Disney Gift Card ?

[barbaraann]

I just saw a deal on Sam's Club for a $500 Disney Gift Card. The cost was not $500, but rather $474.98. Sounds like a great deal, for someone who belongs to Sam's Club. Now my question is. Suppose someone buys this card for use at WDW. Exactly how does that work? I assume that you don't have to spend the entire amount in one place. Do the cashiers at Disney World locations keep subtracting the amounts from the card, until it reaches zero? It would be a good way to pay for everyday items, like food in the food courts, and small items that the kids might want in the food courts. Am I right. If not explain the process.

 

[aretha30]

Yes you are correct. We buy gift cards (in smaller increments) at Target and use to them buy just about everything we need while at Disney. Your receipt will show how much is left after each transaction. We keep out receipt with the GC so we know what is left and to keep track of our spending.

 

[disney world dreamer]

it works just how any other gift card works.
no it does not have to be used all at the same time.
the amounted used will be deducted and you'll be given a receipt.

 

[Guyton dis lover]

Good way to save up for a trip

 

[IrishNYC]

You can also use that discounted gift card to pay for your room, package, or tickets.

 

[nooneshome]

There is a huge thread on the Budget Board regarding Disney gift cards if you want to get adventurous. You can buy the $500 card online and hopefully you can also charge it to a card where you get some type of cash back. A lady at work did that with some type of super Sams credit card and she got 3% back. Be aware that you can also use these cards to pay for your trip. If you have a package you can pay online using gift cards and if you have a room only I believe you can use them to pay for your trip when you check in.

 

[tinkerbella16]

Good way to save up for a trip

This is how we paid our Sept trip this year. We bought the $500 Sams gift cards and just merged them and emailed our TA. Saved over $100 and it was well worth it. We are also doing the same for food for the whole trip. We'll each have a gift card just for TS, QS and snacks through the week.

 

[Guyton dis lover]

It is a good way if you want to save for that trip. If you have 20 extea dollars you can buy a gift card and put the money away and when you get the cards at a reduced rate it makes it that much better.

 

[barbaraann]

Thanks everyone for the prompt feedback. Normally, I do cash only on a trip. The friend I am traveling with on my next trip, asked me for some good ideas about how to pay for stuff, since she does not have a high limit on her credit card. There are 6 people in her family, and with me, we will be a party of 7. I remember reading about the gift cards, so I told her I would research it, and get back to her. Actually, I am thinking of buying some myself, and then I can carry less cash.

 

[hakepb]

And you can now combine gift cards online at disneygiftcard.com so you only need to carry 1 card.
(Easier than finishing 3 partial cards at a QS and getting the 6 resulting receipts)
But keep a few "empty" as backup in room. If you loose the primary card, you can transfer the balance online to a backup card.

 

[henry72]

And you can now combine gift cards online at disneygiftcard.com so you only need to carry 1 card.
(Easier than finishing 3 partial cards at a QS and getting the 6 resulting receipts)
But keep a few "empty" as backup in room. If you loose the primary card, you can transfer the balance online to a backup card.

I was just going to suggest this...we have been buying GC at Sam's (3 $50 cards for $142) and have been combining them into 1 card. Good idea to bring a back up in case the main card gets lost. (Also transferred money over to my kids' gift cards from the last trip so they have their own spending money.)

 

[barbaraann]

Silly question? Maybe not. I have not bought a gift card in a long time. Do they charge tax on the purchase of a gift card?

 

[Anonny]

Silly question? Maybe not. I have not bought a gift card in a long time. Do they charge tax on the purchase of a gift card?

No. You pay the tax when you actually make your purchase with your gift card, purchasing Disney food, souvenirs, hotel.

 

[barbaraann]

No. You pay the tax when you actually make your purchase with your gift card, purchasing Disney food, souvenirs, hotel.

Thanks for the speedy reply. I thought that's how it worked. My friend Annette will probably be traveling with the gift cards now for her and the rest of her family. It's a good plan, for people who don't use credit cards. Hey, it's even better than cash, if you think about it.

 

[Anonny]

But keep a few "empty" as backup in room. If you loose the primary card, you can transfer the balance online to a backup card.

This is a great hint!

 

[barbaraann]

I remember a few years back someone gave me a gift card, and I did not know if perhaps they expire. I was able to look it up online, by entering the number. I am definitely passing along all this great information to my friend. Not sure if she will buy her card/cards at Target or Sam's Club. I think she might shop more at the later, than Target. Anyway, we have a little more than two months to save for our card purchases.

Is it better for the servers in the restaurants to be tipped in cash, rather than adding the tip amount to the bill, and then paying the whole amount with a gift card?

 

[MichelleWDWfan]

I buy Disney gift cards for everything at WDW.
Our local grocery stores give gas perks for every $50 you spend on gift cards
It adds up fast when you buy them to pay for your trip.
I've gotten hundreds of free gallons of gas.
If we didn't have gas perks I would definitely get them at Sam's.

I use the gift cards to pay for our entire trip...I pay for the room/ticket package and then
I buy more gift cards to pay for our meals/tips/spending money.
The only thing I use cash for at WDW is Mousekeeper tips.

Not sure about the servers in the restaurants preference that's a good question.

 

[barbaraann]

What's the going rate for tipping Mousekeeping per night?

 

[hayesdvc]

Has anyone tried to convert a Disney Store gift card to a standard Disney Gift Card; it is one big happy family ?

 

[supersnoop]

Has anyone tried to convert a Disney Store gift card to a standard Disney Gift Card; it is one big happy family ?

Not possible. Disney Store gift cards can only be used at the Disney Store, not the parks or restaurants. They cannot be used to buy other gift cards.