TIW cards

[allshookup]

And do you get the full 20% at those CS?

Yes you sure do.

oops Chuck beat me to it!

 

[mopee3]

Now I have to do the math and decide what is the best deal the TIW card, the meal plan or a combination of both because the meal plan is just to much food for 15 days

Hum... the first time we stayed at the World we used the regular dinning plan but now it's the Deluxe for us . I know the plans have been talked about until they are like the current points change and new reservation policy, but for us it comes down to: not cooking in room , better food than we get in our home town, and having the food paid for before we start the vacation.

May not be the cheapest but we do have a lot of fun with the Deluxe Dinning plan and all those Signature Resturants.

And now with the TIW card, there is just something about driving up to the Grand Floridian, jumping out and heading for those restaurants without having to pay when we come out or walking clearrrrrrrrrrrrrr over to the parking lot to get the auto. How else am I going to keep my growing buba, alias stomach for some of you, in shape. Walk? Bit your tongue!!

Moe

 

[DJmommy]

Quick question.

We bought AP's last August and the DDE at the same time. I believe we have until Sept of this year to use it so it should cover us for dining even tho our AP's will be expired for this August. We may be buying new AP's instead of renewing so that we can get this August and next August out of the same AP. Can you hold off and purchase the TIW card anytime during the year as long as you are an AP cardholder at the time of purchase?

 

[cj9200]

We always have the DDE (I refuse to call it Tables in Wonderland or whatever they call it now) when we go. As Florida residents, we are eligible to purchase even when we do not have an Annual Pass. In addition to the posts above, another consideration is that alcohol is included in the discount. Not that I drink. Much.

 

[Muhlenberg]

Quick question.

We bought AP's last August and the DDE at the same time. I believe we have until Sept of this year to use it so it should cover us for dining even tho our AP's will be expired for this August. We may be buying new AP's instead of renewing so that we can get this August and next August out of the same AP. Can you hold off and purchase the TIW card anytime during the year as long as you are an AP cardholder at the time of purchase?

I believe the answer is YES! I have an AP and TIW that expire in Aug. and Sept. also...you just need to have an AP to get the TIW.

I went so far as to figure out our food costs per person per day...and it was roughly the same as buying the DDP, but INCLUDED the tip. Two of us had drinks a few nights (they're included for the discount), and we ate 1 TS and 1 CS per day, plus had Mickey bars as a snack. So for those of you wondering...it comes out about the same, money wise. I like the TIW better....you're not always counting credits and can order what you want. We stayed at SSR, and Artist Pallette(CS) takes the TIW, AND it can be used on Mickey Bars there. (We're addicted. )

Be careful with the free valet, though. We ate at CR on our last night, and valet charged me $10...I didn't discover it until I got my bill when we were checking out, and since valet is independent from Disney, the resort couldn't take it off my bill. We were leaving, and I didn't have time to spend to straighten it out at CR.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

We have the DDE card and I was worried that we wouldn't break even, but with a party of 6 I figured it wouldn't take long.

Here's what I figured:

$100 - 20% discount = $80 + 18% tip = $94.40

w/o the card: $100 + 18% tip = $118.00

Savings $23.60

Now that's just one meal, and a cheap one at that

So, as long as we eat three meals in a year it has paid for itself!

 

[Inkmahm]

You don't say if you will have an AP (which you need to get the TIW card). Chuck's calculations for the savings would be true if you were already buying APs (or at least one AP). Remember to factor that in to any calculations.

As well it can be tricky when you have different tickets in your party. For example if everyone else have MYW tickets with WF&M (or whatever the acronym is now) you need to account for the admission to the water parks for the person with the AP.

I'm not trying to talk you out of getting the TIW card. It can generate a great deal of savings but you need to carefully calculate the cost of acquiring the card.

Admission to the water parks? Not sure what you mean. You can buy an AP that has no water park admissions, that's what I do.

 

[njmeisje]

We're trying the TIW this year, instead of the DDP. With the DDP we always had left over CS and snacks - could not manage to eat it all.

We are also doing two trips this year to maximize our AP and TIW, so I think it works very well in this scenario.

Enjoy!

 

[kid-at-heart]

Do you not tip at all? It's true that we would mostly give an 15 - 20% tip, so we just don't include the tip in figuring out our savings.

Bobbi

What I do is add the 18-20% to the charges or just use the suggested amount for tips. But while I have the card and haven't used it yet, will do so in JUST 6 days, it still seems to me if you are saving 20% and are automatically charged 18% you are only saving 2%.

Oh Oh, wait the light bulb is starting to glow. Since I am going to pay the 18-20% tip anyway.......... Wow the bulb is really......... Oh wait I see the light..go into the light!

Some of us are older and the elevator doesn't go all the way up all the time. And sometimes not at all!!

So just one more quick question bobbie , how do you get the quote's in the box?

Moe

It took me awhile also to figure it out. I, too, blame it on age but I think my denseness had to do with my lack of math ability.

So how often do you make it from Walla Walla to Orlando? Went to a wedding once in Walla Walla. You have a beautiful city.

 

[disneyistheone]

I bought a TIW for my last trip and loved it. Something I thought unusual when I bought groceries (eggs, bread etc.) at Artists Palette. The cashier saw my TIW card on the lanyard around my neck and asked me for the card. He gave me the standard TIW discount on the groceries. I knew that the CS at Artists Palette qualified but I didn't know that the groceries did as well. Has anyone else asked for and/or received the TIW discount for groceries? In my case, the discount went through just fine.

 

[spiceycat]

I bought a TIW for my last trip and loved it. Something I thought unusual when I bought groceries (eggs, bread etc.) at Artists Palette. The cashier saw my TIW card on the lanyard around my neck and asked me for the card. He gave me the standard TIW discount on the groceries. I knew that the CS at Artists Palette qualified but I didn't know that the groceries did as well. Has anyone else asked for and/or received the TIW discount for groceries? In my case, the discount went through just fine.

didn't even use it.

thanks - will definitely this time.

 

[spiceycat]

Can you hold off and purchase the TIW card anytime during the year as long as you are an AP cardholder at the time of purchase?

definitely generally get my TIW (like DDE better) card when my AP is about to expire.

 

[allshookup]

I believe the answer is YES! I have an AP and TIW that expire in Aug. and Sept. also...you just need to have an AP to get the TIW.

I went so far as to figure out our food costs per person per day...and it was roughly the same as buying the DDP, but INCLUDED the tip. Two of us had drinks a few nights (they're included for the discount), and we ate 1 TS and 1 CS per day, plus had Mickey bars as a snack. So for those of you wondering...it comes out about the same, money wise. I like the TIW better....you're not always counting credits and can order what you want. We stayed at SSR, and Artist Pallette(CS) takes the TIW, AND it can be used on Mickey Bars there. (We're addicted. )

Be careful with the free valet, though. We ate at CR on our last night, and valet charged me $10...I didn't discover it until I got my bill when we were checking out, and since valet is independent from Disney, the resort couldn't take it off my bill. We were leaving, and I didn't have time to spend to straighten it out at CR.

I also went so far as to figure out the cost per person per day for a 3 day period just for an example, and it didn't come about the same for me, but everyone is different. Here are my figures:

Note: I compared what I would TYPICALLY eat & drink over 3 days at WDW & not what I would ORDER just because I’m on the plan. The TIW card cost $60, but with 20% savings for 4 people used over a couple of vacations, I’m not sure how to calculate the cost for one person over 3 days. To be fair, since we save 20% on TS meals but automatically pay 18% gratuity, I’ll consider the gratuity paid by the TIW & the 2% difference the cost of the TIW card. (All meals & snacks include tax).

3 Days on DDP

ABC: burg, fry & coke: 0
PTC: chic, cof, smores: 0
18% Gratuity: 4.27
2 martinis: 19.50
CP lunch: 0
18% Gratuity: 4.02
Casey: dog, fry & coke: 0
Water: 0
Tancafe: wrap & coke: 0
Lecellier: soup & filet: 5.90
18% Gratuity: 7.77
Martini: 9.25
Schoolbread: 0
3 day total: 50.71
DDP cost: 119.37
Grand total: 170.08

3 Days with TIW:

ABC: burg, fry & coke: 9.34
PTC: chic, cof & smores: 23.73
Gratuity (minus TIW disc): 0
2 martinis w/disc: 15.60
CP lunch: 22.35
Gratuity: 0
Casey: dog, fry & coke: 8.39
Water: 2.15
Tancafe: wrap & coke: 12.82
Lecellier: soup & filet: 43.16
Gratuity: 0
Martini w/disc: 8.00
Schoolbread: 2.65
3 day total: 148.19
No plan: 0
Grand total: 148.19

 

[Melani]

I'm going to try and list all the dining discounts on one page for our trip in May. If I get it done, I'll post it here. I know allears has one sort of.

 

[Chuck S]

I also went so far as to figure out the cost per person per day for a 3 day period just for an example, and it didn't come about the same for me, but everyone is different. Here are my figures:

Note: I compared what I would TYPICALLY eat & drink over 3 days at WDW & not what I would ORDER just because I’m on the plan. The TIW card cost $60, but with 20% savings for 4 people used over a couple of vacations, I’m not sure how to calculate the cost for one person over 3 days. To be fair, since we save 20% on TS meals but automatically pay 18% gratuity, I’ll consider the gratuity paid by the TIW & the 2% difference the cost of the TIW card. (All meals & snacks include tax).

3 Days on DDP

ABC: burg, fry & coke: 0
PTC: chic, cof, smores: 0
18% Gratuity: 4.27
2 martinis: 19.50
CP lunch: 0
18% Gratuity: 4.02
Casey: dog, fry & coke: 0
Water: 0
Tancafe: wrap & coke: 0
Lecellier: soup & filet: 5.90
18% Gratuity: 7.77
Martini: 9.25
Schoolbread: 0
3 day total: 50.71
DDP cost: 119.37
Grand total: 170.08

3 Days with TIW:
ABC: burg, fry & coke: 9.34
PTC: chic, cof & smores: 23.73
Gratuity (minus TIW disc): 0
2 martinis w/disc: 15.60
CP lunch: 22.35
Gratuity: 0
Casey: dog, fry & coke: 8.39
Water: 2.15
Tancafe: wrap & coke: 12.82
Lecellier: soup & filet: 43.16
Gratuity: 0
Martini w/disc: 8.00
Schoolbread: 2.65
3 day total: 148.19
No plan: 0
Grand total: 148.19

What's interesting is even adding 20% back in to the $148.19 for the TS locations & adult beverages, (20% of $112.84) the DDP would only have saved you 68¢. Just not worth the hassle, IMO

 

[drusba]

Have been using it since the DDE card started. For us it is a no brainer because we have probably 25 or more sit down dinners at WDW during a year. Also the 18% tip really is not that high when you compare it to not using the discount and doing normal tipping because the tip is added after the discount is taken. Example: assume $100 meal with no discount and you tip 15% to make total $115. Use discount card and that $100 meal is $80, add 18% tip to that $80 and tip is $14.40, under the 15% tip you would have paid without using the discount.

 

[disnutt]

We have the DDE card and I was worried that we wouldn't break even, but with a party of 6 I figured it wouldn't take long.

Here's what I figured:

$100 - 20% discount = $80 + 18% tip = $94.40

w/o the card: $100 + 18% tip = $118.00

Savings $23.60

Now that's just one meal, and a cheap one at that

So, as long as we eat three meals in a year it has paid for itself!

Use discount card and that $100 meal is $80, add 18% tip to that $80 and tip is $14.40, under the 15% tip you would have paid without using the discount.

Isn't the tip figured before the discount?

 

[drusba]

With our bills they have been adding the tip after the discount.

 

[disnutt]

With our bills they have been adding the tip after the discount.

Thanks!

 

[rutgers1]

I was totally set to jump from the DDP to the TIW until I realized that most counter service places are NOT on the TIW. I figured that there would be at least one place in each park where you could eat. Wrong.

I had made a document whereby I compared all of my meals both on the DDP and the TIW, and the TIW plan seemed like a much better deal to me. But now that I found out that finding counter service restaurants that accept the TIW is difficult, all my calculations are out the window. Ugh!

Doesn't this bother anyone else?

I think the main issue is that Disney no longer feels like we are a flight risk. With more hotels and parks than ever, and with the Disney Magical Express making a rental car less prevalent, people are stuck on Disney property and are eating their meals in the restaurants whether Disney offers a discount or not. They know this, which is why I think they don't feel compelled to offer many counter service discounts.