Can't Use My Disney Reward Dollars! Grrr.

[mousebrat]

I have about $250 on my Disney Rewards Card - member since day 1 and saving for our upcoming vacation. Problem is, we booked through Dreams Unlimited. I'm told that b/c we used a travel agent, we cannot apply the reward dollars towards our package price. This would not ordinarily be a problem, but we are on the gold plan, so it will be pretty hard for the two of us to spend that money unless we just get pricey souvenirs we wouldn't otherwise buy.

Just a heads up, but if you want to use your Disney Dollars, don't go through a travel agent!

 

[AMaloy314]

Hi.

I'm not sure exactly what is included in the gold plan. Is it possible to use your dollars for tips or is that part of your perks?

I've been told that it never hurts to have extra money on hand in WDW.

Thanks for the heads up, though.

 

[mousebrat]

Tips and everything are included on the gold plan, so there is really no need to spend money on anything but souvenirs or alcohol (we don't drink).

We are staying an extra night at the end of our trip, though. I hadn't booked the room because I planned on using Priceline or something similar. Now, I think we will stay at a Disney resort that last night and book it ourselves so we can use our reward dollars for that. That will be more convenient anyways since they will transfer our bags for us.

Thanks for the thoughts, though.

 

[hercamore]

Jeez, there's always a catch!

Buy a park hopper for the next trip. They never expire.


herc.

 

[momoftwins]

Would it be worth it to you to buy DisneyDollars with your rewards card and either save them for your next trip, or maybe give them as gifts?

Does anyone if this can be done?

Good luck!

 

[djh96]

IF you could buy Disney $,you could trade them back in for cash at the parks

 

[mousebrat]

I may see about trading them for Disney Dollars at the park. We will still have a significant balance after paying for our POFQ room.

I'm not very clear on how the card works. It looks like a credit card, so I assume you could use it like a credit card as long as you are at a Disney establishment. However, booking the POFQ room was strange. I had to charge the room on my Disney Visa and the CM told me to call BankOne and have them credit my Rewards Card and debit my credit card - a transfer essentially. I haven't called BankOne yet b/c the charge hasn't hit my card. That could get interesting.

 

[mousebrat]

As though we weren't confused enough already...

I just got an email from my TA that basically says nobody knows what they are talking about. Apparently I can use my Reward Dollars towards the package.

This has been very frustrating - I wish everybody would get on the same page. It makes me miss the Disney Club.

 

[hercamore]

Keep us posted. That's good news.


herc.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I don't understand why you couldn't use the reward dollars to pay for your trip....do you actually pay Dreams Unlimited, or do you pay directly to Disney?

Steph

 

[mousebrat]

I think the confusion lies in the way different travel agents book travel. Some book the travel in the agency's name. The agency then makes all the payments to Disney and the client pays the agency.

My understanding is that Dreams works differently. They are more of a conduit. They make the reservation the same as I would if I called WDWTC only there agency is coded on the reservation as the agent so they get the commission. When you make a payment to Dreams, they simply forward your payment information to Disney - I've noticed that payments I have made on our vacation come back on our credit card statement as Disney Travel Company.

Again, it just seems that people are not sure exactly what they are talking about.

If you use an agent other than Dreams you may want to check first and see how they do things if you plan on using your reward dollars to pay for part of your reservation.

At least our situation is having a happy ending (so far).

 

[FanDumbo]

I was told by Dreams Unlimited an AAA that Reward Dollars can be used to pay for vacation packages or cruises. They did both recommend though that you wait till close to your final payment to use them though as they are not refundable.

In other words, if you use Reward Dollars and then wind up cancelling your vacation you lose your Reward Dollars.


Di

 

[Magix]

Originally posted by FanDumbo
I was told by Dreams Unlimited an AAA that Reward Dollars can be used to pay for vacation packages or cruises. They did both recommend though that you wait till close to your final payment to use them though as they are not refundable.

In other words, if you use Reward Dollars and then wind up cancelling your vacation you lose your Reward Dollars.


Di

That's not true. Reward dollars are refundable in a case like that. I know someone who did this. If you cancel your trip, you should get them back on your card, unless you're past the drop-dead cancellation date with WDTC.

Also, for those who want to buy Disney Dollars with the rewards card, it says in the info that you cannot use your rewards for any kind of cash equivalent.

Hope that helps!

 

[FanDumbo]

Thank you for that information. Makes me feel a lot better about using the Dream Dollars. Just the idea of losing any Dream Dollars I put as a deposit had me scrambling to figure out what other things I could use them for.

And before anybody starts to list things they can be used for, let me add that we are staying at SOG and will probably eat most of our meals there, as well as buy the Stars and Stripes tickets from them. Since they are not technically Disney, but the military, you can't use the Dream Dollars for rooms and tickets through them.

Even for a family of 7 I can't think where else to use over $800 in Dream Dollars. If anyboday has ideas or knowledge, I'd be glad to hear them.

Oh I almost forgot to say, that right now I plan to use them as part of the deposit for our Cruise. We are doing our own version of a land and sea. I can't wait.




Thanks
Di

 

[lc1965]

The Dis Rew $$ were as versatile as Disney Dollars, so you could use them for pretty much anything at the parks. I know when I go for a week I use well over $250 -- food, souvenirs (& I'm not big on souvenirs), shows, even tips (the CMs are very cool about accepting Disney Dollars for tips.)

Well, I hope it all works out for you!

 

[MK Familystone]

Hi ALL!
Cash Rules !
No matter if it is Disney Dollars or Stock Market speculation.
If in doubt go to cash!
Daily expenses on a vacation are very sneaky little quirks that leaves your wallet empty.
I recommend 50% Disney Dollars and 50% Disney Debt card.
Cash for the little items and Debit for that "Dining experience or WDW Waterpark you wanted to go to.

"THE MAGIC HAPPEN!!!"

 

[C.Ann]

Gotta love it when cc's give you "rewards" and then make you jump through hoops to use them..

 

[sln88]

I have an amex cash reward

I get at least 1.5% back in the form of a payment on my account on my anniversary date.

I can spend that $ at Disney or wherever I want.

 

[mousebrat]

Yes, but as my DW says, the other cards don't have Mickey on them. Some people may think she needs help...

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by mousebrat
Yes, but as my DW says, the other cards don't have Mickey on them. Some people may think she needs help...

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My son-in-law would definitely agree with you.. Would you like his telephone number so the two of you can commiserate? No matter WHERE he looks it's Mickey, Mickey and MORE Mickey!!