TIW card...Is it worth it for our trips?

[photos_101]

I have read a little about the TIW card. So my question is:
Do you think it would benefit us?

First trip:
May 8-12 me and dh- we will be getting our AP's first day. Probably be eating mostly QS do to time restrictions (we are going to spend most of our time with our ds at a convention at swan). We may have time for 1 tableservice.

Second trip:
July 31-aug7
DH & I will have AP's
2 disney adult kids (ages 21 &17)
We have reserved 5 table service meals. The rest of our meals will be QS.

Third trip:
End of December thru Jan 3
Not sure how many meals we will do here. DD will be in the college program so we will be there to move her back home.

I initially wanted to do the Dining plan for our July/Aug trip however there have been no AP discounts released (only way to get room only and add dining). So trying to figure out if we would be better off forgetting about the dining plan, paying OOP and getting the TIW card
These are our ressies for TS:
Chef Mickey dinner
Ohana dinner
1900 park fare dinner
Tuskerhouse lunch
Crystal palace lunch
I have figured out the cost for these and came up with $792.20 (incl. tax) plus $158.21 tip for total of $950.41


I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of this. lol We have always paid oop for dining except last Dec when we got free dining. My family LOVED it and I must say I liked having my dining pre-paid and didn't have to worry about cost of meals. I seem to be a cheapo and will only order water and ask DH to split meals with me. Which he doesn't mind doing at least for one meal. But he LOVED the dining plan!!

I would love any insight on the TIW card.
Thanks!

 

[jls886]

We have had it and absolutely got every penny's worth from it and more. When we bought it it was $75, it is now $100. There is a very easy way to figure out if it is worth it to you.

Assuming you would normally tip 20% for your table service meals, if you spend $500 or more on table service meals you have paid for your card. It gives you 20% off of your bill, but also adds an automatic 18% gratuity. $500 in meals w/ 20% discount = $100 in discounts = you have paid for your card.

For us, that happened very quickly so the rest of our meals after that were truly at a 20% discount.

ETA: the only year we have purchased it was the year my sister did the CP so we made 3 separate trips down to visit her...it was also the only year we have purchased AP's so it was the only year we were eligible to purchase it anyway.

 

[cluvsdisney]

Based on what you posted, you will more than make up the cost of the card with the 5 meals you already have planned.

 

[deva]

I agree, as long as your total bill for all meals is >$500, it is the right move.

Keep in mind that it can be used at certain counter-service meals as well. It can be used at food courts of hotels that do not have table-service restaurants (all value resorts and Port Orleans French Quarter for example-I don't know if there are others). You can also use it at certain counter-service restaurants in Animal Kingdom. I don't know for sure but you might also be able to use it at Swan/Dolphin restaurants as well (although I might be thinking of AAA; its been a long time since I've done this).

 

[photos_101]

Ok Thanks! Sounds like that may be the way to go.
Have been doing a little more calculating
My figures are:
DDP w/tips= 1298.21
all meals, snacks, mugs w/TIW discount OOP= 1216.36

That is for only the Aug trip! So if I buy the TIW card in May when we get our AP's then we could use it for any TS then also. I 'think' I read you can also use it at the resort food courts??

Also where do you buy them at and can you use a disney GC to pay for it? (another 5% off for buying them at target )

 

[Crystal824]

We bought TiW last year for $75.00. For us, It has been worth it. In a few weeks, we will take our third (and last) trip on these Aps and TiW card. The first trip, we more than paid for the card in savings. We just did a quick review of DP v. TiW this weekend for the upcoming trip. We are going to save about $200.00 on food with TiW than if we were to have gotten the DP. Granted the DP would give your more food. I calculated TIW on how we normally eat. We usually split CS meals (we have a two year old, and she usually won't eat an entire kids meal so we get one kids meal and one adult meal and split it). Occasionally, I will order an app. and dessert as my meal at sit-down places. We went meal by meal and tried to estimate what we will order. Really, the savings is more than that because the TiW calculations include tips but the DP price doesn't include tips. Again, it is all in what and where you want to eat.

 

[bumbershoot]

www.tablesinwonderland.com is a good resource. Lists all the restaurants.

Yes, some QS places are included. Food courts at values (including AOA), Sassagoula Float Works at POFQ, Artist Palate at SSR, and the QS places at Animal Kingdom Park.


Also included with the TIW card is fee-free valet parking at resorts for when you are dining there and using the TIW card on the check. (you have to show them the receipt with the discount on it when you go to get your car)

 

[KodakFigment]

Worth noting...the card is actually good for more than a year. Using your dates, if you purchase May 2013 the card won't expire until June 30, 2014.

 

[jls886]

Also where do you buy them at and can you use a disney GC to pay for it? (another 5% off for buying them at target )

You can buy it at any guest services location - we bought ours at Magic Kingdom. I don't know for sure that you can use a gift card because we didn't try it, but I don't see why not?

 

[Fire14]

also u can book Dining plan with Ap and not have AP rate. I have done it multiple times. YOu are under pkg rules of paid off in 45 days.

 

[photos_101]

also u can book Dining plan with Ap and not have AP rate. I have done it multiple times. YOu are under pkg rules of paid off in 45 days.

Oooh Really! See I have no idea what goes with AP. This will be our first time with them. My kids and DH would rather me book room only w/dining but I told them that wasn't an option. And can't book pkg cause we won't need tkts for all 4, just the 2 kids (disney adults).
The trip before last we were supposed to do Ohana and the day before, I cancelled cause I just couldn't bring myself to pay the $$ for one meal! However, If I was to do the dining plan and have it all paid in advance, they know I can't or wouldn't back out.
So they are pushing and begging for the ddp.

Although the TIW discount would span the 3 vacations we are going to be there. And the may and dec trip will be shorter trips so probably only 1 or 2 table service meals.
Oh the decisions!

On that note...How do I go about booking the room only (if no AP discount comes out) and the dining plan?
Thanks so much, the kids will love to hear about this.

 

[Lorelei528]

What we like about the TIW card (and we've done it some trips and some trips Deluxe Dining)....is that even though when we're on the Deluxe plan, we know we don't HAVE to order two appys and two desserts, we do, even just to try them (because we figure we're paying for them anyway)...but what happens is, we end up paying WAY more for tips than we would have normally...

Also, if you drink, alcohol is also included in the discount with TIW, whereas on the dining plan it is not. We were even able to get 20% off Grand Marnier Slushies once! (though that might have been a fluke)

I know what you mean about the math part....it took me a long time to figure out which is best for us for our next trip....
We're getting the TIW card.

I do like having all your meals prepaid though and I love that we get 2 snacks a day....but we'll be able to save a few hundred dollars going with the TIW card this trip.

 

[Fire14]

Oooh Really! See I have no idea what goes with AP. This will be our first time with them. My kids and DH would rather me book room only w/dining but I told them that wasn't an option. And can't book pkg cause we won't need tkts for all 4, just the 2 kids (disney adults).
The trip before last we were supposed to do Ohana and the day before, I cancelled cause I just couldn't bring myself to pay the $$ for one meal! However, If I was to do the dining plan and have it all paid in advance, they know I can't or wouldn't back out.
So they are pushing and begging for the ddp.

Although the TIW discount would span the 3 vacations we are going to be there. And the may and dec trip will be shorter trips so probably only 1 or 2 table service meals.
Oh the decisions!

On that note...How do I go about booking the room only (if no AP discount comes out) and the dining plan?
Thanks so much, the kids will love to hear about this.

You just call and tell them you would like passholder with dining plan. It's basically the myw without tixs.
I personally HATE Dining plan and do better with TIW but I hate feeling like I have to get dessert every meal, can't order appitzier as my entrée, just crazy stuff. I finally got DH to see my way of buy TIW card and put money on Disney gc for meals.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

As an AP-holder your break-even point is menu prices of $469.48. Here are the computations.

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
Both of the above take into consideration that the Sales Tax is also discounted.

 

[deva]

Oh CF, I never thought about factoring in the decrease in sales tax due when using TIW-so the true break-even point IS slightly less than $500. Good call.

 

[photos_101]

Thanks so much for all the wonderful info!

We talked it over last night and we have decided to go with the TIW card. DH and I will buy it at the beginning of our May trip so we can use it then.
I promised the family that I would just get the pre-designated $$ of disney GC's that we would need to prepay for the dining for our Aug trip. So that there will be no backing out of our dining plans.

We should have money left over since we will have the TIW discount. So we will save any amount left from the 'dining' envelope for our Dec trip. It really is a win win that way!

The way I have it figured I will need $1300 in giftcards for dining. Time to hit up Target!
I guess my next question is, Do all the places listed above take disney GC's or should I just have them added to our room key?

 

[Fire14]

Thanks so much for all the wonderful info!

We talked it over last night and we have decided to go with the TIW card. DH and I will buy it at the beginning of our May trip so we can use it then.
I promised the family that I would just get the pre-designated $$ of disney GC's that we would need to prepay for the dining for our Aug trip. So that there will be no backing out of our dining plans.

We should have money left over since we will have the TIW discount. So we will save any amount left from the 'dining' envelope for our Dec trip. It really is a win win that way!

The way I have it figured I will need $1300 in giftcards for dining. Time to hit up Target!
I guess my next question is, Do all the places listed above take disney GC's or should I just have them added to our room key?

IMO your making right choice. All the places I saw listed in first post take Disney GC. I personally would load some of gc on KTTW card and leave some off to start. this way you aren't carrying 7 zillion GC, can see where you spent money. What I've been known to do is just have CC on KTTW card and every other day or so take some gc from safe and have them applied to room balance so I don't have to spend time at start of trip loading 7 zillion gc to account.

 

[pigletto]

I'm glad it works out for you OP. We'll also be picking one up on our August trip. Normally I wait and wait for free dining. Not this time. I don't like the way we have to eat with it, and would like to order what we want, where we want.

For us the DDP is getting tiresome because A) We normally wouldn't eat dessert with every meal and feel kind of gross doing so but usually pick at it or tell the server we aren't ordering it. B) DD is a vegetarian and would often rather make her meals of a couple of Appetizers rather than the one vegetarian choice at some places. C) My son is 9. Often he's too hungry for or not interested in the kids meals. If we're paying OOP we'll have a choice most places. and the big one D) we can rent points or stay offsite (we're doing both this year) and not be limited to staying at a mod to come in under budget.
It's win/win as far as I have calculated it and I'm happily shedding the free dining shackles. It worked for awhile.. but really doesn't anymore.

 

[jls886]

IMO your making right choice. All the places I saw listed in first post take Disney GC. I personally would load some of gc on KTTW card and leave some off to start. this way you aren't carrying 7 zillion GC, can see where you spent money. What I've been known to do is just have CC on KTTW card and every other day or so take some gc from safe and have them applied to room balance so I don't have to spend time at start of trip loading 7 zillion gc to account.

That is what we do - put a CC on our room key and then use that to pay for all of our meals. Every 3 days or so I go down to the front desk at the end of the day and pay off our balance with the gift cards. SO much easier than paying for meals with multiple gift cards and trying to remember the balance on them and use them up in pieces, etc.