Dec Trip

[Mandy_in_NC]

My husband and I are planning a trip to WDW at the end of December this year. We are still in the planning stages but getting ready to make reservations. My husband asked me the other day if there is a way that we can add spending money to our account before we go. I know that when we went 10 years ago we took travelers checks with us and used them to pay on our account as we went. It would be nice to be able to have money already on the account so we won't have to worry about what we spend so much. Is there a way to add gift cards to the account?

 

[Marionnette]

My husband and I are planning a trip to WDW at the end of December this year. We are still in the planning stages but getting ready to make reservations. My husband asked me the other day if there is a way that we can add spending money to our account before we go. I know that when we went 10 years ago we took travelers checks with us and used them to pay on our account as we went. It would be nice to be able to have money already on the account so we won't have to worry about what we spend so much. Is there a way to add gift cards to the account?

With direct-to-room check in, you don't even have to go to the lobby when you arrive anymore. So, you would have to make a special trip to try to add the GCs to your room account. Some CMs won't perform this action unless there is already a balance on the account. Even then, most of them will only apply the remaining balance from a single GC to the folio and not additional GCs.

Most people with GCs will add a credit or debit card to their account at check in and then visit the lobby concierge to pay off the balance before it reaches the limit for their resort ($500 for Values, $1000 for Moderates and $1500 for Deluxes).

 

[worm761]

I don't think you can prepay your spending money. You can buy gift cards in advance if that would help you. At Winn-Dixie we have the gift cards that are loadable from $15-500. I buy those for my trip because I also get double fuel perks for buying gift cards.

 

[Happyjen27]

From a budget standpoint, gift cards are smart, but maybe a Visa gift card instead of Disney? That way you won't have a mentality of "Well, we've got to spend this $200 on something in order to use up the gift card balance". The Visa gift card you can bring home with you if you find you're spending less than expected.

 

[Mandy_in_NC]

That is kind of what I figured. I just know that it was so much easier when we went on a cruise to have money already on the account. I was hoping I could buy gift cards and add them to the account before hand. But I guess we will be using the Visa card and gift cards.

 

[DisneyMom]

Have you looked into the new Disney Account program that just came out? I haven't looked at it in too much depth, just glanced at it (and I'm sure there are posts here that would give you more information on it), but it has a calculator where you can figure out all your anticipated costs, then add money automatically through a debit or credit card, or just add as you want. If you are looking at getting Disney gift cards, Sam's carries a pack worth $150 for $142.98. About a 5% savings - every little bit helps!

 

[CruisingKate]

With direct-to-room check in, you don't even have to go to the lobby when you arrive anymore. So, you would have to make a special trip to try to add the GCs to your room account. Some CMs won't perform this action unless there is already a balance on the account. Even then, most of them will only apply the remaining balance from a single GC to the folio and not additional GCs.

Most people with GCs will add a credit or debit card to their account at check in and then visit the lobby concierge to pay off the balance before it reaches the limit for their resort ($500 for Values, $1000 for Moderates and $1500 for Deluxes).

I have a room- only reservation for December. There is no option for making payments on-line. Our last WDW trip was in 2012. I just brought a stack of Disney gift cards for payment at check-in ( when balance is due for room-only). Are you saying this is no longer possible - they will only accept one gc for the balance??

 

[Marionnette]

I have a room- only reservation for December. There is no option for making payments on-line. Our last WDW trip was in 2012. I just brought a stack of Disney gift cards for payment at check-in ( when balance is due for room-only). Are you saying this is no longer possible - they will only accept one gc for the balance??

No. I'm saying that they will not establish a credit to your account by applying additional GCs to your folio. You can use as many GCs as it takes to pay off your room reservation but they won't take additional GCs at check-in to pay for any charges made with your MB during your stay. You will need to return to the lobby concierge every now and then to apply the GCs to your folio balance.

 

[CruisingKate]

No. I'm saying that they will not establish a credit to your account by applying additional GCs to your folio. You can use as many GCs as it takes to pay off your room reservation but they won't take additional GCs at check-in to pay for any charges made with your MB during your stay. You will need to return to the lobby concierge every now and then to apply the GCs to your folio balance.

Thanks for the quick response - glad to have the clarification!

 

[Mandy_in_NC]

Have you looked into the new Disney Account program that just came out? I haven't looked at it in too much depth, just glanced at it (and I'm sure there are posts here that would give you more information on it), but it has a calculator where you can figure out all your anticipated costs, then add money automatically through a debit or credit card, or just add as you want. If you are looking at getting Disney gift cards, Sam's carries a pack worth $150 for $142.98. About a 5% savings - every little bit helps!

I have started a DVA. I was just wanting to have some spending money already on our account when we get there. I know with the DVA you can get any money left over up to a lifetime amount of $500 on a gift card after you are done paying for your trip. I guess we will just get several larger amount gift cards and use them to pay off the bill as we go.

 

[ChrisJG]

You should look at the Disney Gift Card Deals page/forum on this site if you haven't already