Advice on combining/managing Disney Gift Card balances for trip.

[dsnydiva2]

I called WDW to purchase park tickets this morning & was informed that I'd have to combine the balance of several Disney gift cards in order to pay with them due to a limit on the number of payment options. The agent was exceptionally helpful & even walked me through the process online. Now seeing how easy it is, I'm considering combining the gift cards I have saved for our trip to reduce the number of gift cards I have to tote around for park/restaurant purchases. Does anyone have experience with this & what amount do you recommend on each card? I know you can add up to $1000 per card, but am concerned with keeping up with the balance etc.

 

[goatinthegrove]

Not sure about how much you want to keep on each card, but as far as keeping track of the balance, I know every time you use your card to make a purchase your receipt will show your remaining card balance. So that should help in keeping track of what you have left to spend.

 

[Accident]

You also want to keep your cards after they are used up, any refunds by law have to go back on the same card and the money will be lost if you don't have the card anymore.. (the card that was used to purchase, combined cards you just keep the card with the balance)

Do what your comfortable with and guard those cards like they are cash.

 

[tobikaye]

The largest gift card I have purchased for WDW was $1500. I had planned for a large portion of the money to go to the room, but I forgot about that and used a CC to check in online. I could have had it refunded to my card and used the gift card, but I really just wanted to get to my room. I did feel slightly uncomfortable carrying it around with me since it took me 2 WDW trips to get rid of the whole amount.

If I were going back to WDW and using gift cards, I would probably only do about $250-$500 on one, unless I was paying for the room with the card. Then I would only carry one of the fully loaded cards with me at a time.

FYI: When I have had multiple cards, I usually keep a marker with me and write the current amount on that card. That way, I can keep up with the multiple cards.

 

[buzznina]

It all depends on how many cards you want to take with you and how you are going to use them. I saved up $2000 worth of $50 and $100 GCs and combined them onto just 2 GCs($1000 each). We always charge to our rooms, so I would keep the GCs in the room safe and then every 3rd day grab one and pay off the current room balance with it. Also; if carrying them with you, since your receipts will give you the remaining balance, I would just wrap the last receipt around it so I always knew the current balance.
P.S. You had a lazy CM, because they can take multiple GCs for payments, I use to do it all the time before finding out about Disneys GC site.

 

[flvy]

Personally I'd be nervous having my whole budget on one card and would break it up into smaller amounts with $250 being the highest. Just something I wouldn't be completely gutted over losing or would ruin my vacation. I live in a world of paranoia haha.

 

[dsnydiva2]

It all depends on how many cards you want to take with you and how you are going to use them. I saved up $2000 worth of $50 and $100 GCs and combined them onto just 2 GCs($1000 each). We always charge to our rooms, so I would keep the GCs in the room safe and then every 3rd day grab one and pay off the current room balance with it. Also; if carrying them with you, since your receipts will give you the remaining balance, I would just wrap the last receipt around it so I always knew the current balance.
P.S. You had a lazy CM, because they can take multiple GCs for payments, I use to do it all the time before finding out about Disneys GC site.

That's exactly how I've been doing it. I just can't see toting around 20 or more gift cards, or worrying about how much on each one. I like your idea!

It all depends on how many cards you want to take with you and how you are going to use them. I saved up $2000 worth of $50 and $100 GCs and combined them onto just 2 GCs($1000 each). We always charge to our rooms, so I would keep the GCs in the room safe and then every 3rd day grab one and pay off the current room balance with it. Also; if carrying them with you, since your receipts will give you the remaining balance, I would just wrap the last receipt around it so I always knew the current balance.
P.S. You had a lazy CM, because they can take multiple GCs for payments, I use to do it all the time before finding out about Disneys GC site.

 

[dsnydiva2]

The largest gift card I have purchased for WDW was $1500. I had planned for a large portion of the money to go to the room, but I forgot about that and used a CC to check in online. I could have had it refunded to my card and used the gift card, but I really just wanted to get to my room. I did feel slightly uncomfortable carrying it around with me since it took me 2 WDW trips to get rid of the whole amount.
That sounds l Iike a good plan. Our rooms are paid, but I use gift cards for tips at restaurants, souvenirs, any extras. That amount seems manageable.
If I were going back to WDW and using gift cards, I would probably only do about $250-$500 on one, unless I was paying for the room with the card. Then I would only carry one of the fully loaded cards with me at a time.

FYI: When I have had multiple cards, I usually keep a marker with me and write the current amount on that card. That way, I can keep up with the multiple cards.

 

[kidneymomma]

We were given several gift cards for Christmas & I'm trying to decide if I should buy one with them as well. It would seem easier to manage one; but would hate to loose it. If you don't have the gift card for a return can't the store give you cash?

 

[ForeverAlice]

This was on disneygiftcard.com

What is Transfer Balance?
The Transfer Balance page allows you to consolidate your cards. For your convenience, you can transfer card balances from one Disney Gift Card to another. You can transfer any amount up to $1,000, but don't forget that each card can only hold a maximum value of $1,000.



It is such a pain keeping track of each by calling or checking online then writing on them with a sharpie or taping balance receipts to them! I am putting all of ours next trip on two gift cards -one for my husband and one for me. This past May we had hundreds in disney gift cards and I got sick of keeping track and pulling out a stack everytime!!! I actually ended up charging to the magic band towards the end of our stay because I was over it!

 

[kidneymomma]

This was on disneygiftcard.com

What is Transfer Balance?
The Transfer Balance page allows you to consolidate your cards. For your convenience, you can transfer card balances from one Disney Gift Card to another. You can transfer any amount up to $1,000, but don't forget that each card can only hold a maximum value of $1,000.



It is such a pain keeping track of each by calling or checking online then writing on them with a sharpie or taping balance receipts to them! I am putting all of ours next trip on two gift cards -one for my husband and one for me. This past May we had hundreds in disney gift cards and I got sick of keeping track and pulling out a stack everytime!!! I actually ended up charging to the magic band towards the end of our stay because I was over it!

I was thinking of doing two gift cards one for me & one for my husband.

 

[dsnydiva2]

This was on disneygiftcard.com

What is Transfer Balance?
The Transfer Balance page allows you to consolidate your cards. For your convenience, you can transfer card balances from one Disney Gift Card to another. You can transfer any amount up to $1,000, but don't forget that each card can only hold a maximum value of $1,000.



It is such a pain keeping track of each by calling or checking online then writing on them with a sharpie or taping balance receipts to them! I am putting all of ours next trip on two gift cards -one for my husband and one for me. This past May we had hundreds in disney gift cards and I got sick of keeping track and pulling out a stack everytime!!! I actually ended up charging to the magic band towards the end of our stay because I was over it!

That's precisely what I feared. I'm not concerned at all about returning cards because they can always be used on another trip. The only thing that would worry me would be losing one, but I guess it's not much different than keeping up with a credit card.

 

[hsmamato2]

I did this for our last trip to food and wine,and LOVED it! I split our multiple smaller gc's into 3 different cards,one for each of us to use. (I gave my ds 50.00 on his, so no huge amount to misplace) I also kept all physical cards until the trip was over and money was spent. also kept track of what I was spending by checking my online balance,and keeping my receipts. it was great.

 

[dsnydiva2]

What amount did you put on the adult giftcards? I'm debating between $500 & $1,000. We will nothave the dining plan or be able to charge to the room for the 2nd week, so I know there will be either lots of smaller gift cardshop or a couple of larger giftcards for that week.

 

[TinkQueen]

I love these boards!!! I had no idea I could combine the cards! Just did this! So easy! Now I won't have a ton of gift cards to deal with (Christmas and Birthday gifts!). You guys rock!!!

 

[gorjus121]

Where can you easily purchase Disney Giftcards? I need to check if our local CVS sells them.

 

[surebuttercringe]

Where can you easily purchase Disney Giftcards? I need to check if our local CVS sells them.

I usually buy all of ours at Target.

 

[TinkQueen]

You can get Disney Giftcards at Walmart, Target, Sam's, Safeway, etc. probably anyplace that sells gift cards!

 

[MyopicRaiderfan]

We have two $500 Disney giftcards, each registered at disneygiftcard.com. My wife and I will each carry one, plus have a zero balance card in the safe. If we lose one we can log in and transfer the balance to the empty card in the safe. This makes it safer than cash, but not as safe as credit cards.

We bought our cards with our Chase Freedom card(5X points at gas stations this quarter) at Kwikshop(Kroger Gas Station offering 4X fuel points) for an effective 19% discount.

 

[emkat2012]

Fantastic ideas, I would have never thought to combine the gift cards, but yet still having 2 so you can transfer should one get lost. Working on this now!