TIW expiration date question

[disneygrandma]

I know the official wording is that the TIW card is good for 1 yr. However, it seems like when we bought one in the fall of 2012, it was good until the end of the month that we purchased it in......possibly even the end of the next month....in 2013. Thus making it good for about 13 months or so, instead of 12.

We have 2 upcoming trips planned: one arriving towards the end of May, 2014, and the other arriving in June, 2015. I'm hoping that if we purchased TIW at the beginning of our 1st trip, that it would be good thru the end of our 2nd trip.

For those of you that have purchased TIW recently, how long is the period that your card was good for? Was it exactly one year to the day, or if longer, how much longer?

We'll be a group of 7 on both trips, so that 20% discount would be great. However, I'm disappointed that most character meals will have black out dates for our 2015 trip. I'd like to make our ADR's for our 2014 trip, but a lot depends on whether or not we'll have the TIW card.

Thanks for your help!

 

[delilah]

I purchased one this past Saturday, and it expires exactly on the 1 year anniversary of the purchase, 12/21/2014.

It actually doesn't function exactly as it was described in what I had read before purchasing it, either. We had the Disney dining plan for this trip, and it was pitched to us that if we had the TIW card, if we purchased items that were not on the dining plan, like appetizers or alcoholic beverages, we could get the 20% discount on those items. When we actually went to the restaurants, we were told that we could use one or the other. So, as an example, we went to Biergarten for dinner, and bought beer to accompany our meal. We were told that because we had the dining plan, we could not get the 20% discount for the beer. No big deal. We only bought one beer sampler to share between our group, about $10. The next evening, we were able to get a discount for the meals for two guests with us at Liberty Tree Tavern, who were not on the dining plan. The next night, we went to Tokyo dining, and once again, the appetizer we shared wasn't given a discount, but, once again, it only cost about $10. Maybe it depends on the restaurant, because both that told us we couldn't get the discount were at Epcot.

We are going again in June. I don't plan on getting the dining plan on that trip, for the simple reason that sometimes we like to get things not on the dining plan, usually don't care about dessert. But, based on my experiences, I probably won't get the TIW card again. At the rate I'm going, I won't even break even with the discounts to cover the cost of the card.

 

[abdgeek]

My TIW was good thru Dec. 31, 2013. In 2012, I purchased my TIW on Nov. 8 and the expiration date on the card said 12/31/13. I went to guest relations when I was at Epcot and purchased my TIW card while I was picking up my AP.

Another thing to keep in mind about the TIW is that you can't use it at most of the QS places and not all of the TS restaurants accept it. I used my TIW instead of getting the dining plan for my trips last year(two weekend trips and 2.5 weeks during summer). I didn't save anything on breakfast because I ate QS or bought groceries at BLT. For dinner, I ate mostly at signature restaurants and more restaurants that didn't take the dining plan(Shula's, Bluezoo, V&A, etc). I love Teppan Edo and it doesn't take TIW. What I noticed was that I ate differently. I usually didn't get an appetizer or dessert but got a adult beverage. I also had to pay OOP for any snack I got(you can't use it at food kiosks). While I know I saved 20% using TIW, I was still trying to watch my budget as opposed to already having paid for my food with the dining plan. An automatic gratuity of 18% is also added to the bill, so you don't have the flexibility of leaving less(if that bothers you).

 

[88golf88]

Ours have been good until the end if the following month, the following year...essentially 13+ months

 

[disneygrandma]

That's disappointing that it didn't work with the DDP and give the discount on the extras that were ordered. My understanding, also, is that it is suppose to. We no longer do the DDP. Way too much food, as well as costing so much. Plus we've prepaid for meals we might end up not even wanting to do. When the DDP first came out, we loved it. No longer.

I'm pretty sure that we purchased our TIW in early Sept, 2012, and it was good thru Oct, 31, 2013. I was hoping that it would still be that way. If it is now exactly 1 yr from the date of purchase, we might decide to skip it. I'll have to figure some things out to see if it will be worth it. I'm thinking not.

Thanks

 

[houseofduck]

We purchased our TIW card in early September 2013 and it is good until October 31, 2014. We purchased ours inside of Magic Kingdom.

 

[SUSIEQ]

Purchased 7/1/13, expires 8/31/14. That's a FULL 14 months.


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[erionm]

I purchased one this past Saturday, and it expires exactly on the 1 year anniversary of the purchase, 12/21/2014.

It actually doesn't function exactly as it was described in what I had read before purchasing it, either. We had the Disney dining plan for this trip, and it was pitched to us that if we had the TIW card, if we purchased items that were not on the dining plan, like appetizers or alcoholic beverages, we could get the 20% discount on those items. When we actually went to the restaurants, we were told that we could use one or the other. So, as an example, we went to Biergarten for dinner, and bought beer to accompany our meal. We were told that because we had the dining plan, we could not get the 20% discount for the beer. No big deal. We only bought one beer sampler to share between our group, about $10. The next evening, we were able to get a discount for the meals for two guests with us at Liberty Tree Tavern, who were not on the dining plan. The next night, we went to Tokyo dining, and once again, the appetizer we shared wasn't given a discount, but, once again, it only cost about $10. Maybe it depends on the restaurant, because both that told us we couldn't get the discount were at Epcot.

We are going again in June. I don't plan on getting the dining plan on that trip, for the simple reason that sometimes we like to get things not on the dining plan, usually don't care about dessert. But, based on my experiences, I probably won't get the TIW card again. At the rate I'm going, I won't even break even with the discounts to cover the cost of the card.

The official TiW policy is both can be used. From the Tables in Wonderland website:

If you are using Disney Dining Plan entitlements, you may still use the Tables in Wonderland discount on any food or beverage items that are purchased at a participating restaurant, above and beyond what the Disney Dining Plan covers. For example, if you are using Disney Dining Plan entitlements, and you order a bottle of wine, you will be presented with a check for the bottle of wine, at which time you may use your Tables in Wonderland discount as long as the restaurant participates in Tables in Wonderland.

You need to contact TiW and let them know of any participating locations that refused to give you the discount when on a dining plan. Send them an email at: WDW.Tables.In.Wonderland@disney.com

 

[delilah]

Michael, thanks for the information about the official website. We bought the TIW card right before going to Biergarten. I am not really a very confrontational person, and hadn't used it before, but, I do intend to write to them about both Tokyo Dining and Biergarten not allowing the discount for appetizers and alcohol. At the time, I didn't feel like raising a stink about $2.

The original poster's question was about when the card would expire, and whether it would still be valid for more than one year from buying it. I don't know if it is a new policy that it expires on the exact anniversary of purchase, like the annual pass does, or if it was dependent on where you purchase the card (we purchased it at International Gateway at Epcot). Just trying to be helpful. Once again, in my case, we are going for another trip in June, and I am not sure when we will go again, but probably not before the TIW card expires. (Our annual passes expire in June, and I am not sure if I am buying a new one).

 

[drusba]

As to the OPs original Q, if any change has been made to shorten its expiration date it has to be one made very recently for which no announcement was made, because we purchased in mid-Nov and our TIW card is good until December 31, 2014. We purchased TIW in years past also and it was always good until the end of that thirteenth calendar month after purchase.

 

[fortheloveofminnie]

I purchased a TIW card on 10/10/13 at Guest Relations in Magic Kingdom and it expires on 11/30/2014.

 

[deedisneydream97]

Us too...purchased early May 2013, expires June 30, 2014. I am curious as to what others have found when purchasing one this month. With all of the other changes made to the TIW benefits, they probably also did away with that extra time. I don't know if we will renew again, especially with all of the new blackout dates. Since we rent a car, it is easy to go off-site.

I just double checked the TIW site and for the life of me CANNOT find any mention of how long the card is good for. But I am looking right now at my little booklet/card holder that came with my card in May...."TIW is valid for one year from date of purchase". Although....that did not apply to the card I got. Hmmm.