$1 hold on credit card?

[Kmygrl73]

Is it true that when you check in and present a credit card for room charging, Disney only checks to see if the card is valid by running $1 thru? So if someone only had for instance $300 available on their credit card but charges $400 to their room, the credit card will be declined right? But I am wondering how this works because I thought when we did express check out before, Disney didn't charge our card until well after we left Disney property and if our card didn't go thru, now how would Disney get paid? Does anyone have any ideas how this works?
I am not trying to get away with anything just curious how this works!!!!!

Thanks,
Kim

 

[jel0511]

Is it true that when you check in and present a credit card for room charging, Disney only checks to see if the card is valid by running $1 thru?

Yes.

So if someone only had for instance $300 available on their credit card but charges $400 to their room, the credit card will be declined right?

Yes.

But I am wondering how this works because I thought when we did express check out before, Disney didn't charge our card until well after we left Disney property and if our card didn't go thru, now how would Disney get paid? Does anyone have any ideas how this works?

The charge does actually go through before you check-out, it is processed some time during the late evening hours, before the bill is delivered to your door. If there is a problem, you will be notified and expected to make full payment before you leave.

 

[clkelley]

We found that out the hard way once several years ago.

We had an American Express Delta Skymiles card. The card had plenty of credit limit on it, because we paid it off just before we left.

However, what we didn't know was that the credit limit was also a billing cycle limit.

We had purchased something through the card that was within 400 of our credit limit a week before we left and paid it off immediately, so no problems right?? The whole purpose of having the card was to run as much through it as possible to get those Skymiles!! We had only had the card a couple of months and had not bumped into that problem before.

However, when we tried to have Disney put $700 on the card when we checked out, it wouldn't go, because according to AMEX we could only charge $400 more that billing cycle. The account balance didn't matter. So after an embarrasing phone message from our front desk, then a heated discussion with AMEX, we put $400 on AMEX, put the rest on our debit card from the checking account and went on our way.

When we got home, we canceled that stupid Skymiles card, and found another one that would give us FF miles and didn't have that rule.

Carol

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by Kmygrl73
Is it true that when you check in and present a credit card for room charging, Disney only checks to see if the card is valid by running $1 thru? So if someone only had for instance $300 available on their credit card but charges $400 to their room, the credit card will be declined right? But I am wondering how this works because I thought when we did express check out before, Disney didn't charge our card until well after we left Disney property and if our card didn't go thru, now how would Disney get paid? Does anyone have any ideas how this works?
I am not trying to get away with anything just curious how this works!!!!!

Thanks,
Kim

When you check in, and opt for 'Express Checkout', Disney will place a 'hold' on your card for $1... it's not a charge, just a hold, to verify that the card is valid. With Express Checkout, you do not need to stop down to the front desk to check out.

You can also opt for charging privledges for any number of the people in your party. Depending on your resort level, you will then get a Disney Resort credit limit. (Values - $500, Mods - $1,000, Deluxe - $1,500) If you reach your Resort credit limit during your stay, your card will be charged that night, and you will start over with your Disney credit limit. (If you don't reach your limit, your card won't be charged until checkout day)

On the day of checkout, around 2-5am, the computer processes any remaining charges, and charges your card then.

You may still use your card to charge up until midnight that night, resulting in an additional charge to your credit card to clear out the balance due.

 

[DisneyWisher]

What happened to me this trip (just got home Friday).

My original plan was 2 night Poly GVC and 2 nights CR tower. DD11 loved Poly so much we decided to just stay there. I had a credit card that I haven't used for much. Just AOL and my cellphone otherwise I never used it. I decided that since it is a flyer miles credit card I should. So upon checking in I gave it to the CM. When checked in again for the additional 2 nights she told me my CC was declined. I told her that impossible (bet she hears that alot). She tried running it again and again it was declined. I asked her to find out if it went through for my first 2 night charges (I had already paid the room the charges were for food, hoop-dee-doo, and such) she said it was charged to another card. I asked what card? It turned out it was a card that was in their system from my May visit. I was furious. How could they just charged another card without calling it to my attention first. I told her I would be back I was going to call the CC that kept getting declined. They put me through to their security dept (its a US Airways, Bank of America visa card) They said that since I seemed to be spending a bit on a card thats rarely used they put a freeze on it (which they lifted once I verified my information). But still this does make me a bit angry. If Disney has a problem with one of my CCs I should be notified especially when concierge knew I was staying an additional 2 nights.

Other than this our trip was fantasic.

Shirley

 

[Kmygrl73]

Thanks for everyone's replies, especially Tyler!!!
My friend had a problem with her American Express also and I guess she must have charged too much and they wouldn't let it go thru. She did use express check-out and thought everything went thru fine. Then a week or so later after being home, she got a bill from WDW for the amount that was charged to her room. She couldn't believe that she was able to check out with her card being declined!! Strange, huh?

Thanks,
Kim

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

Just for what it's worth..........We recently went up to Canada for a short holiday, which AAA helped in planning. They suggested I call my CC company and explain to them where we are going. The reason AAA gave for this was "security " reasons.
When I spoke with my bank and CC, they explained that it is "always" recommended that when you go out of state for any reason, and expect to put substantial charges on the card, call your CC or bank, explain what you are doing, where you are going, and they will note your account. This way when your account gets alerted (fraud, due to unusually high charges and/or different state)) they can see all your info and the account wont be locked out.

 

[will1966]

Sorry to differ with you guys, but the last time we went, we stayed at ASM. Disney put a hold on our debit card for the entire amount of our stay. We didn't find out about it until the next day when we tried to buy capuccino and our card got declined. I called my bank and they told me there was a $700 hold. Luckily, the hold came off the next business day and all was fine the rest of the trip.

 

[ziggystardust]

I haven't had an issue with using credit cards at Disney, but when I was working retail I would see it all the time. I worked at a computer store where the average purchases were upwards of $1000 usually much more than that. People's cards were constantly declined b.c of a daily limit imposed by their c.c. company for security reasons. So always check with your CC company before embarking on an expensive vacation! They can raise that daily limit for you with enough notice.

 

[my3kids]

I though the benefit to AMEX was there was no credit or spending limit?

 

[brentalex]

The regular green AMEX card has no set spending limit and you must pay the full bill off each month. It is not really a credit card. But the sky miles cards and other types of amex cards are credit cards, with limits and all the other rules that other credit cards have. I have usually found that they are one of the worst companies to deal with, they are always right and the customer is always wrong.

Also, Will1966, I believe that debit cards work differently than credit cards. A debit card will have the amount deducted from the account right away. It is just like a check, as soon as it gets to the bank the money is taken from the account. The $1 charge for credit cards is really to insure that the card is good, and it often is not really even charged to the account. It is held in a special temporary hold area until the real charge comes in.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by will1966
Sorry to differ with you guys, but the last time we went, we stayed at ASM. Disney put a hold on our debit card for the entire amount of our stay.

You will be charged for your room and tax up front at check-in.

 

[princess angel]

chip n' dale express is correct... you pay in full for your room at check-in. what is charged at the end of your stay is whatever you charged to your room with your room key.

Disney's charges this in the middle of the night prior to check-out,
there are some hotels out there in the world that do not charge your card until after you leave...
I just had this happen.. I signed the express check-out card and walked out the door of the hotle, my card was charged after I left the hotel and got on a plane home....
they have your information and require I.D at check-in, so... the hotles arent really worried, they'll find you, and for the most part, folks arent looking to get a free -bee.