TIW card ??

[crazybones27]

Can someone please explain to me how this works. I read a few things and I think I'm more confused now then before. I've read a few posts here and there and checked out the info on disney.com but I'm still confused.

Is it only for sit down restaurants or can you use it at counter service also? Is it always 20% off the meal? Will it take a discount off the alcohol if there is any purchased during the meal? How many people will the discount apply to on the check? Or does this all depend on restaurant your eating at?

I'm very curious because my family has 2 trips planned next year. The 1st in June is just me, dh, dd, ds, and possibly my sister. We'll probably do the quick service dining plan at that time, or just pay for the counter services then. It will be much easier with the age our son will be and lack of help. We're due to go back in September with 8 adults and the 2 kids. The other adults would definitely want to do sit down dinners or lunches here and there. We're all staying in a Grand Villa in Jambo. I was thinking for the meals we all eat together to get the TIW card to help out with the price of the meals. Then we can use it on our next trip in 2011.

Any advice or help is much appreciated! I think my brain over complicated understanding how the card works and now I'm just all confused .

 

[OKW Lover]

The DDE, gives you 20% off of nearly all your sit-down meals, including alcohol. There are very few sit-down restaurants at WDW that do not honor it. Most notably is Japan.

Also, at resorts that do not have a sit-down restaurant, the card is honored at their food court.

 

[dianeschlicht]

OKWlover gave you most of the info, but just wanted to make sure you know that you must be an AP holder to get the TIW card. We have tracked trips using the TIW card and also trips using DDP, and TIW saved us up to $200 over the DDP on specific trips.

 

[kristenrice]

The only CS restaurants that I've used it at are Pizzafari in the AK and the Pop Century food court, but I know there are others. I just got back from my birthday trip to Pop Century. I used the TiW card for breakfast every morning at the food court so the 20% off was great. I even bought a refillable mug and got the 20% off too. (**DISCLAIMER: I specifically asked if the discount could be applied to the mug too, assuming that it could not. The CM said, "Let's try it" and it worked. The next day, my friend went to get a mug as well and was told that the discount did not apply. So, it is probably hit or miss. Officially, though, I think it is not supposed to apply.**)

The card is good for up to a party of 10. If you have more than that, I don't know what they do. I know that if you have 14 people and 2 TiW cards, that doesn't work. Maybe you can apply it to up to 10 people and the rest are out of luck?

 

[LisaS]

The price keeps changing but I believe it is currently $75 for an AP holder, $100 for a Florida resident without an AP. That means you will need to spend more than $375 at eligible restaurants to get any value from the TIW card. Also be aware that an 18% gratuity is automatically added to your bill when you use the card.

There is more info here.

 

[backyardponder]

Since most of our trips are adults only these days, TIW works great for us since we almost always have wine with our meal. We also like going to some of the lounges in the evening. 20% off of booze is great. Unfortunately Jellyrolls does not participate.

 

[Snow Shoe]

As an AP holder, we've used it for the past several years and really like it. It has paid for itself by the fourth night of using it every time over the years. We usually spend between 9-12 nights annually at Disney. So in the long run, it has saved us a good bit of money each year. We've used it for TS's at B, L & D's, many character meals and signature meals like at Artist Point. We have had as many as 8 in our group dining together, and as small as just my wife and me. True, it automaticly adds on an 18% tip, and if I feel that the server deserves more, I leave it in cash. If there were problems with the service, I talk with the manager about it. I'll continue using it as long as Disney offers it and the price is reaonable.

 

[crazybones27]

Thank you everyone for all your responses. They are much appreciated and have definitely helped me to understand more!

Is there any reason why they charge an automatic 18% gratuity? I mean I'm use to that on parties that are usually 8 or more, but I don't understand why they do this if you only have 2 people eating. That seems a little weird to me. Is it because the bill is discounted so their afraid the server won't get the correct tip?

 

[CarolMN]

Moved from DVC Boards

 

[Tony-NJ]

Thank you everyone for all your responses.
Is there any reason why they charge an automatic 18% gratuity? I mean I'm use to that on parties that are usually 8 or more, but I don't understand why they do this if you only have 2 people eating. That seems a little weird to me. Is it because the bill is discounted so their afraid the server won't get the correct tip?

This seems to be the reason why they started adding the 18%. It makes things easier for us - we sometimes leave more as well.

The card it's self is great - we eat well when on vacation - the last time we were there with friends - it paid for it's self on cali Grill alone LOL!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

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.

 

[jwfla422]

Another perk is the FREE valet parking. This is the only way to park FREE in valet at any of the Disney resorts you are dining at. (not sure how much longer this perk will last but we take advantage of it while it's still available )

We've been members since it's start back in the early 90s when it was the DDE card for only....get this, $25 a year and the spouse card was free! Of course at that time it was only available for FL residents but now that it's available to AP holders IF that restaurant doesn't accept it, make sure to check your AP discounts as many restaurants in DTD offer discounts with that. (and even some in the parks/resorts). I believe the lunch time discoumt is 20% and dinner is 10% but it still helps Check your AP holder sleeve of the Disney website for the most accurate info.

 

[TDC Nala]

The only counter service places that accept TIW are:

The 4 value resort food courts
The POFQ food court
Artists Palette at Saratoga Springs
Pizzafari, Restaurantosaurus and Flame Tree at AK

Of the table services, Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining don't accept it, nor do most of the TS at Downtown Disney.

TIW has blackout dates on New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Mother's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve.