Tables in Wonderland worth it?

[nezy]

Also, looks like it is valid for 1 year from date of purchase-not from first time using-so I assume I should not purchase until I am ready to use it. How much time would i need? In other words can I purchase it when I arrive or do I have to purchase ahead of time?

 

[Msmithmd]

You purchase at guest services, either at any park entrance or inside the park, or at two downtown Disney locations. Buying the card takes just a couple minutes, depending on how many people are in the line of course.

There would be no reason to purchase before you arrive, as it is indeed valid for a year from purchase.

TIW is a discount card, not a credit card. So you would of course need some form of payment. I've heard table service locations have had issues processing MB. Haven't tried this myself, as my reward credit card gives me 2% on restaurant purchases, so I always charge to it directly. Now for QS locations, other than a couple resorts and AK, they don't take TIW- but I have used MB tap to pay with no problems.

 

[bobbiwoz]

The TiW can be purchased by Florida Residents, DVC Members, and Annual Passholders. It gives a 20% discount on food and beverages (including alcoholic) at most tables service and some quick services location on WDW for up to ten people at a time. When you purchase it, the card is valid for the remainder of the current month plus 13 full months.

Here is a working example, using $100.00 as the original bill to make the math show up easily. Note this is for Table Service. At Counter Service there is no gratuity added.

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*20.00 - Discount
*80.00 - Subtotal
*18.00 - Gratuity Added based on $100
**5.20 - Sales Tax on $80
103.20 - Final amount charged, takes into consideration discount, gratuity and tax.

Without TiW Discount (and still figuring 18% Gratuity)

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*18.00 - Gratuity
**6.50 - Sales Tax on $100
124.50 - Total

$21.30 - Savings using TiW Card.

(Note - At Victoria and Albert's the added gratuity is 20% instead of 18%.)
* Ignore the asterisks; they are there only so the columns/numbers line up properly.

For the complete list of locations and the rules, go to www.tablesinwonderland.com which is the Official Disney site.

Based on the current pricing, the following is the break-even point for menu pricing (assuming you will routinely give an 18% tip):
AP Holder or DVC Member ($100) is $469.48
Resident (not AP holder) ($125) is $586.85
If you also add a Spouse Card ($50), add an additional $234.74
The three amounts above take into consideration that the Sales Tax is also discounted.

Thank you for this clear explanation!

Our family will not be joining us as frequently due to children's schedules. We were wondering if we should renew our card.

 

[crisi]

It sounds like you'd take advantage of DVC or Visa discounts - we don't. There are only a few available for dinner, which is when we do our sit down - only a few available signature, most of our dinners are signature. So for us, the TIW tends to work better. We also tend to stack the "secret discount" - pay with a Disney Gift card you got from Target using your Red Card + Pharmacy Rewards discount - can't do that if we are paying with a Disney Visa. And - we drink. That is often a tipping point for one discount plan over another.

 

[yitbos96bb]

The reason why I said $1000 in spending to make up the difference was the assumption that we would only eat at places with a DVC/Visa discount otherwise. So we're really only saving an additional 10% over those rates, which we have to pay $100 to do.

Unfortunately, with our piddly number of points, this will be our only trip to WDW until 2016 for our 5th Anniversary, so we can't spread out the savings to two trips. We'll likely only have park entry for five of our eight days, too, so it's looking less and less like TIW would save us enough to make it worth while. Thanks everyone for their feedback, though!

Are you going to drink? Are you ok with being tied to only places you have discounts through other programs? That should be your starting point IMHO.

 

[DrChuck23]

We bought the card this trip figuring that over the course of the next year (making 3 trips) we will either save or lose a little bit of money (the $100 expense is relativley minor in the context of a WDW vacation). I was most intrigued by the "exclusive" events that the write up hints to. We were told that we would get an email from TIW which we are still waiting on.
Should have checked here first I guess- what are these exclusive events (and how much are they)?

 

[Kidanifan08]

We bought the card this trip figuring that over the course of the next year (making 3 trips) we will either save or lose a little bit of money (the $100 expense is relativley minor in the context of a WDW vacation). I was most intrigued by the "exclusive" events that the write up hints to. We were told that we would get an email from TIW which we are still waiting on. Should have checked here first I guess- what are these exclusive events (and how much are they)?

We did a fireworks dessert party at Epcot once. I am guessing we got N e-mail about it, but I don't remember. When I initially called to inquire about it, it was already sold out, but we we're put on a wait list, which came through within a week. It was in the area across from Italy and was $70+ per person, including our less than 10 yo son! The desserts were great, and it was a nice experience, but I don't know if I would do it again for that much $$. There were adult beverages, at least.

 

[gdrj]

The reason why I said $1000 in spending to make up the difference was the assumption that we would only eat at places with a DVC/Visa discount otherwise. So we're really only saving an additional 10% over those rates, which we have to pay $100 to do. Unfortunately, with our piddly number of points, this will be our only trip to WDW until 2016 for our 5th Anniversary, so we can't spread out the savings to two trips. We'll likely only have park entry for five of our eight days, too, so it's looking less and less like TIW would save us enough to make it worth while. Thanks everyone for their feedback, though!

In you scenario you are probably best without TIW or DP and use discounts you have. If you were going to be making 2 trips TIW would probably be worth it.

We also use TIW at lounges and order off of bar menus for a lite dinner. I personally don't care for DP because of the dessert with each meal and requires more planning and for us I think we spend more on DP than if we just pay a-la-carte.

 

[georgeat]

If you are driving to one of the Disney resorts for dinner that features valet parking, that parking fee (usually $15.00) is free. I used it at Boardwalk and Wilderness Lodge over the holidays and those two saved $30 of the TiW cost. Not counting the savings on food at Artist Point and Flying Fish Café.

 

[vicki_c]

We bought the card this trip figuring that over the course of the next year (making 3 trips) we will either save or lose a little bit of money (the $100 expense is relativley minor in the context of a WDW vacation). I was most intrigued by the "exclusive" events that the write up hints to. We were told that we would get an email from TIW which we are still waiting on.
Should have checked here first I guess- what are these exclusive events (and how much are they)?

I think I've gotten either 2 or 3 special event emails in the last 10 days or so. If you go over to the Tables in Wonderland site I think you can sign up for their mailing list, if you haven't already. I don't believe you even need to be a member to do that. The recent events were 2 things at Raglan Road in March, including a release party for the chef's cookbook (it said he has a PBS series which I didn't know) and another dinner, and then I had a flyer for a dinner at the Wave, which they seem to do more frequently. There have also been dinners where you ate in The Great Movie Ride and I think another ride once, but I forget what. Unfortunately, we are never there during the events. Probably great for local TiW cardholders though.

 

[sophia315]

Can you use it at the pool bars at the Deluxe resorts? Or is it just in the lounges?

 

[vicki_c]

Can you use it at the pool bars at the Deluxe resorts? Or is it just in the lounges?

Lounges.

 

[kittyab]

Don't we get a 10% discount with our DVC membership at restaurants? What about the discount you get if you are a AP holder?

 

[vicki_c]

Don't we get a 10% discount with our DVC membership at restaurants? What about the discount you get if you are a AP holder?

AP and DVC discounts are generally limited in terms of who takes it and also when. Often, those discounts are good only at lunch. We never found the AP or DVC Dining discounts to be very meaningful. We use one of them at Yak and Yeti always because they don't accept TiW.

 

[kittyab]

I am reading that there is a discount for dining plans if you are AP holder. What is the discount?

 

[aeenser]

I am also interested in knowing the discount

 

[kittyab]

I found this on:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts/discounts-ap.htm#dining

I wonder if it just means you can add your mail plan to your AP? And there is no discount?

 

[bumbershoot]

There is no discount but you can make an ap package which doesn't require a ticket purchase. The "discount"on food is the dining plan, which of course depends on how you use that plan. Of course the ap package isn't going to be for stays using points. And you end up with the package rules.

 

[miamimama]

We've had TIW for several years and much prefer it to any Dining Plan. We can be flexible enough to order several appetizers and no entrée for example. Or , on or last trip, we had friends join us and they could take advantage of the discount too, as long as we ate together and paid on one check (some restaurants would actually give each couple a separate check and still apply the discount, but that is generally not allowed). We enjoy table service every night, though, so if you're mainly doing counter service, it's obviously not worth it.

 

[kittyab]

Can you use the TIW in Counter Service Restaurants?