Online Check In and Gift Cards

TeachTink

Mouseketeer

Joined

Dec 31, 2013

• Nov 28, 2015

• #1

I already did online check-in at POP for my trip Wed, and I got an email that I can bypass the front desk after I receive the text with my room number. I have a room only reservation so I still owe the rest of my balance. I want to pay it with gift cards. Can I call Disney and do this ahead of time?
If I can't do this ahead of time, since I did online check-in is my credit card going to be automatically charged for the balance? Or will I be able to go to the front desk when I get there to use my gift cards? I am guessing if they said I could bypass the front desk, my credit card will be charged. I guess I probably shouldn't have done online check-in?

 

disney world dreamer

DIS Veteran

Joined

Apr 23, 2010

• Nov 28, 2015

• #2

i am not completely sure as i have never had room only but when i have a package i am able to pay the balance right on my disney experience.

if you can't or don't want to do that then i would call disney and ask if you can pay over the phone and go from there.

if you can great. if not then i'd go to the online check in desk when you get to POP.

 

darkwing818

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 5, 2011

• Nov 28, 2015

• #3

Here's our experience with gift cards. We go straight to our room if we get the text with a room #. Then during our visit we go to the front desk every couple of days, after we've charged stuff & apply our gift cards to our account. Then on the last night if we have any gift cards left we visit the front desk & settle up. Our CC is not charged until check out, but only if there is still an open balance on the account. Unfortunately WDW resorts are not like the Cruise Line where you can put your gift cards on file in advance.

 

IsThatYouTigger

Mouseketeer

Joined

Feb 22, 2014

• Nov 28, 2015

• #4

We used online check in when we stayed at POFQ in October and planned on using giftcards to cover the remaining balance. We got the text that our room was ready so we went and took our stuff to our room. Then we headed to the front desk (concierge) and asked to use gift cards to pay down our balance. They scanned our magicband and she made an eek face and said its already been charged but I can pull it back. So in the end it's not a problem. It takes a few extra minutes but is easily solvable.

 

msmama

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jan 21, 2009

• Nov 28, 2015

• #5

If you have enough gift cards to cover the whole amount (I usually don't) then, yeah, you're going to want to either call and pay down your balance with your go (which isn't normal with a room only reservation, but you can do) or go straight to the front desk. Otherwise, they seem to charge by night, so they may charge one night at check in, but the rest are charged nightly (I didn't know this, but my recent stay was like this) so you could wait a day or two if you don't have enough to cover the full amount.

 

IsThatYouTigger

Mouseketeer

Joined

Feb 22, 2014

• Nov 28, 2015

• #6

This wasn't the case with our stay. They charged all 5 nights at check in so it was better that we went right away.

 

Wood Nymph

DIS Veteran

Joined

Sep 19, 2012

• Nov 28, 2015

• #7

TeachTink said:

I already did online check-in at POP for my trip Wed, and I got an email that I can bypass the front desk after I receive the text with my room number. I have a room only reservation so I still owe the rest of my balance. I want to pay it with gift cards. Can I call Disney and do this ahead of time?
If I can't do this ahead of time, since I did online check-in is my credit card going to be automatically charged for the balance? Or will I be able to go to the front desk when I get there to use my gift cards? I am guessing if they said I could bypass the front desk, my credit card will be charged. I guess I probably shouldn't have done online check-in?

Click to expand...

When we book a room only reservation and have a balance due before check in, then they charge the full balance due to our credit card before we ever arrive at the resort. I've had the card charged while I was getting off the airplane, while I was walking through the airport, even while I was riding the Magical Express. The balance is due at check in and if there is a card on file, they will charge it.

I would pay off the balance with your gift cards ahead of time if you don't want them charging your credit card. Otherwise, you can go to the front desk and have them remove the credit card charge and have the balance applied to the gift cards. But I would do it ahead of time to save myself some time at check in.

 

Wood Nymph

DIS Veteran

Joined

Sep 19, 2012

• Nov 28, 2015

• #8

msmama said:

Otherwise, they seem to charge by night, so they may charge one night at check in, but the rest are charged nightly (I didn't know this, but my recent stay was like this) so you could wait a day or two if you don't have enough to cover the full amount.

Click to expand...

I get a text alert from my bank that tells me the amount that is charged to the credit card, and they do charge the entire balance when you check in. The invoice that Disney sends out after you check out is confusing because it looks like they are only charging the room daily. But if you look at your credit card statement, you'll see that the entire room balance is being charged at once.

 

TeachTink

Mouseketeer

Joined

Dec 31, 2013

• Nov 28, 2015

• #9

Sounds like I should call and use gift cards to pay down my balance before I get there. Thanks everyone!

 

TeachTink

Mouseketeer

Joined

Dec 31, 2013

• Nov 29, 2015

• #10

I just wanted to update everyone. I called today and paid off my balance with gift cards. So even if you have done online check in, you can call and pay off with gift cards on a room only reservation before you arrive!

 

bumbershoot

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 5, 2007

• Nov 29, 2015

• #11

msmama said:

Otherwise, they seem to charge by night, so they may charge one night at check in, but the rest are charged nightly

Click to expand...

Did you see that on your CC/bank account or just on the invoice Disney gives/emails?

My experience is that if I put a CC in during online checkin (AND if it actually "sticks" there, which is very rare for me) with a room-only with a balance due, they charge it that day of checkin.

TeachTink said:

I just wanted to update everyone. I called today and paid off my balance with gift cards. So even if you have done online check in, you can call and pay off with gift cards on a room only reservation before you arrive!

Click to expand...

Cool.

FYI you don't have to put in a CC. You can just click through it. Of course, since your goal was to skip the front desk, I believe that doesn't work. I never feel the urge to skip the front desk, and since my experience is that the CC is rarely actually saved, I have to visit the front desk anyway (especially if I want room charging).