Cash? Debit? Visa? Travelers cheques?

[prairiesarah]

I am planning to take some cash, but mostly use our BMO US$ Mastercard, then will pay it off from the money I have been transferring to our US$ account when I get home. I haven't figured out how much cash yet, but enough for all the little stuff - coffee's, snacks etc. We will have our rental car, food and one upgrade to a park ticket to pay for plus any shopping. Vacation rental is already paid for. I always pack a second credit card just in case (just one of my regular Canadian ones, but good to have as backup). I remember trying to get Traveller's Cheques for our last trip to Disney in 2011. The teller at the bank really cautioned me against getting them as she said lots of places were not accepting them anymore. I don't recall having any issue using them, but I only cashed them at Disney and at Target. I remember traveling when that was all I took as they were so widely accepted. I like the idea of the RFID sleeve's and think I am going to look into those or a RFID wallet for myself before going.

 

[Debbie]

I am planning to take some cash, but mostly use our BMO US$ Mastercard, then will pay it off from the money I have been transferring to our US$ account when I get home. I haven't figured out how much cash yet, but enough for all the little stuff - coffee's, snacks etc. We will have our rental car, food and one upgrade to a park ticket to pay for plus any shopping. Vacation rental is already paid for. I always pack a second credit card just in case (just one of my regular Canadian ones, but good to have as backup). I remember trying to get Traveller's Cheques for our last trip to Disney in 2011. The teller at the bank really cautioned me against getting them as she said lots of places were not accepting them anymore. I don't recall having any issue using them, but I only cashed them at Disney and at Target. I remember traveling when that was all I took as they were so widely accepted. I like the idea of the RFID sleeve's and think I am going to look into those or a RFID wallet for myself before going.

That is exactly what we do. Cash for tips, small purchases and the US$ MC for all other bills. The money is in the bank to pay things off when we get home. I now have the Amazon.ca VISA as an extra cc in case of problems, but there shouldn't be. (I always have my PCMC, too, but I don't use it in the States.) When the kids were little we used the cash in the envelope method, and it worked great. I was always nervous on the way down, though, carrying that much cash.

 

[katt789]

I use a combination of my credit card & cash. I usually start with at least $100 if I HAVE cash before I leave from a previous trip, otherwise I just use ATM's down there.

Canadian debit cards won't work to buy things down there

 

[bankr63]

I use a combination of my credit card & cash. I usually start with at least $100 if I HAVE cash before I leave from a previous trip, otherwise I just use ATM's down there.

Canadian debit cards won't work to buy things down there

Visa debit cards (with the Visa logo) work fine in the US pretty much everywhere; most Canadian banks seem to be converting now. Otherwise you have to pay attention to the "network" affiliation (on the back of the card). Cirrus works with Cirrus vendors, and Plus with Plus network vendors. If the networks don't match, your card will fail. Interac is a Canadian only network, so if that is the only symbol on your card, it won't work in the US.

 

[isabellea]

Cash and Amazon Visa (to avoid the 2.5% charge).

 

[greenclan67]

We are here now and have had trouble with our visa debit. If it goes through at Walmart say or target as debit it rejects it. If it asks either debit or credit and u choose credit u are ok. It has happened this trip at Walmart twice and winning Dixie. Had to use our cc instead.

Visa debit cards (with the Visa logo) work fine in the US pretty much everywhere; most Canadian banks seem to be converting now. Otherwise you have to pay attention to the "network" affiliation (on the back of the card). Cirrus works with Cirrus vendors, and Plus with Plus network vendors. If the networks don't match, your card will fail. Interac is a Canadian only network, so if that is the only symbol on your card, it won't work in the US.[/QUOT

We have a TD Visa debit and it is linked to our US $ account. We have used it the last few trips with no issue. We are here now, and I want to throw the blasted thing. Walmart twice now I have had to use my cc because my TD visa debut was refused through the machin . If it runs through as credit we are fine but if it prompts for debit. Nope

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Bringing this thread back to life.

At the WDW properties, how often do they actually charge your cc on file? Does each transaction get processed right away? Or do they let them accumulate on your file until a certain threshold (i.e., every $500 you charge gets put on your cc)? I was just thinking you could just let everything pile up and only have one transaction fee (2.5%) at the end of your stay...

 

[ottawamom]

It depends on what level of resort hotel you're at. Each of the three levels has a different threshold for how much the let add up before charging your card.

 

[minnie56]

I've always understood it to be posted nightly but to verify approval but charged at the end of the stay?

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

It depends on what level of resort hotel you're at. Each of the three levels has a different threshold for how much the let add up before charging your card.

Will be staying at POP.

 

[efrant]

Bringing this thread back to life.

At the WDW properties, how often do they actually charge your cc on file? Does each transaction get processed right away? Or do they let them accumulate on your file until a certain threshold (i.e., every $500 you charge gets put on your cc)? I was just thinking you could just let everything pile up and only have one transaction fee (2.5%) at the end of your stay...

It wouldn't make a difference either way: whether you have 20 transactions of US$50 or one transaction of US$1,000, you'll get charged the same transaction fee, as it's 2.5% of the value, not per transaction.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

It wouldn't make a difference either way: whether you have 20 transactions of US$50 or one transaction of US$1,000, you'll get charged the same transaction fee, as it's 2.5% of the value, not per transaction.

Oh, I suppose you are right. I was thinking per transaction.

 

[minnie56]

I have 2 USD Visa's but never really was worried about the bank 2.5% fee when I didn't
On $3,000 it's what - maybe $75?

 

[efrant]

I have 2 USD Visa's but never really was worried about the bank 2.5% fee when I didn't
On $3,000 it's what - maybe $75?

Yeah, you're right: spending US$3,000 will cost you US$75 (~C$100), but $100 is still $100. I booked my last trip directly through WDW website, so that, plus all the charges I made in the U.S. would have cost me an extra ~C$500 in forex transaction fees. I don't see any need to pay that when I don't have to...

 

[minnie56]

There's always the Wetsjet Vacations/Air Canada Vacations/Transat Holidays option who have already done the exchange for you and allow you to book in CAD ?
A CC would just be used for Resort charges and you could put USD Cash on account

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Something to keep in mind many hotels now are insisting on having credit cards be applied to a room even if you are paying by cash as they want to take a deposit on the room fro incidentals and other things like damage to the room. I'm not sure If WDW has changed to this policy or if it is so in the US but it is policy in many hotels in Toronto now. Alos a debit card with a credit card logo drawing funds from your bank may not work in that case, as it is still a debit card in some ways.

 

[marchingstar]

It depends on what level of resort hotel you're at. Each of the three levels has a different threshold for how much the let add up before charging your card.

yes, this. I'm not sure I'm right, but I think the limits are 500 (value), 750 (moderate), and 1000 (deluxe)? You can always confirm at check in. Here's what we've done the last few trips: we take cash and credit cards. We carry a small amount of cash daily, but charge nearly everything to our bands (from a mickey bar to a shopping spree). We keep all the receipts and add up our daily spending each night. Most mornings we stop at the front desk to pay down the charges with cash. I do remember that they'll push the charges through if you're getting close to those limits, so if you really don't want the charges to go through to your credit card, make sure to stop by the desk.