TIW (+AP) Worth It for One 7 Day Trip?

[ClarkCasey]

We are going on a 7 day trip to DW this year. Staying offsite very nearby. We already have 7 day passes. We are planning to eat onsite most of the time, planning being the operative word.

Am thinking of spending the 250 to upgrade to AP (just one of the passes), and then purchase TIW card for $75. By my calculations, taking into account my limited math skills, as long as I spend more that $1200 or so on food and drink, it will be worth it.

Keep in mind that staying offsite, we'll have to pay for parking, which would be $98 for 7 days.

Cost = 325
Less Parking of 98 = 227

$1150 in food and drink * .2 = $230

We would tip the required amount anyway, to that doesn't matter to us.

Have I missed something or is my reasoning sound?

 

[Tam1067]

Remember that the TIW is mostly just for TS meals, so you would have to be spending a lot of time at TS meals. CS places are mostly not included in that discount.

 

[Hopefully]

What is the makeup and ages of your party? Would you be eating at mainly TS locations? Will you include "adult beverages" in your cost?
We purchased a DVC discounted (about $100 less)
AP and the TIW card for our October trip. We figured we would need to save more than $375 to make it worth it, and we certainly did. We were a party of 6 adults and ate TS every day.
HTH

 

[Hootch]

right. It is just a matter of how you plan to eat. As mentioned below, the TIW program is mainly for TS locations, but for you to hit that amount you would need to eat at TS locations very day. The CS locations are the resorts that don't have a TS location and, for some reason, DAK. If you like wine or cocktails with your meal, eating at signature restaurants or having a drink in one of Disney's lounges, then there is a good chance that you'll make the necessary spend.

 

[ClarkCasey]

What is the makeup and ages of your party? Would you be eating at mainly TS locations? Will you include "adult beverages" in your cost?
We purchased a DVC discounted (about $100 less)
AP and the TIW card for our October trip. We figured we would need to save more than $375 to make it worth it, and we certainly did. We were a party of 6 adults and ate TS every day.
HTH

2 adults, 1 child. Eat mostly TS, a little CS. Adult Bev = yes.

Our food/bev bill has been 1500 - 2000 for the past few trips.

A nagging concern:

1st time staying offsite, so despite our ADRs, what if we DON'T end up eating all those DW TS meals we thought we would? (but yes, we like DW dining, so sue us. )

Chances are we would go back in 2011 as well, so we could also schedule that trip to fall within the AP/TIW year and maybe capitalize on that as well. That's a maybe tho. Can't really factor that into the analysis.

Honestly never thought about doing this until the parking increase, and once I factored that in, it seemed worth considering.

Just never saw anyone talking about it, so I thought maybe I'm missing something.

 

[missycj96]

I think it can't hurt. Once you back out the savings from the parking costs, you write that you'd have to save $227 to break even. Going to table service meals each day, even if you don't hit the exact number, you won't be that far off. So there's really not that much downside risk. For example, you estimated that you usually spend between $1500 to $2000. Let's say that this year, you spend only $1000 since you're staying offsite. 20% is still $200 - which puts you close enough to not worry about the decision. Plus you may find other savings from the annual pass (though not enough to buy it for, but nice once you have the card anyway). And if you do go back next year, you'll definately be way ahead.

 

[cbg1027]

Keep in mind that in order to get the free parking perk you have to do one of two things:
Enter the parking lot after 5pm (if you show the TIW card they just let you through).
or
If you get there before 5pm, which I'm guessing you would, you have to pay the parking fee, and then dine inside the park at a restaurant that takes TIW. You then take your dining receipt to Guest Services where they reimburse you for the parking fee.

Are you going to be dining at a TIW restaurant INSIDE a park every day? If you were to eat at a CS location for lunch and then go to a TS at a resort for dinner, you couldn't get free parking that day, so you should take that in to account.

Also, that $1150 total for food.....is that all TS meals? The only theme park CS locations that take TIW are Pizzafari, Flame Tree BBQ, and Restaurantosaurus - all of which are in AK.

I would think this over carefully - consider where exactly you're going to be eating.

Here's a list of places that take TIW: http://bookwdw.reservations.disney....romotionCode=flwonderland&market=flwonderland

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Just a minor nit-picking on your calculations. The 6.5% sales tax is also discounted with TiW, as the Sales Tax is based on the final price.

Here is a working example, using $100.00 as the original bill to make the math show up easily.

100.00 - Original 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.

 

[CarolMN]

Keep in mind that in order to get the free parking perk you have to do one of two things:
Enter the parking lot after 5pm (if you show the TIW card they just let you through).
or
If you get there before 5pm, which I'm guessing you would, you have to pay the parking fee, and then dine inside the park at a restaurant that takes TIW. You then take your dining receipt to Guest Services where they reimburse you for the parking fee.

Are you going to be dining at a TIW restaurant INSIDE a park every day? If you were to eat at a CS location for lunch and then go to a TS at a resort for dinner, you couldn't get free parking that day, so you should take that in to account... (snip).......

I'm pretty sure that info only applies to using the parking perk of the TiW card. (True for Florida residents who only have the TiW and no AP or PAP).

The OP's AP gets them free parking at the parks and there is no need to eat or go through any reimbursement procedure with the AP

 

[Brian Noble]

If you can get in that second trip, it's a no-brainer. For just one trip, it's close enough to a wash that I might not bother.

 

[cbg1027]

I'm pretty sure that info only applies to using the parking perk of the TiW card. (True for Florida residents who only have the TiW and no AP or PAP).

The OP's AP gets them free parking at the parks and there is no need to eat or go through any reimbursement procedure with the AP

Ahh forgot about the free parking with the AP! I have a seasonal pass so I have to pay for parking.

Well then in that case OP, I say get the AP and TIW!