Can We Pay Cast Members at Restaurants with Disney Gift Card?

[qanita92]

The one thing that I really liked about the Dining Plan is that I don't have to carry money around, but for the 2008 package gratuity is no longer included so I am thinking of getting a Disney Gift Card with around 350 dollars so I just pay with that and not worry about carrying money with me. Can I do that?

P.S. Can I buy a gift card online?

 

[aubeone]

I was thinking of doing something similar for our April trip. Basically....creating a Disney Debit Card. We are traveling with another family and were thinking of pooling our money on a card in order to prevent having to worry about dividing expenses at each meal.

 

[dburg30]

Apply cash to your room key and use that for your tips? It can be done, you just have to find someone that is actually willing to do it for you.

 

[WillCAD]

You can use the gift cards at any Disney-owned restaurant.

But dburg30 is right - it's better to put down a deposit when you check in and enable room charging on your KTTW card.

And it's not a matter of "willing" to do it, many CMs at the check-in desks simply don't know that it CAN be done with cash or Disney Dollars or a gift card - they're used to doing it strictly with a credit card. A few will even tell you that it can't be done, but we know otherwise - I do it whenever I stay on-site. Just ask for a manager.