TIW or just stick with the AP discounts?

[wisbucky]

We usually purchase TIW, but now that Disney is offering 10% and 20% for AP we are debating. I did notice that many of the restaurants we go to are only giving the 10% discount, such as Tony's, Le Cellier, Ohana's to name a few. And since TIW went up in price to $150 it is hard to swallow. But after speaking with a cast member on the phone about TIW I was told the only block out dates would be the major holidays themselves. No more weeks at a time blocked out. Having the 20% for alcoholic beverages is nice but a must for us.

Has anyone else been debating on this issue? If so what are your thoughts, as well as pros and cons?

 

[loves to dive]

I had a TIW last year before the price increase but didn't renew it after the increase. When I bought it you needed to spend $500 to break even, here were 3 adults and we spent $300 our first meal so broke even the 2nd day of the trip and I had another trip after that. We enjoy adult beverages, which the AP discount does not cover so again, it made sense. With the price increase, you have to spend (I think) $700 or $750 to break even and even with two trips, I wouldn't do that since one trip is always solo. TIW is offered at more restaurants than the AP does, only one or two TS restaurants in WS take the AP but if I'm not mistaken more took the TIW. I was there two weeks ago and nowhere I ate gave the AP discount, since I no longer had my TIW I don't know if they would have honored that or not.

 

[wisbucky]

I had a TIW last year before the price increase but didn't renew it after the increase. When I bought it you needed to spend $500 to break even, here were 3 adults and we spent $300 our first meal so broke even the 2nd day of the trip and I had another trip after that. We enjoy adult beverages, which the AP discount does not cover so again, it made sense. With the price increase, you have to spend (I think) $700 or $750 to break even and even with two trips, I wouldn't do that since one trip is always solo. TIW is offered at more restaurants than the AP does, only one or two TS restaurants in WS take the AP but if I'm not mistaken more took the TIW. I was there two weeks ago and nowhere I ate gave the AP discount, since I no longer had my TIW I don't know if they would have honored that or not.

Interesting point made about having to spend $750 We go 3-4 times a year to WDW. Each trip we probably spend $300 in table service. However; we have been cutting back because of the price increases on everything. I wish Disney would just make it a flat 20% for AP holders everywhere on WDW property. My DH said having to always look what the discount is before eating or making ressies is ridiculous. He feels Disney is just making eating there more of a pain then it should be for AP holders.

 

[Dean Marino]

We buy TIW each year. This year is no exception. Personal opinion: 45th Anniversary "deals" are limited, weeny, and overly restricted.

WHEN to buy TIW is critical. We go teice per year - April, November.

Buy buying on Oct 3 2016? We get THREE trips on a TIW: Nov 2016, April 2017, Nov 2017.

Again, all personal opinion....

 

[cluvsdisney]

The TIW card is worth it for us when we plan to spend at least 7days at WDW in a year. We easily spend over $125/day on food and drinks so we will break even. It's also nice to get free valet parking if we drive to a resort for dinner.

 

[OKW Lover]

I've been contemplating this exact question myself. My TiW card just expired and I was going to buy a new one. Now I'm looking at this hard. First reaction is that TiW will still be beneficial to me because I live right next to the parks and dine TS restaurants there regularly. For me, I think the distinction is that at least one of our favorite restaurants (YSH) isn't included in the AP discount and alcohol also is excluded.

 

[Lisa F]

the break even point on TIW was $750 with no discounts. Even if you use a minimum of 10% discounts the break even point is now $1500 because you need to spend that much to make up the $150 you spent at 10% better discount than what is offered with the AP rather than the 10% over nothing at many restaurants. that can vary a bit based on how much booze you buy (undiscounted) and also whether you go to any 20% off restaurants, but to me even the $750 amount was too high for one trip with just me and my kiddo... $1500 is impossible. I say if you spend more than $1500 in food/booze in a year I'd do it - it would probably require multiple trips.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Interesting point made about having to spend $750 We go 3-4 times a year to WDW. Each trip we probably spend $300 in table service. However; we have been cutting back because of the price increases on everything. I wish Disney would just make it a flat 20% for AP holders everywhere on WDW property. My DH said having to always look what the discount is before eating or making ressies is ridiculous. He feels Disney is just making eating there more of a pain then it should be for AP holders.

Lol!!! They should make it a flat 30% off everywhere!! Plus add in booze!!

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Seriously though.... are you drinkers?

MG

 

[Lesverts]

I have an AP and was seriously considering getting TiW, but I am happy I did not. I look at it this way. Getting discounts from your AP helps justify the cost of the AP. So if I already have the AP and now have access to a lot more available discounts with something that is already paid for. So I get more opportunity to get a rebate on my AP. If I wasn't flight distance away and could visit more regularly for a weekend, TiW would be beneficial. But right now, I am just going to enjoy the extra 100 or more dollars I will save that I wasn't anticipating.

 

[robinb]

We usually purchase TIW, but now that Disney is offering 10% and 20% for AP we are debating. I did notice that many of the restaurants we go to are only giving the 10% discount, such as Tony's, Le Cellier, Ohana's to name a few. And since TIW went up in price to $150 it is hard to swallow. But after speaking with a cast member on the phone about TIW I was told the only block out dates would be the major holidays themselves. No more weeks at a time blocked out. Having the 20% for alcoholic beverages is nice but a must for us.

Has anyone else been debating on this issue? If so what are your thoughts, as well as pros and cons?

As far as I know, there are currently no black-out dates at all for the AP discounts. At least none are listed on the Ap website and other people have called and talked to CMs that indicate there are no blackout dates. Isn't that always the case? You can call 5 CMs and get 5 different answers. That's important to me since we are at WDW between Christmas and New Years with 4 TIW blackout dates.

 

[Disneylover99]

To me it depends on how much you actually spend on alcohol at your TS meals. If you're spending $750 or more on alcohol in a year, then the TIW is a no-brainer. If you're not a drinker, the AP discount is probably a much better deal.

 

[robinb]

To me it depends on how much you actually spend on alcohol at your TS meals. If you're spending $750 or more on alcohol in a year, then the TIW is a no-brainer. If you're not a drinker, the AP discount is probably a much better deal.

It's a little more complicated than that. There is also the value of the valet parking if that's important to you (I self-park just fine) and the difference between the 10% restaurants and the 20% restaurants. I have friends who are locals who would still probably come ahead with the TIW card since they eat at WDW restaurants a couple times a week, have a nice bottle (read expensive) of wine with dinner and always valet.

 

[Disneylover99]

It's a little more complicated than that. There is also the value of the valet parking if that's important to you (I self-park just fine) and the difference between the 10% restaurants and the 20% restaurants. I have friends who are locals who would still probably come ahead with the TIW card since they eat at WDW restaurants a couple times a week, have a nice bottle (read expensive) of wine with dinner and always valet.

It doesn't have to be complicated. Sure you could drive yourself crazy making spreadsheets analyzing restaurants based on 10% versus 20%. Where will I eat? What will I order? But the amount you spend in alcohol should probably be your biggest deciding factor in purchasing TIW, assuming no interest in the valet parking.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

ask yourself a few questions.

How many in your party?
When is your trip? Any TIW blockout dates? How many trips in the next year are you planning?

(It should be noted that there are not "2 or more weeks at a time blocked out" on TIW. The only total blockout dates on TIW are the 8 holidays per year [Mother's Day, Easter Sunday, July 4, Thanksgiving Day, December 24, December 25, December 31 and January 1]. The additional blockout dates are applicable only to certain restaurants [CRT, 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey's, 'Ohana dinner, Chefs de France, Akershus, and Le Cellier]. If you can avoid those restaurants then the additional blockouts do not apply to you. If you wish to patronize these restaurants during their blockout times, then it is something to consider.)

Which restaurants are you interested in? Do they offer either discount?
Do you order alcoholic beverages? Do you visit resort/park lounges (not pool bars)?
Would you use free valet parking at resorts for dining?

You can't discount everything but alcohol when comparing TIW to the AP discount. You have to take into account whether the restaurants you intend to patronize will accept a discount at the time you patronize them in order to figure out which discount is best.

 

[robinb]

It doesn't have to be complicated. Sure you could drive yourself crazy making spreadsheets analyzing restaurants based on 10% versus 20%. Where will I eat? What will I order? But the amount you spend in alcohol should probably be your biggest deciding factor in purchasing TIW, assuming no interest in the valet parking.

I still disagree with the assertion that you need to be a complete boozer to make the TIW card work. You can't discount valet parking because at $25 per day you've literally paid for the TIW card after 6 times. I also maintain that the extra 10% does matter depending on the size of your family or frequency of dining.

FWIW, the TIW card no longer worked for us after the price increase and we do drink alcohol.

 

[addiln]

After doing it for the first time last year I will always look at getting it. We had 3 adults and 2 kids on a trip and it was well worth the money we saved on the meals plus my alcohol consumption. The next year we still we able to use the same card when it was just 2 adults. IMO it is very much worth the money.

 

[Disneylover99]

I still disagree with the assertion that you need to be a complete boozer to make the TIW card work. You can't discount valet parking because at $25 per day you've literally paid for the TIW card after 6 times. I also maintain that the extra 10% does matter depending on the size of your family or frequency of dining.

FWIW, the TIW card no longer worked for us after the price increase and we do drink alcohol.

I don't think you need to be a complete boozer at all to make TIW work. A cocktail or two per person can run up your bill significantly.

But since the new AP restaurant discounts have been announced, I think of it this way.....if I don't drink alcohol, I will now have to pay $1500 in food and non-alcoholic beverages just to break even with TIW and that money spent will only be savings at some restaurants, since many restaurants now offer 20% off with an AP.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

More restaurants accept TIW than offer the AP 20%. That's why it makes a difference which restaurants you prefer. If your favorites aren't included, could be a factor. AP 20% also expires 9/30/17. If you buy a TIW card in October 2017 it should expire on November 30, 2017. Could make a difference for those planning an October or November visit next year.

So there's more variables in the mix than just the booze.

 

[Disneylover99]

More restaurants accept TIW than offer the AP 20%. That's why it makes a difference which restaurants you prefer. If your favorites aren't included, could be a factor. AP 20% also expires 9/30/17. If you buy a TIW card in October 2017 it should expire on November 30, 2017. Could make a difference for those planning an October or November visit next year.

So there's more variables in the mix than just the booze.

It would obviously make sense to buy the TIW card next October unless the AP discounts get extended. But right now if the food discount is the only reason for purchasing TIW, you're only getting a 10% discount and in some cases no discount since you can use your AP for a 20% off discount instead.