TIW cards

[fishermouse]

I prefer the TIW we're not bozzers but the TIW covers the entire bill, even if we just go to ESPN and get nachos and a few beers we get the 20 off. Plus we don't always want a big dinner, guess it depends on your meal preferences DDP seems to work for a lot of people. There is also a huge cost difference $65. a year for TIW. I would get it even if I was going to use the DDP for one or two trips.

 

[Chuck S]

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.

Uh, no, that is not the reason.

Counter service discounts are really only offered at resorts/parks where there is not a good Table Service alternative. The value resorts, for example, have no Table Service. Animal Kingdom park, until recently, had no Disney operated Table Service venue.

Remember the history of the DDE/TIW. It was originally only offered to Florida residents to encourage locals and local business to consider Disney locations when going out to eat in the area with family and friends. It only recently bacame available to all Annual Passholders. It was not initially intended to be a discount card for all AP/onsite guests.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was thrilled to know that the counter services in AK still accept TIW because I really like FTB! I admit that I've been tempted to go over to the values for some meals because the food courts accept TIW and at Pop, I do like the salmon/fish dinner and a few other entrees that they have. Haven't done it yet, aside from the times that I stay at Pop.

Bobbi

PS. Truly, it doesn't bother me. DH and I went to WDW long before we bought DVC, and never got any discounts. We always bought some sort of prepaid package because I just knew each trip was costing a lot, and I didn't want to have to pay for it after the fact. DVC has helped me enjoy WDW and has made it more affordable for us.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Isn't the tip figured before the discount?

yep, at each restaurant the tip was figured after the discount was taken off.

 

[kristenrice]

yep, at each restaurant the tip was figured after the discount was taken off.

WOW! Now I can go back and readjust my budget!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Isn't it customary to tip on the full bill (food, drinks, not tax), not the adjusted bill? That's what I've always heard.
Bobbi

 

[dzorn]

Isn't it customary to tip on the full bill (food, drinks, not tax), not the adjusted bill? That's what I've always heard.
Bobbi

Yep that is what we always do.

Denise in MI

 

[spiceycat]

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.

don't like to eat anything in the parks.

too expensive and the food isn't that great. just get on a bus and go back to any resort that takes it
POR
POFQ
Pop
all Stars (all 3)

hardily anyone is there for lunch - so you can relax and enjoy your meal.

also with just your DVC member card you can get discounts at several DD locations

MacDonald's

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Isn't it customary to tip on the full bill (food, drinks, not tax), not the adjusted bill? That's what I've always heard.
Bobbi

since they automatically add the tip for us, do you figure what the tip would have been on the full bill and then add it as an extra tip?

 

[spiceycat]

Isn't it customary to tip on the full bill (food, drinks, not tax), not the adjusted bill? That's what I've always heard.
Bobbi

yes but anything that demands that tip 18% get nothing extra from me.

now would be tipping 20% - but only if it my choice.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

yes but anything that demands that tip 18% get nothing extra from me.

now would be tipping 20% - but only if it my choice.

that's kinda how I think too. We normally tip 20%, but since they've decided I must tip 18% just because my family of 6 sits down.. no matter what we order, or how our service is... then they'll get their 18%

 

[drusba]

Isn't it customary to tip on the full bill (food, drinks, not tax), not the adjusted bill? That's what I've always heard.
Bobbi

Yes, if you are doing the choice of tipping, no if it is a manadatory tipping system that they are calculating in, in which case it is on the amount after the discount. For the most part with the 18% tip amount what is really happening is that you are usually paying an amount close to a 15% tip you would choose to pay if there was not a discount Be aware you can still be more generous if you desire because the check (and room or credit card check) they bring has a space to add additional tip if you want.

 

[KNJ Mom]

Hi, I've been reading all of the info you have given about the TIW card and am thrilled to find out about it. I do have one question though. My family is going to SSr in Aug and we are already planning on buying annual passes. I know that the pass doesn't activate until you actually enter a park for the first time even if you purchase the pass months before, so your expiration is 1 year from the first time you enter the park. Does the TIW card work the same way or is the expiration from date of purchase. We are going to use our passes this Aug and then planning to use them next Aug to squeeze 2 trips out of them. So I guess what I need to know can I buy it from home this spring(when our tax refund shows up)or should I wait until we get there in Aug? There will be 8 of us staying for a week so I can see it giving us significant savings, especially if we can use it for both trips.Thanks in advance.

 

[Chuck S]

Wait until you get there and buy it at Guests Services when you activate your passes. It is good approximately 13 months from date of purchase, depending upon when in the month you purchase it. Generally if you would purchase it early in August it would expire at the end of the following August. A little later in the month, and it would expire the end of September the following year. Either way, you get at least one full year.

 

[disneynutz]

Hi, I've been reading all of the info you have given about the TIW card and am thrilled to find out about it. I do have one question though. My family is going to SSr in Aug and we are already planning on buying annual passes. I know that the pass doesn't activate until you actually enter a park for the first time even if you purchase the pass months before, so your expiration is 1 year from the first time you enter the park. Does the TIW card work the same way or is the expiration from date of purchase. We are going to use our passes this Aug and then planning to use them next Aug to squeeze 2 trips out of them. So I guess what I need to know can I buy it from home this spring(when our tax refund shows up)or should I wait until we get there in Aug? There will be 8 of us staying for a week so I can see it giving us significant savings, especially if we can use it for both trips.Thanks in advance.

You can buy your, AP's and TIW card at the same time at any Guest Relations location at WDW. All you need is your DVC Member ID, a picture ID for each adult guest and lots of money.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi, I've been reading all of the info you have given about the TIW card and am thrilled to find out about it. I do have one question though. My family is going to SSr in Aug and we are already planning on buying annual passes. I know that the pass doesn't activate until you actually enter a park for the first time even if you purchase the pass months before, so your expiration is 1 year from the first time you enter the park. Does the TIW card work the same way or is the expiration from date of purchase. We are going to use our passes this Aug and then planning to use them next Aug to squeeze 2 trips out of them. So I guess what I need to know can I buy it from home this spring(when our tax refund shows up)or should I wait until we get there in Aug? There will be 8 of us staying for a week so I can see it giving us significant savings, especially if we can use it for both trips.Thanks in advance.

The annual pass expires one year from the day you buy it, and the expiration date is on the back. The voucher lets you pick up an AP when you go on site, but even if you don't go into the park on the day you buy it, it would still expire a year out.

I do not know if you can get a TIW card just on the AP voucher alone. When you do get the card, there is more than just a 12 month use on it. It seems to me that it can be as much as 13 months. So, if you get one in this August, you'll be able to use it next August as well.

Bobbi

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Hi, I've been reading all of the info you have given about the TIW card and am thrilled to find out about it. I do have one question though. My family is going to SSr in Aug and we are already planning on buying annual passes. I know that the pass doesn't activate until you actually enter a park for the first time even if you purchase the pass months before, so your expiration is 1 year from the first time you enter the park. Does the TIW card work the same way or is the expiration from date of purchase. We are going to use our passes this Aug and then planning to use them next Aug to squeeze 2 trips out of them. So I guess what I need to know can I buy it from home this spring(when our tax refund shows up)or should I wait until we get there in Aug? There will be 8 of us staying for a week so I can see it giving us significant savings, especially if we can use it for both trips.Thanks in advance.

You will want to wait to purchase it in August. You can do it at any Guest Relations window.

We got our DDE/TIW card the same day we exchanged our AP vouchers out.

 

[bobbiwoz]

since they automatically add the tip for us, do you figure what the tip would have been on the full bill and then add it as an extra tip?

I've not looked that closely at the bill. I just assumed that it was an 18% tip on the original amount. Would I add to the tip that's been calculated? Yes, I would but I haven't because of what I thought.
Bobbi

PS. I do not blame the servers for what the TIW card does. My DM was a waitress for nearly her whole working life, and so, I think of her when I'm waited on.

 

[KNJ Mom]

Thanks for the quick replies. Did the AP thing change? The reason I ask is that we had APs about 3 years ago and I do know that I bought them several months before to get them before a price increase and their expiration was set for the first use date. If so I may need to rethink. thanks again.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks for the quick replies. Did the AP thing change? The reason I ask is that we had APs about 3 years ago and I do know that I bought them several months before to get them before a price increase and their expiration was set for the first use date. If so I may need to rethink. thanks again.

You can get the voucher before the price increase and activate that when you want. This is our third year with an AP and I know when we first got one, we went to DTD to get it the night we got to WDW, and it had that date on the pass, even though we didn't use it until the next day.

Bobbi