Billed before $1000 at POR and other weird billing issues

[dbavis]

I have a room only reservation and understand that i'll have to pay the balance at check-in. can I use gift cards at that point? is there a limit to the number of cards you can use at a time?

 

[kristenrice]

I know that a few years ago, there was a DVC member who rented out their points to a stranger. That person checked in and put their credit card on file in order to have charging privileges. Then, they proceeded to charge up just under the $1500 limit and called to cancel their credit card. When they checked out, the credit card was no longer valid and Disney went after the DVC owner for the charges. Their account was frozen and they could not make any reservations or bank any points until the bill was settled. I'm sure that some unscrupulous folks pulled the same scam on CRO reservations which may be why Disney is now charging the cards at unannounced intervals.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

Has anyone heard of them charging early at the values? That would only be $250 if they did.

 

[LuvGoofy6]

I didn't know anything about this but this is our first trip since magic bands. Please, someone explain this to me. If we are staying at Wilderness Lodge we give them a credit card so that our magic band purchases get charged to that cards after I hit a certain mark? If I plan to pay with my credit card as I make purchases (say a sweatshirt in one of the parks) and charge my credit card rather than use my magic band then will they still put a hold on my credit card? Like a previous poster I would rather have an itemized bill from my credit card rather than one lump withdrawal for Disney when it comes to my purchases.

 

[AngiTN]

I didn't know anything about this but this is our first trip since magic bands. Please, someone explain this to me. If we are staying at Wilderness Lodge we give them a credit card so that our magic band purchases get charged to that cards after I hit a certain mark? If I plan to pay with my credit card as I make purchases (say a sweatshirt in one of the parks) and charge my credit card rather than use my magic band then will they still put a hold on my credit card? Like a previous poster I would rather have an itemized bill from my credit card rather than one lump withdrawal for Disney when it comes to my purchases.

No. They won't run each charge on your card. The charging on MB is no different than charging on at KTTW was.

You accumulate purchases day by day
When you reach a set limit you resort will run a single charge through
The set limit seems to be a bit of an unknown now

You do not have to put charging on your account
If you want each purchase to show on your credit card bill then bring it and use that during your stay. It's the only option for itemized credit card purchasing

 

[freediverdude]

I wondered how long it would take for people to start scamming Disney with that policy. I've been going since the late 90's, and the limits have always been $500, $1000, and $1500, and no hold taken at check-in for incidentals like some other places do (although they are able to see how much limit you have left at check-in - not sure how or whether that's a violation of some kind, but they can, I've experienced it).

Although I don't like the way other places do it either, with taking a hold for a predetermined amount X # of days, and then charging the actual charges at check out on top of that before the hold falls off.

But yea I guess I don't blame Disney for wanting to try to protect themselves a bit more. Up until now they had essentially been giving you a Disney World credit card of $500-1000-1500 at check-in that you didn't have to pay until it hit the limit or check-out day, whichever came first.

 

[POOHsie]

I have a room only reservation and understand that i'll have to pay the balance at check-in. can I use gift cards at that point? is there a limit to the number of cards you can use at a time?

No GC limits (in person) that I know of. Here's a recent thread about paying at check-in with GCs. A lot of people on the thread mentioned that from time to time (before arrival) they called WDW to pay down their balance, or pay it off completely, with their GCs. Also, save your actual cards in case there's a refund.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/pa...or-wait-until-check-in.3404090/#post-53543145

 

[Lyricallie]

It's probably really common with us international folk. Our banks charge us quite a bit to use our cards abroad. I'm hoping when I go we can just pay in cash at the end of our holiday.

I just wonder if they ever have guest that don't have a credit card? How do they handle that? Some people may only have a debit card, and I imagine that could just be a nightmare!

 

[maxiesmom]

I have a room only reservation and understand that i'll have to pay the balance at check-in. can I use gift cards at that point? is there a limit to the number of cards you can use at a time?

No limit to the number of gift cards you can use. Be aware thought that there have been reports of the balance of the room cost being charged to the credit card on file, if you use on line check in and leave your credit card number for room charges. You can also call ahead of time and have your gift cards applied to your balance.

 

[AngiTN]

It's pretty hard to compare the way Disney handles incidentals while you are staying to other hotels. Most of those don't have theme parks, long trips and tons of purchases. At Disney the charges are often in the $1000's where at other hotels more often in the $100's

I too am quite surprised at how they let you carry a balance. I can only imagine the numbers of guests that are unable to pay at time of check out.

 

[AngiTN]

No limit to the number of gift cards you can use. Be aware thought that there have been reports of the balance of the room cost being charged to the credit card on file, if you use on line check in and leave your credit card number for room charges. You can also call ahead of time and have your gift cards applied to your balance.

This is true. They will run the card on in your account in the wee hours on the morning of checkout. If you don't want to deal with reversal of the charges then go by the night before and pay it off with gift cards

 

[Colleen27]

No, not that I've ever read about. The resort will link to your CC for charging (at your request), but they won't establish a "savings" account where you could place money or gift cards in advance of payment for WDW resort transactions.

They used to allow that with cash - you could leave a deposit at check-in to establish a room charging account, just as if you'd left a CC. Not with gift cards, though. And I'm not sure they do it any more. It was 2007 when I was here asking about that, because at the time we were waiting for a new debit card to be issued (we don't do credit) and I wasn't sure it would arrive in time for the trip so we were planning how best to manage with cash/check only.

 

[McKelly]

We went in March for ten nights. After about the 4-5 night, I had about $600.00 or so in room charges and they charged it through. I like this policy. Then I don't have to worry that I am getting to close to $1000.00 and I can continue to use the MagicBands. Yes, I carry an additional cc with me, but I like to give my teenage kids the ability to charge things too. In the past, I always had to remember to call the front desk halfway through our vacation and have them charge it through anyway...

 

[LuvGoofy6]

Thanks AngiTN!