cash or charge

[Steph9072]

Do you all carry cash in the parks? Or do you just charge things to your room and pay for it at the end of the week?

Also, do all venders take room keys so that cash doesn't have to be brought in the park?

TIA

 

[chappellfamily]

We all save money during the year for our disney trips , that way we all have our own money to spend and we tend to spend it wiser. We have also done it the other way , to answer your question you don't have to bring any money into the parks if you don't want to , you can charge everything to your room key. We found that if we did it that way though we spent more money without thinking about it and when it came time to check out the bill can be quite large. It just a fun way to look forward to your next trip knowing you have saved your own spending money all year and you can spend it on whatever you want guilt free!!!

 

[mcco5543]

Subscribing!

 

[all4fun]

The short answer is yes, you can use your room card or charge card for everything at WDW.

But here's what we're doing:
We'll be on the Dining Plan this next trip and because of that we've decided not to put charging privileges on our room keys. This way when we use our keys to "pay" for our meals with DDP points there will be no confusion. On our last trip there was at least one time that the server charged our meal to the room instead of against our DDP. We've also read others on the board have had an issue with this from time to time. So we'll just use our regular charge card if we want to charge something. Just thought I'd mention it.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

We keep a $20 with each of us but hardly even use it. Most places take the cards now. But the system or your card could have problems so it's better to have a bit of cash with you.

 

[jenrein]

The short answer is yes, you can use your room card or charge card for everything at WDW.

But here's what we're doing:
We'll be on the Dining Plan this next trip and because of that we've decided not to put charging privileges on our room keys. This way when we use our keys to "pay" for our meals with DDP points there will be no confusion. On our last trip there was at least one time that the server charged our meal to the room instead of against our DDP. We've also read others on the board have had an issue with this from time to time. So we'll just use our regular charge card if we want to charge something. Just thought I'd mention it.

We wondered the same thing. We decided against allowing charges to the room for that exact reason. We carried cash mostly and our debit card.

 

[daisyduck123]

We carry a little cash, but do as much buying as possible by charging to our room key.

Last year, we let DD11 have room charging priviledges & whenever we bought anything, we let DD do it on her room card.
She got plenty of opportunity as we spent $2000.00 on souvenirs/boat rentals/bike rentals, etc. during our 9 or 10 day trip.
(We were on the DP, so none of the charging was for food).

She had a blast!!!! She can't wait to do it again next month!!

 

[kribit]

We used the AAA travelers debit card (instead of AMEX travelers checks). It worked out great. We typically have small cash with us though (probably 20 bucks or so).

 

[Manda]

I don't carry any cash. I bring my Amex card just in case my key card gets deactivated or something, but no cash.

 

[Rustysmom]

We have to bring some money, for tips and for the cab ride to and from the airport from our house, and I'm bringing some credit cards, more than one anyway. I'll never forget when we were there the last time and I was shopping in a store in China or Japan and they declined my card! Apparently the Chase people thought it was suspicious that so much was being charged on the card and I had to go outside, find a pay phone and call them. I saw that they even called our answering machine when we got home, and when they didn't get an answer about the big increase in charges, they shut down the card. Well, we didn't answer because we were in WDW! It's ok though, because I know they were just trying to protect us and themselves.

We're not putting charging privileges on the card for the same reason PPs said regarding the dining plan. I don't want any unexpected charges showing up.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

We have a Disney Visa, and I want to get the points for everything we spend at Disney. We use the Disney Visa when we check in to put room charging on the room.

Almost every place in Disney will take the room key for charges. There are a few kiosks, though, that won't. And every once in a while, you'll find a push cart or somewhere where their charging machine isn't working.

For these occassions, we'll use Disney Dollars. (I buy these at the Disney store before we go, and charge them to the Disney Visa for the points.)

When we're at Disney, the first thing we do is put our wallets in the room safe. The only thing we carry is a room key, about $20 in Disney dollars, and a picture ID.

 

[rie'smom]

I either use my Amex or cash. At the end of a trip,I don't want to have any $$$$$ surprises.

 

[reginaastralis]

We don't make long trips like some, but I usually carry about $40 in cash and my debit card. I lost my debit card at Disney once, so I like to have some money ... just in case (I loose things all the time, this came to no shock when I came home without my debit card)

Anyways, not only b/c I'm flippin spectacular at loosing my debit card, but there was more than one occasion when I had a FUSSY thirsty toddler on my hand, and the vendors charge card machine didn't work. If you ever spot me at Disney, I'm the single mom carrying a toddler who wants a drink NOW and the vendors machine isn't working, so I'm scrambling looking for cash. Seriously, every trip or two it seems.

Also, my dd is obsessed with balloons, and they don't take charge cards, I don't think.

 

[hddanis]

We're actually using Disney Gift Cards. The kids each get their own for their spending money and then DH and I will have one for everything else. You can reload it in the parks if you run out. That way, I know exactly how much we've spent, so no big surprises at check out (well, we're also staying at SOG, so no room charges..but I'd have one heck of a Visa Bill!!! I plan on carrying a small amount of cash on me, just in case, but everything else either the Gift Card or my Disney Rewards card. We don't have the dining plan, so those 2 cards will see plenty of action!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

We carry a very small amount of cash and a debit or charge card. We don't charge to the resort key, because as OP said, we find we spend more freely and without thinking when we use the resort key (although that is the whole idea behind the system). While we don't vacation with a budget, I do like to know where we are money-wise as the vacation progresses and not get whacked with a heart stopping bill at the end.

 

[Nick's Grandma]

We're actually using Disney Gift Cards. The kids each get their own for their spending money and then DH and I will have one for everything else. You can reload it in the parks if you run out. That way, I know exactly how much we've spent, so no big surprises at check out (well, we're also staying at SOG, so no room charges..but I'd have one heck of a Visa Bill!!! I plan on carrying a small amount of cash on me, just in case, but everything else either the Gift Card or my Disney Rewards card. We don't have the dining plan, so those 2 cards will see plenty of action!

I was really glad to see this post because we had discussed doing this, but the clerk at the Disney store here in Pittsburgh told us we could not use the gift cards in the parks. We thought it would be better if the grandchildren each had a gift card so they would be more aware of what they were spending. They have all saved for this trip but I know they will forget where the money went if they just have cash. I had planned on some cash for each day and a gift card for souveniers and things so this will work out great

 

[hddanis]

I was really glad to see this post because we had discussed doing this, but the clerk at the Disney store here in Pittsburgh told us we could not use the gift cards in the parks. We thought it would be better if the grandchildren each had a gift card so they would be more aware of what they were spending. They have all saved for this trip but I know they will forget where the money went if they just have cash. I had planned on some cash for each day and a gift card for souveniers and things so this will work out great

http://disney.go.com/disneygiftcard/faq.html

Here's a link to the Disney Gift Card FAQs. I bought mine from the Disneyland Resort Website. I opted for them because they have several different designs...That way, each child gets their own so I can tell them apart. It's free shipping on the cards and you can get them for $25, $50, $100..If you want to add more to it, then ou can take it into a Disney Store or at WDW..You can also buy them at a Disney Store.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

http://disney.go.com/disneygiftcard/faq.html

Here's a link to the Disney Gift Card FAQs. I bought mine from the Disneyland Resort Website. I opted for them because they have several different designs...That way, each child gets their own so I can tell them apart. It's free shipping on the cards and you can get them for $25, $50, $100..If you want to add more to it, then ou can take it into a Disney Store or at WDW..You can also buy them at a Disney Store.

Thanks for the info! Me and DH normally give our kids our Disney Visa rewards cards, but it would be nice to be able to tell them apart and put more money on them if we wanted. Then me and DH could keep our rewards for ourselves.

 

[tmarquez]

I used to not ever carry cash until the last 2 times we tried to buy an ice cream, the card readers at the stands (all of them) were down. They don't even put up a sign "cash only" or whatever...you just get to stand in line and find out when you try to pay. I learned my lesson!