Tip Tuesday: Tables in Wonderland

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

In a continuation of last week's tip about the Annual Pass, I wanted to talk about another savings opportunity that goes hand-in-hand with the Annual Pass, the Tables in Wonderland card.

For those who frequently dine at the many table-service restaurants around Walt Disney World, Disney offers a program where annual passholders and Florida residents can save 20% off their entire bill at any table-service restaurant on-property. This is different from the Disney Dining Plan (DDP). With the standard DDP, guests receive one table-service credit, one counter-service credit and one snack, per person, per day. The DDP table-service credit includes an entree, dessert and non-alcoholic drink. Appetizers and alcoholic drinks are NOT included in the DDP.

Tables in Wonderland is different. It doesn't matter what your order or how much, you get 20% off. Better yet, you can apply your Tables in Wonderland savings for up to 10 people at your table, provided you're paying the bill.

But wait, it gets better.

As part of the Tables in Wonderland card, guests get free valet parking at any Disney resort where they are dining. Just show your Tables in Wonderland card to the attendant when you pull up. I've personally done this a few times already and it's VERY nice!!!

Now, there is a cost to purchase the Tables in Wonderland card. For Annual Passholders, the cost is $75 per year. For non-AP Florida Residents, the cost is $100 per year. Additional cards may be purchased for $50 and a replacement card is $50 (so don't lose it!!).

There are a few restrictions to the Tables in Wonderland card. Discounts are not available during major holidays like Christmas Eve/Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve/New Year's Day, Easter, Mother's Day and Fourth of July. Additional restrictions are possible.

At first glance, you might not think the Tables in Wonderland card is worth the price, and you may be right. It really depends on how much you use it. In my case, every time we dine at a resort restaurant, I have five people. Basically with the Tables in Wonderland card, one person eats for free (again 20% off the total bill).

Given that most restaurants we tend to eat at run around $18 a person, we need to use the card at least 4 times to break even ($18 x 4 = $72). After that, we're saving money. We've already used our Tables in Wonderland card three times, and we've got more ADR's coming up before the card runs out, so in the long run, the Tables in Wonderland card will save us money.

Like the Annual Pass, you need to do the math before you decide if the Tables in Wonderland card is worth it. And, like the Annual Pass, the more you play (well, the more you eat), the more you can save.

So as you plan your next trip(s) to Walt Disney World, think about how much dining you plan to do at on-property restaurants. It may be that the Tables in Wonderland card is a smart choice!