Best Way To Load Park Pass/Room Key With $

[tiki23]

We have a set amount set aside for spending, and I don't want to use a credit card.

Can I use a debit card? If not, is the only alternative cash?

Also, can I load each pass with different amounts? The kids have differing amounts saved up.

How do you use the card? Do you have to sign or do they ask your name? I'm just wondering what will happen if one of us loses a card - it would be awful if someone could just pick it up and run off to spend our money!

Oh, one last question: does anyone know what bank systems/ATM's are available? We want to make sure our debit card is accepted.

Thanks for your help!

 

[ssleblanc]

I don't have all of your answers, but was just about to post a question somewhat related.

In an effort to search for an answer to my question, I found the ATM info. The ATM is a Bank One, and it lists Plus, Cirrus, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover/Novus. There was also a list of locations listed here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/tips_for_touring/atm_locations.htm

 

[madalex]

You can't use a debit card in order to be able to charge to your room key. It has to be a credit card. You also can't put different amounts on different cards, as the charges are all tied to the same reservation.

You can, however, get what amount to "gift cards" (e.g., pay in advance and then have that amount of money to spend) that then work just like charge cards. You can get one for each of your kids to reflect the amount of money that each has saved. Of course, this means carrying extra cards around, but given what you are trying to do, that may not be able to be helped.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

The ATM's are Chase.

To my knowledge it is just a straight credit card can be put on the key. It is not like a cruiseship where cash or a debitcard can be put on the account. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Even if they did allow you to use a debitcard I would not recomend doing so. When a debitcard is used as a deposit a freeze is put on a block of money in your checking account, so even if you don't spend that much, your money is still tied up and it can take days to untie it. Depending on how much the hold is, and how much you have in the account, you could get in trouble.

I recommend cash, gift Visa, or travelers checks if you don't have a credit card.

 

[goofie4goofy]

You cannot load the card. There are different spending limits depending on what type of resort you are staying at Value=500 Mod=1000 dlx=1500 The charges are tallied by room, not per person. It is room charge, not a person charge. If you reach your particular limit, the credit card you have on file will be charged that amount and you will start again at 0.

I don't know about debit cards, but if it is a master/visa debit card it is just like a credit card and is accepted everywhere master/visa is.

There are ATM's in the lobby of each hotel. How much you can extract each day depends on your bank.

 

[goofy4tink]

I think that most debit/cash cards will be able to be used in the ATM's...I've never had an issue.
As far as amounts on the room key cards, no, you can't put specific amounts on each card. Each 'room reservation' will have an amount. If you used a credit card to secure the room charges it would be $500 per room at a value, $1000 at a moderate and $1500 at a deluxe. As that amount gets spent, you can reapply more.
I have used my debit card to secure the room charging. But, my card does have a Visa logo on it, so I'm not sure it makes a difference.
For the kids....Disney now sells gift cards, that can be used just about anyplace, the same as the room key charges. You can put any amount on them and when it's empty, it's empty. That's what I'm doing for my dd in Oct.
And yes, if you lose a room key that has room charging priviledges on it, anyone can pick it up and use it!! When you purchase something with your room key, you have to simply sign for it...no other ID is required.
I have heard of people just putting the cash towards the room charging priviledge though. The thing to keep in mind if you do end up using your debit card, be sure your bank doesn't have a set daily limit on the card. We ran into that one time....had to pay the bill after we got home!! THat was a bit embarrassing. The trip after that, I made sure my dh went to the bank to get the daily limit increased. But, when I went to check out of BC, they wouldn't okay the charged amount!!! My dh had left two days before, so there I was..stuck. I called him at home, he went to the bank. He told me the bank manager was a little chagrined to see that they had changed the daily amount on my dh's card but not mine!!!! They stayed on the line as I again tried to check out....just to be sure it all worked. It did. So...lesson to be learned there..don't make our mistake.

 

[makinorlando]

We have a set amount set aside for spending, and I don't want to use a credit card.

Can I use a debit card? If not, is the only alternative cash?

Also, can I load each pass with different amounts? The kids have differing amounts saved up.

How do you use the card? Do you have to sign or do they ask your name? I'm just wondering what will happen if one of us loses a card - it would be awful if someone could just pick it up and run off to spend our money!

Oh, one last question: does anyone know what bank systems/ATM's are available? We want to make sure our debit card is accepted.

Thanks for your help!

You can use a debit card on your room key (yeah I can answer a resort question!)
DD and I stayed for one night in February, and although not a long trip, they did 'attach' my debit card to my room key.

There was a spending limit of $1,500 (they wish I would spend that in one night!!!).

 

[notnothin]

You can't use a debit card in order to be able to charge to your room key. It has to be a credit card.

Actually you can, I've done it numerous times.

 

[goofie4goofy]

Just a note on using the room key to charge. WDW is very strict on this. The back of the key must be signed when you receive it. If you go to use the card without being signed in a store or restaurant they will ask you for picture ID. This has happened to us many times, so now we sign our key immediately. Also CM'sdo check the signatures to make sure it matches. One time I had a hard time getting a 3$ cookie because I signed my signature too sloppy. The CM was about to call the resort, I resigned my name again, while she held the card.

If you lose your room key it is just like losing your credit card, but it is a lot easier for the hotel to handle a lost room key than to have your CC cancelled and replaced.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Can you use cash as a deposit on the card??

 

[Kzajon]

yes. My last trip, I gave them 1,000 dollars cash to put on our room keys to use throughout our trip. That way all shopping, eating etc was just charged to our room. If you dont use it all, you get it back at the end. Very convenient.

 

[Kzajon]

Also, in case this is helpful, they itemize each spending transaction with where, when, how much and on which family members card.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Thanks...

 

[Sleeping Becca]

The idea about the Disney gift cards is a good one for your kids. Just make sure you don't put too much money on it because, the only place you can use the cards is WDW. So if the kids don't spend all of their money " a person can dream " the card has to be saved for next trip or spent while you're there.

The above example of the hassle with the limits of using the debit card is another reason why I wouldn't use one for a room deposit.

 

[klwdisney]

Can you use cash as a deposit on the card??

YES! I don't like to use a credit card either (actually they're usually maxxed out! ) We bring cash and travellers checks with us to WDW and it all over to the front desk at check in. If you don't spend it all by the end of your stay, stop by the front desk and they'll refund you the difference!!

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

The above example of the hassle with the limits of using the debit card is another reason why I wouldn't use one for a room deposit.

Which limits are you refering too? Do you mean bank limits on how much you can withdraw at a time? Because WDW has no limits on debit cards than they don't on credit cards.

WDW is blind to debit/credit, if it's got a MC or Visa logo then they treat it like a credit card. I've used my debit card for room deposits, room payments, room charges, and throughout WDW and never had a question or problem.

That said, I wish they would add debit terminals at WDW like at the grocery store that could tell the difference; I much, much prefer just entering my PIN instead of having to sign every time.

I will echo what someone said above, though, regarding signatures on anything : make sure you have everything signed, and signed WELL, or you will be whipping your ID out a lot at WDW. About half-way through my last trip every time I used my debit card I started to get asked for my ID. I didn't mind, did it with a smile, but by the second or third day of it I politely asked the girl running the cart at Canada why I was getting asked every time when I never had before. She pointed out that the signature had rubbed off my debit card (likely aided by too many trips on Kali and Splash).

So I can attest that they are VERY consistent in checking signatures. I re-signed my card and didn't get asked after that, but I'd say a dozen times in a row I used it over a 2-3 day period I got asked reliably every time. I'm glad they watch out for this - it's all too easy to loose a card for a lot of people at WDW, and it would be a shame to have credit card fraud happen at the happiest place on earth. I'm sure the diligent work of the CM's keeps this at a minimum.

NED

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Yes, I was referring to the daily limits on the debit cards. My debit card has the VISA logo and in past experiences it is not treated the same as a credit card. DH and I finally had to get a credit card because we always had such a hassle using our debit card at hotels and rental car places.

 

[momof4va]

The idea about the Disney gift cards is a good one for your kids. Just make sure you don't put too much money on it because, the only place you can use the cards is WDW. So if the kids don't spend all of their money " a person can dream " the card has to be saved for next trip or spent while you're there.

The above example of the hassle with the limits of using the debit card is another reason why I wouldn't use one for a room deposit.

Where can you get these? In the hotels or at the Parks? I would love to be able to do that instead of giving the kids cash.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Yes, I was referring to the daily limits on the debit cards. My debit card has the VISA logo and in past experiences it is not treated the same as a credit card. DH and I finally had to get a credit card because we always had such a hassle using our debit card at hotels and rental car places.

The daily limits is something your bank controls, so I guess it depends on who carries your card. I'm also sure most car rental agencies DO require an actual credit card; however, as I said, WDW is blind to credit/debit.

I've never used an actual credit card at WDW, and I think my spending limit is something like $3,000 a day on my debit (unlimited if I authorize it in advance and I have the $ in the account, obviously), which is more than I pay for a whole trip usually (especially on any one day) so it has worked out great for me.

If you rent cars or spend a great deal more I can see how credit works better for you; in terms of purchases at Disney, deposits to rooms, room payment, and room charges, though, the answer to the original question is that yes, Disney does take them for all those things.

NED

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Where can you get these? In the hotels or at the Parks? I would love to be able to do that instead of giving the kids cash.

You can get them in the hotel shops and in the shops at the parks. They are taken almost everywhere, even the ice cream carts. They really are great.