Disney Gift Card Deals

[pillow]

Heads up for those who get gas at Kroger . . . my husband filled up yesterday. Our local Kroger (Central VA) is still allowing unlimited points redemptions. He was able to take $2 off per gallon. This was supposed to end on 1/31. Not sure how much longer it will last.

 

[anricat]

Yes, but keep in mind that there is a lifetime cap for Raise through Ebates. Something like $1,000 spent? I'm not sure of the exact dollar amount.

This is assuming you ever get cash back on eBates through Raise. I gave up. I have literally never gotten it.

 

[ellie05]

This is assuming you ever get cash back on eBates through Raise. I gave up. I have literally never gotten it.

I second this through topcash and don't even bother contacting their customer support. I have gotten credit through ebates.

 

[havaneselover]

This is assuming you ever get cash back on eBates through Raise. I gave up. I have literally never gotten it.

I've always had luck using topcashback for both raise and cardpool.

 

[bbsearchlight]

One thing to keep in mind about buying gift cards from re-sellers is the possibility that the gift cards were purchased fraudulently. I recall reading an account on this forum not too long ago about someone who had combined gift cards (can't recall if it was Target or Disney gift cards) and it turns out one of the cards that was combined had been purchased fraudulently, and the whole amount was invalidated (at least temporarily, if I recall correctly). For me, this risk (that the card was purchased fraudulently) combined with the risk that the original seller will use the gift card before I have a chance to, makes buying gift cards from re-sellers just not worth it. I'm not saying you shouldn't -- everyone has to gauge their risk tolerance -- but just wanted to point out that it might not be worth it.

There is the risk that the cards might be purchased fraudulently; there is the risk that the seller will use the gift card before you; there is the risk that Target might stop accepting gift cards as payment for other gift cards. I agree with you that for a measly 4 or 5 % it is not worth the risk, especially since there are much less risky ways of saving on Disney. (using Amex offers or buying tickets and hotels through Orbitz, etc.)

I also don't really think you are saving "hundreds of dollars"... on a $5,000 trip an extra 3% discount will save you $150 and an extra 7% will save you $350. It really isn't an extra 7% because when you get a percent off a percent you don't actually add the percents together. Anyways, right now target gift cards are only 5% off at raise.

As far as the Amex Blue Preferred, you ARE NOT getting 6% off since you are paying a $95 annual fee. So if you spend the full $6,000 at grocery stores in a year, you would be getting 4.4% off at the most, not 6%.

 

[pillow]

As far as the Amex Blue Preferred, you ARE NOT getting 6% off since you are paying a $95 annual fee. So if you spend the full $6,000 at grocery stores in a year, you would be getting 4.4% off at the most, not 6%.

Good point. But don't you have to allocate some of the $95 fee to the other cash back categories? Don't forget you get 3% back at department stores and also 3% back at stand alone gas stations. You also get 1% back on all other purchases. The 4.4% is really only accurate if someone only uses the credit card at grocery stores. Even if they do just that, 4.4% ain't bad!

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

There is the risk that the cards might be purchased fraudulently; there is the risk that the seller will use the gift card before you; there is the risk that Target might stop accepting gift cards as payment for other gift cards. I agree with you that for a measly 4 or 5 % it is not worth the risk, especially since there are much less risky ways of saving on Disney. (using Amex offers or buying tickets and hotels through Orbitz, etc.)

I also don't really think you are saving "hundreds of dollars"... on a $5,000 trip an extra 3% discount will save you $150 and an extra 7% will save you $350. It really isn't an extra 7% because when you get a percent off a percent you don't actually add the percents together. Anyways, right now target gift cards are only 5% off at raise.

As far as the Amex Blue Preferred, you ARE NOT getting 6% off since you are paying a $95 annual fee. So if you spend the full $6,000 at grocery stores in a year, you would be getting 4.4% off at the most, not 6%.

$350 is still hundreds. I don't ever buy a Target gift card at less than 10% off, personally. I subscribe to all the reseller newsletters and get coupons all of the time.

My last Disney Vacation was an Alaskan Cruise costing me about $10,000 for our stateroom, gratuities, excursions, drinks and souvenirs. ~7% of that is $700. However, I purchased those gift cards when the ebay, ebates, target loophole was still working. Saved about $3,500 off of that $10,000.

Also, some people, like myself, being stuck with hundreds or even a thousand dollars in Target gift cards isn't going to be a problem for me. I spend hundreds there a month. I'm sure any non-Target shoppers can find a way to spend the cards they're stuck with as well - they sell just about any daily essential item and at reasonable prices - including free shipping for those that can't make it to a Target with a Red Card or over $50 purchase I believe it is?

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Good point. But don't you have to allocate some of the $95 fee to the other cash back categories? Don't forget you get 3% back at department stores and also 3% back at stand alone gas stations. You also get 1% back on all other purchases. The 4.4% is really only accurate if someone only uses the credit card at grocery stores. Even if they do just that, 4.4% ain't bad!

Not to mention all of the AMEX offers you can potentially use. I usually save a couple hundred dollars a year with them.

 

[bbsearchlight]

Good point. But don't you have to allocate some of the $95 fee to the other cash back categories? Don't forget you get 3% back at department stores and also 3% back at stand alone gas stations. You also get 1% back on all other purchases. The 4.4% is really only accurate if someone only uses the credit card at grocery stores. Even if they do just that, 4.4% ain't bad!

That is true, but there are many other ways to save 3% at the gas station without paying an annual fee. You can buy gas station gift cards at office supply stores with a 5% back credit card, or if you have a specific gas station brand you usually use, you can get their credit card. I have a gulf credit card which gives me 3% back at gulf stations (which seem to have the cheapest gas prices in my area.) But remember, if you don't max out the full $6,000 a year in gift cards, then your percent is even lower that 4.4%.

 

[bbsearchlight]

Not to mention all of the AMEX offers you can potentially use. I usually save a couple hundred dollars a year with them.

The Amex offers would be available the same way on the free Amex Blue Card.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

The Amex offers would be available the same way on the free Amex Blue Card.

Yes, but $360>$180 (6% vs 3% for groceries)which is more than $95. Maybe I'm missing something - not trying to argue with you.

 

[Eighty8Keys]

Not to mention all of the AMEX offers you can potentially use. I usually save a couple hundred dollars a year with them.

Me too. In the 3 years I've had my card I've saved $635 in Amex offers.

 

[ellie05]

$350 is still hundreds. I don't ever buy a Target gift card at less than 10% off, personally. I subscribe to all the reseller newsletters and get coupons all of the time.

My last Disney Vacation was an Alaskan Cruise costing me about $10,000 for our stateroom, gratuities, excursions, drinks and souvenirs. ~7% of that is $700. However, I purchased those gift cards when the ebay, ebates, target loophole was still working. Saved about $3,500 off of that $10,000.

Also, some people, like myself, being stuck with hundreds or even a thousand dollars in Target gift cards isn't going to be a problem for me. I spend hundreds there a month. I'm sure any non-Target shoppers can find a way to spend the cards they're stuck with as well - they sell just about any daily essential item and at reasonable prices - including free shipping for those that can't make it to a Target with a Red Card or over $50 purchase I believe it is?

I am with you on this one Disney trips cost thousands of dollars 4-5% can actually make up quite a bit of money hardly would call that "measly".

 

[bbsearchlight]

Yes, but $360>$180 (6% vs 3% for groceries)which is more than $95. Maybe I'm missing something - not trying to argue with you.

I was responding to the original person who was asking about using the Amex Blue Preferred and using it to buy Disney gift cards at 6% off. My response was that you are only saving 4.4% after the annual fee, so you would be better off using a target redcard and getting 5% off.

If you spend more than $3,000 annually on groceries (which is the break even point of $180 between the blue and the blue preferred), then the blue cash preferred is worth it for you with the annual fee.

 

[bbsearchlight]

I am with you on this one Disney trips cost thousands of dollars 4-5% can actually make up quite a bit of money hardly would call that "measly".

The average trip to Disneyworld for a family of 4 is $3,500 + transportation costs. (we will keep the transportation separate since you aren't paying for the airline tickets with disney gift cards). An extra 5% off would be a savings of $175. I consider it measly because of the risk involved in buying on the secondary gift market, the time and cost involved in running back and forth to target every time, and because there are much better ways to save with less risk (opening 2 or 3 American express cards with authorized users will save you more than double with a lot less work.)

Again, I was just seconding someone else's opinions about the risks and invested time involved in buying gift cards on the secondary market versus the savings. Each person will have to make that decision for themselves.

 

[ellie05]

The average trip to Disneyworld for a family of 4 is $3,500 + transportation costs. (we will keep the transportation separate since you aren't paying for the airline tickets with disney gift cards). An extra 5% off would be a savings of $175. I consider it measly because of the risk involved in buying on the secondary gift market, the time and cost involved in running back and forth to target every time, and because there are much better ways to save with less risk (opening 2 or 3 American express cards with authorized users will save you more than double with a lot less work.)

Again, I was just seconding someone else's opinions about the risks and invested time involved in buying gift cards on the secondary market versus the savings. Each person will have to make that decision for themselves.

Everyone has different methods available to them so what works for you doesn't for others. There are risks involved in every part of this process. I still don't consider $175 measly that could mean an extra night at a value or moderate.

 

[bbsearchlight]

[

Everyone has different methods available to them so what works for you doesn't for others. There are risks involved in every part of this process. I still don't consider $175 measly that could mean an extra night at a value or moderate.

I disagree with your statement. There are no risks involved in using an Amex offer to buy Disney gift cards. There are no risks involved in going into Target and buying a Disney gift card with your redcard.

 

[ellie05]

[


I disagree with your statement. There are no risks involved in using an Amex offer to buy Disney gift cards. There are no risks involved in going into Target and buying a Disney gift card with your redcard.

Of course there are you can loose the GC. The GC can be drain (GC fraud is very possible and much easier to get away than cc). Although unlikely Disney can change its policy about taking GC for certain things like it has happen with other retailers and although it eventually had to be switch back for a short period of time that could ruin someone's trip. I don't disagree with your original advice to use caution what I disagree with you is calling the discount measly specially when your example you are taking about $175. You obviously follow this thread and should know that most people here are not buying GC at resellers for a 4-5% off. The last raise offer I got target GC for about 18%. And while Orbitz is a great way to save money it doesn't included food and and extras. The Amex offers are great, but not available to everyone even if they have an Amex.

 

[bbsearchlight]

You forgot the risk of getting into a car accident on the way to picking up the gift card or an erratic driver driving into target and running you over while buying the gift card or having a heart attack from the weight of carrying the gift card.

Anything that you own can be lost, but I don't think most common sense people would call it a risk. And considering the fact that we haven't heard of anyone who has had a Disney gift card that they bought in a store with the PIN intact being drained, I don't think that is a real risk. (The thieves drain gift cards drain cards like Visa, MasterCard, or stores that sell major electronics which they can sell and make money - they generally don't drain gift cards that are to very specific stores which they can't liquidate.) And it is ridiculous to compare when ebay stopped allowing you to buy gift cards with a gift card (which has always been the policy of most stores) to say that Disney won't let you use a Disney World gift card to pay for Disney which it specifically says on the gift card it is for.

Obviously, every person out there can decided what they think a risk is. I think what you call a risk is a bit of a stretch.

 

[ellie05]

You forgot the risk of getting into a car accident on the way to picking up the gift card or an erratic driver driving into target and running you over while buying the gift card or having a heart attack from the weight of carrying the gift card.

Anything that you own can be lost, but I don't think most common sense people would call it a risk. And considering the fact that we haven't heard of anyone who has had a Disney gift card that they bought in a store with the PIN intact being drained, I don't think that is a real risk. (The thieves drain gift cards drain cards like Visa, MasterCard, or stores that sell major electronics which they can sell and make money - they generally don't drain gift cards that are to very specific stores which they can't liquidate.) And it is ridiculous to compare when ebay stopped allowing you to buy gift cards with a gift card (which has always been the policy of most stores) to say that Disney won't let you use a Disney World gift card to pay for Disney which it specifically says on the gift card it is for.

Obviously, every person out there can decided what they think a risk is. I think what you call a risk is a bit of a stretch.

Your are entitled to you opinion there is a risk vs paying your trip with a cc. Loosing the GC and loosing all the money is a possibility and therefore a risk vs not doing this process at all. You said there were NO risks. You are the one that Pointed out the risk with resellers which I also consider minimal as long as you use it within the guarantee refund time and pay with a cc. Way to take it out of proportion.