What is better--DP or TIW Card?

[Minniesgal]

Hate DDP way too much food, but we love TIW

 

[georgeat]

If you have a car and the dining spot is at a resort with valet parking most will get that parking for free (but does not include the valet tip) . On my last trip I saved $30 just in valet parking towards the cost of the TIW card. If you only use valet parking once at $15 that brings the amount you need to recover the cost of the TIW down to $425. Your list of dining places includes at least two, I think, that have valet parking. Cape May Café and Grand Floridian. That could bring your cost of meals to $350 to recover cost of TIW.

 

[Kidanifan08]

I totally agree. Love that it covers alcohol even if we want to stop at the Rose and Crown or the lounge at DHS and just grab a drink. We found that DDP was not cost effective for us. Love the fact that there is more flexibility than the dining plan.

Just curious which lounge at DHS you are talking about . . .

 

[MinnieLee]

Just curious which lounge at DHS you are talking about . . .

The one next to the 50's Prime Time Restaurant.

 

[AmyB2006]

We hardly ever eat CS, that's how it works for us. We usually do snacks but that's it. Two TS meals a day for us. So it works. That's why you have to figure out how you like to eat at Disney. Sometimes it's better, sometimes it isn't.

 

[fishermouse]

Ok, I just looked, and there are next to no CS locations available? How does everyone make this work for it to be a better deal than the DP? I'm not arguing--I am seriously just trying to make the better decision for meals, and save a couple bucks.

DDP andTIW are two different animals, if you like to go out for dinner and and a few drinks plus, or hit the boardwalk after a night at EPCOT. Maybe have a sit down breakfast or character meal TIW will be worth while, it is not much good for a quick lunch or snack. I personally do not like DDP, does not fit the way we eat. I don't like to plan my meals, usually eat breakfast in our room and carry crackers or energy bars for snack, lunch could be anything or nothing etc. Not putting it down, for some people it works great. in a few years we will be bringing DGD, may use it then. Just consider you must spend $500.00 to break even, I'll get 3 to 4 trips out of it so it should work out. We are not happy that it has gone up so much just 3 years ago it was $65.00 last year $75.00 now it cost us $100.00. With only two of us it won't be worth it if it goes much higher. Unless of course the prices go up a lot.LOL

 

[fishermouse]

Just on the tipping side of things, is the TIW card essentially a way of covering the tip i.e the 20% covers what would be the tip.

Thats exactly what it is, we actually save 2% because I would normally tip 20% but with TIW I just pay the amount on the bill.

 

[dvc at last !]

We always stay in villas and have groceries delivered for some breakfasts
and lunches - we usually go out for dinners and find the TIW the best for us.
The dining plan is too much food and too many reservations that tie us down to be at a specific place and time.

 

[Dean]

I know this is kinda tough to answer, but what are the opinions of everyone in regards to the DP-vs-TIW? We have done DP for literally YEARS, but this is our first trip as a DVC Owner, and we are not sure which is the better value?

We love to eat at least 1 TS meal a day, but do not really 'need' the desserts. We would probably eat most CS meals within the park, or at the resort--but again do not need the desserts. I have a couple Buffet/Character meals scheduled, but not as many as in years past due to the boys getting older. My current reservation schedule is:

CM
Via Napoli
Liberty Tree
Cape May Dinner
Le Celliar
Crystal Palace
Nine Dragons
San Angel
Coral Reef
Grand Floridian Café


I haven't even looked at the cost of the DP plan, and not even sure if DVC gets a discount on that? If I'm understanding correctly, the TIW gets a 20% discount across the board (food/beverage/alcohol), but costs $80 for the card initially.

What is everyone's opinion on the value of DP-vs-TIW? Any advice or suggestions?

I'd do a quick comparison using the menu's and your usual style then see. Remember that a number of the locations you have listed give a DVC discount as well so it's possible that getting nothing is your best choice. Depending on the ages of the children, it's more likely the DP will be a better and cheaper choice but there are many variables. The tipping isn't really an issue due to the fact that a tip is appropriate anyway other than buffet's where 18% really is over tipping even at Disney.

 

[Minniesgal]

Ok, I just looked, and there are next to no CS locations available? How does everyone make this work for it to be a better deal than the DP? I'm not arguing--I am seriously just trying to make the better decision for meals, and save a couple bucks.

Which works out to be a better deal really depends on how you eat at Disney. We don't do CS which is a big part of the reason why we really don't like the DP. We don't do refillable drinks either. We are DVC and we do a grocery shop for breakfast and a snack type meal a day as well as drinks and snacks. Our only meal out of the room is generally a TS a day.

If you would eat a CS, a TS and a snack a day out anyway then the DP might be much better for you than it is for us. Dining plan works best for those who want to eat the way it works.

 

[tgropp]

The DDP works out better during the Christmas holiday season as there are some blackout dates and also holiday surcharges without the DP. Any other time of the year, I would be tempted to use TIW

 

[rsimon]

We have done the DP before and now for the last several years, we ONLY do the TIW. We have free valet for when we are dining out. We usually like to eat signature restaurants so that would be two credits on the DP. It covers alcohol also so that comes in handy when having wine. For counter service, it works at Flame Tree BBQ which is always good.

Without the DP, we have flexibility and never feel like we have to eat something if we don't want it. We always get the value for the TIW card each year.

Also with TIW there are special dinners we get invites to and have had during our stays. These are really fun and we have met locals there that have become very good friends.

 

[boxer]

I'd do a quick comparison using the menu's and your usual style then see. Remember that a number of the locations you have listed give a DVC discount as well so it's possible that getting nothing is your best choice. Depending on the ages of the children, it's more likely the DP will be a better and cheaper choice but there are many variables. The tipping isn't really an issue due to the fact that a tip is appropriate anyway other than buffet's where 18% really is over tipping even at Disney.

I didn't even realize the DVC discount (which I assume to be 10%). I will have to look into this further, as that might be the way to go. Is there any discount on CS locations for the DVC? We don't eat 'alot' of CS meals, but most (if not all) lunches are CS, so if the DVC is discounted there too, then this may be the way for us to go.

 

[erionm]

I didn't even realize the DVC discount (which I assume to be 10%). I will have to look into this further, as that might be the way to go. Is there any discount on CS locations for the DVC? We don't eat 'alot' of CS meals, but most (if not all) lunches are CS, so if the DVC is discounted there too, then this may be the way for us to go.

Most of the DVC discounts for dining are at table service locations. The few CS locations I see on the list are at DTD.

http://advc.disney.go.com/media/dvc...members/perks/PortablePerks_WDWDLR_011714.pdf

 

[nalajms]

Most of the DVC discounts for dining are at table service locations. The few CS locations I see on the list are at DTD.

Just be aware that none of the character meals are discounted with DVC....I think the one in the Swan/Dolphin might be, but none in Parks or Disney Resorts.

 

[butsy113]

If you would eat a CS, a TS and a snack a day out anyway then the DP might be much better for you than it is for us. Dining plan works best for those who want to eat the way it works.

We eat a CS and TS most days, but we still end up ahead on TIW. After keeping track over several trips I have found the only days we spend over the cost of the DP are when we do Ohana or maybe a character meal. Don't forget you also need to add your tip onto the cost of the dining plan. It's not included and adds a large chunk if you tip 18-20% there aren't a lot of CS restaurants but there are some. Try to go to those when available.

 

[robinb]

Another thing to consider is how much your kids eat at TS restaurants. I'm not sure how old they are but since you said the DDP would cost you about $200 per day I think that at least one of them is a 10 and older "Disney Adult". If your kids are "Disney Adults" but prefer the kids meals at TS places then you can save big time by asking for a kids menu. My 14-year old DD still occasionally orders off the kids menu at TS restaurants because the size of the meals and the vegetarian options like cheese pizza and pasta with marinara. Most restaurants in WDW will give your older kids a kids menu on request (except on your list: San Angel I think and maybe Nine Dragons). Of course you will still need to pay adult prices for your Disney Adults at buffets.

We had the TIW for years but between the recent price increase and the decrease in the number of TS meals we eat and the blackout dates (4 of which fall in our vacation) we skipped it last year. We did not spend enough to even break even, but you definitely will with that many reservations!

FWIW, here is a PDF over on All Ears that has all the discounts in one place. I always print it out and bring it with us .

http://allears.net/pl/disc_dining.pdf

 

[bangzoom6877]

We love the TIW card and we only go on one trip every other year, but we stay for 10 nights. We prefer TS meals, we rarely eat CS meals. Sometimes I get an appetizer or two as my meal and so no worries about it being covered by a dining plan credit. DH and I also like to have. Drink with dinner most nights on vacation so the discount on alcohol is an added bonus. And sometimes we are too stuffed to eat dessert right after dinner, so we wait a while and then just grab something at the Boardwalk Bakery, one of our favorite places to grab a sweet treat. No wasting any part of a dining credit by doing this. For us it works. The dining plans do not fit into our normal eating plans...the regular one has too many CS and too few TS, and the deluxe plan has too many credits for us and several would be wasted. And while we love to snack around WDW, we would definitely have snack credits left over at the end of the trip with either plan.

 

[Dean]

I didn't even realize the DVC discount (which I assume to be 10%). I will have to look into this further, as that might be the way to go. Is there any discount on CS locations for the DVC? We don't eat 'alot' of CS meals, but most (if not all) lunches are CS, so if the DVC is discounted there too, then this may be the way for us to go.

For the most part DVC discounts are 10% but there are a few exceptions and sometimes, a short notice special or 2 only found on the website. While the all ears list is great, it can quickly become out of date if there are changes. Also, DVC tends to not simply be M-F compared to the AP discounts. The DVC and AP discounts often bypass the holiday exclusions that are now built in to TIW.

Just be aware that none of the character meals are discounted with DVC....I think the one in the Swan/Dolphin might be, but none in Parks or Disney Resorts.

For the most part the only discounts on dinner shows and character meals tend to be the DP and TIW. Also don't forget the Disney VISA also gives a discount and there are a few places it's good where DVC isn't. DVC has had hoop discounts in the past I believe but normally only the late show.

We eat a CS and TS most days, but we still end up ahead on TIW. After keeping track over several trips I have found the only days we spend over the cost of the DP are when we do Ohana or maybe a character meal. Don't forget you also need to add your tip onto the cost of the dining plan. It's not included and adds a large chunk if you tip 18-20% there aren't a lot of CS restaurants but there are some. Try to go to those when available.

The tip shouldn't affect price other than possibly for buffet's where 18% is over tipping. Otherwise a tip would be expected either way for TS and is not applicable for CS. However, one way the DP increases tips is because you might order items you wouldn't otherwise and end up with a more expensive underlying meal with a tip on a higher base amount. This issue was likely our largest single variance the last few times we've gotten the DP.

 

[mariafh]

Haven't used the DP in a long time because you really need eat full meals to make it worth wild. Too much food for us. Last trip used the TIW and paid the 100$. There were 3 of us, 2 adults and 1 teen girl who ate normal adult amounts. Went to some great restaurants like Boma, French in Epcot, Puck in downtown Disney. Ate about 7 sit down dinners and 7 fast lunches. We saved about 100$ overall after accounting for the TIW cost. The last night we went to Shula's steak house with a ending bill of about $250. If you have a larger group, more people, or multiple trips - it certainly is more cost effective. Smaller groups with shorter trips might lose money rather than save.