Tables in Wonderland

[MDDisFan]

Just wondering if anyone in the DVC has experience with Tables in Wonderland and would mind sharing! Thanks!

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

The Search feature is your friend. Enter Tables in Wonderland or TIW -- you'll get multiple returns such
http://www.disboards.com/threads/tables-in-wonderland-questions.3468496/#post-54843693 Also it might help if you narrowed your question down to specific questions/points so people can answer.

 

[MDDisFan]

Thank you! Great idea!

 

[MNDisneyMommy]

I used it for the first time on our last trip, so as a first-timer maybe my experience will be useful for you. We were traveling with extended family (8 adults, 2 kids) for a week, and they are all good about reimbursement so I paid for everything and they paid me back (this solved the "everything on one check" issue).

It saved my group a TON of money (and this was after they increased the price of the card) - we had one TS per day that we got discounted, and a couple of our QS meals got the discount too (one at AK and Earl of Sandwich yum) - we broke even on the card halfway into our second group table service meal and after that it was just gravy. I liked that we had freedom to order what we wanted (especially with little kids, that helps if they will share a meal or something) and that it covers drinks (because hey, no one's driving and we had lots of adults to be designated sober-kid-minder).

When they asked about the check (usually right when we were seated), one of us just told the server that I had TiW and pointed me out. They would bring me the bill, and I would pay with my magic band or with a credit card and show them the TiW card. Some places even had the check broken out by seat, although a fair number of our meals were buffets or family-style where I just had to keep track of drinks. I would jot down on the receipt who had what special things and then one night on the trip I took about 20 minutes and tallied everything up and told everyone their bill. My brother paid his portion directly to the hotel using gift cards and that was easy. The others paid me via check or transfer and it was easy. At CRT, we got a credit back after showing the card. Note the required gratuity applies even at buffets - and folks opinions on tipping at buffets varies.

When I did the math for just our family of 4 for our trip, the card was worth it - and given how the dining plan has changed and declined in value over the years, I am happy to have another option for saving money on food. Our arrival day is always Downtown Disney, so we went to the guest relations there to get the card which was super easy and then we were set for the trip.

Overall, I had a really good experience with it and if the math showed savings I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

I bought a TIW card my last trip in early December 2015, and I liked it. It is easy to use. I find the DDP too complicated for me. With this, we just order what we want, and get a discount, including drinks.

For 2 of us, I think we will just break even with the $150 cost. Even though we will stay 10 days this year, some of our days are at restaurants that do not participate (Victoria & Alberts and the Boathouse at Disney Springs).
Some trips we will have extra people, and then the savings really add up.

Even Victoria and Alberts told us to always ask about TIW, because they said that their policies are always changing.

Our Cinderella's Royal Table was prepaid, and we got a refund applied to our credit card for the TIW savings.

 

[Bronte]

Does anyone know when you use it for the dinner shows how is the tip calculated?
I know they usually do an automatic 18% of the non-discounted total for TIW but the dinner show I just booked did not include a tip that high (353.40 for six adults category 1 seating late show, 23.10 for tax and 55.50 for tip according to the bill online)
Will the adjusted bill be 20% off the 353.40 and then the same tip or will it be 18% of the 353.40 so actually 63.61?
I know we did the poly dinner show last trip and the refund was not 20% but I did not keep the receipt that night to look at the break down (too many yummy ribs)
It's only a few bucks here and there but I was curious if anyone knew ...

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

Does anyone know when you use it for the dinner shows how is the tip calculated?
I know they usually do an automatic 18% of the non-discounted total for TIW but the dinner show I just booked did not include a tip that high (353.40 for six adults category 1 seating late show, 23.10 for tax and 55.50 for tip according to the bill online)
Will the adjusted bill be 20% off the 353.40 and then the same tip or will it be 18% of the 353.40 so actually 63.61?
I know we did the poly dinner show last trip and the refund was not 20% but I did not keep the receipt that night to look at the break down (too many yummy ribs)
It's only a few bucks here and there but I was curious if anyone knew ...

Good question. I did not go to a dinner show, but I went to Cinderella's Royal Table, where the tip is 15%. They charged me 15% rather than 18%, as far as I can tell. This may be restaurant specific.

 

[fishermouse]

All depends on your party size and eating habbits, with the latest increase I'm not sure we will renew, since there is only two of us and we don't eat fancy every night. At $150.00 your 20% savings, $750.00 is your breakeven point. Keeping in mind you get 10-20% off with your AP or DVC card on food only. This past year we took some family so we had 8 people and did a character breakfast on one of our trips and we used it for two other trips, plus we only paid $100.00 for it. hope that helps

 

[heynowirv]

you save 20% on the whole meal including alcoholic beverages,most restaurants accept it within WDW,Boathouse might now as it's new and wasn't set up for it originally just like Morimoto's which does now.I agree since the price increase of 100 to 150 the break even is now 750 instead of 500 but consider this even 2 people with 5 signature meals over a 13 month period with 1 cocktail each per meal would save you approx.,,,,Avg meal 35.each x2=70 x5 meals =350 plus 2 cocktails at 8.x2=16 x5 meals =90 total =440.00 and that's being conservative

 

[cedricandsophie]

We sre on our third TIW cars. Just got a new one in Nov and used it three times then. For a family of six eating at artist point, morocco in Epcot and Raglan road in Disney springs we probsbly saved 150 or more including bottles of wine every dinner. In March, when we are there two weeks, we will save lots more. We love it!

 

[FoodieFriend]

I bought my first TIW card after a lot of research comparing DDP with TIW. It came down to how my group (4 adult foodies) liked to eat. We like appetizers much more than dessert & one of my group will sometimes just have an app for dinner which wouldn't work well with the DDP. I bought the TIW card at Disney Springs right after checking in to our hotel & used it for dinner that night at Fulton's. All of our TS dinners were chosen based on restaurants participating in TIW during our 12 day trip. we even had some lunches at TIW restaurants. I haven't done the calculations yet, but i'm sure we broke even after the 2nd dinner & after that every meal was just more savings. We loved it! We only used it for that 1 trip & won't be in FL to use it again, but as long as we broke even by using it well on 1 trip, it was well worth it.

My next trip will be just 2 adults & a 10 year old for only 8 days. I'm unsure if we would be able to break even so I'll do more research & see if it will save us anything.

I would advise researching based on what kind of foods your group wants to try & depending on which parks you will be in. I cross referenced the crowd calendar, then tried to plan my dining & FPs around that. I think it worked fairly well. If your group is ok with spending time eating, this card might be for you.

 

[Anal Annie]

We've been using it for years. The cost has increased from $65 to $75 to $100 and now to $150. We got our current one last summer when it was still $100. Not sure if we will continue to buy it now tho since they jacked the price up so much this time and because DS will eventually stop coming on all of our trips. Since it's a percentage based discount the larger your party (and the older they are) the better the discount. We are a family of 3 and when DS was still younger and eating kids meals it was harder to justify - but of course the price back then was SO much lower…. We have 3 family trips planned on it for this year so it will be well worth our $100. DS is now 18 so not drinking yet and is in college so his schedule may prevent him from joining us all the time but it does help for our beverages when we include them with a meal. I feel compelled tho to only eat at places that take it. Not EVERY place takes it so we rarely try out new places that are off the plan (La Hacienda dropped off and Teppan Edo & Yak & Yeti don't take it…nor do some of the other non-Disney restaurants.) And some have restrictions - like Les Chefs de France is for lunch only I think. You just have to do a little planning with it. But the more expensive the meal the more you save….

 

[fishermouse]

you save 20% on the whole meal including alcoholic beverages,most restaurants accept it within WDW,Boathouse might now as it's new and wasn't set up for it originally just like Morimoto's which does now.I agree since the price increase of 100 to 150 the break even is now 750 instead of 500 but consider this even 2 people with 5 signature meals over a 13 month period with 1 cocktail each per meal would save you approx.,,,,Avg meal 35.each x2=70 x5 meals =350 plus 2 cocktails at 8.x2=16 x5 meals =90 total =440.00 and that's being conservative

My point exactly on $440. You save around $90. If you have an annual pass or DVC membership you save 10-20% on everything except alcohol even at a lot of places TIW is not accepted. TIW is a bargain if you will use it enough. If you have a large group +/or spend a lot on alcohol I recommend it, this past year we saved a lot and still have 2 trips left to use it. Next year it will probably not be worth it as it will only be the two of us and big meals aand fancy dinning are not important to us.

 

[supersnoop]

My point exactly on $440. You save around $90. If you have an annual pass or DVC membership you save 10-20% on everything except alcohol even at a lot of places TIW is not accepted. TIW is a bargain if you will use it enough. If you have a large group +/or spend a lot on alcohol I recommend it, this past year we saved a lot and still have 2 trips left to use it. Next year it will probably not be worth it as it will only be the two of us and big meals aand fancy dinning are not important to us.

I don't understand what you're trying to say. The only place that has a DVC discount but doesn't accept TiW are a few restaurants at the Swan & Dolphin.

 

[fishermouse]

I don't understand what you're trying to say. The only place that has a DVC discount but doesn't accept TiW are a few restaurants at the Swan & Dolphin.

Not "trying" to say anything! If your happy with TIW good it can be beneficial to some but not everyone. Sounds pretty clear. Without pulling up the charts which change daily, I have used dvc and ap discounts when TIW was not accepted. OP and others should decide for themselves.

 

[supersnoop]

I have used dvc and ap discounts when TIW was not accepted

If these times actually exist, they must be extremely limited.

 

[fishermouse]

If these times actually exist, they must be extremely limited.

So sorry if I hurt your feelings my point was not when you can or can not use it. I have had one since they were $45.00 w/dvc discount. Just trying to help, I'll refrain from posting on this subject again as it seems to upset you and that is something I regret doing. Please accept my apology.

 

[supersnoop]

So sorry if I hurt your feelings my point was not when you can or can not use it. I have had one since they were $45.00 w/dvc discount. Just trying to help, I'll refrain from posting on this subject again as it seems to upset you and that is something I regret doing. Please accept my apology.

I'm just trying to ensure that faulty information isn't spread. If there's some difference I. The applicability of these discounts that I don't know about, please share.

 

[MDDisFan]

Well, I think for this family (party of two adults and a child), TIW isn't going to be for us. Bummer.

 

[fishermouse]

I'm just trying to ensure that faulty information isn't spread. If there's some difference I. The applicability of these discounts that I don't know about, please share.

I know I said I would not reply but just want to help you out, last year there were 15 places that gave AP or DVC discount but not TIW and probably twice that amount that gave only TIW. As stated it works for some but not for every one. We will be checking our plans closely next year before deciding on. purchasing it or not. I guess if dining prices go up it may make a difference.