Disney Dollars vs Disney Gift Cards

[Nancy for Disney]

What is the difference between getting Disney Dollars and Disney Gift Cards? I am planning to get my oldest a Visa Gift Card for our upcoming trip but it costs $3 per card. She doesn't have a great Disney attitude and probably won't spend all of her money at WDW. My two youngr kids will spend all the money I give them at WDW so I am thinking I will just get them each a gift card when we get there. I really don't want to be bothered with carrying all their cash. We don't have a Disney Store anywhere near us. I assume I can get them a gift card at our resort gift shop. Is that a correct assumption?

Thanks for your help.

 

[swald91]

Not sure if they sell cards in Disney- I know they do at Disney stores at least dollars they do & you don't pay extra for those-just in the dollar amt. you want. Do you actually put a dollar amt on the card & use it like a debit card?
That sounds good to me instead of carrying the kids $$!!!!

 

[khomer504]

We do Disney Dollars because it's fun for my dd to earn them in anticipation of the trip. She LOVES her Disney Dollars... I'm almost worried that she's not going to want to part with them. But also, Disney Dollars can be turned back into regular dollars if you don't use them all. At least that's the way it was expained to me.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

You can also get Disney gift cards on-line at the Disneyland site. They are good at WDW also and they had quite a variety of designs so each person could have their own design and they wouldn't get mixed up. They are then re-loadable at the parks as well if you wanted to get smaller amounts put on them and then re-load as necessary. You could also buy several with smaller denominations on them (in case they get lost) and keep the extras in the room safe.

They make a cute little souvie after they are used up, if some is into scrapbooking.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

I forgot to add that you can use any amount left over from the gift cards to pay toward your room charges if you are staying on-site, even if it's just a few dollars, just to use up the cards.

 

[Nancy for Disney]

You can also get Disney gift cards on-line at the Disneyland site. They are good at WDW also and they had quite a variety of designs so each person could have their own design and they wouldn't get mixed up. They are then re-loadable at the parks as well if you wanted to get smaller amounts put on them and then re-load as necessary. You could also buy several with smaller denominations on them (in case they get lost) and keep the extras in the room safe.

They make a cute little souvie after they are used up, if some is into scrapbooking.

Since it sounds like I can't get the gift cards at WDW, if I get them on the site then how long is delivery? We leave in 2.5 weeks. I assume Disney Dollars come in paper. I really like the simplicity of a card and having a different one for each child.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

I'm trying to remember how long it took to get them in the mail - it was last November so I'm really searching my brain and it's taking awhile . I think it took 7 to 10 days. But we live in Wisconsin and I was ordering them from California. I do remember that it took a day or two less than the website said it would. I think (again, an imperfect memory) you can have faster shipping, but it costs more. I just went with the standard cheapest shipping because I had the time to wait for them.

Hope this information helps a little bit, sorry I can't remember the exact information for you but if you ordered them today, I would think you would get them in time.

 

[acourtwdw]

I have seen Disney gift cards for sale at the resort shops.

 

[Nancy for Disney]

I have seen Disney gift cards for sale at the resort shops.

I checked the disney gift card web site a little while ago and it did say that the gift cards are available at some locations at WDW. I think I will just take my chances and wait until we get there.

 

[antree]

I just returned from Disney and I did see the cards Downtown at The World of Disney store. I can't recall if I seen them anywhere else. But I do remeber looking at them in the Pirate section of the store, they are behind the counter.

 

[pezheadmeg]

The disney stores have Disney Gift Cards that can be used through the world.

Unfortunately, when I went into buy the Disney dollars today (it's an adults only trip--it's easier to budget the EPCOT adult refreshments with Disney $$$ ) they're not currently being sold at the stores.

 

[LSchrow]

advantages of each:
GC:
~can be replaced if lost (copy receipt & back of card including pin)
~ easier to carry (1 piece of plastic vs lots of pieces of paper that fly away too easily )
~can be used on-line

DDs:
~can be redeemed for cash
~you get cash back as change for transactions

we prefer GCs for the convenience....carrying $500+ of DDs is just too risky (we use GCs to save for incidentals & the DVC DDP).

btw, disney stores have been getting DDs in again recently.

 

[ThruTheEyesOfMyChild]

DD is 8yo and has been "earning" DD's since March towards her spending cash for this trip next month, she has $50 of those now...but both Disney stores in our area area have closed, so we can't get any more DD's prior to our trip. I will also get her a small GC with her money from change jar she has been building up for 2 months from returning pop bottles, cleaning out my wallet , etc. Guess could be another $40-50 for her. Plus I always get GC with $300 for my mad money & tips for FREE dining. The cards are waaaay easier, but I do recommend recording the number on the back and keeping the receipt...just in case it gets lost. Also nice that after each transaction, your receipt shows you your remaining available balance...so no guess work like a Mastercard, Visa or American Express GC.

 

[Dismix]

I looked at the disneyland site but did not see where I could purchase GF when i called the disney store they only carry the mickey mouse one how and where did you purchase different GF's?

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

I couldn't remember how I did it either so I just went on the site now to look. I had to go up to the right hand corner and under the search, I typed in gift card and then a list came up and you click on the Disneyland gift cards - but you can use them at WDW as well. In November they had about 12 different designs. Now it looks like they only have two - but I didn't go all the way into the "buy now" to see if different options for designs come up. It was nice to have so many choices - they had Lady & the Tramp, several different Pirates, several castles scenes, Mickey, and some I can't remember.