After going to Disney World for a number of years and always being able to write checks for purchases in the gift shops, I was shocked when I went to pay for my purchases last July and was told at check out that they no longer accept personal checks. I would call to make sure you can use the checks where you want to before you go. The cast member was very nice about it and explained that it was a recent change in policy. Fortunately I had a credit card with me, but had I not, it would have been a rather uncomfortable situation.
ShariM