Charging back to the room.

[Disneytam]

How does the charging back to the room work at Universal and is it only allowed in certain places? I'm so used to Disney and the freedom that you get with the MB. Will be staying at the PBH and hoping to not have to carry cash into the parks but I have never used the charging back to the room except for the pool bars and the shops at the hotel. Thanks everyone!

 

[chmurf]

When you check in add a credit card. The hotel will place a hold for incidentals depending on your length of stay

You'll then be able to use your room key to pay for purchases, at hotels, citywalk and in the parks
You will be asked to sign a receipt when you make a purchase

 

[twocat]

But it has to be an actual credit card. If you use a credit/debit card, they put some crazy dollar amount hold per day on the credit/debit card. I'm thinking it was something like $200 per day and it doesn't roll over. So if you're there for 5 days, that's a $1000 hold on your card. I know it sounds crazy but that's what I was told by the woman checking me in at Cabana Bay in November.

 

[wagman67]

But it has to be an actual credit card. If you use a credit/debit card, they put some crazy dollar amount hold per day on the credit/debit card. I'm thinking it was something like $200 per day and it doesn't roll over. So if you're there for 5 days, that's a $1000 hold on your card. I know it sounds crazy but that's what I was told by the woman checking me in at Cabana Bay in November.

That is true, but I have always been able to work with them and decide on a fixed amount when using a debit card...there is no buffer, so you cannot go over it...works great, because the whole family can use their room keys, without needing cash or a card each.

 

[twocat]

That is true, but I have always been able to work with them and decide on a fixed amount when using a debit card...there is no buffer, so you cannot go over it...works great, because the whole family can use their room keys, without needing cash or a card each.

I'm going to try that next month! The thing that drove me over the edge is the per day amount kept being added together. $200 per day and by the 5th day you had a $1000 hold. That made absolutely no sense to me.

I'm going to try to get clarification when I'm there in May.

 

[Disneytam]

But it has to be an actual credit card. If you use a credit/debit card, they put some crazy dollar amount hold per day on the credit/debit card. I'm thinking it was something like $200 per day and it doesn't roll over. So if you're there for 5 days, that's a $1000 hold on your card. I know it sounds crazy but that's what I was told by the woman checking me in at Cabana Bay in November.

Seriously!? I was at PBH in Dec. for three nights and used a debit card for a room charge and don't remember that happening. I think it was like a one time $200 hold. What I was wondering was does every place in the parks allow you to charge back to your room or is it a YMMV kind of thing? I only charged at the hotel when I was there last year ( shops and pool bar) so I wasn't sure about City Walk and other places in the parks.

 

[wagman67]

Seriously!? I was at PBH in Dec. for three nights and used a debit card for a room charge and don't remember that happening. I think it was like a one time $200 hold. What I was wondering was does every place in the parks allow you to charge back to your room or is it a YMMV kind of thing? I only charged at the hotel when I was there last year ( shops and pool bar) so I wasn't sure about City Walk and other places in the parks.

Throughout parks and City Walk.

 

[loring]

This may sound like a dumb question but if don't spend a 1,000 do you get whatever is left back?We are staying at Cabana Bay do they offer charge everything to the room at the parks etc so we don't have to carry any money anywhere?

 

[wagman67]

This may sound like a dumb question but if don't spend a 1,000 do you get whatever is left back?We are staying at Cabana Bay do they offer charge everything to the room at the parks etc so we don't have to carry any money anywhere?

Yeah...it's not "use it or lose it".

 

[Disneytam]

This may sound like a dumb question but if don't spend a 1,000 do you get whatever is left back?We are staying at Cabana Bay do they offer charge everything to the room at the parks etc so we don't have to carry any money anywhere?

After almost 9 years on these boards I can safely say there is no such thing as a dumb question. If you want to know the answer to something just ask away. Someone on here will know the answer or at least be able to point you in the right direction to find it. That's why I love these boards so much.

 

[jagafen]

The only place that we have not been able to use room charge was the Medallion Stamping venue in IOA. He's cash only.

 

[bumbershoot]

OP, even at Disney if we use room charging we carry a cc and cash with us. Systems go down. Things are not perfect. Magicbands are *another thing* to bring to the parks, not a replacement for a prudent person.

So bring extra payment methods no matter what themepark you visit.

But it has to be an actual credit card. If you use a credit/debit card, they put some crazy dollar amount hold per day on the credit/debit card.

Credit cards too.

Since the last time we did a room charge at uni they've allowed you to change the hold amount but it was on full ccs as well.

 

[wagman67]

The only place that we have not been able to use room charge was the Medallion Stamping venue in IOA. He's cash only.

IDK...have you asked if they can change the room key into a medallion?

 

[schumigirl]

You can't charge back to room from a lot of the carts either.

 

[pcstang]

You can't charge back to room from a lot of the carts either.

From what I understand a lot of the carts are 3rd party. No AP discount either.

 

[schumigirl]

From what I understand a lot of the carts are 3rd party. No AP discount either.

Yep, they are.......

Seen a couple of people try to charge back to their room from a cart couple of years ago.......they were miffed they couldn't........

 

[Disneytam]

Thanks for all the answers. My son is in the parks now and I just told him to have a little cash on him just like we have always done at Disney. They are having a great time.

 

[chmurf]

But it has to be an actual credit card. If you use a credit/debit card, they put some crazy dollar amount hold per day on the credit/debit card.

last august we stayed for 12 nights at CB
they put a $1450 hold on my CC (prepaid currency card)
I was told at check in that it would be around $100/day + parking

I ended up using only $400 including parking ...

 

[macraven]

I always did the charge back to the room but last two trips I bought gift cards in the hotel/park and used them

Did have my purchases sent back to the hotel instead of using the holding set up at the front of the park

I gain points on my cc when I buy gc

I prefer to pay as I go in the parks