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Mom And Daughter Outside Grand Floridian; costume; pool
  • On Dec 30, 2012
    Lorie from AZ Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hello! We've always used the meal plan in the past for our trips to WDW. Now it looks like there's the regular meal plan or you can purchase the Tables in Wonderland option as a DVC member. Do you know the difference and if one is better than the other?

    Hi, Lorie!

    Great question!

    We've had membership in the Tables in Wonderland program for several years now, yet we add-on the Dining Plan, too. I'll try to shed some light on what to consider as you decide which is right for you.

    If there are features of the Dining Plan that didn't appeal to your particular party then Tables in Wonderland may be better suited to your needs. Basically, you'll save 20% on all food and beverage purchases (including alcohol) at participating Table Service Restaurants as well as a few Quick Service locations. Head over to tablesinwonderland.com for a list of participating locations and more information.

    My family has grown up on the Dining Plan, so my children have learned to order (ehem) the most expensive items that they like on the menu (a tough habit to break when we're at restaurants elsewhere!) so we really get our money's worth on the Plan. This is not the case for every family, though, especially if the specifics of the Dining Plan just don't fit in with your lifestyle or wishlist while on vacation.

    Bottom line? Browse through the unofficial menus on allears.net (including Quick Service items) and total up what you'd likely spend during your trip. Then subtract 20% from those totals which are TIW-applicable to determine if you'd save money by opting for this program instead of a Dining Plan.

    One final factor to consider is how often you'll be in WDW during the year of your TIW Membership. This past year, I visited WDW 7 times, so the cost of my TIW Membership could be averaged out over all of those visits, making it an even better value this year. My husband and kids love to order appetizers and I enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, so we've saved far more by using our TIW card than the cost of Membership.

    Hope this helps you decide which plan is right for your family, Lorie!  Send more questions as you think of them; I love to help!
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Meet the Panelist: Andrea, Pennsylvania

I am a teacher, wife and mom who has been a member of the Disney Vacation Club since 2003. I love discovering a new favorite DVC resort, fantastic restaurant or hidden gem onboard a Disney ship! I'm a micro-planner who can help you capture your own magic! Learn More About Andrea

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