Using Disney Reward Dollars on Cruise - The DIS Discussion Forums

wendiloveswalt · 01-03-2013, 02:33 PM

Hi All,

This will be our first cruise. I wanted to know the best way to make sure we use our Disney Rewards Dollars for onboard purchases first before having our credit card charged. Has anyone had experience with this in the past? We might not have enough to cover everything, but would like to defray the total bill.

Thanks

lanejudy · 01-03-2013, 02:35 PM

Go to Guest Services when you get onboard and have the Rewards card applied to your onboard account. They will use up that value first before accumulating a balance to charge the credit card.

Enjoy your cruise!

kcashner · 01-03-2013, 02:41 PM

Correct. DCL will first "spend" any onboard credit that has been applied to your account, then any "funny money" like reward dollars, gift cards, etc., and finally charge any balance to your credit card.

Bottom line--things that can be refunded are spent last.

shandrananette · 01-03-2013, 03:00 PM

Good advice to do it first thing - we waited until the last day and they'd already charged the card. They fixed it no problem, but it just created a bit of confusion. Definitely a good way to defray those expenses

wendiloveswalt · 01-03-2013, 03:03 PM

Thanks for the great advice. so, if i do online check in do I want to choose cash on the part for how I'll pay for incidentals, or credit?

dorkeemn · 01-03-2013, 03:17 PM

Chose however you will pay for the balance left over after your reward $ are spent. Then on the first day of the cruise go to guest services and apply your reward / gift card.

First time we cruised I did the same thing as a PP - waited until the last full day of the cruise - they fixed it, but it took some time as they had already ran the CC through.

lanejudy · 01-03-2013, 03:28 PM

I think they charge the CC whenever you hit $500. So that can occur early if you are doing excursions, or not until the last day if you tend to stay onboard and don't spend a lot of extra. Applying gift cards, rewards cards, cash early in the cruise is always advisable before your account hits the limit.

Brendonsmom · 01-04-2013, 08:38 PM

On our five night cruise I went the morning of the last full day on the cruise. No line and I was able to take care of my rewards transfer no problem. We also had an onboard credit they applied. I tried using some Visa gift cards but the bank wanted to charge $5 out of the balance.

01-03-2013, 02:33 PM	#1
wendiloveswalt WendiLovesWalt Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 30	Using Disney Reward Dollars on Cruise Hi All, This will be our first cruise. I wanted to know the best way to make sure we use our Disney Rewards Dollars for onboard purchases first before having our credit card charged. Has anyone had experience with this in the past? We might not have enough to cover everything, but would like to defray the total bill. Thanks __________________ DS 7, DD 4, DD 6 months March 2012 CSR,Nov 2010 WL,July 2006 Disneyland May 2005 Disneyland,Dec 1994 Big Red Boat/WDW Offsite,Several childhood trips staying offsite

01-03-2013, 03:00 PM	#4
shandrananette Mouseketeer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: North Carolina Posts: 118	Good advice to do it first thing - we waited until the last day and they'd already charged the card. They fixed it no problem, but it just created a bit of confusion. Definitely a good way to defray those expenses __________________

01-03-2013, 03:03 PM	#5
wendiloveswalt WendiLovesWalt Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 30	Thanks for the great advice. so, if i do online check in do I want to choose cash on the part for how I'll pay for incidentals, or credit? __________________ DS 7, DD 4, DD 6 months March 2012 CSR,Nov 2010 WL,July 2006 Disneyland May 2005 Disneyland,Dec 1994 Big Red Boat/WDW Offsite,Several childhood trips staying offsite

01-04-2013, 08:38 PM	#8
Brendonsmom Love the Magic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Outside Atlanta, GA Posts: 68	On our five night cruise I went the morning of the last full day on the cruise. No line and I was able to take care of my rewards transfer no problem. We also had an onboard credit they applied. I tried using some Visa gift cards but the bank wanted to charge $5 out of the balance. __________________ Anne Kevin Brendon JJ DL since girl, HM with DH at WDW '98, Annual trips to WDW with son since '04. First cruise on Dream 12/12. Next Fort trip 4/13.

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01-03-2013, 02:35 PM	#2
lanejudy DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 1,680	Go to Guest Services when you get onboard and have the Rewards card applied to your onboard account. They will use up that value first before accumulating a balance to charge the credit card. Enjoy your cruise!

01-03-2013, 02:41 PM	#3
kcashner DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 33,275	Correct. DCL will first "spend" any onboard credit that has been applied to your account, then any "funny money" like reward dollars, gift cards, etc., and finally charge any balance to your credit card. Bottom line--things that can be refunded are spent last.

01-03-2013, 03:17 PM	#6
dorkeemn Mouseketeer Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 103	Chose however you will pay for the balance left over after your reward $ are spent. Then on the first day of the cruise go to guest services and apply your reward / gift card. First time we cruised I did the same thing as a PP - waited until the last full day of the cruise - they fixed it, but it took some time as they had already ran the CC through.

01-03-2013, 03:28 PM	#7
lanejudy DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 1,680	I think they charge the CC whenever you hit $500. So that can occur early if you are doing excursions, or not until the last day if you tend to stay onboard and don't spend a lot of extra. Applying gift cards, rewards cards, cash early in the cruise is always advisable before your account hits the limit.