TIW free valet parking?

[frannn]

We'll get TIW in addition to DP this year. How does the free valet work? Do you show your card when parking or have to get reimbursed? Also, how much time are you alotted? We're planning on eating dinner then watching fireworks & leaving, at Chef Mickey's and Cape May Cafe. Can we leave car at valet and monorail/boat to park then hop back to car?

 

[erionm]

From the TiW webpage:

Valet Parking at Disney Resort Hotels and Disney Springs
Disney Resort hotel valet services and Disney Springs valet services are complimentary to Tables in Wonderland members, for the sole purpose of dining at one of the participating Resort hotel or Disney Springs restaurants. This privilege will only be extended to one vehicle per membership card. Present your membership card with a valid dining receipt from the participating Resort hotel or Disney Springs restaurant at the valet stand upon retrieving your vehicle.

Complimentary Resort hotel valet parking is not intended for length of stay at a Resort and may only be used if the vehicle is parked at a Resort hotel for the sole purpose of dining at one of the participating restaurants of that same Resort hotel. On Tables in Wonderland block-out dates, there will be a charge for parking and valet services.

Theme Park Parking
Theme park parking is complimentary to Tables in Wonderland members, for the sole purpose of dining at one of the participating theme park restaurants.

• Before 5:00 PM: Please pay for parking at the Auto Plaza. Visit Guest Relations on your way out of the theme park. If it has been less than 3 hours, show your membership card, parking receipt and dining receipt for parking reimbursement.
• After 5:00 PM: Members can show their membership card at the Auto Plaza to enter the parking lot.

Note: Theme park admission is required for dining in all theme park restaurant locations. On Tables in Wonderland block-out dates, there will be a charge for parking and valet services.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/tables-in-wonderland/

 

[Networth]

You show your receipt from the restaurants that has the TIW discount on it to the valet. The price is waived just like if you had receipt validation for parking anywhere else.

This does not include the tip, so still have cash on you to tip the valet.

On a side note have you done the math? If your on the DP the amount of value the TIW card provides is extremely poor, minimum $750.00 OOP just to break even.

 

[gharter]

I would agree that having the TiW card in addition to the dining plan doesn't make a lot of sense. I would do the math to see if you will save any money.
We have had to show our restaurant receipt and the TiW card to the valet when we pick up the card.
As mentioned, don't for get the tip as that is not included.
I'm not sure how many hours they consider reasonable. I know we have been there over 3 hours several times.

 

[kniquy]

We'll get TIW in addition to DP this year.

Most people do not get the TiW and the dining plan together. The dining plan does not really save you any money, it is a convenience item and you can't use the TiW in conjunction with DP credits. The TiW offers more flexibility as you are not forced to get your meal and dessert, without the DP you can just op to get a few apps and dessert and the TiW will get you a discount on alcohol as well as 20% off your entire party size.

I thoroughly priced out getting the DP for my upcoming trip and the TiW for our party of 7 for a 7 night trip will definitely provide a considerable savings.

 

[Hopefully]

I have to disagree. We have done both and saved money. You can use TIW for appetizers and drinks in conjunction with the DDP. We had several trips on one YIW so that helped

 

[rg35]

I have to disagree. We have done both and saved money. You can use TIW for appetizers and drinks in conjunction with the DDP. We had several trips on one YIW so that helped

The break even point on TiW is north of $750. That's a lot of apps and drinks.

This year's DDP also includes 1 alcoholic beverage as part of a TS credit meal.

OP doesn't mention the makeup of their party, so impossible to figure what their spend might be.

 

[TheRealDrDisney]

The break even point on TiW is north of $750. That's a lot of apps and drinks.

This year's DDP also includes 1 alcoholic beverage as part of a TS credit meal.

OP doesn't mention the makeup of their party, so impossible to figure what their spend might be.

Do your calculations include the cost of valet parking (20 at Disney Springs, 33 at Disney Resort Hotels)?

If the TIW card is 150 dollars and you dine 5 times during the year at a resort hotel, that covers it right there.

But I freely admit I may be missing something.

 

[rg35]

Do your calculations include the cost of valet parking (20 at Disney Springs, 33 at Disney Resort Hotels)?

If the TIW card is 150 dollars and you dine 5 times during the year at a resort hotel, that covers it right there.

But I freely admit I may be missing something.

No, I admit that I didn't take free valet parking into account. We never valet park (even the times when we have purchased TiW), so it doesn't stick in my head as a benefit.

But your calculations also assume a lot of meals at resort hotels or DS. If most of the meals are at theme parks then that benefit can never be realized. It also assumes the user has a car, although many visitors to WDW use disney transportation.

 

[TheRealDrDisney]

No, I admit that I didn't take free valet parking into account. We never valet park (even the times when we have purchased TiW), so it doesn't stick in my head as a benefit.

But your calculations also assume a lot of meals at resort hotels or DS. If most of the meals are at theme parks then that benefit can never be realized. It also assumes the user has a car, although many visitors to WDW use disney transportation.

Thanks - I was thinking about it from my POV (semi-local) and we drive down quite a bit to eat at the hotels or DS.

When the valets greet you by name at the Poly it may mean we go too much - lol!

Thanks again for the clarification!

 

[HopperFan]

Most people do not get the TiW and the dining plan together. The dining plan does not really save you any money, it is a convenience item and you can't use the TiW in conjunction with DP credits. The TiW offers more flexibility as you are not forced to get your meal and dessert, without the DP you can just op to get a few apps and dessert and the TiW will get you a discount on alcohol as well as 20% off your entire party size.

I thoroughly priced out getting the DP for my upcoming trip and the TiW for our party of 7 for a 7 night trip will definitely provide a considerable savings.

I have to disagree. We have done both and saved money. You can use TIW for appetizers and drinks in conjunction with the DDP. We had several trips on one YIW so that helped

The break even point on TiW is north of $750. That's a lot of apps and drinks.

This year's DDP also includes 1 alcoholic beverage as part of a TS credit meal.

OP doesn't mention the makeup of their party, so impossible to figure what their spend might be.

There is the assumption one gets the DDP every trip .... TiW lasts 13 mos and over that time we might have 6 trips. When we got the DDP it was only one trip per year, during "Free" Dining. During those trips we did use both because we like appetizers and alcoholic drinks. The server prepares two bills, one that is covered by DDP and one that is not. We use the TiW on the one that is not. On the other 5 trips we are using it on the full bill.

And while we do use at the parks, many of the resort restaurants/lounges have much better food so going there plus using Valet can really pay your cost off fast. Gosh, just a few drinks at Trader's Sams can almost do it all.