Any way to use Disney gift cards with DVC?

[DisneyMandC]

I'm in the (very) early stages of looking at renting DVC points for a 6 person family vacation down the road as many have indicated this would be the cheapest way to go. From everything I've read trying to navigate through the DVC forum, it looks like the DVC owner would book the room for me, and then if I want a dining plan they would also book that. Is there any way to use Disney gift cards in this? I have been accumulating through all the tips on here, but it doesn't seem like you could pay for the points with them at all, or that you'd have to turn your gift cards over to the owner to purchase the dining plan for you. Is that right?

I know I can of course use the gift cards for gratuity, souvenirs, room charges, etc. But didn't know if I was missing something on using it to book or if anyone has tried this.

Thanks!

 

[ellie05]

No you will have to pay the owner directly I don't think any owner will be willing to take Disney gc as payment.

Yes you are right if you want to book the dinning plan. I am not sure if an owner will comfortable with that.

 

[DisneyMandC]

That's what I thought, thanks. I don't blame them, I wouldn't either. Just didn't know if there was anyway to work around it and buy the dining plan myself. I guess I could just purchase my own tickets online and pay for them with the gift cards though, right?

 

[ellie05]

That's what I thought, thanks. I don't blame them, I wouldn't either. Just didn't know if there was anyway to work around it and buy the dining plan myself. I guess I could just purchase my own tickets online and pay for them with the gift cards though, right?

You can purchase your own tickets and buy them with gc if you are buying directly from Disney. Although you can use undercover tourist or park savers for extra savings.

Have you added up food and made sure the dinning plan is actually saving you money? Because if you are going to break even just charge food+ tips to the room and pay it with gc.

 

[DisneyMandC]

You can purchase your own tickets and buy them with gc if you are buying directly from Disney. Although you can use undercover tourist or park savers for extra savings.

Have you added up food and made sure the dinning plan is actually saving you money? Because if you are going to break even just charge food+ tips to the room and pay it with gc.

Yes, we're all foodies so we really enjoy going to the signature restaurants. DH and I definitely got our money's worth with it during our last trip. Thanks for checking though! I know many people are not fans, but it works for us and we enjoy the convenience of it.

 

[CMNJ]

Yes, we're all foodies so we really enjoy going to the signature restaurants. DH and I definitely got our money's worth with it during our last trip. Thanks for checking though! I know many people are not fans, but it works for us and we enjoy the convenience of it.

The dining plan can be purchased using gift cards or a DVA but the owner would have to do it so you would have to trust them and give them the info to book that for you. They will have to call member services since it cannot be booked online unless you use a credit card.

 

[Marionnette]

The dining plan can be purchased using gift cards or a DVA but the owner would have to do it so you would have to trust them and give them the info to book that for you. They will have to call member services since it cannot be booked online unless you use a credit card.

This might be a possibility if you are dealing directly with the owner. But it would be entirely up to the owner as to whether they would feel comfortable doing this. If you are dealing with one of the rental agencies that pair owners with renters, then it's not going to work. Those agencies act as middlemen to the process and they don't accept Disney GCs. Speaking as an owner, I might or might not consider accepting the Disney GCs to pay for the dining plan (but not for the rental). A lot would depend on how easy the renter is to deal with. Remember, that as an owner, I control the reservation and that includes the dining plan. I could cancel your reservation and ask for a refund of the dining plan money to a new GC if I were not an honest person. The greater risk is on the renter, not the owner. But, there's no way that I would ever accept their DVA information...not because I dislike the DVA, but because it is like giving someone your debit card and PIN. It's just too great of a liability.

 

[DisneyMandC]

This might be a possibility if you are dealing directly with the owner. But it would be entirely up to the owner as to whether they would feel comfortable doing this. If you are dealing with one of the rental agencies that pair owners with renters, then it's not going to work. Those agencies act as middlemen to the process and they don't accept Disney GCs. Speaking as an owner, I might or might not consider accepting the Disney GCs to pay for the dining plan (but not for the rental). A lot would depend on how easy the renter is to deal with. Remember, that as an owner, I control the reservation and that includes the dining plan. I could cancel your reservation and ask for a refund of the dining plan money to a new GC if I were not an honest person. The greater risk is on the renter, not the owner. But, there's no way that I would ever accept their DVA information...not because I dislike the DVA, but because it is like giving someone your debit card and PIN. It's just too great of a liability.

Yeah, I can completely understand that. I would be wary of it myself. I guess I just don't completely understand how the whole booking process works yet. I wasn't sure if there was some way for me to purchase my disney dining plan. I assume that once it's all purchased I then get access to make reservations through MDE though right?

 

[Marionnette]

Yeah, I can completely understand that. I would be wary of it myself. I guess I just don't completely understand how the whole booking process works yet. I wasn't sure if there was some way for me to purchase my disney dining plan. I assume that once it's all purchased I then get access to make reservations through MDE though right?

Once you've gotten your reservation number from the owner (or middleman), then you can add it to MDE. However, only the owner can add a dining plan to the reservation and it must be paid for, in full, at the time that the plan is added. There is no way, at this time, to purchase just a dining plan on your own. You will have the 180+ 10 advantage of booking ADRs that any onsite guest has. You can also book your FP+ at 60 days as long as you have valid admission media attached in MDE. And you can add Magic Express if you need it. But the owner retains all control of the reservation. If you need to make changes (like adding a person or changing a name on the list of guests), it has to be done through the owner.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Once you've gotten your reservation number from the owner (or middleman), then you can add it to MDE. However, only the owner can add a dining plan to the reservation and it must be paid for, in full, at the time that the plan is added. There is no way, at this time, to purchase just a dining plan on your own. You will have the 180+ 10 advantage of booking ADRs that any onsite guest has. You can also book your FP+ at 60 days as long as you have valid admission media attached in MDE. And you can add Magic Express if you need it. But the owner retains all control of the reservation. If you need to make changes (like adding a person or changing a name on the list of guests), it has to be done through the owner.

Thanks for the info! Feels so strange to know so little about something Disney-related! I'm always the one handling all of the reservations, FPs, etc. Now for the Magic Bands, would those go to the DVC owner, or do they come to me since I would purchase the tickets myself?

 

[Marionnette]

Thanks for the info! Feels so strange to know so little about something Disney-related! I'm always the one handling all of the reservations, FPs, etc. Now for the Magic Bands, would those go to the DVC owner, or do they come to me since I would purchase the tickets myself?

The MBs are linked to your reservation but you would customize the MBs in MDE. You would then need to make sure that the shipping address is correct. As long as you verify the shipping address is yours, they will come to your house.