Disney gift card questions

[toni1227]

We can use them everywhere at Disney correct? If not, which places will not accept them? Can I use them at the Disney Hotel Restaurants?

Also, when you use the cards will they just run out on their own meaning say you have $20 left on the card and you charge something for $25. If you give to the cashier will they just say you owe $5 and you do not need to know the balance yourself beforehand?
I only ask because some places where you get gift cards they ASK you what is the balance on the card and they can only run it for the amount that is on the card or less (and you have to know that amount). I would hope the Disney gift cards do not work that way but wanted to find out ahead of time.
I am thinking of getting disney dollars for my kids and then a gift card with a large amount to cover food and me and my DH's souveniers/spending money.
I just need to know if I am missing something that I could not use the gift cards for and maybe have a little cash for those items.
Thoughts?

 

[toni1227]

Sorry, I should have just searched this topic on where to use the gift cards.
I just searched and found the info.
Still want to know about how the cards are processed though.
Thanks!

 

[avalon451]

You're right, they process just like a balance card, where they'll run it through and then tell you how much you still owe. You don't have to know the current amount.

I found ours very handy to have, because anywhere that can run a credit card can take them, and that includes most of the carts. I read that even the churro carts can take them. We used them for meals at the DL hotels, in the hotel gift shops, and for snacks and souvenirs around the park. We gave the kids each one with a set amount, that they could spend on whatever junk they wanted without us rolling our eyes at them. Yeah... cotton candy immediately after a big lunch... junky toys that you know will be abandoned once we get home... but they had such fun with their own discretionary spending money!

 

[toni1227]

Great thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

Ditto'ing what Avalon said!

For instance, I had a giftcard leftover, and I needed a water. I had previously checked what was on the card, b/c I have a TON of cards (I kind of collect them so each time I go I buy a different style, plus I get some from a rewards site), so I did have it marked with a sharpie that I had $2+ on it. The water of course was nearly 3. I gave her the card and she ran it, then I just paid the rest with coins.

There's a site, disneygiftcard.com, that lays it out fairly well. They are especially good with where it cannot be spent, if memory serves. You can't expect to use it at the carts that can be moved around (mickey bars, etc), or at the lego store (though you CAN use disney dollars there), the fancy jewelry place in NOS that I can't remember exactly, etc.


You can even use multiple gift cards. I once used the dregs of 4 GCs to buy a mango with lime box in DCA. Of course, I was the bane of existence to the people behind me, b/c the cards had been demagnetized and she had to key in the numbers...but really, the delay wasn't my fault since I TOLD the CM this up front, and she was the one who insisted on trying each and every one about 5 times, rubbing the card on her pants leg, and doing all the tricks people will do to get cards to scan...but I KNEW they wouldn't scan...silly CM.


Oh, and they give you a receipt with the balance each time. Some CMs will circle the balance left, and other crafty long-fingernailed CMs will circle it with a nail b/c it makes a carbon-copy mark and doesn't require a pen.