Best way to carry money at Disney?

[princess~yo]

Also we are going with another couple and staying in the same room to save some money so how do they go about setting up two different accounts on the same room?

I'm wondering that too, surfergrl31, maybe someone will help us out. Three adults in a family suite with two kids...is there a way to set up an account for each guest, or just one per room?

 

[DisneyFan09]

We put all of our spending money on two Disney giftcards, one for me and one for dh to carry. We had no problems using it anywhere and it certainly helped us keep our spending in check.

 

[englishrose47]

If you're staying onsite, I recommend carrying cash and then having them put it on your hotel room key...that way everything is on there -- tix, money, dining credits (if applicable), etc.

How do you have cash put on your card and what happens if there's some left over??

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I'm wondering that too, surfergrl31, maybe someone will help us out. Three adults in a family suite with two kids...is there a way to set up an account for each guest, or just one per room?

It's one Carge for per room or ressie.

You can decide who has charging privilages but it's still just one per room.

 

[Gabe's Mom]

Besides the KTTW card, we like to buy a gift card at the resort gift shop. Put as much cash on it as you are willing to spend, and then "reload" it as needed. You can cash it out at the end of oyur stay if their is anything left. It's bee an easy way for us to be sure to spend cash

 

[englishrose47]

Besides the KTTW card, we like to buy a gift card at the resort gift shop. Put as much cash on it as you are willing to spend, and then "reload" it as needed. You can cash it out at the end of oyur stay if their is anything left. It's bee an easy way for us to be sure to spend cash

You need an easy way to spend cash?? What's your secret mine goes real easy all by itself !! Just kidding !! We will have 2 rooms soeach adult couldhave charging priviledges. So that plus some actual cash each day would work for us. What are the gift cards and how do they work? Curiuos as my TA got me one in a promotion ,now am thinking buy a couple more so the kiddies could use them at CS places while we were in linefor food in another line.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We generally use credit cards/room keys and carry very little cash on us. We have enough to get some snacks in the middle of the day if we want but that is it.

 

[MoeFam]

Thanks all-

We are staying off site at our timeshare. I may look into a gift card- and keep one CC in the safe at the resort, that way if we have an issue we will have one as a back up.

 

[Belle'sFan]

Surfergirl31 - We are the same way with credit cards as you. Cut them up, and don't want anymore!! However, I found out at our last trip that you can't just put down cash to charge against your room key. You need to give them a credit card as well. What we did was give a credit card and then give the cash. The cash was used as we charged to your room key, the credit card was never used. I guess they need the cc for security because there is the potential you could go over your cash limit? Someone here explained it to me once, but I'm no accountant! All I know is there is no charging with the room key without a cc on record at your resort.

 

[Mo-Yo]

If you are using your room key, I would strongly recommend bringing some cash or another credit card as a back-up.

We had problems in two different places in Epcot (The stand outside Biergarten was one.), where the room card system was shut down. Luckily we had some cash. It would have stunk to be in Germany and to have not been able to buy a beer and a pretzel.

Also, I seem to remember that some vendors don't take the room card at all - (The coffee place in Canada or Future World?)

 

[karibritt01]

thinking buy a couple more so the kiddies could use them.

Santa gave one to each of our kids as a stocking stuffer with $20 on it. We will load them with any money they save between now and the trip (allowance and such) and that is their spending money. Makes it easy for us not having to worry about keeping up with their cash, loose change, etc. They both know that when their money is gone, they are done buying. I will say we buy them a few things that we want them to have, such as a T-shirt or ride photo, but their money is spent on toys and stuff.

 

[Elastagirl]

Are you able to use the KTTW card in Disney Downtown?

 

[NancyIL]

I usually stay at the Swan/Dolphin, so can't charge park expenses to my room key. I take $20 or so and several credit cards.

 

[BraveMom3]

I do not want a credit card bill at the end of my trip, so I pay cash up front on my account--$100 per day of our stay. As another poster stated, I think you are still required to have a credit card on file. I make sure we (myself, and 3 children) have $100 cash when we leave the room in the a.m. just in case there is a technical problem with the card and for small vendors that may not take room cards. At $100 per day plus using cash for a few things, we come out pretty close to even. It's always been over just a little, so I did not have to worry about getting money back - I know, for us, $100/day is under-bidding a little!!

 

[TwoOwls]

I'm planning on bringing gc with us and using them around the parks. And then having cash for tips when we go to sit down restaurant.

 

[englishrose47]

Is that a $100 aday with the dining plan ?

 

[Rapunzel]

Say everytime I go to the mall here I put some $ on a Disney Store gift card--can that be used at WDW?

 

[cmwade77]

It sure can be, apparently from what was said earlier it can also be put on the room key from the gift card, which is really cool.

 

[ZoZo]

Am staying at Shades of Green (not an official Disney hotel, even though it's on site). I don't think I can do the "charge to your room" option at SOG. We're not eligible for things like Magical Express, etc. like true Disney resort guests.

Also, we have four unrelated adults in the room, and it would be too confusing to try to charge to the room, even if it was an option for us.

My solution for my upcoming trip? I'm going to get an American Express travelers check card, instead of using paper traveler's checks (which is my usual method of payment when on vacation). That way, I can control my spending, and if it's lost, they'll issue a replacement. As convenient as using a debit card, but less risky (not tied to your checking account like a debit card would be).

 

[whgrn]

OK, so with the Disney gift card, you can
a) reload it if need be someplace at WDW?
b) cash it in at the end of the trip if you don't spend it all?

If that's true, then I am definitely going with the Disney GC!!! I had hoped to be able to use it somewhat, but didn't want to overbuy, since I'd never use it at the Disney Store once we got home. But if I can cash it in at the end? COOL! And if I can reload it, then I can "underestimate" how much we'll need, and then add to it as needed. Altho, to add to it, wouldn't I need either cash or a CC? So then I'd have to carry that anyway...

Help! This is getting confusing!!