Should I purchase TIW?

JohnD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I'm going to WDW next week (10/29-11/4) and am an AP holder. I'm aware of the AP 20% discount at select restaurants.

Is it still worth it for me to purchase the TIW card in order to get the 20% discounts?
 

lostpro9het

Well-Known Member
I'm going to WDW next week (10/29-11/4) and am an AP holder. I'm aware of the AP 20% discount at select restaurants.

Is it still worth it for me to purchase the TIW card in order to get the 20% discounts?
Do the math for yourself. We're AP holders and just purchased TiW today because the AP discount does not include alcohol and does not cover many of the resturaunts we prefer. I crunched the numbers over the next 13 months and, conservatively, the TiW card came out ahead for us by over $85 after the buy in price.
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Do the math for yourself. We're AP holders and just purchased TiW today because the AP discount does not include alcohol and does not cover many of the resturaunts we prefer. I crunched the numbers over the next 13 months and, conservatively, the TiW card came out ahead for us by over $85 after the buy in price.

I've bought it in the past. I did like paying, getting 20% off, and not having to figure out tip since already included.
 

Minthorne

Well-Known Member
How many people traveling and will you be drinking alcohol? With the 20% off food vastly extended for AP and only 1 trip using the card it may be hard to break even. I usually only buy the TiW card when I have several trips planned or trip with large parties.
 

MichWolv

Born Modest. Wore Off.
Premium Member
Depends where you like to eat, and whether you tend to get drinks. On a trip last weekend (party of 6), I had all kinds of AP and TiW discount combinations.

Skipper Canteen -- Both give 20%, but TiW covered alcohol as well, saving in incremental $4 or so.
ABC Commissary -- AP gave 20%, TiW would have given none.
Restaurantasaurus -- TiW gave 20%, AP would have given none -- TiW saved us around $16
Jock Lindsay for drinks (2 of us) -- AP would give none, TiW 20% -- TiW save us about $6
Capa for Dinner (2 of us) -- AP would give zero, TiW 20% -- About $35 saved
Many F&W booths -- Nothin'

We already had TiW before the AP discounts were announced. Based on my experience this past week, I'd say that when it comes time to renew TiW (or not), It'll be a close call. Comes down to alcohol intentions, I think.
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
How many people traveling and will you be drinking alcohol? With the 20% off food vastly extended for AP and only 1 trip using the card it may be hard to break even. I usually only buy the TiW card when I have several trips planned or trip with large parties.

Just me. I've been going at least once a year. Last year, I went twice--last SW weekend and Osborne Lights. I let it expire after my Christmas trip. I had a quick Labor Day trip weekend trip last month and didn't purchase it then. But I have a 1 week trip coming up. Likely, I'll return next year after Avatar opens.
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Depends where you like to eat, and whether you tend to get drinks. On a trip last weekend (party of 6), I had all kinds of AP and TiW discount combinations.

Skipper Canteen -- Both give 20%, but TiW covered alcohol as well, saving in incremental $4 or so.
ABC Commissary -- AP gave 20%, TiW would have given none.
Restaurantasaurus -- TiW gave 20%, AP would have given none -- TiW saved us around $16
Jock Lindsay for drinks (2 of us) -- AP would give none, TiW 20% -- TiW save us about $6
Capa for Dinner (2 of us) -- AP would give zero, TiW 20% -- About $35 saved
Many F&W booths -- Nothin'

We already had TiW before the AP discounts were announced. Based on my experience this past week, I'd say that when it comes time to renew TiW (or not), It'll be a close call. Comes down to alcohol intentions, I think.

Good that you already had the card. It would be an additional $175 for me.
 

Minthorne

Well-Known Member
Just me. I've been going at least once a year. Last year, I went twice--last SW weekend and Osborne Lights. I let it expire after my Christmas trip. I had a quick Labor Day trip weekend trip last month and didn't purchase it then. But I have a 1 week trip coming up. Likely, I'll return next year after Avatar opens.

I think you would do better just using the AP discount then.
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I think you would do better just using the AP discount then.

It turns out I already have these ADRs with the AP discount:
  • Tiffins dinner
  • Flame Tree (not ADR but still might eat there)
  • Rose & Crown dinner
  • Garden Grill breakfast
  • Hollywood Brown Derby (Fantasmic package. May not get 20% with this)
  • Kona Cafe breakfast
  • Narcoosee's brunch
With that many just by coincidence, I think I'll skip TIW this year. Use that money for a F&W gift card instead at food booths.
 

Minthorne

Well-Known Member
It turns out I already have these ADRs with the AP discount:
  • Tiffins dinner
  • Flame Tree (not ADR but still might eat there)
  • Rose & Crown dinner
  • Garden Grill breakfast
  • Hollywood Brown Derby (Fantasmic package. May not get 20% with this)
  • Kona Cafe breakfast
  • Narcoosee's brunch
With that many just by coincidence, I think I'll skip TIW this year. Use that money for a F&W gift card instead at food booths.

I'll be at F&W on 11/1!
 

Tony the Tigger

Well-Known Member
I think you made a smart decision. Our TiW card just expired. We spent $100 on it, went I think 4 times, drink a decent amount of alcohol, and saved hundreds of dollars, no question.

However, with the AP already giving us 20% on many restaurants for the next entire year (we just activated our new passes in September) we're just going to steer more towards the restaurants on the discount list this year. That will get us to try some new ones, and some of our favorites are on the list, also. And when we go to the bar, we pay full price. 20% of those bar bills should still work out to less than the new $150 price. Actually...hmmm...LOL
 

Eddie Garrison

Well-Known Member
Another detail I think people over look with Tables is that you get free valet at all the resorts as well. We use this A LOT & it saves a pile of money since valet is $25.00 a pop. We valet at least twice a week when we visit the parks, resorts, etc. and it pays for itself nearly in a few weeks with just valet parking.

I know what some will reply, "You have to eat to get free valet". That's not 100% accurate. Most of the time we do not eat at any resort and still get free valet parking with Tables. We do grab drinks at the resort and the valet CM's just want to see the Tables discount on a recipe and they are good to go with us.

You can perhaps chalk that up to us visiting as often as we do and the valet CM's knowing us by first name. Still. We probably only eat something at a resort 25% (or less) of the time and still receive free valet parking.

Just giving another benefit at times over looked when purchasing Tables.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom