Tables in Wonderland - worth it for my plans?

[DarthVader]

My trip to WDW is coming up this April, I just finished making the reservations and based on the spreadsheet provided by seeyareelsoon I'm not seeing enough savings to justify the price.

Here's a screenshot of what I mean

Here's the prices

As you can see, its estimating my prices to be 2,174 w/o TiW and 2,090 with BUT (and there's the big but), the cost of TiW is now 150 and not 100, so that brings the estimate up from 2,090 to 2,140

My dining goals are to have sit down meals in the evening and QS for the rest, however I have a couple of character breakfast meals in the mix.

Any advise or thoughts on this?

 

[networkpro]

IMHO, I do not believe that the TiW is cost effective now for a single trip less than 14 days no matter how many table service meals are involved. 20% discount on specific locations and automatic 18% gratuity yields only a 2% savings. So to recoup the 150 dollar cost, you would have to spend $750.

(edited to correct a mathamtical overstatement by a factor of 10)

 

[LuvtheGoof]

IMHO, I do not believe that the TiW is cost effective now for a single trip less than 14 days no matter how many table service meals are involved. 20% discount on specific locations and automatic 18% gratuity yields only a 2% savings. So to recoup the 150 dollar cost, you would have to spend 7, 500.

Sorry, but your reasoning is flawed. Just because it adds the 18% tip has nothing to do with the 20% savings, because you would be paying the tip if you pay out-of-pocket anyway (unless you're one of those that doesn't tip ). If you are not happy with the service, or do not wish to tip, a manager can have that either reduced or removed for you.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

My trip to WDW is coming up this April, I just finished making the reservations and based on the spreadsheet provided by seeyareelsoon I'm not seeing enough savings to justify the price.

Here's a screenshot of what I mean
View attachment 115341

Here's the prices
View attachment 115342

As you can see, its estimating my prices to be 2,174 w/o TiW and 2,090 with BUT (and there's the big but), the cost of TiW is now 150 and not 100, so that brings the estimate up from 2,090 to 2,140

My dining goals are to have sit down meals in the evening and QS for the rest, however I have a couple of character breakfast meals in the mix.

Any advise or thoughts on this?

Well, first off, I cannot see how your numbers are adding up. You should be saving more than $10.40 on breakfast at Chef Mickey's and Ohanas. And I cannot see only a savings of $10.20 for all of your TS dinners you have listed. Just one person savings at the Hoop Dee Doo is $13 for each adult, and there is no tip there at all.

In addition, how many and what types of guests are on this plan? 2 adults? Any kids? More information might be helpful.

 

[DarthVader]

Technically 4 adults, as Disney now considers my two 10 year old kids as adults

Its possible that the spreadsheet I'm using is incorrect, but it was highly recommended in other threads and seems to be ok.

Regarding the gratuity. I was confused by that, so we are NOT on the hook to pay that when we use TiW?

 

[Tuvalu]

We have no interest in purchasing the dining plan, so as annual pass holders TiW saves us money. With the current price of $150, we need to spend $750 on table service meals (all restaurants we dine at participate in TiW) or counter service meals at value and some moderate resorts, over the course of 13 months to reap savings. We never factor the 18% gratuity into the equation because we tip at least that much anyway. And TiW includes alcoholic beverages. We save at least a couple hundred dollars a year with the card.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Technically 4 adults, as Disney now considers my two 10 year old kids as adults

Its possible that the spreadsheet I'm using is incorrect, but it was highly recommended in other threads and seems to be ok.

Regarding the gratuity. I was confused by that, so we are NOT on the hook to pay that when we use TiW?

At Hoop Dee Doo, the tip is included, but not everywhere else. The TiW does add an 18% gratuity for you, but you can have it removed, though that would be bad form if the service was good. You should always tip well when the service is good. We always add in even more than the 18%, since we receive excellent to outstanding service wherever we eat there.

So for 4 adults at Hoop Dee Doo for the 8:30 show, your savings there come to $52 for that dinner alone. The spreadsheet may have come highly recommended, but it has flaws. If I were you, I would see what you would spend on each TS meal, then subtract the 20% discount, and keep the tips as a separate item, just like OOP expenses. If you added in 18% tip for each TS meal, use that same number in both.

Also, will you or your wife have any alcoholic beverages? The TiW saves you 20% on these as well, even at the lounges. Might be something else to consider.

 

[DarthVader]

we need to spend $750 on table service meals (all restaurants we dine at participate in TiW) or counter service meals at value and some moderate resorts, over the course of 13 months to reap savings

We're only looking to use this for our April Trip.

, I would see what you would spend on each TS meal, then subtract the 20% discount, and keep the tips as a separate item, just like OOP expenses. If you added in 18% tip for each TS meal, use that same number in both.

Also, will you or your wife have any alcoholic beverages? The TiW saves you 20% on these as well, even at the lounges. Might be something else to consider.

Good idea, if there's any questions regarding the possible integirty of the numbers, I better do the leg work myself.

Also thanks for the clarification on the gratuity. I'd not look to have it removed as you are correct that is bad form - those folks work hard and to deprive them of the tip is a low move.

 

[Victoria]

I agree that these numbers seem off. I have had TiW for years. The last time I bought a card was August 2014. I kept notes on every meal that I used the card for. During August 2014 I had a 6 day trip with 2 adults and 2 teenagers. Our discount with TiW ranged from $17-$38 per meal. I have those discounts listed as:
Raglan Rd $30 (lunch)
Ohana $38 (dinner)
Rose and Crown $35 (dinner)
50s Primetime $26 (lunch)
Cape May Cafe $38 (dinner)
Whispering Canyon $17 (breakfast)

You are eating at some of those restaurants so this should give you a better idea of what you can expect your discounts to be if you want to re-run the numbers.

In January 2015 I used my card again at some of the locations you plan to eat. This trip was just two adults so I would just double up my numbers to get an idea of what you would save.

Sci Fi $21 (dinner...and I paid for 4 adults on the card)
Be Our Guest $24 (dinner for 2...so probably more like $40 for 4 people)
Liberty Tree $11 (lunch for 2...probably more like $30 for 4 people at dinner)

I had a few other meals from a solo trip in September 2014 and other meals from January 2015 thrown in there. Altogether I ended up saving $349 with a card that cost $100. $250 savings in my pocket isn't bad. Even with the card costing $150 now an extra $200 isn't terrible.

 

[DarthVader]

Here's a quick and dirty cost estimation for each restaurant.

For this go around, I opted that my kids will choose the children's menu items where applicable. For the Hoop Dee Doo, the adult price was set since they are 10 and considered adults. For the other restaurants I opted for kids meals because that's all they'll choose anyways.

From what I can see, I'm just over the break even point and saving some money. I did my best to estimate what we'd actually select to eat. Funny thing is, looking at the menus and cost - I'm thing twice about some of the reservations.

If my kids always choose from the adult menu the savings is more obvious.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Simple answer.

If you plan on spending $750.00 or more @ restaurants that except the TIW card, then YES it is a value.

Do not make the mistake of adding gratuity to your bill when using the TIW card. After it being such a habit to enter in a tip on my dining bill, I have unfortunately made that mistake when using the TIW card. I have done this at least 10 times over the years where I have added an extra 18% - 20% and never has a waiter or waitress asked if I had made a mistake. They must have been happy seeing a nearly 40% tip

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Here's a quick and dirty cost estimation for each restaurant.

For this go around, I opted that my kids will choose the children's menu items where applicable. For the Hoop Dee Doo, the adult price was set since they are 10 and considered adults. For the other restaurants I opted for kids meals because that's all they'll choose anyways.

View attachment 115360

From what I can see, I'm just over the break even point and saving some money. I did my best to estimate what we'd actually select to eat. Funny thing is, looking at the menus and cost - I'm thing twice about some of the reservations.

If my kids always choose from the adult menu the savings is more obvious.

.
Don't forget that you save a full 20% at certain resorts and at a couple of restaurants at AK. We usually save $8.00 to 14.00 at Land of Flavors in AoA when we eat there. We were also given the discount on our refillable mugs when we bought them with our meals.

 

[networkpro]

Sorry, but your reasoning is flawed. Just because it adds the 18% tip has nothing to do with the 20% savings, because you would be paying the tip if you pay out-of-pocket anyway (unless you're one of those that doesn't tip ). If you are not happy with the service, or do not wish to tip, a manager can have that either reduced or removed for you.

OK you caught me shifting the decimal point over one place making my calc off a by an order of magnitude.

 

[Phonedave]

Sorry, but your reasoning is flawed. Just because it adds the 18% tip has nothing to do with the 20% savings, because you would be paying the tip if you pay out-of-pocket anyway (unless you're one of those that doesn't tip ). If you are not happy with the service, or do not wish to tip, a manager can have that either reduced or removed for you.

I actually look at the included 18% tip as an additional savings. When eat, I normally tip 20% and round up to a whole dollar amount. When using TIW, I let the %18 stand as the tip - unless someone went above and beyond. So in essence, in addition to the %20 savings on food, I am also saving more than %2 on the amount I would normally tip.

TIW is about the easiest thing to figure out - if you will spend $750 on eligible dining and drinking, then the card breaks even. There really are no soft perks involved - unless you count the invites to special events a perk.

-dave

 

[LuvtheGoof]

I actually look at the included 18% tip as an additional savings. When eat, I normally tip 20% and round up to a whole dollar amount. When using TIW, I let the %18 stand as the tip - unless someone went above and beyond. So in essence, in addition to the %20 savings on food, I am also saving more than %2 on the amount I would normally tip.
-dave

That's a good point, and what we do as well. There have been a few times when they have gotten only the 18%. We definitely do not tip more at the buffets, but as we don't really think they are a good value anymore, we haven't eaten at one in quite some time. Will probably change in the future with grandchildren for a few character meals, but we won't go if it's just the 2 of us.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

OK you caught me shifting the decimal point over one place making my calc off a by an order of magnitude.