Need help, TiW, Signature Restaurants, Daily Planning

[Mukta]

Please forgive my ramblings. I am thinking out loud and need input from TiW holders.

I am going to WDW Sept 10-18, 2011.
Two Adults, Beach Club resort.
We are deciding between getting APs and a TiW card or Deluxe Dining Plan.
We want to eat at a Signature Restaurant each day.
This is what I want my day to look like

Lunch - CS
Snack - Schoolbread, Dole Whip
Snack - Water bottle because it is hot in September!
Dinner - Signature restaurant with dessert, no acohol

The deluxe dining plan is $72 a day. That would cover all that I want and more.

Lunch CS with beverage is $13
Snack - $8
Dinner $60
Total - $81

With TiW
Lunch - $13
Snack - $8
Dinner - $48
Total - $69

For those of you who are proponents of the TiW, I need to know what my day should look like. How can I make it a better deal for me? What do you do on a 7 day trip?

Thanks!:wave:

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

It seems to me you are going to pay more for than the DxDP than you'll actually use.

 

[Monty]

Consider booking room-only and getting an AP if discounts are offered.

If you're there for 8 nights, the discount on a standard room could be around $1500-$1800, which would pay for one AP, your partner's MYW hopper, a TiW card and most, if not all you plan to eat [discounted with the TiW].

There are no guarantees there will be discounts offered, but there usually are.

Unless you expect to return within a year, you don't both need APs [though having one burning a hole in your pocket can make a return trip awfully tempting :lookaroun].

My August trip in '09 we did exactly that. Since with a package, you're paying rack rate, tickets and DxDP, the savings are considerable with the AP discounts.

 

[Yanks07]

Looks like you did the math already. I always use TIW but I also get adult beverages which get the 20% discount, a snifter of Blue Label for Monty and I saved $15 so that works best for me. Awesome that your doing signature dining each night, my wife and I do the same. Have a great trip!

 

[Monty]

Looks like you did the math already. I always use TIW but I also get adult beverages which get the 20% discount, a snifter of Blue Label for Monty and I saved $15 so that works best for me. Awesome that your doing signature dining each night, my wife and I do the same. Have a great trip!

Mike, I always liked you! :slurp:

Hoping I can drag you and Jules into this year's Grape Getaway when they announce dates! :king:

 

[Mukta]

I need some clarification, MontyMon.

What you are saying is that I may not see the savings each day in what I pay, but I will see it overall because I am paying less for my room right?

 

[Monty]

I need some clarification, MontyMon.

What you are saying is that I may not see the savings each day in what I pay, but I will see it overall because I am paying less for my room right?

My savings on the room-only reservation paid for everything else.

It was like park admissions and eating were free.

 

[Mukta]

I got a quote from Kingdom Konsultants.
Tammy said that I could book a room with an AP discount and still add the deluxe dining plan.
What do you recommend in that case? It seems like I am getting a better deal with the Dining Plan no?

 

[Monty]

I got a quote from Kingdom Konsultants.
Tammy said that I could book a room with an AP discount and still add the deluxe dining plan.
What do you recommend in that case? It seems like I am getting a better deal with the Dining Plan no?

Factor in the discount on alcohol, ordering what you want rather than what's allowed, and not having as many meals to eat... I find it better. :shrug:

 

[Mukta]

Absolute ditto - Sandy and I LOVE that TIW card, as it saves us a good $500 a year after cost. Now, the way it does this is important: we tend to hit ONLY Signiture restaurants for dinner. And we tip 20% anyway, so are actually HAPPY with the 18.5% TIW gratuity.

I would look at where you intend to eat. TIW gets better and better as you go to better and better Restaurants.

I've been waiting for you Trotsky! I knew you would be proud of me for eating in a Signature restaurant each day.
My question to you is, what are your eating habits the rest of the day. Do you and Mrs. Trotsky eat snacks or CS meals at all?

 

[Phonedave]

Absolute ditto - Sandy and I LOVE that TIW card, as it saves us a good $500 a year after cost. Now, the way it does this is important: we tend to hit ONLY Signiture restaurants for dinner. And we tip 20% anyway, so are actually HAPPY with the 18.5% TIW gratuity.

I would look at where you intend to eat. TIW gets better and better as you go to better and better Restaurants.

I agree with Trotsky here. If you are planning on going to Signatures, TIW is easily the way to go.

My kids and I do mostly Signatures every night as well. TIW is a wonderful thing. Especially since my 12 y/o has a thing for filet (yes Trotsky, even my own progeny at times goes against me ). My youngest does order off of the kids menu still, but with two people ordering adult meals, the card soon pays for itself.

-dave