Paying resort balance with gift cards

[auntfrannie]

I wish the search feature would come back!

If I buy Disney gift cards now can I apply them to my outstanding room balance now rather than waiting until I'm actually at the resort check in?

Just noticed that spell check is being applied to my messages. Very nice!

 

[dansdad]

Yup.

ETA - Make sure you keep the gift card(s) until you arrive back home. If, for any reason, you have to cancel they will only be able to refund your $$ back onto the gift card(s).

 

[Sandi]

I believe you have to call to have the gift cards applied; I was not able to find a way to do it on line. I had five $50 gift cards that I applied to my reservation yesterday. The CM who took my call was very kind and helpful. (In the past, I've had CMs say that they can only apply four at a time.)

 

[auntfrannie]

Thank you both very much!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I am actually an expert on this subject!

Yes you can use gift cards but there are stipulations! For example, over the phone to pay a room balance you will get varying information about how many cards you can use but most CM's will tell you only 1 card per phone call. However, I was able to use 2 cards after asking to speak with a supervisor. At resort check-in you can apply as many cards are you want but they cannot exceed the balance you owe. For example, if you have $500 worth of gift cards but only owe $300 on your room balance they won't allow you to apply the extra $200 towards charging. The best way to handle extra cards is to room charge things and then add the gift cards as you go along to pay the charges as they happen. Or just use the gift cards in the park. Also, in the parks you can only use a maximum of 3 cards to buy tickets at the ticket window. Actually it's not just 3 cards but 3 methods of payment, for example you can apply 2 gift cards and then pay the rest with a debit or credit card, but you can't use 3 gift cards and a credit card because they consider that 4 methods of payment. Also, if you are using gift cards that are Visa gift cards or other general type gift cards (mastercard, simon mall visa cards, amex, etc, etc), they actually take an extra percentage (usually about 20%) in addition to whatever amount you are trying to apply. For example, a Visa gift card worth $100 won't allow you to apply the entire $100 on the room because Visa has hotels set-up like restaurants where they will take an additional % on "hold" to cover a tip. So for those types of cards you are better off just using them in the parks for food and stuff as you go along instead of applying them to the room.

Are you confused now?? LOL I could practically write a guide book just dealing with this.

 

[OklahomaTourist]

I believe you have to call to have the gift cards applied; I was not able to find a way to do it on line. I had five $50 gift cards that I applied to my reservation yesterday. The CM who took my call was very kind and helpful. (In the past, I've had CMs say that they can only apply four at a time.)

I had two Disney gift cards that I used online to help pay down our resort reservation from two years ago. Used two Disney GC's plus my own credit card and it was no problem, no "holds" or partial credits, just used them like a regular CC. Now, that said, I've been having trouble finding the link to the payment page on the new site, which is VERY frustrating.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I had two Disney gift cards that I used online to help pay down our resort reservation from two years ago. Used two Disney GC's plus my own credit card and it was no problem, no "holds" or partial credits, just used them like a regular CC. Now, that said, I've been having trouble finding the link to the payment page on the new site, which is VERY frustrating.

Disney gift cards don't hold anything extra.

 

[MADnNOLA]

Log into the new Disney Website.

At bottom right side of page, click on "Order Customized Maps"

This directs you back to the old website.

Click on "My Reservations"

Click on "View Details"

From that page you should see your balance due and the option to make payments.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I had two Disney gift cards that I used online to help pay down our resort reservation from two years ago. Used two Disney GC's plus my own credit card and it was no problem, no "holds" or partial credits, just used them like a regular CC. Now, that said, I've been having trouble finding the link to the payment page on the new site, which is VERY frustrating.

I have no information or experience about paying off packages online. I only know about room-only. But I know someone said if you go to the main Disney page and scroll down to the bottom where it says "order customized maps" and then on the next page hit the old "my reservations" section you can find your old reservation site page under "view details". Hope that helps

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Log into the new Disney Website.

At bottom right side of page, click on "Order Customized Maps"

This directs you back to the old website.

Click on "My Reservations"

Click on "View Details"

From that page you should see your balance due and the option to make payments.

JINX! Buy me a coke!!!!

 

[MADnNOLA]

JINX! Buy me a coke!!!!

You got it!

 

[msmama]

I am actually an expert on this subject!

At resort check-in you can apply as many cards are you want but they cannot exceed the balance you owe. For example, if you have $500 worth of gift cards but only owe $300 on your room balance they won't allow you to apply the extra $200 towards charging. The best way to handle extra cards is to room charge things and then add the gift cards as you go along to pay the charges as they happen. Or just use the gift cards in the park.

I actually have applied more than I owe towards charging. I did have to make at least one charge first. (My package was already paid for, bought dinner with the KTTW card and then put a couple hundred dollars in Disney GC's on there which paid off the dinner and then some). I've done it at the front desk of the resort (POP).

I have not, however, put more than i thought I'd use.

With GC's, you CAN do most everything you'd think you can do, but not all CM's seem to know you can, unfortunately.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I actually have applied more than I owe towards charging. I did have to make at least one charge first. (My package was already paid for, bought dinner with the KTTW card and then put a couple hundred dollars in Disney GC's on there which paid off the dinner and then some). I've done it at the front desk of the resort (POP).

I have not, however, put more than i thought I'd use.

With GC's, you CAN do most everything you'd think you can do, but not all CM's seem to know you can, unfortunately.

Maybe that is the key! I've always been told no extra is allowed, but that's at check-in when I haven't used my KTTW cards for anything yet. I will try that next time!

 

[Dis703]

Also, in the parks you can only use a maximum of 3 cards to buy tickets at the ticket window. Actually it's not just 3 cards but 3 methods of payment, for example you can apply 2 gift cards and then pay the rest with a debit or credit card, but you can't use 3 gift cards and a credit card because they consider that 4 methods of payment.

That's good to know. We are stocking up on the $50 gift cards from Target to pay for our APs and a ticket for my sister as well as the resort. I'll be sure to order them by phone prior to going instead of trying to use so many cards at the window.

As for CMs on the phone I used 12 cards for the downpayment on our reservation and it was no problem. I apologized for giving him so much work and he said it was no problem and he's had a lot of people doing this lately. I think to not seriously overwhelm them though I'm going to buy my sisters ticket at our local store and call and order the AP vouchers one at a time.

 

[Disfamguy]

Love using the GCs. two years ago I wanted to surprise the family at Christmas with a trip to WDW (we were going in sept). Didn't even want my wife to know. So I used cash to buy the GCs at my local Kroger store. They have a deal where they double your Kroger fuel points when you buy any gift cards. Soooo, I ended up paying for the entire vacation with GCs, got a ton of free fuel AND used these as the main source of currency at WDW. The kids loved the fact they had their own "credit card" to buy things with and I was able to control the expenditures. And yes, I had applied at least four cards at a time when I called to make the payments.

 

[DisneyJonesGirl]

Great information here! Thanks so much!

 

[auntfrannie]

Oh my goodness! Lots of helpful information. Thank you all so much!

 

[andee515]

It really depends so much on CMs.... I had no trouble 3 different times using 12-25 $50 gc to pay off my resort ressie on the phone. However, i have called 3 times to buy our AP tickets with gc's and every cm states you can only use 2 forms of payment at a time and each gc counts as one. The cm's say you can use limitless number of gift cards at guest relations snd to wait until I go to the park. Lets just say I don't like waiting to the last minute... Several people on forum report they have been able to do on the phone, so i'll keep trying.

 

[dfarner]

I just called about 2 weeks ago and paid down $900 on our reservation with a combination of $50 and $25 gift cards. The CM was wonderful and very patient. Easy as pie!!

 

[karenklo]

Thank you for this post! We are going in July and planned on buying the gift cards through the SCRIP program for our school. We 2% back off tuition and a Disney vacation we going on anyway! I just wasn't sure how to use the GC to pay off the ressie!