see the first TIW card is $150 and you can also get one for a spouse for $50.

1. Does the spouse also have to have an AP or be otherwise qualified independently for Tables in Wonderland (dvc member or Florida resident)?

2. Dh and I often split up, with him maybe taking the younger kids back to the resort to swim while I stay at the parks with the bigger kids. Or if someone is sick, he's usually the one to volunteer to stay behind while I head out and follow whatever we had planned for the day. I guess I'm trying to figure out which one of us should get the TIW or if maybe we both should. I mean, if it makes more sense for him to get it, he could have the AP instead of me. How did you decide about the extra card for the spouse? In some ways I think I'd want to get him one just so we know either of us can get the discount and we don't have to stay joined at the hip the entire time, but I'm a bit afraid it'll be $50 thrown away.

 

[Quellman]

Break even point. I don't remember what the cost breakdown is anymore since I haven't used TiW in like 3 years because for us, the AP discount was better based on where we were dining. It used to be around $750-800 cost on meals to break even for the initial $150. So figure in that you'll need about $1000 total in food to cover the extra $50. With 7 people. Not a big deal as you can hit $400 easy for a character meal. I do not know the requirements for the spouse card.

The AP will be nice for a couple of reasons - memory maker is included, also will give you discounts in many of the shops as well.

 

[gharter]

You don't need the second TIW card, unless you will be eating at separate places, then you might (we have only used one card). The first card is good for up to 10 people as long as the crd holder pays for the entire meal. The server is not supposed to let you split the bill for the meal and use the TIW card for everyone.
For one card, the break even point is about $750. If you have an AP and figure in the 10% discount you might get with that card, the break even point is closer to $1200 -$1500. However TIW covers alcohol in restaurants and many lounges that the AP card doesn't. It also has free Valet parking if you use that.

 

[Iowamomof4]

You don't need the second TIW card, unless you will be eating at separate places, then you might (we have only used one card). The first card is good for up to 10 people as long as the crd holder pays for the entire meal. The server is not supposed to let you split the bill for the meal and use the TIW card for everyone.
For one card, the break even point is about $750. If you have an AP and figure in the 10% discount you might get with that card, the break even point is closer to $1200 -$1500. However TIW covers alcohol in restaurants and many lounges that the AP card doesn't. It also has free Valet parking if you use that.

That's true, but the AP only covers up to 4 guests per meal and we'll have a party of 7. Also, the AP won't give us a discount at Everything Pop, which despite our best intentions I know we'll end up eating there a lot. Thanks for the additional information regarding the break even point though. I'm budgeting nearly $3000 for food for the seven of us for about 9-10 days. If we can get 20% off even half of that, I think we'll be doing pretty well.

 

[gharter]

I would play with the numbers, but it would seem like you will probably save money with it.
We have enjoyed it. As I mentioned, we have never purchased a second card, but we eat every meal together, so we had no need for the extra card.
Depending on what restaurants you plan to eat at (Signature or non Signature, Table or Quick Service) your food budget could be on the low side for 7 people and 10 days.

 

[Iowamomof4]

I would play with the numbers, but it would seem like you will probably save money with it.
We have enjoyed it. As I mentioned, we have never purchased a second card, but we eat every meal together, so we had no need for the extra card.
Depending on what restaurants you plan to eat at (Signature or non Signature, Table or Quick Service) your food budget could be on the low side for 7 people and 10 days.

Yeah, I was a bit worried about that, but time will tell. The only "big eaters" we have in our group are the two oldest guys (dh and my 17yo ds). The younger kids don't eat a lot yet and the girls would probably be able to split quite a few entrees. We won't do many buffets (if any). I've been aiming for things like The Plaza, Liberty Tree Tavern (a la carte), Sci-Fi or 50's Primetime, and places like that where sharing is allowed and the food prices aren't too terrible to start with.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Yeah, I was a bit worried about that, but time will tell. The only "big eaters" we have in our group are the two oldest guys (dh and my 17yo ds). The younger kids don't eat a lot yet and the girls would probably be able to split quite a few entrees. We won't do many buffets (if any). I've been aiming for things like The Plaza, Liberty Tree Tavern (a la carte), Sci-Fi or 50's Primetime, and places like that where sharing is allowed and the food prices aren't too terrible to start with.

When you say ala carte for Liberty Tree Tavern, you mean off the lunch menu, right? You can't order from a menu for dinner.

 

[Iowamomof4]

When you say ala carte for Liberty Tree Tavern, you mean off the lunch menu, right? You can't order from a menu for dinner.

Yes, I was trying to quickly say that we would be eating lunch and no one would get the AYCTE platter.