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

[M&C]

Thank you all! How does TIW work with counter service restaurants and snack areas?

 

[rillsung]

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

Just don't forget to tip the Valet....

Read all the posts, looked at the TIW website. Just a few questions: Can we use TIW in counter service restaurants around the parks and for snacks too? Is there a minimum purchase?

We're going for 11 nights, with Christmas in between. I read that TIW is not honored during Christmas Day, but I saw conflicting info regarding Christmas Eve.

Thanks!

No minimum purchase. TIW does not work for snacks in the parks and only CS is at the All Star and Pop, I believe.

I always forget what day it is and what the black out days are and ask about TIW. I have gotten a couple in the the past that did accept it on a couple of the black out days lol.

 

[dmoore22]

Thank you all! How does TIW work with counter service restaurants and snack areas?

Just those in Animal Kingdom, ie. Flame Tree Barbecue, Pizzafari, and Restaurantasauros. There is the Bistro de Paris in Epcot along with the Garden Grill. We found that my DW and I could split an entree at a TS restaurant, plus an adult beverage using the TIW for as much or less than a CS. Since the entrees are so generous we never felt slighted or starved. Plus we'd opt for an appetizer and a desert.

 

[lucyem]

Thank you all! How does TIW work with counter service restaurants and snack areas?

You show your card and they take a discount just like in table service. Only no tip to deal with.

The card is not good at snack areas and only a few of the counter services.

 

[Nancy F]

We'll get three trips out of our card before we have to renew. We go to all high end restaurants so the discounts really add up. We paid $75.oo for the card and saved more than that on the first trip. We think it's well worth the money.

 

[minnieandmickey]

We are looking at getting a TIW for our 16 day christmas trip next year. I noticed not only are Chrismas eve/day and NYE/day are not covered, but the website mentioned that
Epcot® theme park dining discounts are valid for purchases made by the Walt Disney World® Passholder and valid Pass ID is required for redemption.

Passholders get 10% off the regular price (excluding applicable tax and gratuity) of food and non-alcoholic beverages Monday through Friday during lunch hours at participating Epcot® theme park Table Service locations.

Does this mean this is the only discount you can get? No 20% for dinner hours? I noticed this mentioned a couple of times. Mostly for DTD restaurants which I understand are not Disney owned.

 

[Tara]

We are looking at getting a TIW for our 16 day christmas trip next year. I noticed not only are Chrismas eve/day and NYE/day are not covered, but the website mentioned that
Epcot® theme park dining discounts are valid for purchases made by the Walt Disney World® Passholder and valid Pass ID is required for redemption.

Passholders get 10% off the regular price (excluding applicable tax and gratuity) of food and non-alcoholic beverages Monday through Friday during lunch hours at participating Epcot® theme park Table Service locations.

Does this mean this is the only discount you can get? No 20% for dinner hours? I noticed this mentioned a couple of times. Mostly for DTD restaurants which I understand are not Disney owned.

Yes. There are no TIW discounts on blackout days and 10% AP dining discounts are in general only for lunch. There might be a few exceptions, but this is generally true. I think you'll still find you get your money's worth with TIW over the course of 12 of the 16 days.

 

[kristenrice]

Question...

I know that the TiW card is good on parties of up to 10. We are travelling in 2012 with a party of 14. We may choose to eat a few TS meals together, but we will all be paying individually. If we have the TiW card, will we still be able to use it on our portion of the bill? Or is everyone excluded because we are all "one party"?

 

[marie1981]

Just those in Animal Kingdom, ie. Flame Tree Barbecue, Pizzafari, and Restaurantasauros. There is the Bistro de Paris in Epcot along with the Garden Grill. We found that my DW and I could split an entree at a TS restaurant, plus an adult beverage using the TIW for as much or less than a CS. Since the entrees are so generous we never felt slighted or starved. Plus we'd opt for an appetizer and a desert.

TIW is also good at the counter service in SSR.

 

[wcpamotm]

TIW is also good at the counter service in SSR.

And Sassagoula Floatworks in the French Quarter, where we had lunch one day on our last trip.

 

[MrShiny]

Since it breaks even at $375, we usually get TIW if we are doing at least 2 trips in a year. On e meal for our family of 4 can run over $100, so not hard to make a case for TIW. It is essentially like getting a free tip. We have done DDP too, but that does require a but more management - and tends to leave us with a deal on uneaten food in the fridge.

As mentioned it is good at counter service at the value resorts (I believe because they have no table service).

They also have exclusive member events throughout the year that are expensive but look very nice (along the lines of the special meals at F&W).

 

[VLee]

We normally stay at DVC resorts and use our TIW card for various add ons to the DDP, etc. However, we recently spent 4 nights at POP and loved the fact there that you can use the TIW card at its food court and do not even have to tip there!

 

[Dziactor]

Ive dont the DDP and TIW. To make the decision I had a spreasheet that I would fill in what I would order from all restaurants and it would show me what I would spend on TIW and the total with DDP and going over that. It really helped me decide. We are going in May and TIW isnt an option for us and i wish I could get it.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Can you use Disney Rewards Visa points to purchase the TIW card?

 

[lucyem]

Can you use Disney Rewards Visa points to purchase the TIW card?

My points were converted to a gift card for use at WDW and I used the gift card towards the TIW purchase.

 

[Hollymom1229]

Everytime I have gotten an AP I have gotten the TIW. Only done the DDP on two trips and those were both before they took the app and tip away. Back then the DDP was a pretty good deal for us, but not anymore. We are definitely more TS than CS people. We also like apps over desserts and love an adult beverage or two every day on vacation. We got the TIW card most recently this past September and by the end of that 4 day trip it was paid off. We had 3 adults, and one heck of a meal at Jiko, along with meals at Kona, Biergarten, and Olivia's Cafe. That meant the savings for our December trip were all true savings. We hope to get two more trips in on this card. And while it doesn't work at most CS, DH and I have split meals at TS, getting an app, entree, and dessert between us for about the same price as CS, and been perfectly full.

 

[bookwormde]

If they were less restrictive on Hoop-De-Doo I would get one but I do not think I can keep my crew up till 11:30

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I am having a hard time justifying the TIW card for just two people. $75 is a lot of money i could otherwise use at a CS. We don't eat table service every night. We also don't usually have more than one drink with dinner.

 

[DizDays]

My AP will expire before my TIW card. We might not renew our AP. Could we still use our TIW until it expires or do you need to also have an active AP? Thanks!

 

[rice00]

We have the Tables of Wonderland card. I always felt that the card paid for the gratuities. The best perk about the card is it gives you 20% off alcoholic drinks. It comes in handy you're going to watch a game at ESPN with your friends.