Debit cards

[robyn323]

Were not wanting to take a lot of cash with us and I don't really care for travelers checks. My ? is the debit card accepted at disney and surrounding parks?

 

[PooohBear]

I used my debit card everywhere when we went !! I think I only used cash at some of the "fast food" type places

 

[jlcbshaw]

Does your debit card carry a Visa or mastercard Logo? If so then there shouldn't be a problem. We have both and have never had a problem using them at the parks or anywhere on Disney property.

If it doesn't have one of the logos, I would call to make sure and check on the fee's they may add for a "non" logo card.

 

[sanibelover]

We used ours for a lot of stuff. One caution is to not use your debit card for large purchases. If for some reason a mistake is made, your account could be cleared out - for example paying for your room or buying tickets. If they make a mistake and charge you twice(has happened), it will be a while before you get that money back into your account, so unless you keep a large balance in checking, this could be a problem............

Also, if you lose your debit card and someone uses it (or a vendor steals your number and uses it...), you also could be cleaned out temporarily. With a credit card, you don't actually pay out of pocket while the investigation is going on into illegal use of your card. With a debit card, you are out that money until the problem is resolved.

I could see these kinds of things happening on vacation - it always seems like SOMETHING happens on vacation..........

 

[Kevin&Randall]

I agree with all that's been said - especially if an error occurs.

The only challenge we've ever had with our debit card was not knowing our banks rules. At least with our bank there is a daily limit on true debit purchases - ones that require your PIN. Of course "daily" is a business day so we were always getting in trouble on weekends.

We finally learned as long as it's used as a charge card (Visa or MCard logo) and no pin is entered we were only limited but our available funds. The good part of this is I don't think anywhere at Disney allows the PIN part only the charge part.

Hope this helps!

Kevin

 

[robyn323]

Thanks everyone this helps. It does have a MC logo so then it should be o.k. I guess. But I will have to find out if it has a daily limit I never knew about that. Thanks again.

 

[pyrxtc]

Visa debit cards are now protected the same as Visa credit cards. It has been all over TV lately so I feel better about using it.

 

[Marseeya]

Ours is bound by a pretty small daily limit! We found out the hard way once when we went to buy a new computer with plenty of money in the checking account after our IRS refund and our card was declined.

Sometimes you can get the bank to lift the limit for either one purchase or a set amount of time. Ours isn't very flexible that way unfortunately, so we have to write checks or carry cash for big purchases.

 

[bgirldeb]

There is also the AMEX TravelFunds Card, like travelers cheques but in the form of a reloadable card:
http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,18622,00.asp?a=2000

I seem to remember seeing other kinds of prepaid travel cards you can use as well

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

Ours is bound by a pretty small daily limit...

Sometimes you can get the bank to lift the limit for either one purchase or a set amount of time.

My bank's default limit is $500 for purchases and cash withdrawals. While the cash w/d limit is unchangeable, they will increase the purchase limit upon request in $500 increments.

 

[bgirldeb]

I also found this:

something like this may be good if you would rather not have to worry about your checking account being cleaned out by a mistake. Even if you can get the money back, I don't know how fast a transaction that is, and being that you'll be out of town on vacation...

http://www.eftravelcard.com/


It looks like AAA has a version as well: http://www.aaasouth.com/travel_funds.asp?image=aaa_gift_card2.gif&from_page=Finance


here is an article on prepaid travel cards:
http://www.abc6.com/article.php?ID=5362

It looks like the only issue with prepaid travel cards is fees.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

We used ours for a lot of stuff. One caution is to not use your debit card for large purchases. If for some reason a mistake is made, your account could be cleared out - for example paying for your room or buying tickets. If they make a mistake and charge you twice(has happened), it will be a while before you get that money back into your account, so unless you keep a large balance in checking, this could be a problem............

Also, if you lose your debit card and someone uses it (or a vendor steals your number and uses it...), you also could be cleaned out temporarily. With a credit card, you don't actually pay out of pocket while the investigation is going on into illegal use of your card. With a debit card, you are out that money until the problem is resolved.

I could see these kinds of things happening on vacation - it always seems like SOMETHING happens on vacation..........

Yes. Please follow this advice. Only use debit cards for small purchases unless you are filthy rich and can handle having huge charges taken out several times.

Disney once charged me $800 THREE TIMES on my checking account because that's just what they did with debit cards (they also charged me smaller amounts multiple times but the $800 was a big deal). I use a real credit card now for any purchase over $50. Just make sure you have the cash in your account to pay it right off once it posts.

Debit cards are accepted everywhere if they have a visa or mastercard logo.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I don't know how fast a transaction that is, and being that you'll be out of town on vacation...

Took over a month when they charged me the extra $1600 on what should have been an $800 charge. (paying off my hotel with CRO). I would not want that to happen to someone on their trip. Luckily mine occurred before I actually went!

 

[bgirldeb]

Disney once charged me $800 THREE TIMES on my checking account because that's just what they did with debit cards (they also charged me smaller amounts multiple times but the $800 was a big deal). I use a real credit card now for any purchase over $50. Just make sure you have the cash in your account to pay it right off once it posts.

Wow! That is good to know!!!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Wow! That is good to know!!!

At first I thought it may have just been my bank, but several weeks later, my mom told me that she had something similiar happen when she made a big purchases with her debit card (through a different bank).

 

[Chicago526]

When we travel to disney, we just put everything on our room card and pay it off when we check out with our credit card, then go home and pay the cc bill right away. No fuss, no muss!

Of course this only works if you are staying at a Disney resort. If you are, it's a great option!

 

[bugsy]

Thanks everyone this helps. It does have a MC logo so then it should be o.k. I guess. But I will have to find out if it has a daily limit I never knew about that. Thanks again.

virtually all debit cards have a daily limit..most people are not aware until they make a large ticket item purchase, vacation expenses, or, as in my line of work, a downpayment on a vehicle. these daily limits vary by the bank, class of card (classic, gold, platinum) and banking "package" you signed up for when you got your account opened (i.e. Bank of America Prima) I would
ABSOLUTELY verify that limit with your bank before you find out the hard way, and I agree with the posters who say that if you do have an actual credit card, much easier to dispute, replace immediately if stolen or lost, etc.

 

[bugsy]

Whenever I travel, I always call my c/c co and tell them the area where I will be using my card and for what dates. this accomplishes a couple of things. First, because any "unusual" activity will activate your fraud alert with the issuing bank, as well as a number of charges from an area you do not generally do business in. They may, if not notified prior, start declining your card, a measure that is for your protection, but could put you in a sticky position if not prepared!. Secondly, if you have given your bank the dates you will be there, someone could not copy your card info, and use it after your travel dates, an additional form of "damage control". I have a business associate that goes to Mexico every year, and he takes it even a step further. He always takes a credit card, that has by nature a high limit. Prior to his trip, he does all of the above, PLUS has the bank temporarily LOWER
his available credit limit to an amount he is planning to use, making it impossible someone to steal the number, and rack up large purchases, which would of course ultimately be straighted out, but who need the aggravation?
hopefully this post wasn't too wordy, and helped someone out there

 

[bugsy]

I'm bumping my own posts--hope that is okay--it's important info that not all are aware of! Hope it gets to the right family!

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

This is why I like having a hometown bank.

I had a friend who had a simmilar problem - a hotel charged his card twice. He called our mutual bank (we live in the same town) and they had a "provisional credit" for him within an hour.

Try that with some bank with Corporate offices accross the country.

N.E.D.