Tiw

[chloelovesdisney]

So for the first time ever I may purchase an annual pass. We have two trips planned for sure and a third with extended family that may also fall in the same time frame. I am considering whether to do the dining plan or TIW instead.

Any pros/cons to the TIW? Anyone have it and find it is worth the cost? Anyone think the dining plan is better?

Thank you.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I looked on the Disney website but didn't see the price for the TIW card. It also said it is good at participating restaurants but didn't see a list of them.

Can you use is it at counter service places? Do most TS restaurants accept it?

Thank you.

 

[Celestia]

TIW is definitely worth it. You will get the 20% discount on all extras too. We don't drink, but if you do many people find they are able to save quite a bit with that perk alone. One of the big benifits is that you can order just what you want - if you want an appetizer and not a dessert, you will get a discount on that.

Pretty much all Table Service restaurants accept TIW. Also, the CS at AK accept it as well as the CS at all resorts that do not have a TS restaurant -- the values and POFQ.

You can use it for up to 10 people. The only issue is that everyone is put on the same check. So, you need to make sure it is clear when traveling with extended family that they will need to pay you for the amount of their meals (unless you are treating them!) I just returned from a trip with my sisters and we didn't have any problem with figuring it out. We would charge it to the rooom, they would pay me their portionn and then I just paid it at the front desk.

The price for TIW is $75.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Thank you. . Do you know if WPE in DD accepts it as well?

 

[Hopefully]

The TiW card costs $75 for AP holders, and $100 for Florida residents and DVC owners.
It is good at almost every TS restaurant, but very few CS locations. The CS locations where it is accepted are generally the resorts without TS, so the All Stars, POP and POFQ and at the AK, because when the program started there were limited TS there. There are blackout dates like Mothers Day, and Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, New Years Day and others.
It is a 20% discount on all food and beverages, including adult beverages. It is good for up to 10 people, which must include the card owner. An 18 % gratituty is automatically added to all purchases made using the TiW.
In general the belief is you need to spend $375 in covered expenses to break even. After that it is all savings.
We find we recoup the cost on our first trip and subsequent trips are savings.

 

[Disneymad]

We love TiW - all the way baby!

When we did the DP we found we were over eating (and we are not small eaters by any stretch of the imagination) or eating things just for the sake of it.

TiW just offers soooo much flexibility. We often share an appetiser and share a dessert if we're having a big meal which suits us so much better. We're not big drinkers (at least not at meal time ) but with the cost of alcohol on property it only takes an occasional cocktail or couple of beers to really see the benefits of TiW. Ofc, if you do enjoy a drinkie too then you can use them at the many resort bars/lounges too which is a bonus to be able to sit down at the end of the night to enjoy a nice quiet drink and relax before bed and still get that tasty discount.

Just 3 things to note. First, as Celestia says, there are only a few CS places it's accepted at (though I will add that it's also accepted at Artist's Palette at SSR too even though they have a TS restaurant).

Second, is that it automatically includes 18% gratuity on your check. So if pre-paying a tip bothers you then this might not suit.

I'm aware a lot of people dislike this on principle as they feel their server may not look after them enough because they know the tip is guaranteed (short of calling a manager to removing it), however I have dined many times with TiW and I can honestly say I don't think it has ever caused a drop in service. You could ofc dine and not mention your TiW card until the check comes (however this will add extra time to paying your check - see next point!)

Third - for reasons unknown to man, woman or mouse, a manager is required to authorise a TiW check. Sometimes it's straight forward if a manager is hovering around all the time, but in some places they're not (particularly if you use in some of the quieter bars) and this can easily add on 5 mins or so before you get your check with the TiW discount added - it's directly related to how fast your server can pin down the manager.

We normally tell our restaurant servers at the start we have TiW to warn them and often they're ready to pick up our card as soon as we're done. If the place is busy, we'll have our TiW out ready on the table sometimes even while we're still on dessert so that our server can scoop it up early as they pass. In bars/lounges assuming we know that we're on our last drink for the night we'll hand over the card when we receive our last drink so they've got plenty of time to find a manager while we're still relaxing as opposed to tapping our feet ready to go because we've finished our drinks.

Sounds a fuss but it really isn't. Big fan of TiW card here

 

[n2mm]

TiW cardholder for 6 years and love it. We have tried the DDP several times and hate being restricted to the credits. We love the flexibility of the TiW card. If we have a reservation and just decide we don't want to do it, we just cancel it. With the DDP we find ourselves either forcing ourselves to go to the ADR or trying to figure out how to use the extra credits. As mentioned, there is a list of places that accept it. Keep in mind that lounges accept it, but the outside kiosks do not. The countries have their own rules, so you do need to check. Also some places on the boardwalk might not accept it also (Big River Grill?). I don't really keep up, even though they give me a new list every year. One nice perk is the free valet parking if you are eating at a resort. You do need to show both your card and the receipt from the restraurant when picking up your card and also, you need to tell the valet that you have a TIW card when dropping off. Also check your room charge to make sure they didn't charge you, becuase they scan that barcode on your parking pass to charge to your room. We've had this happen several times now, so now when we go pass the guard, we take our parking pass out of the window so they can't accidently charge us. (If they do, just go to the front desk and have them remove it....you will need your TIW card and dining receipt.)

Almost all of the CS locations at the AK accept the card. Just a few resort CS locations accept it (as mentioned)...the value resorts and POFQ food court (because they don't have a TS option).

One more thing, the cardholder HAS to be part of the dining party to get the discount, but they do not have to be the one paying. Since I use my room card to charge, I am not always carded, but have been carded more and more lately, so you need to have your picture ID with you. During my last trip (January 2012) I was carded at Olivia's & 50s PrimeTime. I am almost always carded at the value resort food courts. Since my charging room card has the same name as my TiW card, they don't always ask. Also, only you can use the card. Your spouse or children can not use the card (yep, I tried that too and was denied). You can buy a spouse card, but the fee is HUGE $50. Also, if you lose the card there is a HUGE fee - $50 to replace, so don't lose it. They are very strict on this one and I've never seen or heard of them waiving the fee. Even with some of the restrictions mentioned, this is a wonderful option and recently has been extended to DVC members too. I'm an AP holder, so only pay the $75 price, Florida residents and DVC members pay the full price of $100. There really is no renewal of this card, you just buy it new each year. Make sure they have your email address when you purchase it and you will receive email offers from TiW. They are actually very expensive limited dining experiences.

 

[Debrn]

Love TIW. So much flexibility, just the discount on drinks made it work it, but everyone ordering what they want is the best no restrictions, and with AP you save a lot on purchases with the discount.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Here is a working example, using $100.00 as the original bill to make the math show up easily. Note this is for Table Service. At Counter Service there is no gratuity added.

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*20.00 - Discount
*80.00 - Subtotal
*18.00 - Gratuity Added based on $100
**5.20 - Sales Tax on $80
103.20 - Final amount charged, takes into consideration discount, gratuity and tax.

Without TiW Discount (and still figuring 18% Gratuity)

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*18.00 - Gratuity
**6.50 - Sales Tax on $100
124.50 - Total

$21.30 - Savings using TiW Card.

(Note - At Victoria and Albert's the added gratuity is 20% instead of 18%.)
* Ignore the asterisks; they are there only so the columns/numbers line up properly.

All Tables in Wonderland Restaurants as of January 2012

Disney's All-Star Movies Resort – World Premiere Food Court
Disney's All-Star Music Resort – Intermission Food Court
Disney's All-Star Sports Resort – End Zone Food Court
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge – Boma, Jiko, Sanaa, Victoria Falls
Disney's Beach Club Resort - Beaches & Cream Soda Shop (excludes take-out shop), Cape May Cafe, Martha's Vineyard Lounge
Disney's BoardWalk – Belle Vue Lounge (excludes breakfast), Big River Grille & Brewing Works, ESPN Club, Flying Fish Cafe, Kouzzina by Cat Cora
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort – Shutters at Old Port Royale
Disney's Contemporary Resort – California Grill, Chef Mickey's, Outer Rim, The Wave
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort – Maya Grill
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground – Crockett's Tavern, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (9:30 p.m. show only), Trail's End Restaurant (Excludes take out shop)
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – 1900 Park Fare, Citricos, Garden View Tea Room, Grand Floridian Cafe, Mizner's Lounge, Narcoossee's, Victoria & Albert's (excludes Chef's Table and Queen Victoria Room)
Disney's Old Key West Resort – Olivia's Cafe
Disney's Osprey Ridge Golf Course - Sand Trap Bar & Grill
Disney's Polynesian Resort – 'Ohana, Kona Cafe, Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (Late show only), Tambu Lounge
Disney's Pop Century Resort – Everything Pop Shopping and Dining (excludes merchandise from shop)
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter - Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory, Scat Cat's Club
Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside - Boatwright's Dining Hall, River Roost
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort – The Artist's Palette, The Turf Club Bar & Grill, Turf Club Lounge
Disney's Vero Beach Resort – The Green Cabin Room, Shutter's, Sonya's (Excludes Sunday Brunch)
Disney's Wilderness Lodge – Artist Point, Territory Lounge, Whispering Canyon Cafe
Disney's Yacht Club Resort – Ale and Compass Lounge, Captain's Grille, Crews Cup Lounge, Yachtsman Steakhouse
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort – Garden Grove, Il Mulino New York Trattoria, Kimonos, Shula's Steak House, Todd English's bluezoo

Magic Kingdom Park – Cinderella's Royal Table, Liberty Tree Tavern, The Crystal Palace, The Plaza Restaurant, Tony's Town Square Restaurant

Epcot – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Biergarten Restaurant, Bistro de Paris, Chefs de France, Coral Reef Restaurant, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Nine Dragons Restaurant, Restaurant Marrakesh, Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room, San Angel Inn Restaurante, The Garden Grill Restaurant, Tokyo Dining, Tutto Italia Ristorante, Via Napoli

Disney's Hollywood Studios – 50's Prime Time Cafe, Hollywood & Vine, Mama Melrose's
Ristorante Italiano, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, The Hollywood Brown Derby, Tune-Inn Lounge

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park – Flame Tree Barbecue, Pizzafari, Restaurantosaurus, Tusker House Restaurant

DOWNTOWN DISNEY – Marketplace - Cap'n Jack's Restaurant, Fulton's Crab House
DOWNTOWN DISNEY – Pleasure Island – Paradiso 37, Portobello, Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant
DOWNTOWN DISNEY – West Side – Bongo's Cuban Cafe, House Of Blues (Excludes Sunday Brunch), Planet Hollywood, Wolfgang Puck Cafe

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex - ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Thank you everyone, you have all been a big help!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Here is a working example, using $100.00 as the original bill to make the math show up easily. Note this is for Table Service. At Counter Service there is no gratuity added.

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*20.00 - Discount
*80.00 - Subtotal
*18.00 - Gratuity Added based on $100
**5.20 - Sales Tax on $80
103.20 - Final amount charged, takes into consideration discount, gratuity and tax.

Without TiW Discount (and still figuring 18% Gratuity)

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*18.00 - Gratuity
**6.50 - Sales Tax on $100
124.50 - Total

$21.30 - Savings using TiW Card.

(Note - At Victoria and Albert's the added gratuity is 20% instead of 18%.)
* Ignore the asterisks; they are there only so the columns/numbers line up properly.

All Tables in Wonderland Restaurants as of January 2012

Disney's All-Star Movies Resort – World Premiere Food Court
Disney's All-Star Music Resort – Intermission Food Court
Disney's All-Star Sports Resort – End Zone Food Court
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge – Boma, Jiko, Sanaa, Victoria Falls
Disney's Beach Club Resort - Beaches & Cream Soda Shop (excludes take-out shop), Cape May Cafe, Martha's Vineyard Lounge
Disney's BoardWalk – Belle Vue Lounge (excludes breakfast), Big River Grille & Brewing Works, ESPN Club, Flying Fish Cafe, Kouzzina by Cat Cora
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort – Shutters at Old Port Royale
Disney's Contemporary Resort – California Grill, Chef Mickey's, Outer Rim, The Wave
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort – Maya Grill
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground – Crockett's Tavern, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (9:30 p.m. show only), Trail's End Restaurant (Excludes take out shop)
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – 1900 Park Fare, Citricos, Garden View Tea Room, Grand Floridian Cafe, Mizner's Lounge, Narcoossee's, Victoria & Albert's (excludes Chef's Table and Queen Victoria Room)
Disney's Old Key West Resort – Olivia's Cafe
Disney's Osprey Ridge Golf Course - Sand Trap Bar & Grill
Disney's Polynesian Resort – 'Ohana, Kona Cafe, Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (Late show only), Tambu Lounge
Disney's Pop Century Resort – Everything Pop Shopping and Dining (excludes merchandise from shop)
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter - Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory, Scat Cat's Club
Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside - Boatwright's Dining Hall, River Roost
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort – The Artist's Palette, The Turf Club Bar & Grill, Turf Club Lounge
Disney's Vero Beach Resort – The Green Cabin Room, Shutter's, Sonya's (Excludes Sunday Brunch)
Disney's Wilderness Lodge – Artist Point, Territory Lounge, Whispering Canyon Cafe
Disney's Yacht Club Resort – Ale and Compass Lounge, Captain's Grille, Crews Cup Lounge, Yachtsman Steakhouse
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort – Garden Grove, Il Mulino New York Trattoria, Kimonos, Shula's Steak House, Todd English's bluezoo

Magic Kingdom Park – Cinderella's Royal Table, Liberty Tree Tavern, The Crystal Palace, The Plaza Restaurant, Tony's Town Square Restaurant

Epcot – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Biergarten Restaurant, Bistro de Paris, Chefs de France, Coral Reef Restaurant, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Nine Dragons Restaurant, Restaurant Marrakesh, Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room, San Angel Inn Restaurante, The Garden Grill Restaurant, Tokyo Dining, Tutto Italia Ristorante, Via Napoli

Disney's Hollywood Studios – 50's Prime Time Cafe, Hollywood & Vine, Mama Melrose's
Ristorante Italiano, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, The Hollywood Brown Derby, Tune-Inn Lounge

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park – Flame Tree Barbecue, Pizzafari, Restaurantosaurus, Tusker House Restaurant

DOWNTOWN DISNEY – Marketplace - Cap'n Jack's Restaurant, Fulton's Crab House
DOWNTOWN DISNEY – Pleasure Island – Paradiso 37, Portobello, Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant
DOWNTOWN DISNEY – West Side – Bongo's Cuban Cafe, House Of Blues (Excludes Sunday Brunch), Planet Hollywood, Wolfgang Puck Cafe

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex - ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill

Perfect, thank you!

 

[Lilo&Stitch]

is there an automatic 18% gratuity added to your drinks ? like at La Cava for instance ?

 

[mlittig]

I will be getting the TiW card for the first time this year when I go next month Threads like these are what convinced me to get one, so thanks for all the information

 

[katieam1]

Does anyone know if La Hacienda de San Angel takes the TIW? We are also thinking of doing TIW this year rather than the DDP. Also at the lounges do they add the gratuity automatically too? I am so glad I found this thread it has been so helpful to me!!!

 

[n2mm]

Yes, the lounges add the 18% grat. also to their bills. My DH learned this one quickly the first time we used the TiW card (called the DDE card back then). We were waiting for a table and were in the lounge. When our table was ready he paid the lounge bill. He left a nice tip, but I pointed out that the auto tip was already on the bill after he told me he took care of it, so the server got a nice 35% tip for our 2 drinks. I'm not sure about the Mexico locations. I know the new place did not take it when they first openned, but not sure now. I know the maragrita stand does not. I just got my new TiW card in January and it has a booklet in the sleeve of the card holder. I'll take a look and see if either have been added.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Yes, the lounges add the 18% grat. also to their bills. My DH learned this one quickly the first time we used the TiW card (called the DDE card back then). We were waiting for a table and were in the lounge. When our table was ready he paid the lounge bill. He left a nice tip, but I pointed out that the auto tip was already on the bill after he told me he took care of it, so the server got a nice 35% tip for our 2 drinks. I'm not sure about the Mexico locations. I know the new place did not take it when they first openned, but not sure now. I know the maragrita stand does not. I just got my new TiW card in January and it has a booklet in the sleeve of the card holder. I'll take a look and see if either have been added.

Good to know, thanks.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

It looks like the only places not on the list that I wanted to go to on the next trip are Yak and Yeti and WPE.

 

[3PrinceMom]

It looks like the only places not on the list that I wanted to go to on the next trip are Yak and Yeti and WPE.

Yak and Yeti is owned by Landry's....the same people that own T-Rex and Rainforest Cafe. They have their own discount program. Their card is $25 and you get a $25 credit....you then get a $25 birthday credit each year and earn points with each dollar spent toward additional credits.

 

[kgsmith]

Can anyone tell me if the TiW card can be used with the Fantasmic! Dining Packages? I know that the card is good for a regular meal at the Hollywood Brown Derby, but I'm just not sure it's good for the dining package.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Can anyone tell me if the TiW card can be used with the Fantasmic! Dining Packages? I know that the card is good for a regular meal at the Hollywood Brown Derby, but I'm just not sure it's good for the dining package.

FDP is not eligible for a TiW discount.