cash only

[georgina]

Let me preface this by saying that I am starting to be on the tail end of the Bummers, 77 years old, and I cannot understand the hanging on to the cash thing. I have $20 in my wallet just in the event that I run into someplace that only takes cash, but those places are getting fewer and fewer. I haven't written a check or paid with cash for anything in over 10 years. It is so much handier and so much easier to keep track of using credit or debit cards. You can go online a see exactly how much you have spent in real time. It is so much easier and safer.

The places we most often use cash - 1) street performers we walk by on the weekend, 2) tips for tour guides on group travel and dive crew for DH's dive trips around the world. And for those we have to go to the bank and request new-ish, unmarked 20's, because a lot of places in the world won't take torn or marked US bills. Sometimes we can get local currency out of an ATM, sometimes he takes US cash.

Was in Africa in August and the front desk person in Zambia asked if I would exchange some of my nice US bills for some she had, that had been given to the staff for tips, but they were unable to use them because of their condition. Street sellers in Zimbabwe also took US dollars.

 

[PolyRob]

I put everything on credit cards or MB when I am at Disney. I think it will speed things up a lot, but the cash only change at certain locations is actually comical to me. There have been times when the entire payment system has gone down at WDW and no CCs, GCs, or MBs could be processed, but cash could be accepted.

I guess you just don't eat if that happens now

 

[loves to dive]

I tend to get a GC when I get there but lately there has always been anywhere from $2 to $10 left over when I leave (and no I don't combine them all on to one card and no I don't take them with me the next time I go, I tend to lose them when I get home and am unpacking). I don't like putting small charges on my CC, it makes the statement a pain to go through and I can't remember the last time I used my debit card for anything other than getting cash out of an ATM. I'm thinking for my trip in Dec. I might get a prepaid Visa card at the grocery store and use that instead of Disney GC's and that way if I have anything left over, I can use it at home. An yes, I do still always carry at least $20 cash into the parks and at home. The food booths at the festivals often have issues and will only take cash and if I'm just buying some snack in a store, I'll pay cash. Same thing for charging back to the room, those small charges are still going to show up on my credit card or the hotel bill and I will still have to go through them. I'm a retired bookkeeper so I go through every line of every bank statement, CC bill, phone bill, hotel bill, etc. I've had my CC compromised a couple of times with someone putting small less than $5 charges on it and I've had to cancel it.

 

[goofyernmost]

The places we most often use cash - 1) street performers we walk by on the weekend, 2) tips for tour guides on group travel and dive crew for DH's dive trips around the world. And for those we have to go to the bank and request new-ish, unmarked 20's, because a lot of places in the world won't take torn or marked US bills. Sometimes we can get local currency out of an ATM, sometimes he takes US cash.

Was in Africa in August and the front desk person in Zambia asked if I would exchange some of my nice US bills for some she had, that had been given to the staff for tips, but they were unable to use them because of their condition. Street sellers in Zimbabwe also took US dollars.

That is why I still carry a minimum amount of cash on me. If I'm going on a lengthy trip I carry a little more.

 

[Genie+]

I put everything on credit cards or MB when I am at Disney. I think it will speed things up a lot, but the cash only change at certain locations is actually comical to me. There have been times when the entire payment system has gone down at WDW and no CCs, GCs, or MBs could be processed, but cash could be accepted.

I guess you just don't eat if that happens now

One night right before the fireworks at MK, DH went over to a nearby cart for an ice cream and a soda. Their system was down and he only had a Magicband - so they just gave him the items. We saw them do it with a few other customers after us as well. I think because they were to close within minutes anyway, it was best just to let the pixie dust flow.

My neighborhood deli catches me offguard sometimes - they only accept cash. I’ll forget if we haven’t been in for months. Several times I had to run back home to scrounge up some cash to pay.