checking in w/out a credit card

[theallens]

We do not use credit cards, our vacation is already paid for and we will be checking in, in about 10 days I noticed that you have to have a credit card when checking, will a debit card work instead or should I get one of those credit cards from walmart that you add money on to it?

 

[TDC Nala]

You don't have to have a credit card at all as long as your balance is paid. If you have a balance I am sure it can be paid with a debit card.

You do need a photo ID.

 

[kamik86]

You only need the credit card if you have a balance (as the previous poster said) or if you want to be able to charge purchases to your room, which I'm not sure if you can do with a debit card.

However worst case you would just need to carry your room key and your debit card around with you and use the actual debit card.

 

[theallens]

Thank you so much for the quick response.. Makes me feel better

 

[discookiemonsta]

We have been to Disney numerous times and have never used a credit card to check in. Just let them know at the front desk when you check in! The only thing will be that you won't be able to use your room card to charge anything.

 

[Colleen27]

As others have said you don't need a credit card to check in. And I can speak from experience that debit or prepaid cards are just fine for establishing room charging. There is no hold or pre-authorization amount, so it is just as seamless as using credit. We've been to WDW 8 times in as many years and never had a problem with the fact that we don't use credit cards at all.

 

[summerrluvv]

Debit cards are fine. I've never had a problem using mine for room charging.

 

[newlittleminnie]

...but I was just wondering, on the WDW website it mentions some reservations must be held with a 'credit card'

Does this HAVE to be a credit card?

Neither me nor my DBF have a credit card

would a debit card work?

 

[NJRRK]

...but I was just wondering, on the WDW website it mentions some reservations must be held with a 'credit card'

Does this HAVE to be a credit card?

Neither me nor my DBF have a credit card

would a debit card work?

Yes, as long as it has one of the major credit card issuer logos on it. It's just easier for Disney to say credit card.

 

[jnoble82]

I use my debit card as a 'credit card' all the time! Have fun!

 

[wdw4rfam]

yes, can speak from much experience...we have NEVER used a cc. We pay our trip with gift cards. Like others have said, your room keys will just say "not valid for charging". Its a good thing too, because we had a message on our phone one time at ASMO that we needed to come down and give them a credit card for our refrigerator. We didn't request one, but the person before us had one and they forgot to remove it and housekeeping noticed it 3 days into our trip. I was told when I called that they would normally had just charged it to the room, but since we didn't have a CC, they had to call us. A similar thing happened to my sister with the internet (before they were both free of course) It would have been real fun after I got home to try and get that money back once I saw it on my card. Ever since then we just play on the safe side and dont link a card, then they cant "charge" me for anything that I am unaware of. We just load all of our trip money on disney GC and use them instead. Its nicer anyways, because it gives the balance every time we use it so we can budget.

 

[Sammie]

I would never use my debit card, if there is mistake which happened to us, you will have the funds immediately taken from your checking account.

We had $2000 dollar mistake and I would not have been happy if that money had come out of my checking account, while I waited two weeks for it to be sorted out.

 

[CanadianGuy]

If you don't wish to charge to the room == no credit card is required.

And you could technically still charge to the room by putting cash down at check in if you wish.

 

[Princess on the Run]

We don't use credit cards at all and have never had a problem using our debit card for this. The main reason is in case there are charges to the room that need to be settled but if you don't charge (or steal or break anything ) they won't use the card anyway.

 

[sndral]

When I did online check in 2 days ago it required a credit card whereas in the past I have always been able to opt out of supplying a credit card number. So that is new.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

I've never done online check-in so I can't speak to that, but I have been to WDW many times and did not provide them with a credit card at check-in. I will say, though, that the CMs seem mighty disappointed that I do not, to the point that they ask me multiple times. I know many like charging back to the room but I prefer to not.

 

[pkb24824]

We do use a credit card when checking in because we do charge back to our room. But....one year we stayed at one of the All Star Resorts for one night (and checked in late) before checking into BWV for a week and the All Star room was already paid for. When we checked in they insisted that I put a credit card on file. I stated that the room was already paid for and that I was there for one night and would not be charging back to the room. I did finally give in and gave them a credit card. When I got home, they charged $.01 for the night...I never called back to see why...but in hind sight I wished I didn't cave in and give them the credit card! It was a valuable lesson learned.

 

[newlittleminnie]

So I can't do online check in just because I only have debit card not credit card?

That hardly seems fair

 

[NJRRK]

So I can't do online check in just because I only have debit card not credit card?

That hardly seems fair

A debit card is ok.

 

[newlittleminnie]

A debit card is ok.

A previous poster just said they HAD to input a credit card number when doing online check in