Best way to pay in Orlando

[DJT1975]

Hi there, we are heading to Orlando for the first time in Aug 25, staying on site at Disney. Just looking for recommendations on how best to pay for things out there. So not budget related, but is it best to carry cash, take travellers cheques (are they even still a thing?) or use a debit card. If debit card, are there providers that are better with no/low fees or better exchange rates. Is contactless a thing like it is in the uk and is Apple Pay widely used? Just any general advice in this area would be appreciated!

Thanks

 

[DJT1975]

Also how are tips generally covered? Is this predominately cash?

 

[Judique]

Credit cards? There are protections offered by credit cards so I mostly use one while traveling. I also have a very small stash of cash, like under $100 just in case. I never use debit, except something such as a Visa gift card.

Apple Pay seems to be widely used although I am not an Apple person.

Most tips can be added to bills for meals, etc, but cash comes in handy for Bell Services if you need help getting your stuff to your room or to tip someone who brings something you request to your room such as extra towels. Or maybe if you are tipping for taxi type services directly as opposed to in the Apps for rideshare stuff.

Travellers checks are not something I would consider using. Too cash like in my opinion, and I'm not sure they are still offered. I'm older and I remember people using travelers checks but many years ago. Someone else will have to chime in on that.

 

[eticketplease]

Yes ApplePay is available.

Since staying on site you can charge to your room with a magic band and then pay off later at the front desk of your Hotel.

Tips at table service restaurants you will just write the amount on the bill and it will get paid with Magicband or card.

Quick service restaurants you will not need to worry about a tip.

I would carry some cash for tips of bell services if you use them and as a backup plan in case there is an issue with your card.

Kevin from the “Brits Guide to DVC” and “The Disload” podcast recommends using a Revolut card as they seem to be the best with Exchange rates and also work with ApplePay.

https://www.revolut.com/

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Magicbands are great way to pay. You just register your regular credit card linked to hotel reservation to cover the cost

 

[WinterSolider]

Magicbands are great way to pay. You just register your regular credit card linked to hotel reservation to cover the cost

That is not how MagicBands work.

MagicBands charge your purchases to your room folio, not to a credit card. There is no way to "register" a credit card to a MagicBand.

 

[WinterSolider]

Yes ApplePay is available.

Since staying on site you can charge to your room with a magic band and then pay off later at the front desk of your Hotel.

Tips at table service restaurants you will just write the amount on the bill and it will get paid with Magicband or card.

Quick service restaurants you will not need to worry about a tip.

I would carry some cash for tips of bell services if you use them and as a backup plan in case there is an issue with your card.

Kevin from the “Brits Guide to DVC” and “The Disload” podcast recommends using a Revolut card as they seem to be the best with Exchange rates and also work with ApplePay.

https://www.revolut.com/

He recommends that because he gets a kickback from referral links.

The best way to exchange foreign currency is to use your own normal credit card, pay in local currency, and let your own bank calculate the exchange rate on the back-end.

 

[eticketplease]

He recommends that because he gets a kickback from referral links.

The best way to exchange foreign currency is to use your own normal credit card, pay in local currency, and let your own bank calculate the exchange rate on the back-end.

To my knowledge he doesn’t have referral links as I just hear it mentioned time to time as that is what they did. He also stated that they had an issue one time with the card and that is why he takes a separate one for his wife as that one worked with no issues.

As someone from the US I would do as you suggested and use a CC with no foreign transaction fees and let them convert it.

However they are from the UK and it may work differently there.

 

[eticketplease]

That is not how MagicBands work.

MagicBands charge your purchases to your room folio, not to a credit card. There is no way to "register" a credit card to a MagicBand.

@luvpoohandcompany is correct and you are correct.

You have to have a card on file to enable charging privileges.
Your magic band charges then post to your room folio which is then paid by the card on file unless you go to the front desk and present a different form of payment such as gift cards or cash.

 

[EACarlson]

Visa, Mastercard or American Express. Carry some cash for the very few places that don't accept cards, tips or where the purchase is very small. Apple Pay and Contactless are widely used, but not everywhere, Samsung Pay you can use anywhere that accepts cards. Check with your card issuers to see how much they charge in Foreign Transaction Fees, if you have one or can acquire one, a card without those fees can save significant money. Worst case, you can buy a US Visa Gift card at the airport and only pay the transaction fee once.

 

[lilmc]

I credit card everything. I don’t carry cash at all. Apple Pay where available, use my physical card if not.

 

[Miffy]

Definitely credit card, and if you don't already have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees and there's time to get one, I recommend that.

Rideshare tips can be added on the app, so it'll be charged to your credit card. You can also easily add the tip to a restaurant bill and your credit card will pay for it. However, that being said, I usually tip in cash, even at restaurants. The staff appreciates it. But definitely have cash to tip bell services and housekeeping (assuming you do tip housekeeping).

 

[zavandor]

Have a credit or debit card that charges no foreign transaction fees. I have Chase and Wise and both work well, wth no fees and good exchange rates. And both allow to withdraw from an ATM with no fees, so don't worry to exchange money at home which will certainly cost you fees and worst rates, just pick some cash at the airport.
No need to pick up a lot of cash, as others have said, you only need it for tipping bell services and valet parking. In restaurants they'll bring you the bill with a space to add the tip (and suggested amounts), you add the amount, the total and a signature, it'll be charged to the CC.

 

[McCrae]

Hi there, we are heading to Orlando for the first time in Aug 25, staying on site at Disney. Just looking for recommendations on how best to pay for things out there. So not budget related, but is it best to carry cash, take travellers cheques (are they even still a thing?) or use a debit card. If debit card, are there providers that are better with no/low fees or better exchange rates. Is contactless a thing like it is in the uk and is Apple Pay widely used? Just any general advice in this area would be appreciated!

Thanks

Look into Wise. Probably the best travel card. You can have digital and physical cards. Low fees, can even get interest on cash balances. The company is U.K. based and listed on the stock exchange. I use the card when ever I travel.

 

[peachiepie]

I use a Revolut card and have never had any issues with it.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

That is not how MagicBands work.

MagicBands charge your purchases to your room folio, not to a credit card. There is no way to "register" a credit card to a MagicBand.

@luvpoohandcompany is correct and you are correct.

You have to have a card on file to enable charging privileges.
Your magic band charges then post to your room folio which is then paid by the card on file unless you go to the front desk and present a different form of payment such as gift cards or cash.

Sorry I worded it a bit clumsily. Thank you @eticketplease for explaining it properly.

 

[MarkleB]

I like to do two things:

1. Use a credit card with no foreign transaction/cash withdrawal fees and good exchange rates (I use Halifax Clarity for no annual fee, but there are many out there), as @zavandor suggested, and
2. Tie it to my room, and pay for (almost) everything with my MagicBand, as @eticketplease said.

I do get a bit of cash for tipping non-digital transactions, like people carrying bags. Last time I was there I had to use my physical card five times (three in the parks, two during excursions outside the bubble), and I think I tipped cash three times. Things like Lyft were in-app, but I don't recall if I used my credit card or PayPal to pay them off.

I once forgot to buy $20 from a foreign exchange before I went down there, and the only trolley rental I could find in the airport took coins, not cards. That was painful. Thankfully this time I'll have a teen to split luggage duties with.

ETA: One of the reasons I prefer MagicBand payments is because of how clear the transaction list is from the hotel. I can see practically (though not literally) see what each souvenir cost making budgeting easier.

 

[nursejackie]

I use both. No banking system is infallible, so if there's problem with your card or bank or the vendors bank/card reader etc then cash is king. We also have cash for incidental tipping, e.g. bell services at your Disney resort, and the maid.

 

[DJT1975]

Thanks all for your responses and advice - much appreciated

 

[Lionezz]

That is not how MagicBands work.

MagicBands charge your purchases to your room folio, not to a credit card. There is no way to "register" a credit card to a MagicBand.

I think what he meant is that you can add a credit card to your hotel room and pay using your MagicBand. Disney will place a $100 hold on your card, which is refunded if no charges are made to the room (there are no fees). The hold is only used if you make a purchase. If you don’t make any purchases, the $100 hold will be released, and you'll see the money back in your account. You won’t notice any trace that it was ever taken.

You also have the option to set a spending limit for the MagicBand (I usually set a $50 limit for my kids' MagicBands). The MagicBand works at all Disney hotels and parks. At checkout, I didn’t have to do anything special. In the end, I paid $46 for two refillable mugs.