TiW... please help

[pmaurer74]

Hello,

I will be traveling with my family next week. There are 13 of us... 6 drinkers. I will have an AP on Friday that will be eligible for TiW. We are all already on the dining plan. I was thinking of getting the TiW mainly because of the alcohol. I assume I have to be with them when they order or pay the bill to get the discount? Half the time I likely will not be. Here is where were are eating that would likely include alcohol but one is a CP package and another is O'hana during the blackout time (would they apply it to alcohol only?)

A few other situations: I will be likely going to the world in July for a few days I can use it and Next December but only two of our days would be covered. It is only valid for one year from the date of purchase right? We are planning to go Dec. 14-19 next year, our dates this years are Dec. 16-22.

Here is where we are eating/drinking:
- o'hana (O'hana is during blackout date)
- Boma
- San Angel (CP package)
- they plan to go out every evening for drinks.


What is your advice?

 

[xipetotec]

Correct you DO have to be there. It is good for 1 calendar year. If the restaurant is blacked out from TiW when they go, then they won't get any discounts from it. Not sure there is much value in this particular scenario.

 

[Hopefully]

The TiW is basically good through the 13th month of the next year. So if you bought it 12/2/2016 it would be good through 12/30/2017
Not only do you need to be present, you need to pay the bill in order to use your TiW card for a discount. They could settle up with you afterwards, but you need to pay the total bill. You can use it for alcohol only costs even when you are on the DDP.
In general the thought is that you need to spend about $750 to realize the savings from the card. It does not sound like you will.

 

[kittyab]

Be sure you mention you have the TIW card when ordering. We bought our TIW in 2015 for our two week trip and used it again before it expired in September.

You can use it to just get a mixed drink at some of the bars too. The lounge upstairs at the Grand Floridian is really nice.

 

[pmaurer74]

Thanks everyone. If I can use it through Dec. 30, 2017 it would be worthwhile since we are going next year but I am not sure I want to pay all the bills and settle up later. Thanks for the advice.

 

[supersnoop]

The TiW is basically good through the 13th month of the next year. So if you bought it 12/2/2016 it would be good through 12/30/2017

Thanks everyone. If I can use it through Dec. 30, 2017 it would be worthwhile since we are going next year but I am not sure I want to pay all the bills and settle up later. Thanks for the advice.

That math was a little off. If you buy it on 12/2/2016, it will be valid through 1/31/2018.

As for settling up, you could have them buy a gift card and give it to you ahead of time.

 

[marikujawa]

Why would you mention you have the TIW card when ordering?

 

[Hopefully]

That math was a little off. If you buy it on 12/2/2016, it will be valid through 1/31/2018.

As for settling up, you could have them buy a gift card and give it to you ahead of time.

It certainly was Thanks for the correction

 

[vacationer1954]

Why would you mention you have the TIW card when ordering?

There is no need, though generally the staff will ask if you have any dining plan, and it would be appropriate to mention TIW then. Of course, mentioning TIW upfront would preclude some unfortunate circumstances, such as your assuming that the discount would apply at a specific restaurant when that restaurant is not a participating restaurant, or if it only participates during certain meals (other than the meal for which you're visiting them).

 

[bumbershoot]

TIW isn't a dining plan. It's a discount. I don't mention it up front after being specifically told just that. The dining plans require explanation as to what is included etc, which is why they ask about plans. They don't care about the TIW card ahead of time.

 

[gharter]

If you have the dining plan, I'm not sure you would save enough on alcohol to cover the cost of the card this year. If you can use it next year as well, it might be worth the money.
We had a group of 4. At every meal that we used the TIW card, I had to be there, show the card and pay. I kept the receipts and we settled up at the end of the week. Not a huge deal, but something to keep in mind if you plan to use the card.
We did not have a dining plan, and with the restaurants we dined at, we easily paid for the card and saved much more. It also worked at the lounges and bars we visited at night.

 

[jimmytammy]

Hey pmr74!!
We bought the TIW card this trip and it has worked out great. We tend to mention upfront to waitstaff that we have TIW card after they ask if we are on any DP. We used to not do that as we never felt like we got any better service. But this trip, we get the feeling waitstaff is a little more attentive knowing the automatic 18% gratuity is appreciated a bit more. I know this wasn't in the realm of your question but thought I would share our experiences from this trip

 

[Deb & Bill]

It may only be good for exactly 12 months to the day like the one we bought at the MK. The holder of the TIW card is expected to pay the entire bill. You can purchase meals for up to 10 people total. They may ask you when you are seated who is included on the discount with you. The other three persons won't get any discount.

 

[HopperFan]

Hello,

I will be traveling with my family next week. There are 13 of us... 6 drinkers. I will have an AP on Friday that will be eligible for TiW. We are all already on the dining plan. I was thinking of getting the TiW mainly because of the alcohol. I assume I have to be with them when they order or pay the bill to get the discount? Half the time I likely will not be. Here is where were are eating that would likely include alcohol but one is a CP package and another is O'hana during the blackout time (would they apply it to alcohol only?)

A few other situations: I will be likely going to the world in July for a few days I can use it and Next December but only two of our days would be covered. It is only valid for one year from the date of purchase right? We are planning to go Dec. 14-19 next year, our dates this years are Dec. 16-22.

Here is where we are eating/drinking:
- o'hana (O'hana is during blackout date)
- Boma
- San Angel (CP package)
- they plan to go out every evening for drinks.

What is your advice?

Good advice above and

Ohana - block out dates are block out dates you can't use
Boma - yes
CP Package - can not use on CP package but can use on the alcohol
Going out - you have to be there and pay for it

 

[My3TXGirls]

Have had the TIW several years. It is good through the the end of the next month like previous poster mentioned. If you bought it Dec 2, 2016 it would be good through Jan 31, 2018

 

[lullwater]

I agree with the others that by mentioning TiW upfront the waitstaff work less to impress and more to improve the dinning experience.
Bring ID as I tend to get asked for it using TiW more than with any other discount card.

 

[OKW Lover]

The TiW is basically good through the 13th month of the next year. So if you bought it 12/2/2016 it would be good through 12/30/2017

In reality it would be good through 1/31/18. We just bought our TiW card on 12/1/16.

 

[Hopefully]

In reality it would be good through 1/31/18. We just bought our TiW card on 12/1/16.

@supersnoop already corrected me right after my error above.
Again, sorry for the typo

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

I would not do both dining plan and TIW. I would pick one or the other.

I usually mention TIW when they ask if we are on the dining plan. The waiter usually smiles and relaxes because the TIW is so simple compared to the DP. You order what you want, and you are under no obligation to get an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert, unless you are that hungry. The waiter knows he or she gets his tip, and they have always provided great service, except at some of the mid-priced restaurants where they rush you through, like Grand Floridian Cafe.

Also, remember that you will need to put about $750 on the TIW to break even. (And it is more than $750 if you consider that some of the restaurants give a discount to AP holders anyway on food.) Also, my TIW cost $150. $150/.20 = $750. Your TIW may cost more, depending on the discounts your are eligible for, so the break even point could be higher.

 

[vacationer1954]

Also, remember that you will need to put about $750 on the TIW to break even. (And it is more than $750 if you consider that some of the restaurants give a discount to AP holders anyway on food.)

Those AP discounts along with the recently announced DVC dining discounts have rendered my March 2016 TIW purchase a poor financial decision, in retrospect. (Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and there was no way for me to foresee back in March what new discounts would be offered starting now.) It looks like the next time we plan a year of WDW visits, I'll have to do the math again. (Of course, by then, these new DVC discounts are supposed to expire, I think.)