Cash vs Credit vs Traveller's Cheques

[letsgo!]

Hopefully I'm posting this in the right section!

What do all the Canadians do for $ while at Disney? I'm sure cash isn't the right option, but I'm not a fan of using the credit card and getting dinged for the service charge. How easily used are Traveller's Cheques? Is there another option I'm not thinking of?

Thanks!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My parents use all the 3 options you asked about. It just depends on what things they purchase when they decide the method of payment they want to use.

 

[Canadamom]

We did the travellers cheque thing. We found there was no problem using them on Disney property and also at a grocery store offsite. I think other offsite places may not accept them that readily...we were prepared with a credit card if necessary. But, using them at Disney was no problem.

 

[canadaman]

I will be going for the first time soon. I plan on just using cash. I understand there are risks with that option, but i feel it is the simplist method for us.

P.S. Does anyone know if I can add cash to my room key card then just use the key card??

 

[cdnmickeylover]

We use a combination of cash and credit.

You can put cash on your room card and then charge everything to your room. We usually use this method. They will sometimes have a problem adding cash to your room but be persistent as it can be done. They just aren't used to it so sometimes we've run into a hassle but we've always been able to do it.

 

[letsgo!]

We use a combination of cash and credit.

You can put cash on your room card and then charge everything to your room. We usually use this method. They will sometimes have a problem adding cash to your room but be persistent as it can be done. They just aren't used to it so sometimes we've run into a hassle but we've always been able to do it.

Oh, this is an option that I had not even thought of! Perhaps we can try this out!

 

[ABCanada]

Charge everything to the room and pay with a US$ credit card.

We take some US cash for tips etc. but very little.

Without a US$ credit card it would make sense to put a credit card down on the room and then pay off the balance with travellers cheques prior to check out to avoid the high FX rates they charge on credit cards.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Charge everything to the room and pay with a US$ credit card.

We take some US cash for tips etc. but very little.

Without a US$ credit card it would make sense to put a credit card down on the room and then pay off the balance with travellers cheques prior to check out to avoid the high FX rates they charge on credit cards.

Ditto - BMO has a USD credit card. We have a USD acct and save up for the trip, then apply they $$ to the card and use the credit to spend.

 

[happydvcmember]

well what i did to try and save some money is open me up a RBC Centura account, so what i do is deposit the money we are planning on taking with us into that account and i use my American debit card insted of my canadian bank card or my canadian credit card, it has worked very well for me and now i have to carry very little cash with us and feel much safer in the parks and in our resorts, try it you might like it lol and its very simple to do takes about 30 mins at the bank but 2 weeks for the us goverment to allow it.

Mike

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

We use all 3 methods. Travelers cheques for the trip down and back. Hotels and stuff like food while traveling. We have some cash on us. We mainly use the room key tacked onto your credit card. We use our visa. When we get the bill we pay it off so no interest charges apply, just exchange which is minimal. Next trip we prob wont use travelers cheques as there are more of a nusance.

 

[yensidtlaw]

We take a limited amount of cash and the rest in traveller's cheques. No problem anywhere at disney or the surrounding area cashing cheques. Watch for high exchange rates if using a Canadian credit card.

 

[grd]

What is the fee for using traveler’s checks? Canadian credit cards charge about (2.2% including the exchange fee) to use in the U.S.

I think this is cheaper and easier that using traveler’s checks

 

[minnie56]

Charge everything to the room and pay with a US$ credit card.

We take some US cash for tips etc. but very little.

Without a US$ credit card it would make sense to put a credit card down on the room and then pay off the balance with travellers cheques prior to check out to avoid the high FX rates they charge on credit cards.

DITTO
Then when the bill comes in--transfer from my USD Bank acct which 'hopefully' I have stocked up when the buying is good!

We take about $3-400 cash..for the 'whatevers'

 

[ahalla]

We also, have used all three but a we take a majority of our money in cash. This helps us stay on a budget as we divide our money up into the amount of days we are away and that is our daily budget. It has always worked well for us. We took travellers cheques but the reason I don't like them (I'm cheap), is after working in a bank for some years, there is a charge for them (could be hidden it the exchange rate) to buy them and if you don't use them all, you are charged for redeeming them at your bank. This is also why I don't like credit cards. The hidden fees for converting the cash to american...

 

[bleacher]

We always take around $500 cash and the rest in traveller's cheques. ANYWHERE in Disney will cash them, as well as most restaurants, grocery stores (we went to Publix) and Walmart too. We didn't have to pay any fees to use them anywhere either. I just like the peace of mind knowing that if they're lost, they're replaceable! It's an easy way to get some extra cash too. If you need some fast cash, just either cash one in anywhere or buy a small trinket or souvenir and they'll give you the change in cash. Very easy to use!

 

[Narnia]

Last year when we went to florida we basically just used t checks. this year I will do a bit of both but I liked the safty of the checks and the back up of the card.

 

[briar_rose_59]

Just be careful if giving the travellers cheques to anyone in your party without photo ID available to them. Had a heck of a time trying to cash a travellers cheque in CA one time (not at DL, mind you). I was about 14 at the time and they refused to cash it unless I could show gov't issued photo ID to prove I was who was named on the cheque. Granted, it could have been (and probably was) a one off kind of thing, but figured I'd throw it out there.

 

[ForeverDance]

Just be careful if giving the travellers cheques to anyone in your party without photo ID available to them. Had a heck of a time trying to cash a travellers cheque in CA one time (not at DL, mind you). I was about 14 at the time and they refused to cash it unless I could show gov't issued photo ID to prove I was who was named on the cheque. Granted, it could have been (and probably was) a one off kind of thing, but figured I'd throw it out there.

Actually I was asked quite regularily for ID when using traveller's cheques on the last 2 trips.

 

[mkmommy]

In CA I get asked for ID with all credit card transactions also.

Just be careful if giving the travellers cheques to anyone in your party without photo ID available to them. Had a heck of a time trying to cash a travellers cheque in CA one time (not at DL, mind you). I was about 14 at the time and they refused to cash it unless I could show gov't issued photo ID to prove I was who was named on the cheque. Granted, it could have been (and probably was) a one off kind of thing, but figured I'd throw it out there.

 

[braydensmom]

instead of travellers cheques, you can get a prepaid visa that is international and you don't pay any fees on. Works the same way as travelers cheques do if you lose them, but its a VISA card, so 99% of retailers and restaurants take them.
You get them at CAA travel stores