Tables in Wonderland vs. dining plan

[Silver Queen]

We've done both the DDP and TiW and are big fans of TiW. As mentioned above we like to order appetizers and split or skip a dessert. We also usually have a cocktail or wine with dinner so this is perfect for us. the 18% added gratuity is also no problem as we usually tip at least 20%. We've enjoyed experiencing many of the signature restaurants with the TiW and our goals is to try them all. When we purchased our TiW card it was $60 and we made our investment back in our first 4 day trip.

 

[rentayenta]

TIW's discount on booze is huge for us.

 

[jfinke]

With our dining styles, TiW works better for us. But, it required us to get an AP, which means we are going 3 times in one year. So, WDW gets our money this year, and then we are taking a couple of years break.

 

[poohj80]

Just returned from our first stay at BLT (LOVED it!) and tried the DDP for the first time after always having the Disney Dining Experience/Tables in Wonderland previously. We were 2 adults + 1 child and will probably never do the DDP again.

DH said he felt like we were using food stamps and that servers treated us differently being on the DDP. We also had issues with cashiers not charging the credits correctly and it was a pain to get corrected. Tables in Wonderland is so easy and you don't have to keep track of anything.

That said, if you are traveling with several kids, the DDP is probably worth it as one table service meal per day more than pays for their cost.

 

[Tara]

Tables in Wonderland is so easy and you don't have to keep track of anything.

...except your TIW card. Ask me how peeved I was at myself for losing mine and having to buy a replacement! (And that's when it was just $25 - now a replacement is $50!) I did at least get the secondary card in my husband's name in case mine turned up. It never did, but we're about to take our 3rd trip on that first year of membership!

Whatever you do, don't lose your card!

 

[trampslady]

We visit WDW often, and we rarely use the Dining Plan. However, I recently did the math for our nine night stay over Christmas and the Deluxe Dining Plan is definitely the way to go for us in this instance due to the blackout dates on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for the TIW card. We rarely eat at Counter Service, so the regular plan is never a good deal for us. But, sometimes the Deluxe works out to be a great deal over the TIW depending on your dining habits. If you eat at the Signature Restaurants often but don't indulge in alcohol much, then the dining plan is good. The TIW card is great for alcoholic beverages though--can't beat the 20 percent discount.

The only way you can really tell which is best for your family is to do the math. Use allearsnet.com and the menus there to approximate how much you would spend out of pocket without the plan versus the cost of the plan (or the TIW) card for the discount.

 

[Michael623]

Also a big TIW fan. We've never done the DDP but I've crunched the numbers and the only way that I can see that the DDP makes financial sense is if you always get the most expensive entree. I love steak but not for 7 consecutive days. Plus I'm not a huge dessert person. We don't drink either and we still save a bundle.

 

[robinb]

Just returned from our first stay at BLT (LOVED it!) and tried the DDP for the first time after always having the Disney Dining Experience/Tables in Wonderland previously. We were 2 adults + 1 child and will probably never do the DDP again.

I LOVE the DDP when we were 2 Adults and 1 Child. It is great for character meals and other buffets and price-fixed meals. Now that my DD is 10 and a Disney "adult" ... the DDP is not such a great deal. She will probably eat off the kid's menu at regular TS meals because she is a vegetarian who does not have an adult palate so the extra $30 per day doesn't make a whole lot of sense for us. In addition, we NEVER eat CS desserts unless we're on the DDP. For instance, I ran the numbers on Tricia's spreadsheet and there were $43 worth of CS desserts in 4 days that we would not usually eat ... and often throw away or refuse to take when we *do* have the DDP.

So ... I think we're doing TIW this time.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Looks like TIW would work for us. The only restaurant missing from the list is Teppan Edo.

That's the one we wish was on the TIW too, but if you have the AP, that works for a 10% discount midday at Teppan Edo. You just can't use the TIW, and you don't get the discount in the evening.

 

[Coach81]

Well we are splurging this Christmas for our first trip to Disney We are going to do the DDP.. if we ever get APs again, we will look into TIW card.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[poohj80]

I ran the numbers on Tricia's spreadsheet and there were $43 worth of CS desserts in 4 days that we would not usually eat ... and often throw away or refuse to take when we *do* have the DDP.

So ... I think we're doing TIW this time.

That was our problem! We would never order dessert and really didn't want that much to eat for CS. Often, we would share a CS after a big table service lunch but we ended up wasting quite a bit of food.