Advice on where to store gift cards while at the pools, until room is ready?

[SL6827]

One of the things that I am getting the most anxious about with our trip starting this weekend is the security of several gift cards that I will be carrying with us with variable funds on them. Totally I think they will have around $950ish combined total. I have never really done this method, so I am noticing an uneasy feeling about the approach now.

I do not except our rooms at the BCV or AKVs to be ready upon arrival since they are DVC, our room at AoA might be a different story. So I was thinking I might either (1) keep them in a locker there by the pool, if that is safe enough, (2) keep them locked up in our vehicle until our room is ready or (3) can they lock them in a safe at check-in or something, and is that a really safe option? Any advice?

 

[msteddom]

One of the things that I am getting the most anxious about with our trip starting this weekend is the security of several gift cards that I will be carrying with us with variable funds on them. Totally I think they will have around $950ish combined total. I have never really done this method, so I am noticing an uneasy feeling about the approach now.

I do not except our rooms at the BCV or AKVs to be ready upon arrival since they are DVC, our room at AoA might be a different story. So I was thinking I might either (1) keep them in a locker there by the pool, if that is safe enough, (2) keep them locked up in our vehicle until our room is ready or (3) can they lock them in a safe at check-in or something, and is that a really safe option? Any advice?

Can you just add them to your account when you check in, even if you room isn’t ready? Then you could just charge things to your room, and not have to worry about the physical cards.

Melissa

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would probably lock them in your car or, are you checking any bags with Bell Services when you arrive? If so, I would just stow the cards in one of your bags and have Bell Services hold onto them.

 

[SL6827]

Can you just add them to your account when you check in, even if you room isn’t ready? Then you could just charge things to your room, and not have to worry about the physical cards.

Melissa

Don't want to do that, I have separate cards for separate funds.

 

[SL6827]

I would probably lock them in your car or, are you checking any bags with Bell Services when you arrive? If so, I would just stow the cards in one of your bags and have Bell Services hold onto them.

May end up just locking them in the glove compartment and locking the car.

 

[jodybird511]

Does anyone in your party have a zipper pocket in their swimsuit? That way, you could just keep them physically on you. I might also recommend registering the cards on the Disney gift card site and taking pics of the numbers, just in case something were to happen--that way, you have the ability to transfer funds between registered cards.

 

[DLgal]

May end up just locking them in the glove compartment and locking the car.

This is probably your best option. You can also get a waterproof phone pouch for the pool and put them in there and hang it around your neck.

 

[Marionnette]

One of the things that I am getting the most anxious about with our trip starting this weekend is the security of several gift cards that I will be carrying with us with variable funds on them. Totally I think they will have around $950ish combined total. I have never really done this method, so I am noticing an uneasy feeling about the approach now.

I do not except our rooms at the BCV or AKVs to be ready upon arrival since they are DVC, our room at AoA might be a different story. So I was thinking I might either (1) keep them in a locker there by the pool, if that is safe enough, (2) keep them locked up in our vehicle until our room is ready or (3) can they lock them in a safe at check-in or something, and is that a really safe option? Any advice?

Take an empty GC with you. Enter the info for the rest in a disneygiftcard.com account and leave them at home. Or if you have more than 4 GCs, take a picture of the back with your phone. When you're ready to use the physical GC you have with you, use the website to transfer the funds from one of those GCs to the physical GC with a $0 balance. Voila! No locking them in the glove compartment or hiding them someplace.

 

[TavieP]

My mom used to have this watertight container you hang around your neck, I don't know if they still sell them (it's mine now):

Me (and Mom's ancient Disneyland credit card holding swim thing) sunning poolside by Tavie, on Flickr

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

I would just keep them wherever I am keeping the rest of my important stuff (wallet stuff).

 

[gillep]

I would just keep them wherever I am keeping the rest of my important stuff (wallet stuff).

Agreed, I would keep them wherever I am keeping my DL and credit cards.

 

[SL6827]

Think I am gonna just do the glove compartment in our car thing. A little extra walking to go back to the car after our room is ready, but I think we will just leave everything in the car until our rooms are ready on each day, except for our pool bags with what we need for a day at that pools. Other than our pool bag, I am only packing like 3 other bags/suitcases. I have a feeling we might possibly be able to get our room at AoA when we check in since I will just ask for any available Cars suite, the DVC units I know the odds are slim.

 

[robinb]

The front desk might have a safe for you to leave stuff. We used the safe at the Dolphin's front desk last year when we moved from the Dolphin to AKV without a car. We didn't want to carry our $1000+ gift cards with us into the parks and we didn't want to leave them in our luggage during transport.

 

[SL6827]

The front desk might have a safe for you to leave stuff. We used the safe at the Dolphin's front desk last year when we moved from the Dolphin to AKV without a car. We didn't want to carry our $1000+ gift cards with us into the parks and we didn't want to leave them in our luggage during transport.

I think that I have read that they do. May be tempted to go that route as well if we use Bell Services to bring what few bags we have to our room.

 

[DSLRuser]

just put them in your shoe....nobody will look there

but seriously.....we leave our valuables in a bag....but I then tie the bag to a chair......most thieves try to grab an unattended bag while walking buy and go......but if the grab a bag and go, and the chair comes with them.....it will make a huge noise...cause a scene...and they will just drop the bag and leave.

 

[robinb]

just put them in your shoe....nobody will look there

but seriously.....we leave our valuables in a bag....but I then tie the bag to a chair......most thieves try to grab an unattended bag while walking buy and go......but if the grab a bag and go, and the chair comes with them.....it will make a huge noise...cause a scene...and they will just drop the bag and leave.

I would never leave $950 in cash in a bag at a pool!

 

[DSLRuser]

I would never leave $950 in cash in a bag at a pool!

I would never leave a bag so unattended that I worry about it. me, wife, kids...someone has eyes on our stuff at all times.

 

[robinb]

I would never leave a bag so unattended that I worry about it. me, wife, kids...someone has eyes on our stuff at all times.

To each their own, I guess. I go to the pool to enjoy time with my family and not have to worry about leaving someone out of the fun to guard our stuff.

 

[SL6827]

I would never leave $950 in cash in a bag at a pool!

Right, the first resort pool is SAB, and that pool is huge!

 

[BreezysMom]

We always fly in early and either head to the park or pool. I just store our valuables in the resort safe deposit box at the front desk. That would be safest probably. Happy Travels