Disney Dollars vs. Disney Gift Card

[ferret7]

For our trip last year, we gave DD's each Disney Dollars to spend as they wished, which worked out great.

Now we are planning a trip for next year, and want to do the same thing.
All of the Disney Stores around us have since closed and on Disneyshopping.com, all I see are Disney gift cards, not Disney Dollars.

Can the gift cards be used at WDW the same as the Disney Dollars? Is there any real difference between them, aside from getting cash as change when using the dollars?

Thanks!

 

[Robo]

Can the gift cards be used at WDW the same as the Disney Dollars?

Yes.

Even most popcorn kiosks take "plastic."

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

The Gift Cards work like a credit card but they do work almost everywhere, the exception being one or two of the kiosks that didn't have card swipers. Other than that, they worked at all the stores, the restaurants, the snack carts, etc. You can even reload them. When you get the receipt after having charged something, it will tell you how much is left on the card. At the Disneyland site, there are gift cards as well that work at Disneyworld and they had more options for what was on the front than what Disneyshopping had when I purchased them. I did have to enter "gift cards" in the search area though to find them on the site.

Not sure how old your DD's are, but you could buy them in smaller denominations and keep the extras in the room safe in case they get lost - you won't lose as much money that way.

If you are staying on site, you can also take any extra that is left over at the end of the stay, even if it's just a few dollars and apply that to the balance of the room charges (not that your DD's will want to do that, but it's an option if there is a few dollars left on the cards and you don't' know what to do with it ).

 

[ferret7]

Thanks to you both for the info!

I'm looking at the card designs on the DisneyLand site now, nice variety!

 

[loriandmatt]

i was one who was a disney dollar hard core fan. however i have become a disney gift card convert.

i use them as a means of savings. i am fortunate enough to have a disney store near me and i have to be in the mall where this store is located each week. each week i go to the disney store with 20 bucks (or whatever i can spare that week) and have that amount added to the balance on my gift card. i regularly end up with about $1500 to $2000 and use these funds as a means for room payment, ticket purchase as well as dining and souvie purchases onsite. i even have used them to make payments online for room/ticket/dining packages.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I prefer the Disney Dollars for children, for the simple fact that my kids earn these dollars through out the year.

They learn the value of a dollar when they have to count off each dollar when making a purchase vs. just swiping a card.

OP, I realize this doesn't help you, but the GC (which I get for myself, because I don't know the value of a dollar ) is accepted everywhere they have a card swiper. I've NEVER had a problem.

 

[Maine-iac]

you can teach your DDs to look at their receipt each time they use their card to see what the balance is left on their cards. I wrap the most recent receipt around my card so I know what my balance is.

 

[WillCAD]

Since you're quite limited on purchasing Disney Dollars with no TDS around, you can easily switch your saving method to the Disney Gift Cards.

As others have said, the Disney Gift Card is accepted at any Disney-owned venue in the parks, resorts, and Downtown Disney that has a card reader. Basically, any place that can accept KTTW cards can also accept Disney Gift Cards. Only places with no card readers - such as mobile carts and roving vendors - and non-Disney places - such as the AMC theater and Virgin Record Store at DTD - can not accept the Gift Cards.

Not sure how old your DD's are, but you could buy them in smaller denominations and keep the extras in the room safe in case they get lost - you won't lose as much money that way.

No need for that - isney Gift Cards can be canceled and replaced if lost, just like a credit or debit card, so you won't lose anything. But you do need the original purchase reciept.

 

[kids of the kingdom]

Where can I get Disney Dollars these days? Is it only @ a disney store? I love the idea of rewarding the kids during the year with Disney Dollars! Also love the "savings plan" loriandmatt do. I'll start now for our 2010 trip! Thanks