Tables in Wonderland or Basic Dining Plan?

[Sharkreef11]

So we are debating between the Tables in Wonderland or the Basic Dining Plan for our trip in October. I am curious to hear from those who either have debated this themselves or have ever used TiW before. It's a new thing to us and we are thinking it might be beneficial to use instead. Then we can hit our favorite sit downs instead of being tied to a reservation every night. Thoughts?

 

[Monty]

I haven't considered Dining Plan for a number of years. I found myself constantly trying to "maximise" my credits instead of ordering what I wanted and always ended up with leftover QS credits. With TiW I eat what I enjoy and have less stress in the process.

We much prefer Table Service to Quick Service and I enjoy an alcoholic drink or two :lookaroun so TiW works well for us. But there's only myself and my son. Larger families can benefit from the free dining when it's offered.

I take advantage of AP discounts on rooms and shopping as well and find I save more that way.

You really have to look at how many you are, how you generally eat and cost it out for yourselves.

 

[brifraz]

It all depends on how you dine. Also, kids under 9 get the kids rate for the DDP, which can create quite a significant savings.

If you are going to eat a majority of Table Service meals, then the TiW card is usually the best deal. Also depends on how many are eating and how they tend to eat. Since the card costs $75 and saves you 20%, you start saving $$ after you spend $375 in food and drinks at Table Service restaurants.

For the DDP Basic Plan, you can start saving almost immediately, but the savings may not be as great. On our recent trip, it was an awesome deal. $51 per adult and $15 per child, per day. Since our family tends to eat an even number of table and quick service meals during any visit and our cost basis is $117 per day (2 adults and 1 child) and our average daily meals are about $150 (table service about $90, counter service about $50, snacks about $10). So, we tend to save about 22% without the $75 upfront cost.

So, for us DDP is a better deal. When DW and I visited once without DD, we definitely did better with the TiW card. But, we eat and tour much differently without a kid!

I highly suggest starting from scratch with a big old calculator or spreadsheet. Figure out where you want to eat each day of your trip regardless of discounts. Use the menus on multiple sites to work out the cost. Then figure out the DDP cost for you and figure out 20% discount on all the table services and you'll know which deal is better for you!

 

[brifraz]

Then we can hit our favorite sit downs instead of being tied to a reservation every night. Thoughts?

Not sure how which discount you are using makes a difference for this? With DDP, you just want to have enough table services to equal the number of nights you are staying. You don't have to do one each day. We almost always end up with one day where we double up table services and one day where we double up counter services. (and one of those counters is almost always Wolfgang Puck Express, best food deal on site for our family!)

 

[LuvtheGoof]

We did the DDP once several years ago, and never again. Since we are AP holders, it is a no brainer for us to buy and use the TIW. It has saved us literally hunderds of dollars over the last few years. We had 6 adults for our trip last June, and the savings was enormous. We even used it at V&A in December, and saved more than the entire cost of the card with that one meal! Of course, we also prefer a glass of wine or other adult beverage with our meals, and the DDP does not cover those at all. Plus we get to choose whether we want the appetizer, dessert, or both. Another negative to the DDP.

Anyway, YMMV, and I would recommend doing some sample dinners at places that you would like to eat, and don't forget to add the tip to both the DDP and the TIW costs. An 18% tip is automatically included with the TIW, but you have to manually add it for the DDP.

 

[Spikerdink]

This was the first trip to WDW that I had the TIW card and did not use the DDP.

I had 5 other adults in my travelling party and 4 of the 5 enjoyed a cocktail before dinner. That alone saved a fortune with the TIW card. Coupled that with the restaurants we chose (and the few QS that honor TIW) and I found that I saved a lot more with the TIW card than I did from the DDP.

For a few years we swore by the DDP - it was convenient was the best aspect. We had prepaid meals and didn't have to worry about carrying cash or credit cards for meals. But along with that I kept every receipt and logged how much we 'saved' over going out of pocket. What I found was that the 'up to 40%' savings Disney touted was really an illusion.

Here's part of the reason why - the DDP includes dessert for both the QS and TS. It wasn't something we normally would eat....most of my travel partners preferred appetizers rather than dessert. But since it was included we took it (and often took it back to the room). So we still ordered the appy, which increased our costs, and took the dessert even though we normally wouldn't. This extra dessert cost when factored into the 'savings' turned into costs that usually would not have been incurred. Even with the desserts, I found that my savings were never more than 5 - 10%.

So.... it really comes down to how you and your family prefers to eat. Do you enjoy a drink or two? Those savings add up quickly with TIW. Do you enjoy an appetizer? Again TIW savings.... If neither of these are part of your usual dining experience, and you like dessert, the DDP might fit your needs best.....

 

[goodanu]

Sandy and I have TIW - DO be aware that you can't get this unless you are a Florida Resident, OR an Annual Passholder - it's a restricted offering.

We LOVE TIW - one can maximize it's value by hitting a lot of Signature Restaurants - it may not generate quite the same return for simple sit downs. Having said this, TIW represents a savings of over $725 per year for us, after the cost of the card.

TIW is now available to DVC owners at a cost of $100.00. We will be using it for our party of eight in August.

 

[Sharkreef11]

This was the first trip to WDW that I had the TIW card and did not use the DDP.

I had 5 other adults in my travelling party and 4 of the 5 enjoyed a cocktail before dinner. That alone saved a fortune with the TIW card. Coupled that with the restaurants we chose (and the few QS that honor TIW) and I found that I saved a lot more with the TIW card than I did from the DDP.

For a few years we swore by the DDP - it was convenient was the best aspect. We had prepaid meals and didn't have to worry about carrying cash or credit cards for meals. But along with that I kept every receipt and logged how much we 'saved' over going out of pocket. What I found was that the 'up to 40%' savings Disney touted was really an illusion.

Here's part of the reason why - the DDP includes dessert for both the QS and TS. It wasn't something we normally would eat....most of my travel partners preferred appetizers rather than dessert. But since it was included we took it (and often took it back to the room). So we still ordered the appy, which increased our costs, and took the dessert even though we normally wouldn't. This extra dessert cost when factored into the 'savings' turned into costs that usually would not have been incurred. Even with the desserts, I found that my savings were never more than 5 - 10%.

So.... it really comes down to how you and your family prefers to eat. Do you enjoy a drink or two? Those savings add up quickly with TIW. Do you enjoy an appetizer? Again TIW savings.... If neither of these are part of your usual dining experience, and you like dessert, the DDP might fit your needs best.....

Yeah that's also something we had been talking about as well. The dessert is something that is nice now and then but not necessary. With the dining plan we would take it, but like you we would usually just end up bring it back to the room. Even if we just split the dessert that would be more logical. We usually aren't cocktail drinkers, but would like to have something now and then. I think it will just come down to crunching some numbers. We used to live by the dining plan too but are giving TiW a real good look.