Busch Gardens Williamsburg/Water Country USA going cashless!

[BroadwayHermione5]

Hi all,


BH5 here!

I hadn’t seen anyone mention this (especially in the Orlando/Florida parks forum) but BGW and their water park, Water Country USA have all gone cashless!

I’m not surprised, and while I save up my cash and use both still , I’d rather use gift cards when on a trip, and the emails I received from both parks had a very detailed guide to how to get a gift card should you bring cash!

It gave detailed places of where to go and how to ask for a gift card so you can be cashless. I thought it was very informative and very professional and respectful.

Kudos to the Sea World and Busch Gardens teams for making this change smoothly and as effectively as possible!


Have a great weekend all!

BH5

 

[kdonnel]

Cash is dying a slow painful death.

I don't think it will be long(30 or so years) before it will only be associated with illegal transactions.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Cash is dying a slow painful death.

I don't think it will be long(30 or so years) before it will only be associated with illegal transactions.

Oh it definitely is.

Im all for technological advances but it’s always nice to have some cash on me for emergencies

 

[mylilnikita]

People on our local news Facebook have been either all for it or I’m not going to go or they can track you now .

I am fine with it. Theme parks aren’t stupid it’s a lot easier for some people to be parted with “money” on their cards then it is with cash.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

People on our local news Facebook have been either all for it or I’m not going to go or they can track you now .

I am fine with it. Theme parks aren’t stupid it’s a lot easier for some people to be parted with “money” on their cards then it is with cash.

I think part of the reason they did the gift cards is so people would feel comfortable (Disney has gift cards I’ve paid for numerous things in universal with visa ones.) it makes total sense

 

[kdonnel]

I think part of the reason they did the gift cards is so people would feel comfortable (Disney has gift cards I’ve paid for numerous things in universal with visa ones.) it makes total sense

Other places have gone cash only using a similar approach.

Stadiums that have ATM style machines where you deposit cash and get a gift card good only at the stadium. If you don't spend it all you can cash the gift card out at the end of the night.

I believe they go with gift cards because the transaction costs remain 100% in control by the venue. The transactions do not need to use an external authorization network so no transaction fees are incurred during purchases.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Other places have gone cash only using a similar approach.

Stadiums that have ATM style machines where you deposit cash and get a gift card good only at the stadium. If you don't spend it all you can cash the gift card out at the end of the night.

I believe they go with gift cards because the transaction costs remain 100% in control by the venue. The transactions do not need to use an external authorization network so no transaction fees are incurred during purchases.

Exactly.

And in terms of the 100% control you are also correct think the magic bands at disney

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

While I use my card for everything to get rewards (and pay it off each month) I know a ton of people who are still on cash society. So I can see why people would be upset at this.
However, I think it is pretty awesome you get the money onto a Visa gift card (without the ridiculous fee if you usually would buy a Visa gift card). No need to have it be on a Busch Gardens credit and have to figure out how to get the money back. You could use that Visa GC pretty much anyplace.

 

[RamblingMad]

People on our local news Facebook have been either all for it or I’m not going to go or they can track you now .

I am fine with it. Theme parks aren’t stupid it’s a lot easier for some people to be parted with “money” on their cards then it is with cash.

Buy them a tinfoil hat.

The reality is that this hurts the unbanked and those with bad credit. But it’s also the reality that we’re moving away from cash, which should reduce money laundering.