Cash at Disney

[Andrea464]

Any tips/ideas for using cash at Disney? We've been saving cash and I figured I'd just leave it out instead of using the card. I'm tempted to spend more with the card but it's much harder for me to part with cash.

 

[disneychrista]

Not sure what you are asking. You pay for things with cash the same way you would any where else.

 

[littlebit0863]

Not sure what you are asking. You pay for things with cash the same way you would any where else.

When I went on a vacation last year with all cash, I split up my cash in envelope between my days, including travel days. Of course I spent less on travel days, so the first real vacation day I had a little extra. Just say for example you have $1000 and are on a 10 day vacation. 10 envelopes of $100. Anything not spent on the first day goes into the next day's envelope. If you feel you must spend over then go ahead and charge your card, but take it from the next day's envelope when you get back to the room. Makes you less likely to overspend.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

We only use cash when we go on vacation. It is much easier to stay within budget and I write down everything I spend each day so I know exactly where it all goes.

In fact I write down every penny I spend each and every day of the year.

 

[bpesch]

I'm sure there must be more to this question than I'm seeing. I am so tempted to answer "just take the cash out of your wallet, hand it to the cashier and viola!".

 

[RitaE]

My only thought is to be extremely careful. One pickpocket and your vacation is ruined.

 

[BeachLove]

Personally I would take the cash and get it turned into a Disney giftcard. I would not trust myself to keep hundreds safe in a very busy location.

 

[ICF]

Personally I would take the cash and get it turned into a Disney giftcard. I would not trust myself to keep hundreds safe in a very busy location.

Nor would I....I never walk around with very much cash.

If you can't behave with a credit card, then I'd guess buying a couple of giftcards for at least 50% of the cash you were planning on bringing for the trip.

 

[katrina1122]

If I remember correctly, we once put cash on our kttw card so we didn't use a cc. Otherwise, I'd do it all on disney gift cards.

 

[MagiKitty]

Andrea...I'm the same way. If I'm using cash, I usually think twice about making a purchase rather than a quick swipe of the card. I try to bring larger denominations, usually $50s with me. $100 risks not having change for, and its difficult to keep up with $20s.

You may want to consider using that cash for a prepaid Visa. I don't like getting a Disney gift card, just coz I feel compelled to use it while there. And leftover monies on a Visa prepaid can be used at home also. You will stay within budget but don't risk carrying around a lot of money also. But the hazard is, if you happen to lose your card, anyone can use it.

 

[Marionnette]

I don't understand why anyone would put cash on a gift card instead of just carrying the cash. It's not as if a gift card offers any kind of protection from loss or theft.

The envelope method is a good alternative to carrying all of your cash around but it is also vulnerable to loss.

As much as it might help to stay within budget, carrying large amounts of cash is unwise. If I couldn't use a KTTW card because I was staying offsite and if I didn't have a credit card for my purchases, I would look into opening a fee-free check card account like ING's Electric Orange checking account or some other bank. You can use the check card to pay for everything or make ATM withdrawals. And you can set the account up so that you cannot overdraw it.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

I would take the amount I need each day and put the rest in the safe.

 

[Andrea464]

I'm sure there must be more to this question than I'm seeing. I am so tempted to answer "just take the cash out of your wallet, hand it to the cashier and viola!".

Not sure what you are asking. You pay for things with cash the same way you would any where else.

Ya'll are such smarties. LOL

Nor would I....I never walk around with very much cash.

If you can't behave with a credit card, then I'd guess buying a couple of giftcards for at least 50% of the cash you were planning on bringing for the trip.

That's a good idea! I had planned on doing a GC at Epcot for F&W.

Andrea...I'm the same way. If I'm using cash, I usually think twice about making a purchase rather than a quick swipe of the card. I try to bring larger denominations, usually $50s with me. $100 risks not having change for, and its difficult to keep up with $20s.

You may want to consider using that cash for a prepaid Visa. I don't like getting a Disney gift card, just coz I feel compelled to use it while there. And leftover monies on a Visa prepaid can be used at home also. You will stay within budget but don't risk carrying around a lot of money also. But the hazard is, if you happen to lose your card, anyone can use it.

Yep, I'm less likely to spend cash if it's larger amounts as well. A $20 is much easier to break than a $100!!!

I don't understand why anyone would put cash on a gift card instead of just carrying the cash. It's not as if a gift card offers any kind of protection from loss or theft.

The envelope method is a good alternative to carrying all of your cash around but it is also vulnerable to loss.

As much as it might help to stay within budget, carrying large amounts of cash is unwise. If I couldn't use a KTTW card because I was staying offsite and if I didn't have a credit card for my purchases, I would look into opening a fee-free check card account like ING's Electric Orange checking account or some other bank. You can use the check card to pay for everything or make ATM withdrawals. And you can set the account up so that you cannot overdraw it.

We've done envelopes at home to help with savings and even some week to week spending (groceries, gas, etc), but haven't done it on vacations yet.

I would take the amount I need each day and put the rest in the safe.

Very smart place to put it! I always forget those are there!

Great ideas guys!

 

[duckiegirl]

Actually if you photograph the receipt and the back of the gift card you can get it replaced if lost. Buy Disney gift cards from target using target red card and save 5%.

 

[heartpooh]

Does anybody know if you can put cash on the KTTW cards. I don't have a credit card but would like the convienance of using the card to pay for things on resort?!?! Thanks!!

 

[pampam]

Have you considered using travelers cheques?

We only use cash and TCs. We keep about $100.00 or so in cash with us, and use TC in WDW. If I go off property, I cash what I think I will need for the day at the front desk. It's easier to cash them where you are staying.

As a side note, one time I lost my Amex TCs and it was just like the commercial. They were replaced the next day. The only thing I lost was a nights sleep from worry, which was unnecessary.

 

[pigletto]

The resorts should be able to put cash on your account and usually can.
Back when we weren't using credit cards I brought a large amount of cash to put down on the room so we could use the KTTW card. For some reason the Poly front desk could not put it on our account. We had literally been waiting 2 hours because of computer issues and a problem with the reservation so I opted to stick it all in the safe.
I wasn't pleased having 1500 or more (I don't remember exactly) in the safe but it turned out to not be much of an issue. We just took out what we wanted for the day, and returned it at night.

Though we now use our credit cards again, I still prefer not to when possible. It's too easy to lose track of what I am spending and being Canadian there's fees and conversion rates. Then there are the holds from the car rental and our Universal hotel and I find it difficult to figure out what the actual balance is on a day to day basis

So.. we aren't using the ddp this time, and I am thinking I will put all of our money for meals on a gift card and keep track of it that way. The only issue with that is that if we spend considerably less than what we have budgeted it is now on the gift card so we'll end up buying more souvenirs instead of just bringing it home

 

[alyssa810]

I don't understand why anyone would put cash on a gift card instead of just carrying the cash. It's not as if a gift card offers any kind of protection from loss or theft.

Actually, you can get a gift card replaced if it's lost or stolen (but probably not while you're on vacation)- I speak from experience here.

If you're concerned with having too much card and don't want to use credit cards, I'd also suggest a gift card, whether it's a Disney card, or a pre paid Amex/Visa/Mastercard etc.

 

[iluvmickey2008]

What I did was deposit all of the cash into my checking account. Once at Disney, I would take $100 or so every other day. I would rather use cash, but afraid to lose or have it stolen.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Is that $25 Serve (American Express) deal still going on? You get a card with a Serve account that you can use anywhere Am ex is accepted.