Charging using magic band and Disney gift cards

[mom2rtk]

So strange. I have never not paid my room only balance in advance of our arrival.

 

[bumbershoot]

If it were me, the hassle of the back and forth are just not worth it, use your Gift Card to pay to begin with.

Agreed. Even if you magically go there at a low-line time it's still an unnecessary trip there, when you could just be using the GCs.

The process is far less stressful--as in, not at all--than PPs are describing, and it's been this way for at least the past three years. The process didn't suddenly change. Until our most recent WDW trip last month, this is how we paid down our folio on all our DLR and WDW trips. You're required to have a credit card on file with the front desk--no big deal. If you're doing online check-in, you already have one on file anyway because it's required. Then all you need to do is walk to the front desk every couple of days and hand them a gift card or two, depending on how much you want to pay down. Again--no big deal at all.

Do you feel people are saying it's stressful? Huh. I'm reading people saying "go by the front desk every few days and do this". They aren't making it sound stressful. But it's an extra step, that's for sure. Not everyone WANTS to go by the front desk.

I do want to mention that there has been a change. It hasn't been until the last, oh I'd say 4 months (and I'm overestimating) that I've seen people mention the CC was required for online checkin. It was with the last "build" that went along with the new choices for room requests etc. Needing a CC has popped up here and there but it generally falls off within a week. I've been doing whatever form of online checkin they've had since our first trip in 2010, and I have never once *had to* enter in a CC. Every so often I've done it (and half the time it has managed to fall off the reservation and I have to give them CC info at the front desk) but most of the time I just click on through. I'm expecting that this will change for our trip in December. Unless they change it back.

Anyway, for the most part, the requirement of the CC for online checkin hasn't been a requirement this whole time.

Visiting the front desk for five minutes once every 48 hours will be far easier than juggling gift cards back and forth across Epcot every day you're there.

Not sure how you carry your cards, but I don't juggle them. I either dig up one of my old F&W GCs and wear that OR I just plunk a GC or two in my Witz brand lanyard case and pull it out for payment. Then it and the receipt go right back into the case and I walk away with what I've purchased. This isn't difficult. It's the same process you do when you hit the front desk.

Is this true? Last year we did online check in and we paid our hotel balance with gift cards when we checked in. I believe we did the same the year before. Have they changed their policy? I already did online check in for our October trip and I don't want my credit card to be charged.

It might very well be charged. I recommend calling with the GC info or be prepared to require them to refund your card and then pay with GCs.

Then you were choosing to visit the front desk at peak times

You obviously have the golden touch when it comes to visiting the front desk, but I have seen crowds at ANY time of the day and night, and I've also encountered lulls at any time.

Ok, we had room only reservations the past two years, definitely did online check in last year, and paid the balance with gift cards at check in. Is this a new policy?

Last year you likely didn't enter a CC.

If you have a room-only reservation, you cannot pay in full with gift cards prior to arrival

As others have experienced, you can.

I have been buying $25 Disney GCs for our November trip.
If we go to a restaurant can I give the waiter a $25 GC and then put the remaining balance on my MB?
This was my plan....now I'm getting confused.
Our room will be paid off before we arrive.

Yes you can do this. Or you could give them two $25 GCs if you wish. Or three. Or combine them.

I would verify it but I think it's 1000 for value resorts, 1500 for the rest, villas might be more.

As I'm sure you recall, though, there was a time in the relatively recent past where they were suddenly charging WAY in advance of hitting those limits.

This is probably a really stupid question (apologies in advance!), but can you add a tip on a GC when paying in a restaurant? Or will we need to have cash on hand for that?

You can add a tip on a GC.

First time I noticed being charged for my Room Only prior to arriving at the resort was August 2014.

That sounds about right to me, HF!

Then you and I have both experienced two different policies at Walt Disney World. Because on our previous trip I called and asked specifically if I could pay off my room only balance, and was told categorically that no, I could not, and needed to wait until day of arrival.

Yep. Just like some people encounter crowds whenever they go by the front desk, sometimes it depends on who you talk to when you call in. Things vary!

 

[MermaidMommy]

What is the threshold before they charge your credit card? Just curious to keep it in my head...

I would verify it but I think it's 1000 for value resorts, 1500 for the rest, villas might be more.

They raised the thresholds last year. It's $1500 for Value and Moderate and $2000 for Deluxe.

 

[tnolan]

When we have dinner at the Rose and Crown restaurant in Epcot, we hand the server our Disney Rewards card, she uses whatever is on that to pay part of the balance, then we just pay the rest of it with our Magic Bands. Hope this helps a bit!

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

Put me in the "just use your CG" camp.

There are enough lines and excess walking at the parks..... I'm not going to make unnessesary trips to the front desk just so I can put a CG payment on my room charges when I could have just used the CG to begin with.