Tables in Wonderland?

[janiejake]

Looking for guidance: Have an AP, but have never explored the DDE/TIW option. But, after looking things over, if I'm understanding it right, you get a 20% discount at specified dining spots. Wonderful. I was all ready to buy one. BUT, I'm also reading that an 18% gratuity is added to the bill, regardless of party size. That means I'm paying $75 for a 2% discount?? Hardly seems worth it. What am I missing? (won't have a car, so the valet parking freebie won't help offset things). Looks like I would be better off without it, and just using the AP 10% discount at the few spots that offer that?

 

[ShariVT]

We love our tiw card. I always tip 20% any way so it is like the tips are free. I always have my car so I love the free valet.

 

[Telcogirl]

I agree with PP about the gratuity.

At first glance, it may seem like you are only getting a 2% discount, but you have to include the tips when you do your math. After you have done that, it really is a no brainer and totally beats out the AP 10% discount.

Plus, the 20% discount is on your ENTIRE bill, including adult beverages......

 

[tobikaye]

There are a few food courts where you can use the TiW and get the full 20% discount without the tip added.

Even with the tip added in, it is a great. I know that you can find people who have done the math and if you use you TiW card and spend over $375 during the time you have it, that it has paid for itself.

This past June I used my TiW at POP food court (multiple times as we stayed there), 50's, Cape May, 'Ohana Breakfast, Pizzafari, and Turf Club. I would have used it as well at Crystal Palace, but had left it at 50's the night before and had to go pick it up at Lost & Found. In adding it up, even without Crystal Palace, my TiW card has already been paid for itself.

Example where even with tip, there was a savings:

Turf Club - 4 Adults (rounding up to the next $)
App - 7
Dinners - 91
Desserts - 24
Drinks - 56 (probably more like 60-65)

Total: 178 (pre discount)
Discount 20%: 35.6
Tip 18% (pre discount): 32.04
Total Bill (Total - Discount + Tip): 174.44

So as you can see, I still saved the 20% or $35.60. I will say that I did tip a bit more on top of the 18% I was charged as the waitress was excellent.

I am going again in November, solo trip this time. I do not plan to eat at as many places that the TiW discount will be used, but I still plan to eat or drink at some. So, even if the discount will only be $2-10 each time, I figure by the end of the trip, I will have saved at least $50 dollars.

 

[TDC Nala]

it's really only a 2% discount if your usual procedure was to never tip your TS servers.

As far as the tipping discussion, the Restaurant boards do not allow discussion of tipping procedures, preferences and habits on the main boards in any form - that is all limited to the Tipping Information sticky thread, the first post of which will tell you why it is we have to do that.

So as long as this does not become a discussion of whether to tip or how much to tip, it's going to stay open, so the OP can see what the deal is with the TIW card. As soon as it moves into what people would prefer to tip and why, etc. it may need to be closed.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

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.

 

[janiejake]

Thanks all, for the advice/input! This helps me, alot. Especially the "math simple" $100 bill in Cheshire Figment's example. Saw the ~$20 savings, and thought "no way"...had to sit and do it myself...and came up with the same result,of course, lol. Don't know if it was the late hour, but the discount minus the added gratuity just seemed like a "wash" to me, for something I already do...so was having trouble figuring out 'why' I should pay $75 for Disney to essentially give me 'free' gratuities? I already leave a tip, so, to me, it seemed like I was donating that $75 to the Mouse, since I won't use other bennies, such as valet parking. Your examples have shown me that it would be possible to save $$! (and making me REALLY sorry I did not buy this last March, when there were 3 of us at our TS ADRs...). Between the two trips, no question that the TiW card would have saved us money. This trip, it's just DH and myself.

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

Cheshire Figment's explanation is a great one. We have the TiW and it's great. One other thing to note about it is they give you a bonus month to use it. Meaning, if you purchase it any day in February 2012, it will expire March 31, 2013.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Free Valet? Where?

 

[emmysmommy]

Cheshire Figment's explanation is a great one. We have the TiW and it's great. One other thing to note about it is they give you a bonus month to use it. Meaning, if you purchase it any day in February 2012, it will expire March 31, 2013.

Exactly, I purchased my TiW card at the beginning of April this year and it does not expire until 5/31/12. The card was so much better for us than the dining plans since we only order what we want and it includes discounts for alcohol.

 

[DisFanJen]

Free Valet? Where?

If I remember rightly it's at all of the resort restaurants if you provide your receipt and TiW card when you pick up the car.

For some reason I vaguely remember their being resorts that aren't covered but I don't remember which ones (if any). If there are exemptions I would imagine they are at the Contemporary and the Grand Floridian (though this is a guess, I'd look it up to confirm but at nearly 5am my brain is running on 1/2 power).

 

[MikeOhio]

Thanks all, for the advice/input! This helps me, alot. Especially the "math simple" $100 bill in Cheshire Figment's example. Saw the ~$20 savings, and thought "no way"...had to sit and do it myself...and came up with the same result,of course, lol. Don't know if it was the late hour, but the discount minus the added gratuity just seemed like a "wash" to me, for something I already do...so was having trouble figuring out 'why' I should pay $75 for Disney to essentially give me 'free' gratuities? I already leave a tip, so, to me, it seemed like I was donating that $75 to the Mouse, since I won't use other bennies, such as valet parking. Your examples have shown me that it would be possible to save $$! (and making me REALLY sorry I did not buy this last March, when there were 3 of us at our TS ADRs...). Between the two trips, no question that the TiW card would have saved us money. This trip, it's just DH and myself.

It's actually 22% assuming you usually tip 20% for good service! The TIW card is one of the few actual good deals in disney. Almost anyone who goes enough to have an AP should own a TIW card.

 

[bumbershoot]

If I remember rightly it's at all of the resort restaurants if you provide your receipt and TiW card when you pick up the car.

For some reason I vaguely remember their being resorts that aren't covered but I don't remember which ones (if any). If there are exemptions I would imagine they are at the Contemporary and the Grand Floridian (though this is a guess, I'd look it up to confirm but at nearly 5am my brain is running on 1/2 power).

Definitely worked at the GF when we had tea. All they (and the poly when dining at Kona on another day) wanted was the receipt showing the TIW discount .

 

[Nancy F]

We have TIW and found it to be well worth getting. We used it for three trips.
Nancy