Credit Card or Visa Debit Card

[mom23boys]

I am not sure what to do, I have about $600 Disney Dollars and $2400 cash saved for WDW, my bank has Visa Debit Cards. They are free to get (as long as you have an account) and I can get up to $500 on them. They have not fee for using them either, and are replacable if lost or stolen.

Should I get three of those and then take the rest in cash? Or should I just use my Disney Visa for most purchases they pay it off when I get home? They only problem is that my DH is not on my account so He would have to use a seperate credit card.

Thanks for the advice.

Sharon

 

[bartty]

Can't you just link your room key to the disney visa and charge everything to it? I think you can make sure you and your husband has charging privilages and then you can settle the bill with just one CC and the disney reward dollars! When you get home, pay it off and earn more reward $$!!

 

[etwinchester]

My bank had the prepaid debit cards that you can put money on as well. I did that for about a year.

Bad part is, if you stop using it for 6 months, they tack on a fee EACH MONTH. When you close them, they tack on a fee.

I decided to close it since it wasn't worth the trouble. Sometimes I didn't have the extra money to put on the card, therefore, I didn't have any funds to spend and I was getting monthly service fees for not using it.

 

[CarolA]

Those debit cards were used by my Girl Scouts on a recent trip and they worked great. Not sure what you should do, but just thought you would want to know the cards work as advertised.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Debit cards are nice--BUT remembering the balances is a pain. And when you are getting down to a low # and the purchase is more--you have to remember the exact amount left or the card will just get declined. I'm sure there's a # you can call...but it just seems a hassle to me.

If you can be disciplined to spend within budget--just use your Disney Visa...put it on the room, then you can use your room charge.

 

[my3kids]

You could get the cash converted into Traveler's Checks. If you don't spend all of it you can just deposit them into your savings account at home or use them as cash at home, or save them for another trip.

 

[granmanh603]

Can't you just link your room key to the disney visa and charge everything to it? I think you can make sure you and your husband has charging privilages and then you can settle the bill with just one CC and the disney reward dollars! When you get home, pay it off and earn more reward $$!!

Bartty is right by far plus you are gaining interest 3% hopefully in you ING savings account until you pay your bill when you return. Also you could call Disney Visa if you still have time and get a card for your husband.

 

[rae662000]

Also remember that the visa debit card do not offer the same protection as the regular visa credit card, so if you make a purchase and want to dispute the charge you might not have that right with the debit card. I think your credit card link to your room key is the way to go, just pre-pay it some before you leave and pay the remaining balance off when you return. Have fund on your trip and great job on saving before your trip, you are my hero

 

[disneysteve]

Definitely use the credit card and pay it off when you get home. Why use cash (or debit card/travelers checks) and pass up the reward points you'd get with the credit card? We always charge every penny we possibly can to our rewards card and rack up tons of points.

 

[mom23boys]

Can't you just link your room key to the disney visa and charge everything to it? I think you can make sure you and your husband has charging privilages and then you can settle the bill with just one CC and the disney reward dollars! When you get home, pay it off and earn more reward $$!!

Sorry it took so long to post again. DUH I forgot we can link our room key. Sometimes I wonder where my brain is. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[seashoreCM]

I would not use or own a debit card unless I received some extra bonus or perk or rebate for doing so.

All it takes is the discipline to send in the full balance payment on time each month, and using a credit card is vastly superior to using any debit card.

Further problems with debit cards -- If a clerk makes a mistake, much more money could be taken out of your checking account and it takes time to get it put back.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

I do have a PayPal debit card as that is the most convenient way to get money out of the PayPal kitty when not buying eBay items. The alternative is to make a written request for funds transfer. (There is no check writing facility). In addition, PayPal gives me a partial rebate on receiver fees (eBay seller fees) for using the card.

 

[disneysteve]

I would not use or own a debit card unless I received some extra bonus or perk or rebate for doing so.

All it takes is the discipline to send in the full balance payment on time each month, and using a credit card is vastly superior to using any debit card.

I agree 100%. Amazing how many people use debit cards and think they are the greatest thing. They don't realize how much they are giving up by not using a rewards credit card instead.

 

[Disneyfan63]

Hi,

I prefer to use a credit card for charging purchases to my room key, and my bank's debit card to get cash when needed. Last year I paid extra money on my credit card to cover my food and souvenier purchases at WDW; but because I bring a small suitcase and carry on and had no room for souveniers among my clothes, I still had about a $300 credit on the card when I got home.

Jim