Tables in Wonderland Changes with Additional Block-out Dates

[The Visionary Soul]

So, I just found out that Victoria & Albert's will not accept Tables in Wonderland after July 31st. That 100 Dollar AP rate is looking less and less renewal worthy this year. And if that wasn't enough to make you mad, they are also adding an additional two-months worth of block-out dates to Tables in Wonderland for select restaurants. 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey's, Ohana, Cindy's Royal Table, Akershush (Gesundheit!), and Le Cellier will all be blocked from Nov. 23rd-29th 2014, December 21st-27th 2014, March 8th-April 4th 2015, and May 31st-June 20th 2015. Those are in addition to the already blocked out dates for the entire program for Disney operated locations. (Mother's Day, Easter, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year's Even and New Year's Day)

Combine this with the requirement to have a credit card guarantee for any reservation at WDW, and I really can't see the value in this program anymore unless I want to drink around the resorts at the bars all the time and use Valet Parking. (Which I really don't.)

They also are doing a very strange thing... they want the name on the Tables in Wonderland Card to match the name of the credit card being used to pay for the tab. I find that a bit insulting. If someone wants to take me out to dinner, why wouldn't I be able to give them my discount card to use with the check if my food is on the check as well? This whole thing just isn't well thought out. It's like they're trying to apply the policies they force their Cast Members to follow on to their normal guests. I don't think that's quite right.

Anyway, that's the news. I believe they updated the Tables in Wonderland website with the new information as well, so you can go see it all for yourself if you don't take my word for it. This whole thing is getting insane. They should probably at this point abandon the add-on program and alcohol discounts and just make it part of the Passholder Discounts program, though I'm sure people would complain about AP prices going up even higher than usual if they did that. *sigh*

 

[spacemt354]

Wow...anything to save a buck it seems.

At this point what is the point of even eating at WDW's most popular restaurants anymore? Not only do I reserve the table months in advance, but now the name on the credit card has to match the tables in wonderland card? What?

So if my parents want to treat for dinner, and I hand them my tables in wonderland card, they won't be able to use it. Am I understanding that right?

 

[The Visionary Soul]

Wow...anything to save a buck it seems.

At this point what is the point of even eating at WDW's most popular restaurants anymore? Not only do I reserve the table months in advance, but now the name on the credit card has to match the tables in wonderland card? What?

So if my parents want to treat for dinner, and I hand them my tables in wonderland card, they won't be able to use it. Am I understanding that right?

I think so. They're even being particular about the usage if your spouse has one. Here, I pulled the new policy from the website:

• For lost or stolen Tables in Wonderland cards, there is a $50 replacement fee.

• Tables in Wonderland memberships are non-transferrable. The Tables in Wonderland member must be in attendance at the meal, present the Tables in Wonderland card, a driver’s license or state ID, and pay for the meal, in order to apply the discount.
• Credit Cards used for payment must match the name on the Tables in Wonderland card and the state identification

• The Tables in Wonderland discount is good for up to 10 people including the member, as long as everyone is on the same check, and the Tables in Wonderland member is paying the bill. If you have the Tables in Wonderland card, and your spouse or partner has the Tables in Wonderland secondary card, together you may cover up to 20 people (including the member and his/her spouse/partner). Both members must live at the same address and be 21 years of age or older.

Taken literally, it also says that if you're an Annual Passholder that bought Tables in Wonderland and you do not live in the US, and you want to use a credit card to pay for your meal, you'd have no way to prove you are who you say you are, since they only accept state identification. (A passport wouldn't suffice according to this policy, if taken literally, which I doubt any server would do, but still.) This is getting insane. Whoever wrote this policy should be talked with.

 

[biggy H]

So whats actually wrong with policy about the TiW holder paying the bill? I know quite a few places that will only give a discount if the person who is entitled to the discount actually pays.

You could always pay in cash....

Any way it always depends how many times you use it. That $100 could be made up pretty quickly when you're not having to worry about that extra 18-20% for tips on top of the usual bill.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

At least I can put TiW in my "Got To Do It While It Was Still Fun" column instead of the "Disney Sucked All The Fun Out Before I Did It" column. Seriously, if Disney comes out with a program that sounds interesting to you, DO IT IMMEDIATELY! The deals just get worse all the time.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

So whats actually wrong with policy about the TiW holder paying the bill? I know quite a few places that will only give a discount if the person who is entitled to the discount actually pays.

You could always pay in cash....

Any way it always depends how many times you use it. That $100 could be made up pretty quickly when you're not having to worry about that extra 18-20% for tips on top of the usual bill.

As long as the cardholder is present at the meal with ID, I think Disney should accept it. I don't think you're going to see much decline in use; you're just forcing people into extra economic transactions between the different parts of their group, which can be awkward to make on vacation. If two couples are eating at Boma, and the couple without TiW wants to treat, that has to be at least $160 now before tip, right? 99% of people are going to save the $32 on the meal by having the cardholder still pay, with the "treating" couple paying them back later. I don't think it will help Disney much, but it makes it less convenient for guests and uncomfortable for the servers that have to enforce this.

 

[SirLink]

You would think instead of having Tables in Wonderland it would be included under the regular Annual Pass scheme, ya know to get people filling those tables up ...

 

[asianway]

So whats actually wrong with policy about the TiW holder paying the bill? I know quite a few places that will only give a discount if the person who is entitled to the discount actually pays.

You could always pay in cash....

Any way it always depends how many times you use it. That $100 could be made up pretty quickly when you're not having to worry about that extra 18-20% for tips on top of the usual bill.

I wish they'd tack on an apologist premium of 20% to people like you.

Oh wait they do it's called holiday pricing

 

[Tiggerish]

I'd read about V&A dropping the plan, it was mentioned in a thread here sometime last year. So I made sure to book a trip for this spring and I'll have my first (and probably only) meal there, while I can still get the discount.

It sure does seem like they're trying to see how far they can push their regular customers.

 

[asianway]

I'd read about V&A dropping the plan, it was mentioned in a thread here sometime last year. So I made sure to book a trip for this spring and I'll have my first (and probably only) meal there, while I can still get the discount.

It sure does seem like they're trying to see how far they can push their regular customers.

They pushed me long ago. To the convenient nearby Olive Garden, outback, etc etc etc

 

[wm49rs]

I'm sure this will have a tremendous impact on the Disney share price....

 

[WDWLover#1]

Curiouser and curioser....

 

[Sans Souci]

I'd read about V&A dropping the plan, it was mentioned in a thread here sometime last year. So I made sure to book a trip for this spring and I'll have my first (and probably only) meal there, while I can still get the discount.

It sure does seem like they're trying to see how far they can push their regular customers.

You're right, someone posted about V&A being cut from TiW last summer. We went in August and we are going again in March just to maximize our usage (and it's my husband's birthday.). Yet another reason to make it easier for me to turn away from the Parks and towards the cruises.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

The credit card rule has always been in place, but I've only ever seen it enforced at one restaurant- Boma.

The blackout dates are irritating, however.

 

[71jason]

So whats actually wrong with policy about the TiW holder paying the bill? I know quite a few places that will only give a discount if the person who is entitled to the discount actually pays.

The card is for your entire household--they charge extra to give you an extra card for your spouse. Theoretically, my wife could have a different last name--this is the teens--and take her girlfriends out to lunch. Or I'm sure I could come up with a half dozen other examples. All of which show how chintzy it is. Although as Nick A says, it's been on the books some time, personally never seen it enforced (why it pays to be nice to your servers).

As for me, was not going to renew in November, until I see the parking situation in DTD coming and they introduced valet. Had I known how ineffective DTD valet parking would be, would not have. I am curious how the new ban on autograts affects the TiW card--not sure if it is exempt or not.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

The card is for your entire household--they charge extra to give you an extra card for your spouse. Theoretically, my wife could have a different last name--this is the teens--and take her girlfriends out to lunch. Or I'm sure I could come up with a half dozen other examples. All of which show how chintzy it is. Although as Nick A says, it's been on the books some time, personally never seen it enforced (why it pays to be nice to your servers).

As for me, was not going to renew in November, until I see the parking situation in DTD coming and they introduced valet. Had I known how ineffective DTD valet parking would be, would not have. I am curious how the new ban on autograts affects the TiW card--not sure if it is exempt or not.

There's a ban on auto gratuities? When did that start?

 

[deanaandrich]

The credit card rule has happened to me numerous times. I frequent WDW 1-3 weekends a month so there are more chances of being asked. It's happened in Mexico, Italy and yak and yeti lost recently. I think they are enforcing it more because people are taking advantage of it. It's kinda like the annual passes and parking. It's very easy to hand the cards over to friends to use.

 

[asianway]

There's a ban on auto gratuities? When did that start?

Not a ban per se but extra record keeping if I recall-I'm too lazy to pull up the new law

 

[RSoxNo1]

This says to me that they're looking to phase out the program. Jack up the price and cut the benefits. I know Disney has doing this with other things too, but it really seems like they're trying to make things like this only worthwhile for locals that go to the parks all the time. The same can be said about the Premier Pass, they're pricing it at a point where it's no longer viable unless you're making multiple trips to both locations.

 

[71jason]

Not a ban per se but extra record keeping if I recall-I'm too lazy to pull up the new law

Yeah, essentially, could still do it, but enough extra work no one probably will. So de facto ban if you will. WDW is in the process of doing away with them, which has led to a higher-than-usual turnover in servers.