Disney Dollars -vs- Cold Hard Cash

[cxcelica]

I am doing CR, QR and SR and earning money for my next trip to WDW. The trip is not until some time later next year, so I have plenty of time to earn some bucks. Anyway my question is this. Should I cash out in Disney Dollars or in cash(paypal).

Here is my second question, can I buy tickets at a disney store (here in NY) with my disney dollars and can you pay part of your Disney Hotel bill with disney dollars??

I was thinking about just getting the cash, then I could use it to pay for everything, but it is fun to get the Disney Dollars and there is no way to spend it on anything else, so it is easier to save and make it seem like you are really working towards a goal.

 

[yearbook50]

I'm doing both - Disney Dollars and Cash

What I do is take my piggy bank and put all the money I'm saving for the trip in there. Granted there are times when I want to break in and use the money but then I remember its trip money. (I wrote on it Disney Money!!!)

I also put all my change in there that I have left over from going to lunch at work or the like. It adds up quick.

 

[yearbook50]

Also, doing both allows for you to have money in case you need to use a taxi where it will only take cash.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I use to cash out for DD$ but then my DF got a credit card from Paypal so we just get Paypal rewards and use the credit card when we're at WDW. It also means that we can spend the money on non-Disney items (gasp! ) if we need to.

 

[sunshinegirl]

Interestingly, less than 1% of the cashouts at Sunshine Rewards are to Paypal. About 75% are Disney Dollars or Disney Gift Cards, and then the rest various gift certificates. People seem to really like getting "Disney dedicated" money.

 

[Kevenswife2]

I'm getting the Disney Dollars.
Paypal scares me!
My daughter had a Paypal account and her ex-boyfriend tried to get a substantial amount of money out of her bank account using PP. He knew (or figured out) all her passwords and made it look like DD was trying to pay HIM for an e-bay purchase. Luckly she had closed her bank account associated with PP the day before BUT it was a big hassle. PP wanted to charge her for having insufficient funds in the bank!! She finally got it all taken care of but what a hassle! Through the whole thing PP's attitude was OH WELL and YOU MUST HAVE "AUTHORIZED" HIM TO DO IT (!!??) or YOU SHOULDN'T LET HIM USE YOUR COMPUTER (she lived a couple of hundres of miles away from him at the time) . After seeing how easy it was for him to try and empty her bank account, I'll never have a Paypal account!

 

[azgal81]

I'm getting disney dollars/gift cards through my reward sites and cash through my survey sites. So I guess I'm doing both. I have never had a problem with paypal I use it to deposit money from survey direct and lightspeed.

 

[bbangel]

I will be cashing out in Disney Dollars, if I ever make that much! I like knowing that it can't be used for anything else.

 

[cxcelica]

I'm getting the Disney Dollars.
Paypal scares me!
My daughter had a Paypal account and her ex-boyfriend tried to get a substantial amount of money out of her bank account using PP. He knew (or figured out) all her passwords and made it look like DD was trying to pay HIM for an e-bay purchase. Luckly she had closed her bank account associated with PP the day before BUT it was a big hassle. PP wanted to charge her for having insufficient funds in the bank!! She finally got it all taken care of but what a hassle! Through the whole thing PP's attitude was OH WELL and YOU MUST HAVE "AUTHORIZED" HIM TO DO IT (!!??) or YOU SHOULDN'T LET HIM USE YOUR COMPUTER (she lived a couple of hundres of miles away from him at the time) . After seeing how easy it was for him to try and empty her bank account, I'll never have a Paypal account!

I will agree with one thing for sure....PayPal has the worst customer service I have ever encountered. There service is not useful and always comes across with the feeling that they don't care and "oh well, we can't help you".

That being said I still use them and just hope I don't need their customer service for anything.

 

[katied]

I like having Disney Dollars or Disney Gift Cards. First, I know I won't spend it on anything but Disney, and second, it "just makes me feel better" to have it. I always seem to spend it all without a problem.

I also used to convert my Discover cash back money into Disney Dollars (by geting a discover gift card and then using it to buy disney dollars at the disney store) but this year I've just put the Discover gift card aside and will use it to pay off my hotel bill for the dining plan.

 

[sap1227]

I love getting my Disney Dollars. I have 2 Paypal accounts, but I just love the idea of putting that Disney Money aside.

Christy

 

[keishashadow]

FYI, DVC will not accept the disney gift cards or disney dollars for hotel charges (including tix purchases @ concierge) nor to purchase the DP but, will take them for gift shop & dining in their restaurants...weird. Called the CR & they indicated that they'd take the disney dollars for hotel charges but, not the disney gift cards. Note: I am not talking about the Chase Reward Cards but, the ones you can purchase @ disney shopping & @ WDW.


Talked to the DTD people & they verified this & stated that slowly the resorts are changing over but, as of now the cards cannot be used to purchase tix @ even @ the park gates (but disney dollars are ok).

Anyone know for sure? Sure don't want to load up on disney gift cards if I can't use them where ever.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

What exactly are disney dollars, and how are they better than just cash?

 

[alacazander]

First I love the disney gift card so i'd go for that first. Second i'd take Disney dollars versus Paypal and cash.

I just love to put those cards away "for the next trip".

 

[FlyingBelle]

FYI, DVC will not accept the disney gift cards or disney dollars for hotel charges (including tix purchases @ concierge) nor to purchase the DP but, will take them for gift shop & dining in their restaurants...weird. Called the CR & they indicated that they'd take the disney dollars for hotel charges but, not the disney gift cards. Note: I am not talking about the Chase Reward Cards but, the ones you can purchase @ disney shopping & @ WDW.


Talked to the DTD people & they verified this & stated that slowly the resorts are changing over but, as of now the cards cannot be used to purchase tix @ even @ the park gates (but disney dollars are ok).

Anyone know for sure? Sure don't want to load up on disney gift cards if I can't use them where ever.

I believe that it's changing... I looked into it a couple months ago and found the same info you did. However, check out the following that I saw last week:

http://disney.go.com/disneygiftcard/terms.html

Basically:

3) The Disney Gift Card can only be used at select participating locations at Disneyland® Resort, Walt Disney World® Resort, Disney Cruise Line®, Disney Store in the US, and DisneyShopping.com.
Check with individual locations for program participation before redemption.

4) At the Disneyland® Resort, the Disney Gift Card can be redeemed at select merchandise, food, ticketing, parking and Guest Service locations, all well as Disneyland® Resort Hotel room nights. Not accepted or valid for use for room service or lockers. Not valid or accepted at Taste Pilots Grill, fruit carts, outdoor vending locations, third party lessees, Names Unraveled, Jewel of Orleans, Silhouette Studio, Portrait Artists, Parasol Cart, Heraldry Shop, Crystal Shops, Midway games, Face Painting, Disneyland Kennel Club, and Downtown Disney® District Operating Participant locations (other than World of Disney®, Marceline's Confectionery, or the Pin Cart). Not accepted at Disneyland® Resort Hotel nor the Downtown Disney® parking lots. Not currently valid or accepted for tickets, room nights and packages purchased online at Disneyland.com.

5) At the Walt Disney World® Resort, the Disney Gift Card can be redeemed at select merchandise, food, ticketing and Guest Service locations, select third party lessees and Downtown Disney® District Operating Participant locations. The Disney Gift Card can be redeemed towards payment of a Walt Disney World® Resort Hotel room night or reservation. Use the Disney Gift Card for reservations or aboard Disney Cruise Line®. The Disney Gift Card is not accepted, at McDonalds®, Jellyrolls, Rainforest Café®, and the Richard Petty Driving Experience.,

 

[3dog2kidmom]

We used gift cards at the Polynesian on our trip this month towards our room charges. The CM wouldn't let me apply a large number in advance, though. I had to go each day and pay after we'd charged things. In fact one day we charged over $200 and they charged my visa even though I had told them I wanted to apply gift cards so my visa didn't get charged. When I brought the cards down, they credited my visa so it worked out but it was frustrating.

 

[LorieR]

We used gift cards at the Polynesian on our trip this month towards our room charges. The CM wouldn't let me apply a large number in advance, though. I had to go each day and pay after we'd charged things. In fact one day we charged over $200 and they charged my visa even though I had told them I wanted to apply gift cards so my visa didn't get charged. When I brought the cards down, they credited my visa so it worked out but it was frustrating.

Just wondering how many cards you had? I had four cards along with my Disney Rewards Card that I applied to my room in December. The CM did not know how to do the GCs so she had to get someone to come out and help her. He had a difficult time as well but they did apply everything for me, but then again I only had four cards. (I already have four cards for this year's trip so I hope they get things straightened out!)

 

[3dog2kidmom]

Just wondering how many cards you had? I had four cards along with my Disney Rewards Card that I applied to my room in December. The CM did not know how to do the GCs so she had to get someone to come out and help her. He had a difficult time as well but they did apply everything for me, but then again I only had four cards. (I already have four cards for this year's trip so I hope they get things straightened out!)

HAHAHA well.... I had $300 in $25's, 1 $50, 3 $75's, and $20 in Disney Dollars, so a total of 16 cards and 2 $10 disney dollars. I'm sure they were like, "what's up with her?!"

I hope with time and training these won't be such a problem. It's still well worth it, though!!

 

[3dog2kidmom]

QUOTE]

LorieR -- Not to hijack this thread, but tell me how you liked POR. We are staying there in June. It will be me, my friend, our 8yo DDs, and her 5yo DS.

 

[mickeyfan1]

What exactly are disney dollars, and how are they better than just cash?

Disney dollars are like cash, they are printed in one, five and ten dollars denominations, they have pictures on them of characters, princesses etc You buy them with real money and spend them like real money, except only at The Disney Store or on Disney properties. Because they are restricted to Disney places, I like them as a forced savings for my trips. I like the GCs too, it depends on from which program I am cashing out whether I get dollars or GCs.

I will always have other means of payment with me, but when you know you are going in X months, it's nice to have a set aside that can't be used for that "cute purse in Macy's that you don't really need but you could use some of your vacation fund on!"