An interesting conversation with a Disney Store CM tonight.....

[Tina]

I was in a Northern Virginia Disney Store tonight (Dulles Town Center) and, while I haven't received my GC yet from My Points, I asked the CM on the floor about buying Disney Dollars with my webbie. She had never heard of such a thing. She said that Disney is very strict about charge cards and they are "absolutely forbidden from running numbers manually without a physical card." She also added that anyone who did such a thing would be fired "on the spot." And on top of that she said that if she "saw anyone do that, she would turn them in to be fired." I don't want to get anyone fired, I just want my Disney Dollars. I have a $100 GC on the way and I'm about to cash out for $25 more this week. I guess I'll just have to pay the extra a for a physical card.

 

[nicurn]

Hi Tina, definently get the plastic card, I've never had a problem using it at the disney store. (or for that matter anywhere else that takes mastercard) maggie

 

[Dad of 5]

Unless you're completely strapped for time, why not just run it through Disneystore.com?

There's no tax or shipping on gift cards. And with those gift cards, they can be used for DD$ - unlike the promo cards (with purchase) that can only be used for in-store merchandise.

The only catch could possibly be with the "test transaction" that disneystore.com may do with webcertificate.com - it's a $1 charge that the two sites do, kinda like handshaking, to establish that it's an authentic, chargeable account- as well as the temporary charge for estimated shipping (which later gets removed). I had a problem with that (had a $25 webbie, trying to buy a $25 gift card - said there was insufficient credit to purchase). Straightened it out with a call to Webcertificate's customer service, who helped me through the transaction by temporarily giving me an extra $3.50, then backing it out after the transaction was complete.

 

[Tina]

Excellent idea, Scott. Thanks. I'm in no rush at all. I'm collecting Disney funds for a trip in 2003.

 

[mad4themouse]

A word of warning:
You may want to check with your B&M Disney Store before buying those giftcards online. Not all Disney Stores will allow you to buy $DD with the giftcards and the giftcards cannot be used anywhere but at Disney Stores.

In otherwords, if you are looking to save $DD to pay for room, restaurant bills or souvenirs in the theme parks, think twice before getting the giftcards. They cannot be used for that purpose and if your cannot buy $DD at your local Disney Store, you will be stuck with giftcards that may be of little use to you.

 

[Tina]

Thanks for the heads-up. My main intention is to buy park passes, but you never know.... I will check with my local Disney Store.

 

[LtlTee]

Hi guys,
I haven't posted here much at all lately but still check the boards from time to time.
I am a part-time Disney Store CM. In my store, gift cards cannot be used to purchase Disney $ or passes. I know that there are stores that will allow one or the other, but I think that may be because this request doesn't happen very often and maybe some CMs don't know of this rule. But, in fact, this was told to us (again) today from our DM.

About having a card # (webbie #) and no card, the CM was correct. We are not supposed to run through a number without a card. We need to see a signed card for a transaction. Again, I can only speak for my store -- others may vary.
Hope this helps!

 

[gravymom]

Can you buy Disney Dollars online? Could you use the webbie that way? If you have to break down and pay for the plastic card, can it be recharged if you earn enough for another webbie or do you have to pay again for a physical card?

Thanks

Amy

 

[Mish19]

I posted about this before with my webcertificate.com/disneystore.com problem I had. When I finally got the extra money from webcertificate.com and it STILL did not work I called customer service and I was told I could not buy a disney gift card with my webcertificate. The CM claimed my webcertificate was a gift card and I told her it is technically a mastercard. She wouldn't have it and would not let me get a gift card. She claimed I could only buy merchandise (eventhough it is a MMASTER CARD!!) Well they missed out, I went elsewhere to use my webcertificate.

 

[Tina]

Wow. What a mess. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like the only foolproof way to buy passes with My Points GCs is to get the physical Mastercard and take it into the store. Is this correct?

Amy, I know you can't buy Disney Dollars online, but I'd like to know the answer to your other question. Can we recharge and reuse the physical card?

 

[inky dinky doo]

Tina,

I'm not Amy, but I can answer your question about the physical card. Yes, you just buy the card one time. After that, any additional web certificates you earn are put on that card and you're good to go.

I've had a card for quite awhile, now, and it's worked out just fine. You can use it wherever you would use a "normal" Mastercard.

Pat

 

[Tina]

Thanks Pat. That's exactly what I wanted to hear!!

 

[Dznypal]

so you don't have to buy the plastic card is if you're staying at a Disney hotel call and use what you have in webcertificate on your hotel bill. That way you only read it over the phone to the CM who puts the amount on your room bill and you save the $6.95 plastic card fee. Ive never done this Ive always printed the page and got $dd but its just an idea

hope this helps!!!

 

[Gillian]

Why can't you buy disney dollars with a gift card? I was able to do that at my store. The only restriction was that I could not return them for cash. I had to have the receipt to return them & they would give me the money back the same way I paid.

I don't understand why they would limit that on a regular gift card. I can see the promotional ones, but why just a regular card that someone paid money for?

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by Mish19
I posted about this before with my webcertificate.com/disneystore.com problem I had. When I finally got the extra money from webcertificate.com and it STILL did not work I called customer service and I was told I could not buy a disney gift card with my webcertificate. The CM claimed my webcertificate was a gift card and I told her it is technically a mastercard. She wouldn't have it and would not let me get a gift card. She claimed I could only buy merchandise (eventhough it is a MMASTER CARD!!) Well they missed out, I went elsewhere to use my webcertificate.

Which store did you go to?

I had a hard time returning DDs to the 5th Avenue store. I had the receipts but they said they could not give me a refund. I also couldn't return them to the store near Lincoln Center. They said it was because I didn't buy them there. I end up taking them to the Harlem store. It took awhile, but the CM was able to all the refunds. She even did refunds for the ones I got at the 5th Avenue store.

 

[Maleficent2]

We need to see a signed card for a transaction

not wanting to start an something here but if a CM at the DisneyStore told me to sign my Credit Cards I would walk out of the store and call corporate and raise you know what.None of my Credit cards are signed because I want CM's (clerks)to ask for my id. It helps if your cards are lost or stolen.But I have to admit I hardly ever get asked.Not signing my cards is my choice and I will not be told by the DisneyStore that they must be signed befor I use them in their store.The DisneyStores rules are getting out of hand.

but back to the webbie.I have the plastic card and have never had a problem using it at the DisneyStore online or off (oh and it is not signed)to buy DD or merchandise.

As far as DD's go I never knew you had to have a receipt for those either.They only time I have used my webbie to purchase them I used them all at WDW.I have returned DD though and did not have to have a receipt.If one is required they should tell you that at the time of purchase.I can not remember them doing that either.

Tina if you do purchase the webbiecard there should be no need to purchase DD you should be able to use it anywhere at WDW like a MC.I have.


Mal

Mal

 

[Mish19]

I still dont see why the CM would not except my webbie as a credit card. It was an online purchase so it's not like I could physically produce the plastic card.

 

[LtlTee]

Mal,
I should have clarified that further -- many guests coming into the store do not have their cards signed and have written on the back "Ask for ID". The CM has to see *either* a signed credit card or the unsigned credit card and another form of ID with a name on it (such as a driver's license) with a signature. This really protects the guest -- no one should be able to come into the store with a stolen # and no card and be able to charge on that account. The policy is not that the card be signed, but if it is not the guest has to produce another form of ID with a name and signature or the transaction won't go thru. I think DS is one of the few stores that really check signatures; (at least in my store this is really stressed) many times I have been given back my credit card before I have signed the receipt. It's not foolproof but it helps.

 

[Kristi1357]

Ok, I also don't want to start something here, but I have to put in my two cents about signing / not signing your credit card.

If I am not mistaken (and every credit card I have ever had /seen says this), the back of your credit card says something to the effect of not valid without signature. Now, if you do not want to sign your card for whatever reason, fine. But, please do not leave that signature space blank! Write "see I.D." or something similar in that place. The reason for this is that if someone steals your card, they can sign your name, they way THEY would sign your name. The when they go to use your card, it would not be questioned since the signatures match. If you write something such as See I.D., they cannot simply sign your name in their handwriting in that space. I hope that makes sense. So, when a CM or any "clerk" questions this, they are simply trying to protect you - not cause problems for some unknown reason. These are not Disney Store rules, they are basic credit card rules that Disney CMs tend to enforce better than most stores.

I have seen people steal and use someone else's credit card in this manner and would hate to see it happen to someone else.

 

[sharbear]

I hate to join this bandwagon but I agree that The Disney Stores are very vigilant in checking ID's. You would not believe what people try to get away with, they claim that the credit card is their Dad's and they are buying stuff for him. (insert boyfriend, DH with different name etc.) I know that I have read this somewhere but I can't remember where. If you want the clerk to check your ID you should sign your credit card and then write in red on top of the signature See ID. That way the Credit Card is signed and they have to check your ID. Writing see ID is not valid, you have to sign your credit card for it to be legal. (I may have heard this from my BIL, he is a bank official).