Adding onboard credit with a gift card

[Mommb]

I believe you have to charge everything to your room, no cash/cards can be used on the ship

Yes, almost everything purchased on the ship (and on Castaway Cay) is charged to the room. The only possible exception is the gift shops onboard, which may accept Disney gift cards (but may not if their machines are not working). Also, cruises booked onboard can be charged to your credit card on file.

 

[FSU Girl]

There are 2 exceptions...

1 - Gift cards CAN be used in the gift shops on board. Makes it easy if parents/guardians want to not give kids open charging on the KTTW card but let them spend their own money.

2 - For onboard bookings you would use a credit card or gift card for the deposit. I do not know if they accept cash for onboard booking deposits.

(You can also give them cash at Guest Services to load money onto/pay down your account.)

Yes, almost everything purchased on the ship (and on Castaway Cay) is charged to the room. The only possible exception is the gift shops onboard, which may accept Disney gift cards (but may not if their machines are not working). Also, cruises booked onboard can be charged to your credit card on file.

Thanks I didn't know that

 

[Ariel-Rocks]

I have to go to the desk to get it applied, they won't do it automatically?

I also may have changed your last comment

No you don't have to go back to the desk to get the refund. They will refund your gift card back with whatever is left over after the cruise is over.

Edited to add. If you have it as cash only you have to go to GS but if you add a CC along with the GC you do not need to go to GS.

 

[Dug720]

No you don't have to go back to the desk to get the refund. They will refund your gift card back with whatever is left over after the cruise is over.

I believe you DO have to go and close out your account if you have not put a credit card on it but had it set up as "cash".

 

[FSU Girl]

I believe you DO have to go and close out your account if you have not put a credit card on it but had it set up as "cash".

If I'm putting enough on board credit with the gift card should I do it as cash? Or just have a card there just in case?

 

[Ariel-Rocks]

I believe you DO have to go and close out your account if you have not put a credit card on it but had it set up as "cash".

I had gift cards on my account but I did also put a CC on it. I only used the GC, had money left over and I never went to GS on the last night. Received the statement in my cabin with all my charges and the GC was credited a few days later.

 

[Dug720]

If I'm putting enough on board credit with the gift card should I do it as cash? Or just have a card there just in case?

It is up to you. I tend to leave it as cash because you can always settle any difference with a credit card if necessary. It helps keep me from overspending to leave it as cash.

I had gift cards on my account but I did also put a CC on it. I only used the GC, had money left over and I never went to GS on the last night. Received the statement in my cabin with all my charges and the GC was credited a few days later.

Yes. If you put a credit card on you do not have to close out your account.

If you leave it as cash you do.

 

[Ariel-Rocks]

It is up to you. I tend to leave it as cash because you can always settle any difference with a credit card if necessary. It helps keep me from overspending to leave it as cash.



Yes. If you put a credit card on you do not have to close out your account.

If you leave it as cash you do.

Thanks DUG720 I went back and edited my post to state you need to add a CC if you don't want to go to GS at the end of the cruise.

 

[Ray4Fun]

Ok, new here, I go to Sam's or Costco. Buy Discounted Disney Cards. Phone Disney and give them the card numbers to cover on board expenses? I know what we booked and can do the math, ,,, Save 6% or so,, well Yea if that is the case... Please advise if my simple thought is close,,,

 

[Dug720]

Ok, new here, I go to Sam's or Costco. Buy Discounted Disney Cards. Phone Disney and give them the card numbers to cover on board expenses? I know what we booked and can do the math, ,,, Save 6% or so,, well Yea if that is the case... Please advise if my simple thought is close,,,

Just add in the step of going to disneygiftcard.com to condense those into one card (two if you have over either $1000 or $1500). It will make it a LOT easier when you call Gifts and Amenities to buy onboard credit (that phone CM will love you for only having 1 or 2 rather than a zillion), AND you only have to hold onto that card (those couple of cards) in case of any monies leftover. If you have it on a zillion, you'll need to hold onto a zillion and then figure out which card(s) the refund went on.

 

[belac]

Thanks for that link Dug720. Signed up today. It will make things so much more simple. Going tomorrow to get my Cards from BJs.

 

[SpaCelebration]

New here & first time poster. We used a disney gift card on the Dream in 2015. If i remember correctly, i took it with me and added it to my account at check-in at Port Canaveral. The unused balance went back on the gift card. I only had one card, though (not multiples as mentioned in the posts). Only thing is I needed a separate form of payment for the onboard future cruise booking deposit. I couldn't use the funds from the same gift card to "charge the deposit to my room"--- if that makes sense.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Where does everyone find the best deal on the GCs? We are not Sam's clubs members and it wouldn't make sense to join (plus there are none arund us). I saw $50 ones were the best buy from BJs (.953 : 1) and I could use my Disney visa to earn an additional 2%. Then I saw Target had ones a little more expensive (.9598 :1) but I could use my Red Card for 5% off. Costco didn't have them on line, are they in the stores? I'd have to get my mom to buy them for us if so. TIA!!

 

[Oregongram]

Following excellent advise from Disboards post I bought Qty 12, $50 ($600) in Disney Gift Cards from BJ online. Did not need an account. There are no BJ stores in Oregon. Cards arrived within 4 business days. I saved 4% plus earned cash back from credit card.

My plan is to accrue $4,000 in gift cards to pay for my 2018 cruise. Will use disneygiftcard.com to consolidate.

First time cruiser and used a random TA I found doing Internet search. Unfortunately, didn't know about Dreams Unlimited or OBC when I booked.
Would like to pay Disney directly rather than through TA. Only contact we have had was original quote and payment of deposit. I did not get warm, fuzzy feeling about the interactions. She did nothing wrong but also didn't offer any additional advice or information. I honestly felt like I was bothering her and found myself apologizing. I'm older and hate to offend plus I struggle with phone conversations. Email is easier for me. I've made my own flight reservations and motel and don't want to "bother" the TA again.
There is no online option to make a payment under my reservation. When I select "make a payment" it only shows reservation information.

Just sent an email request to Disney about how to use gift cards to pay for cruise.
Edit: There are no BJ or Sams Club in Oregon. I've never seen Disney Gift Cards at Costco.