Disney Gift Card Question

[ReadyForVacation]

While I was waiting on my sons medication yesterday at CVS, I was looking around and saw a Disney gift card that could have $25-$500 placed on the card. It said they could be used for WDW, DCL, Disney stores, ect. We will be cruising in September with two boys ages 5,2. Since we don't want to give them charging privliges at such a young age, I was wondering if we could load some money on those cards for them to use in the gift shops and such while on board the cruise? I was thinking it would be a good way to let our 5 yr old feel like he was in control of his spending. Also does the value on the Disney gift cards depreciate if it's not used within X amount of time or will they be able to use it on a future cruise if there is any $ left over? Thanks in advance! You guys are truly the "go to" people for advice!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I just give my children charging privileges on the stateroom account and no need for disney gift cards.

Disney gift cards can be credited at guest services to your stateroom account.

 

[Bree]

The only place on the ship that accepts gift cards are the gift shops. Everywhere else requires you to use your KTTW (room key). The value on the card does not depreciate. No need to give a 5yo and 2yo room charging privileges, IMO.

 

[mmouse37]

I agree that the easiest way is to just load the amount you want on the Disney Gift cards for purchases in the shop. I have heard too many horror stories of kids with charging privileges buying arcade time and smoothies and such for all their new found friends. I am sure this is not the norm but it does happen. Know your child and if you feel they can handle charging privileges give it to them, if not don't.

MJ

 

[lanejudy]

At those ages, they aren't going to be on their own anyway so could easily use Mom/Dad's KTTW card for any purchases. However, if the 5-yr-old is learning about money and ready to take some responsibility for his own souvenir expenses, then the gift card would be fine for use in the shops onboard. Unless you need to specifically keep track of each child's souvenir expenses, I see no reason to give a 2-yr-old a gift card. And as noted, anything else on the ship will need to be charged to the KTTW cards and paid off at Guest Relations -- that includes kids' light-up drink cups and smoothies; not sure what else you might expect your little guys to spend money on.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[ReadyForVacation]

Thank you guys! I will probably just stick to using the KTTW card then. Well mommys and daddy's at least lol. It was just an idea. That's why I wanted to see what others experience and opinions were who have been before. The reason I was considering it is because my 5 year old is showing a lot of interest in how money works. I was considering it for my 2 year old because they both have "their own" money from birthdays, Christmas', ect. that they've been saving and while they won't be allowed to spend it all I was just thinking it would be easy to keep up with whose was whose and actually give them a limit on their spending. But it sounds like using our KTTW card will just be easier.

 

[jwdisney14]

Our plan is to utilize our Discover Cashback Bonus to get a Lowe's gift card, use that Lowe's gift card to purchase Disney gift cards sold at Lowe's, and let those Disney gift cards serve as a way to limit souvenir purchases for our DS5 and DS3. That way, I can ensure that gift shop spending won't get out of hand, and the gift cards will provide an equal budget for the kids. It's basically a leash for the parents and the kids.

 

[Ravenne]

I agree that the easiest way is to just load the amount you want on the Disney Gift cards for purchases in the shop. I have heard too many horror stories of kids with charging privileges buying arcade time and smoothies and such for all their new found friends. I am sure this is not the norm but it does happen. Know your child and if you feel they can handle charging privileges give it to them, if not don't.

MJ

Yep, that's exactly what I do...give my kids Disney gift cards. It's not just to help control spending, but it also allows them to budget, plan, and to give purchases some thought before they buy buy buy. For us, it cuts down on the, "I wants" and saves me the headache of constantly saying, "no" even though I'm with them for their purchases. It makes MY vacation a bit less stressful. Do what you think will work best for you.

 

[ReadyForVacation]

Our plan is to utilize our Discover Cashback Bonus to get a Lowe's gift card, use that Lowe's gift card to purchase Disney gift cards sold at Lowe's, and let those Disney gift cards serve as a way to limit souvenir purchases for our DS5 and DS3. That way, I can ensure that gift shop spending won't get out of hand, and the gift cards will provide an equal budget for the kids. It's basically a leash for the parents and the kids.

We have a Discover with cash back bonus but I didn't know Lowes would let you use their gift card to buy disney gift cards! That's awesome! I know most places won't let you use gift cards for other gift cards even if they're sold in their store.

 

[Ravenne]

We have a Discover with cash back bonus but I didn't know Lowes would let you use their gift card to buy disney gift cards! That's awesome! I know most places won't let you use gift cards for other gift cards even if they're sold in their store.

Most stores don't. The Kroger stores in our area used to do it but not any more. Has the Lowes gift cards to buy Disney gift cards been a tried and true method? Does it work chain-wide or just specific stores?

 

[jwdisney14]

Ours worked at a local Lowe's, but that was probably because we had several other items purchased and had multiple forms of payment. I haven't tried a straight-up swap of gift cards, though I doubt that would fly. Hope that clarifies!

 

[goofynut41]

Can you not use the Disney Gift cards to pay for drinks, spa, souvenirs and pictures etc.?

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

As I understand it, you can put everything on your shipboard account (shop, drinks, spa, etc) then use the gift cards to pay for your total balance at the end of the cruise. You just settle up at guest services the night before. We're using Disney Gift Cards purchased at a 5 percent discount with our Target Red Debit Card to pay for absolutely everything on our trip - it all adds up so a little savings is better than none when you're a family of 6 (at adult prices!) with 2 staterooms. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Can you not use the Disney Gift cards to pay for drinks, spa, souvenirs and pictures etc.?

As I understand it, you can put everything on your shipboard account (shop, drinks, spa, etc) then use the gift cards to pay for your total balance at the end of the cruise. You just settle up at guest services the night before. We're using Disney Gift Cards purchased at a 5 percent discount with our Target Red Debit Card to pay for absolutely everything on our trip - it all adds up so a little savings is better than none when you're a family of 6 (at adult prices!) with 2 staterooms. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!

Gift cards must be applied to your onboard account before you can charge anything. Unless you've backed up your account with a credit card or cash.

Gift cards are usable in the gift shops onboard, from what I've read here. But everything else onboard (excursions, gratuities, tastings, gift shop purchases, spa, nursery, adult dining, beverage purchases) is charged to your onboard account.

You can purchase Disney Gift Cards at Target (using a Red Card, either debit or credit) and get 5% off. Yes, it's a little savings, but worthwhile, IMO.

 

[missyp]

My 14 year old ( at the time ) who is extremely responsible dropped his gift card in the gift shop and we never found it. Even a responsible teen can lose them. I suggest you hold on to them but then it goes back to why purchase them you can just use your KTTWC, unless it will make him feel like he has his own momey. Or you are getting gift cards at a discount

 

[cmarsh31]

Just a reminder - if you use your Discover Card at Lowe's through the end of the month (had have signed up for the 5% cash back bonus) you can buy Disney Gift cards and then use the 5% bonus to trade in for Lowe's gift cards from Discover (45 for $50).

 

[ladypiph]

While I was waiting on my sons medication yesterday at CVS, I was looking around and saw a Disney gift card that could have $25-$500 placed on the card. It said they could be used for WDW, DCL, Disney stores, ect. We will be cruising in September with two boys ages 5,2. Since we don't want to give them charging privliges at such a young age, I was wondering if we could load some money on those cards for them to use in the gift shops and such while on board the cruise? I was thinking it would be a good way to let our 5 yr old feel like he was in control of his spending. Also does the value on the Disney gift cards depreciate if it's not used within X amount of time or will they be able to use it on a future cruise if there is any $ left over? Thanks in advance! You guys are truly the "go to" people for advice!

I always buy my Disney gifts cards from Sam's club you can get a $50 gift card for $48 or a $150 card for $143. I use those to both pay for my cruises as well as add to my account for other purchases. Instead of giving my DS (4) spending privileges we just do our own fish extender gift exchange as a family. I make us a FE and each day sometimes a few times a day I place little gifts in his pocket for him and my DH that I have purchased either while on the boat or before we even left. If he wants to pay for something himself I just give him my KTTW card to use. And if there are and funds left over they will be left on the card and you can even use it to buy things from the Disney store online or save it for another Disney vacation. Hope this helps..

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Yep, that's exactly what I do...give my kids Disney gift cards. It's not just to help control spending, but it also allows them to budget, plan, and to give purchases some thought before they buy buy buy. For us, it cuts down on the, "I wants" and saves me the headache of constantly saying, "no" even though I'm with them for their purchases. It makes MY vacation a bit less stressful. Do what you think will work best for you.

For youngsters though, why not make up some Disney Bucks (basically printed fake money that you design). Every time they want to "buy" something, they have to trade in their Disney money for whatever it is they are purchasing.

This way, there's no worry about loss, there's no worry about having a few cents left on a gift card (cause what are you going to buy for $1.03), no worry about keeping a $20 gift card from trip to trip because they didn't purchase anything, and there's no worry if they decide they want something on a port day or on the trip down or home where you can't use the gift card.

You have the real money, they have a fun placeholder.