Tables in Wonderland v. Dining Plan

[Dan Murphy]

A good rule of thumb, if the park or resort doesn't have a WDW owned and operated TS location, the CS locations will take it. There are obviously a few differences, but as a few PPs have posted the list, no need to go through it again. Is it better for you? In many cases yes, but do the math. Take the menus, and figure out how much each meal will cost you. Realistically what you would eat, not what you eat to maximize the benefits of the dining plan. Then add it all up, and see how much you spend. If you normally tip 18%, then the break even point is $375. If you tip 15%, then the breakeven is closer to $400. A party of 4 can easily breakeven in 4 sit down meals. If you over lap trips, just like you can with an AP, you will end up coming out even better. I think I got 4 trips out of the last card. And two of these trips were at resorts where the food court accepts TiW, so we made out quite well indeed.

I have used TiW for a number of years now, always been very happy with it.

One question came to mind here. In the food courts, POP or All Stars, do they still charge the 18% tip?

 

[sharadoc]

When we buy an AP, we buy a TIW. Definitely pays for itself multiple times. If you plan to spend $450 before tip on food (TS) then you'll come out ahead. Anything over that is gravy. We usually get an alcoholic drink with dinner, and an appetizer or two to share. DH and I rarely get dessert. Also, DS prefers kids meals, but he is a Disney adult, and we would be forced to pay adult DDP plan prices for him and we'd never get our money's worth.

You can use it at any food court where there is NO TS restaurant. In June, we stayed at OKW and used it at POFQ food court. Couldn't use it at POR since they have a restaurant too. I didn't realize I could use it at AK, we usually like to eat at Pizzafari. I'll remember for next time.

 

[CindyCan]

I have used TiW for a number of years now, always been very happy with it.

One question came to mind here. In the food courts, POP or All Stars, do they still charge the 18% tip?

In the food courts (Pop is where we stayed), and also at Restaurantasaurus at AK (I assume Pizzafari as well) do NOT charge the 18%. You just get 20% off the price before tax!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

http://allears.net/din/dde.htm

One question came to mind here. In the food courts, POP or All Stars, do they still charge the 18% tip?

My Post #9 in this thread gave the current list so there was no need to post a link to another web site for the information and also stated that the gratuity is not added at counter service locations.

 

[Dr. M]

My Post #9 in this thread gave the current list so there was no need to post a link to another web site for the information and also stated that the gratuity is not added at counter service locations.

Yeah, but I appreciated the link because it has info on what number to call to get the card, restrictions, parking info, to allow several weeks for processing, mailing add...all kinds of stuff that was not included in your post

 

[bumbershoot]

Yeah, but I appreciated the link because it has info on what number to call to get the card, restrictions, parking info, to allow several weeks for processing, mailing add...all kinds of stuff that was not included in your post

Oh, but to send away for the card is just wasting time on it. Get it at the park, don't waste any of the valid time of the card!

 

[aubriee]

Oh, but to send away for the card is just wasting time on it. Get it at the park, don't waste any of the valid time of the card!

That's what I'm doing. I'll be buying mine at Epcot this Saturday. I am normally a big fan of the DDPs and use either the basic or DxDDP several times a year. However, after running the numbers and figuring where I really want to eat (several restaurants that take the TiW, but do not accept the DDP), even as a solo the TiW is a better deal. We prefer TS to CS, so the basic DDP doesn't give us enough TS meals, but the DxDDP is too much. There are also times I would prefer a couple of appetizers to the entrees and the TiW allows me to do that. I can eat what I want and have a bigger variety of restaurant to choose from. I about break even on it for my trip next week, but all the discounts I get with it for my upcoming Nov/Dec, May '12, and Sept '12 trips will be just gravy.

 

[karice2]

I am another TIW fan. I have never done the dining plan but travel solo a bunch. The TIW card works really well for me. On my last trip, I did the Flying Fish, Victoria & Alberts and Kouzzina.

I prefer mostly TS and signature meals. I don't think the DDP would work from me. I always get one with my annual pass.

 

[TLinden16]

I'm going to move this to our dining plan board.

 

[Verstehen]

I wish I'd known about TiW sooner! I purchased it last week for a 4 day trip. We stayed at POFQ, and it works at the food court there. We probably saved at least $60 in those 4 days alone, and I live very close, so it will likely pay for itself quite soon. I really don't see the value of using the DDP when you have TiW available to you.

 

[Colleen27]

For us the math always comes out pretty even between the DxDDP and TiW, but the additional cost of having to upgrade to an AP for TiW usually gives the DxDDP the edge.

On our next trip we'll have both - we're going down during free dining and then upgrading to an AP w/TiW for the booze on this trip and the food for the next one (maybe two). Since we're going during free dining that works out cheaper than buying the AP now and using that discount for the room, but for the 2012 trip we know we'll be dining at non-plan restaurants so the TiW will be better. But this is the first time we're traveling knowing that we'll be back again within a year; normally we don't have reason to buy an AP so that cost has to factor into the DxDDP vs TiW math.

 

[goofy4tink]

For our trip in Oct, 2 couples, here is a breakdown of our dining costs.
To use TiW, the cost would come to $968 per couple. Now, that doesn't include any snacks, just our table service meals that we have booked already.
Using the deluxe dining plan, our total costs are $956, but that gives us two snacks daily as well as a refillable mug each....that way we can have something light for breakfast and a heavier 'brunch' and nice signature dinner later on. But, we do have to add about $110 to that since there is one day we aren't using a dining plan...so we will pay out of pocket for that. Total is now aboutg $1066. Difference being $98 a couple. But even then, you still have to add in some daily oop cost with the TiW card....we would want to augment our ADRs with snacks..so figure on about another $50 per couple.
So now....
TiW costs.....$1018 total ($968 per couple for actual TS meals, $50 addtl for snacks)

Deluxe ddp....$1066 total (about $780 per couple for deluxe ddp, about $176for tips and $110 for oop last day dining)

I will still get my TiW card...will use it for my last day of dining this trip and then on my Dec trip..and any subsequent trips during the next year.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I posted this a couple weeks ago but I thought it might be relevant to this discussion. It's my breakdown of our dining costs from our recent trip comparing DDP, DxDDP and TiW. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2788125

I'm not sure if I mentioned this in that post but we more than got our money's worth out of our TiW card on a previous trip so this trip was just gravy. I do figure that once it expires we'll have to sit down and do the math to figure out if upgrading one person's ticket to an AP and buying TiW will be beneficial for us or not.

We'll still have our TiW card for our February trip as well if we end up going in February (still in the planning stage). If we do, even though I'll have TiW I'll need to look at the dining plans for the first half of the stay because I've got lots of expensive ADRs booked for that half of the stay (it's a split stay we're considering so very easy to book a dining plan for half plus it's a DVC rental we're considering so no ticket considerations involved in buying dining plans).

Every trip, it's important to do the math to figure out your best option for the specifics of that trip.

 

[jnfr2424]

Even though DH and I visit the World 4-5 times a year, we go with various people and since TiW is good up to 10 people it always worked out for us. DDP was a hassle until you get used to it then you gotta get creative in order to work it out for your family. I mean just to get one milk shake was like trying to solve an algbra equation! TiW no issues!

 

[4under4]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but looking at the link on the official Disney site, there seems to be a different list of restaurants/discounts.

Can someone clarify this description vs the list on post#9???



For example, the Epcot section says:

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

Valid for Walt Disney World® Passholder and up to 3 Guests. Priority seating is available by calling (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463. Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call. Lunch hours vary by location; inquire at time of booking.

Participating Epcot® theme park restaurants include:

Biergarten Restaurant
Nine Dragons Restaurant
Restaurant Marrakesh
San Angel Inn Restaurant
Teppan Edo
Tokyo Dining
Tutto Italia Restaurant

 

[Mrsjvb]

there are PASSHOLDER discounts( annual Passes)

and Tables in Wonderland Discounts

I believe the AP discount is 10% off selected venues.

TiW is 20% off

and no the same venues are not necessarily participating in one, the other or both.

that list s for AP holders, NOT TiW holders. you do have to make sure you are looking at the correct lists.

 

[4under4]

there are PASSHOLDER discounts( annual Passes)

and Tables in Wonderland Discounts

I believe the AP discount is 10% off selected venues.

TiW is 20% off

and no the same venues are not necessarily participating in one, the other or both.

that list s for AP holders, NOT TiW holders. you do have to make sure you are looking at the correct lists.

THANK YOU! That explained everything. I guess i was just confused because the first section on that page was about Tables in Wonderland, and just below it were the various park/restaurant listings. It appeared that those were "details" of the TIW description.

 

[Dan Murphy]

My Post #9 in this thread gave the current list so there was no need to post a link to another web site for the information and also stated that the gratuity is not added at counter service locations.

Thanks for pointing out the gratuity item there, Mike, much appreciated.

I did post the link to Deb's write up on the TiW, both for the reasons Dr M mentioned above, a lot of additional pertinent information on which there had been some questions, as well as I thought the vertical layout, with spacing, as compared to the horizontal layout with no spacing, would be a bit more readable for some. It was for me. I actually did miss the gratuity part in the post, #9, focusing moreso on your very helpful, and I must say, very complete monetary example. That is your CPA coming out there I think, Mike. And then too, Deb has a link there to a nice printable version for those who would like one. I thought also that the bolding of each of the parks and each of the resorts helped additionally in the reading of all that information. Again, it did for me.

I will be careful in the future though, if I see a post of yours, to try and make sure I do not duplicate any information. But, if I happen to in error, please do not hold it against me, it will just be an oversight on my part. Honest.

 

[disneyred]

We don't do TS at all (one dinner this trip of 12 days), and here's an example of how quickly the card can pay for itself.

5 people doing counter service - any counter service we did in the parks did not take TiW except for AK, but we stayed at Pop and ate there at least once a day. 12 days. We bought 2 cards for $125.

All the counter service discounts added up to $126. We spent $1,100 on food for 12 days.
This is exactly what my math told me would happen teenagers.

I am new to this tiw and reading up here but why would you buy 2 of these? How much is each one?

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

I am new to this tiw and reading up here but why would you buy 2 of these? How much is each one?

A TIW is in one person's name and that person has to be present at the meal for it to be used. For example if a mother takes the children to a TS restaurant without the father who's name the TIW card is in, the TIW card cannot be used. That might be an example of why a family might purchase two cards, one for each parent. The cost of the first card is $75 the second $50.