Are debits cards ok in park?

[Dreammickey]

Can I just use my debit card to pay for food, snacks, and souvenirs in the parks?


9 Days Till Disney World!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Cash, Traveler's Cheques, Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Disney Dollars, Disney Resort ID Cards, Disney Gift Cards (but not Disney Store), other Gift Cards with an American Express or Visa or Mastercard logo, foreign currency (must convert to dollars at Guest Relations) are all accepted.

 

[PrincessDaisyDuck]

You can, but from what I understand if your credit card is stolen you have better options than if your debit card is stolen - as far as what you would be responsible for in charges not made by you. You might want to look into it, I'm not really clear on the details, but that's why my DH always has us bring our credit cards

 

[matt and beth]

They would take it, but I would NEVER use my debit card for purchases. The use of a debit is generally unguaranteed when fraud is involved. Credit cards at least offer support for their card holders and generally refund stolen numbers and unauthorized charges. There have been many people on the Disboards announce that their numbers have been stolen at Disney. Someone could clear your bank accountant you would never see that money ever again. I received a letter from Disney after one of our vacations that informed us that a scanner was placed on one of the lobby counters when we were visiting and credit card numbers were stolen. Thus,they were informing us that our card was compromised at the resort while we were checking in. Scary stuff. Protect your card!

 

[OrangeJax]

You can always put your debit card through as credit if it's a credit card-brand debit card. (For example, my bank uses MasterCard Debit cards.) Usually you swipe your card and press the "credit" button on the machine, or hit "cancel" and then you sign the receipt like a credit card.

Also, if you decide to use your debit card, please let your bank know that you are travelling, and also check the limit of what you can spend per day. Many debit cards have a per-day limit. Let them know that you are travelling because many banks will block spending done in an area outside of your "usual" spending area. You don't want your card to be "locked up" during off hours or on weekends when you bank might be closed.

 

[ZoZo]

As others have stated, you can use your debit card at WDW, but I think it's better to use a credit card when traveling. Much less liability if lost or stolen.

ETA: Something to be aware of is that many hotels will place a "hold" the entire amount of your stay on a debit card, right from the beginning of your trip. They're even allowed to hold an amount that they "estimate" your charges to be -- which can often be higher than the amount you'll ultimately be paying when you check out. Lots of folks are not aware of this, and it could cause you to overdraw your account because that money is behing held from the day you check in. If they're "holding" $2,000 or $2,500 on your checking account at the resort from the moment you check in, you could be in big trouble.

I was at a Doubletree hotel a couple of weeks ago, and they even had a sign posted at their front desk that if you use your debit card to pay, you should be aware of what might happen if they put a "hold" on your account -- and that sometimes it takes several days after you check out for that hold to be released! This even happens at gas stations - you might only be buying $40 worth of gas, but they might "hold" $100 or more until the debit clears a couple of days later. I work for a credit union, and our members have told us that some merchants (especially gas stations) do this on a regular basis - the customers find they've overdrawn their accounts without even knowing it!

Don't know WDW's practice on this, but it's definitely something to be aware of. Just remember, debit cards work very differently from credit cards!

 

[henrylarry6]

I agree with the other posters. Credit card is more convenient than debit card as it owns less liability if lost or stolen.

 

[Belle1962]

I prefer my credit card but sometimes use my debit card: (I once left all of credit cards at home--I don't carry them so they were kept nice and safe in my safe at home--LOL.

If you must use a debit card: keep your balance low and do transfers from your savings account over the course of your vacation (my credit union lets us do that by either a phone call or online).

After your trip--just to be double sure--call your bank and tell them you have lost your card. They will turn off the card you used on vaca and issue another one with a different number. You may have to wait a few weeks but if you are afraid your card was/may be compromised that is one way to try to protect it.

 

[sunkissed4]

I always use my debit card, but now I'm curious... I've never had to put in my pin number, always signed the receipt like using a credit card so does that mean it's being used as credit instead? So then fraud shouldn't be too much of an issue?

 

[Lauralooneyfordisney]

Even though they run it as credit, it is still a debit card which runs under debit card rules. The money is taken out of your bank account and with lots of banks you could still be liable for $500 of purchases not made by you.

to OP: There is no way I would run the risk of using my debit card in parks or anywhere that there is a high probability of losing it. You WILL be cleaned out of whatever you have in your account. Keep it on file with your resort as your card on file if you want and then use your KTTW card to make all purchases would be my strong advice. It is sad nowadays but you can't trust everyone you hand your card to.

 

[nyc2theworld]

Actually you need to look at what your specific bank's policies are in terms of liability. For example, Bank of America has zero liability as long as you report the charges w/in a certain time frame and will credit the lost money back within 1 business day.

I've also set up daily text alerts from my bank (which is BofA) to tell me what my balance is each morning and a special text when my balance goes below a certain amount. As long as you are proactive about protecting your money and watching your balance...you can use any card in WDW and be relatively safe.

http://www.bankofamerica.com/deposits/checksave/index.cfm?template=checkcards_tsp

 

[earthfaries]

Yes! We use our debit card everywhere ~ even at the snack carts .

 

[arthuruscg]

Just make sure your DC is not your only method for paying/ getting cash. If something happens and you lose the DC or it is canceled (ID theft). You would be SOL.

I also suggest splitting up where you keep your CC, ID, DC, ect.

 

[sowFLoFigment]

All I use!!

 

[Twinados]

To ensure that you are protected when you use your Visa or MasterCard debit card, choose to have your debit card run as "credit" rather than "debit" when making a purchase. Debit cards are just as safe as credit cards when it comes to protecting yourself against unauthorized charges.

That said, I'd still recommend having a backup plan. Though we've sworn off credit cards for good, I will likely still pack one when we go in December.

 

[WizardLarz]

Disney does not opperate like other places that take Debit Cards. You do not type in your pin code at any time or place in Disney. They process the Card as though it was a Credit Card. All you have to do is sign your name at the restuarants and the shops just hand you a receipt no signature needed.

If your are worried, you can link your card to your Room key/ KTTK (Key to the Kingdom). Then put Everything else in the room safe. I carry my KTTK, my Drivers License, and a small amount of Cash. A few snack carts only take cash, and I always tip at the Table Service with Cash.

O.T. When eating Table Service please consider Tipping with Cash. At some places the Tips places on Charge are often heald untill the Charge clears and/or it is put on to the waiters weekly check and the Taxes come out. Giving Cash allows the waiter to put the money right in their pocket at the end of the night.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If your are worried, you can link your card to your Room key/ KTTK (Key to the Kingdom). Then put Everything else in the room safe. I carry my KTTK, my Drivers License, and a small amount of Cash. A few snack carts only take cash, and I always tip at the Table Service with Cash.

Correction:

Keys To The Kingdom (KTTK) is a tour in the Magic Kingdom.

Key To The World (KTTW) is the room key (and may also include charging, admissions and/or dining).

 

[WizardLarz]

Correction:

Keys To The Kingdom (KTTK) is a tour in the Magic Kingdom.

Key To The World (KTTW) is the room key (and may also include charging, admissions and/or dining).

Thank you Cheshire Figment, I don't deal with the abreviations everyday so it get confusing sometimes!

 

[Dismom55]

I am another one who has used debit card for everything for years, hubby and I did not believe having cc was the way to go from day one in our marriage in 1972, so we did not get them. Only in 2007 did we get a card for the car rental and have only used it for that only and paid it off when we got the bill each time upon our return from Disney. We carry Disney Gift Cards, traveler checks, some cash, and the debit card we always use like credit and have never had a problem while at Disney, but do try to keep it all very low key. Have never done any putting it on my KTTW, but that is a possibility I will consider. I only carry in gift cards what I think I will need for the day, I budget each day as I purchase many gift cards and dole them out to myself for the duration of the trip with one larger stash for DTD. I do carry cash for some smaller vendor and smaller purchases.

NO credit cards all these years meant no bills and we liked it that way, quite amazed the mortage lender, but during tough times we were glad not to have those bills.