Tables in Wonderland. . . To buy or not to buy?

[StephanieHDuncan]

I an new to DVC and used my discount to purchase an annual pass. When we travel, we like to add on the dining plan. Would it be cost effective to purchase the TWC? It almost seems to me that the discount on your food and the required gratuity cancel out any real value to the card. What are your feelings?

 

[HeyMoe]

It's only a wash if you normally don't tip. I'm assuming that's not the case. With the card, the required tip is 18%. We normally tip 20% so we actually save a little on the tip using TIW.

We purchased TIW during our trip this past August and we thought it was great. The flexibility to get what you want (appetizer and salad instead of a meal) is great and the discount also applies to alcohol. We've already recouped the cost of the card on this one trip (week long) and we still have two more trips planned where we can use use it.


We've always done the dining plan before this trip but decided to go with TIW since Disney now considers my son an adult. We much preferred TIW and will continue to go this route in the future.

 

[disneynutz]

Only you can decide if it makes financial sense. I list out the restaurants, meals, and cost and compare the DDP against TIW. We go with the cheaper of the two.

Bill

 

[dianeschlicht]

We did some very detailed tracking of our food expenditures on several trips. Some where we had the DDP and some where we paid OOP using TIW discount. We found we saved a couple hundred dollars a trip using the TIW card over the DDP. For us, the TIW card makes much more sense because we rarely do desserts but LOVE appetizers. We also don't do counter service much, but love the signatures. The big advantage is that we save a bit on tips with the TIW (I don't add the extra 2% to the already charged 18%), and it includes EVERYTHING on the bill (appetizers, drinks etc).

 

[marie1981]

I really like TIW.

I like the flexibility. I never take desert or snacks so DDP is not really for me.
I like to decide how many table or quick meal we need.

But the needs for each person is different, so it is up to you to deceide which is better for you, DDP or TIW...

 

[Norm1]

I agree. I like the TIW it gives me more flexibility in what we choose to eat. It also could be used at the lounges in the resorts for drinks. At times it's paid for itself in one trip when we bring the whole family.

 

[n2mm]

I an new to DVC and used my discount to purchase an annual pass. When we travel, we like to add on the dining plan. Would it be cost effective to purchase the TWC? It almost seems to me that the discount on your food and the required gratuity cancel out any real value to the card. What are your feelings?

I never quite understand this logic. My TiW card saves me 20% off of my bill. It does not cancel out any savings because I tip whether I use my card or not. Are there really people out that that do not tip????

As for the question, I've done the regular DDP, the delux DDP and have used the TiW card for 5 years now. I've done the comparison and the TiW card always is the better deal for us. Whenever we use any of the DDPs I feel tied to my reservations and it takes away my flexibility. I find myself saying, I can't cancel, when will I use that credit!!! But using the TiW card lets me choose when I want to eat and if I want to cancel an ADR I can. I don't regularly get deserts and would prefer sharing an appetizer (and sometimes sharing a desert). This is not an option using the DDP, but works with the TiW. None of us are the same, but when I did a recent comparison between the delux DDP and whether I would've used my TiW, there was no savings buying the Delux DDP and I would have done better with the TiW discount. I guess it all depends on your dining habits. Yes, sometimes the DDP is a great deal for a meal, but not meal after meal. Some days you come out ahead and other days you don't. We like to venture out off property to eat some days and with the DDP, that's not really an option without losing credits.

 

[gkrykewy]

We love love love the TIW card. Don't be a stingy tipper, OP.

 

[StephanieHDuncan]

Thank you all for your advice. Of course I tip, generally I budget 18%. I was not thinking about having to budget in my tip in addition to the dining plan. I guess my main concern, was if I will use it enough to recoup the cost of the card. Thanks again for your help.

 

[erionm]

Thank you all for your advice. Of course I tip, generally I budget 18%. I was not thinking about having to budget in my tip in addition to the dining plan. I guess my main concern, was if I will use it enough to recoup the cost of the card. Thanks again for your help.

To recoup the $75 cost of the TiW card, you would need to spend $375 pre-discount on food and beverages.

 

[dianeschlicht]

To recoup the $75 cost of the TiW card, you would need to spend $375 pre-discount on food and beverages.

....and we find we do that easily in about 4-5 days....especially if we have guests at any meals with us. We like to dine with friends, and if the friends don't have a TIW card, we just pay the bill to get them the discount, and then they reimburse us for their meals. We generally have anywhere from 18-28 days of meals in the 13 months of the card activation.

I will say that if you have young children, the DDP might be a good idea just for the convenience, but it WILL cost more than using the TIW.

 

[podsnel]

I LOVE that TIW card- and they have recently added some restaurants that don't accept DDP- like Blue Zoo, Shula's, Kimonas,Paradiso 37....plus they have always included Disney restaurants not on the DDP like Bistro de Paris and V&A's. As many others have said, we ADORE appetizers and rarely do dessert, plus we like cocktails and wine with dinner...and before and after dinner , so it really helps us save then, too.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[bumbershoot]

To recoup the $75 cost of the TiW card, you would need to spend $375 pre-discount on food and beverages.

Adding..."at the restaurants that participate".

Gotta check the list!

 

[minnieandmickey]

Have to ask but, can you get your DVC discount and your TIW discount?

 

[erionm]

Have to ask but, can you get your DVC discount and your TIW discount?

No.

 

[skelooch]

. Are there really people out that that do not tip????

As hard as it is to believe, yes there are people out there that do not tip at all or think $1 or $2 dollars on a $50 bill is adequate.
I have a very close friend who is a server in food and beverage and have seen first hand some of the tips or lack there of, for some significant charges.
I have always been a 20% tipper, because it is easier for my feeble little mine to figure out. I think the servers deserve the 18%, particularly the ones who are also part of the entertainment such as at places like WC or PT, remember this is how they make their living, they are not just there for our convenience.

 

[lucyem]

Honestly the flexibility of the TIW card cannot be beat. And it does work at a few CS locations. We are just on our way home from an 8 day stay. I know we recouped the cost of the card and more. Plus it will still be useable next year when we return.

 

[amberjack]

I just bought a TIW card this past weekend. Spent 4 days eating TS (3 adults, 2 kids) and have recouped the $75. I still have 12 1/2 months left to use my card. Even better, I "paid" for my card with rewards from my Disney Visa, so it really cost me nothing out of pocket.

 

[n2mm]

Has hard as it is to believe, yes there are people out there that do not tip at all or think $1 or $2 dollars on a $50 bill is adequate.
I have a very close friend who is a server in food and beverage and have seen first hand some of the tips or lack there of, for some significant charges.
I have always been a 20% tipper, because it is easier for my feeble little mine to figure out. I think the servers deserve the 18%, particularly the ones who are also part of the entertainment such as at places like WC or PT, remember this is how they make their living, they are not just there for our convenience.

That is really sad. As others have said the TiW is great and we like that the tip is added in. When the service is outstanding we slip more money in to up the standard. Our last trip (earlier this month) we had such outstanding service at every place we ate, we tipped over every meal.

We bought our new TiW card earlier this month (for our 5th year now) and with this card I will use it for Oct/Nov 12 days, Jan 17 days, May 12 days, Aug 6 days, and Oct 12 days. Some trips will be a party of 9, some parties of 6 and only Jan will be a party of 2. I have no problem recouping my purchase price!

 

[Jerry@dvcstore]

Tables in Wonderland is a great deal if you're going to us it. Plus if you have a car you get free valet.