Disney gift cards from the grocery store ?

[sydneysmom]

I apologize up front if this has been asked before.... but for those of you that have bought Disney gift cards from the grocery store, (ours is Kroger). I can't buy them at the Disney Store because we don't have one near us any longer. I have a few questions that hopefully someone can answer...

1. do they expire ? I'm thinking about maybe getting a $25 one each time I go food shopping as a "savings" for Disney. We're not going until 2013 though, so I don't want to do this if they expire.

2. can you use these gift cards when booking your reservation ? I know I can use our Disney Rewards points, but can I use a Disney gift card as payment for the hotel / dining / park tix ?

3. can you use the Disney gift cards for tips / souveniers / etc in the parks ? We're going to be on Deluxe dining plan, so if we can use these for tips, I wouldn't have to bring much cash....

4. Is there a difference in the gift cards they sell at Kroger vs. The Disney Store ? (for what you can use them on?) if you can use the Disney store cards for more things, I can just set aside the cash and buy the gift cards on the Disney website instead of getting them at the grocery store...

I think that's pretty much all that I can think of right now....TIA !!!

 

[feezle]

1. No
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. No

 

[cglaura]

Just be sure to keep the card if you use it for your reservation. If you cancel, they will refund the gift card.

You can also opt to apply them to your KTTWC at check-in, then you only have to carry around one card instead of a bunch of smaller gift cards.

Or you can put a cc on the KTTWC and pay off your balance with the gift cards every few days so your cc doesn't get charged.

 

[sydneysmom]

Just be sure to keep the card if you use it for your reservation. If you cancel, they will refund the gift card.

You can also opt to apply them to your KTTWC at check-in, then you only have to carry around one card instead of a bunch of smaller gift cards.

Or you can put a cc on the KTTWC and pay off your balance with the gift cards every few days so your cc doesn't get charged.

that's great advice, thank you ! I didn't even think to apply them to our KTTWC !!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Also once you have just 1 gift card you can add $$ to it by calling DelivEARS ~ 800-362-4533 *you give the CM your credit/debit card info and they mail you the receipt. That way you have just one Disney Card/number to keep track of and try to not lose I suggest you email all of your card #s including the pins to yourself. You could call twice a month or whatever and add $$ that way.
You could also order one online ~ *here* they are from disneystore.com *they ship for free. Also *here* they are from the Disneyland website *yes they work at WDW ~ they also ship for free ~ when I researched GCs on the WDW site I don't think they shipped for free.

 

[kt_mom]

What a great idea! I just ordered one for $25 and I add $25- $30 each time we get paid I'll have at least $250 - $300 by our trip for tips and other extras.

 

[tigger51276]

that's great advice, thank you ! I didn't even think to apply them to our KTTWC !!

I've been buying them at our local supermarket since January and have $800 worth so far. Plus I am getting another $100 Sunday as a Mom's day/b-day gift so I have enough to pay for the room and to buy food at Disney for my trip next week. I will only need to use $400 of the $900 so I'll have $500 leftover for my trip in Aug which is already enough to cover all meals for me and DD2, plus I am staying DVC and have an annual pass so at this point any extra gift cards I get are for spending money!

I will also be having the gift cards applied to my KTTWC to pay for our meals as I've decided to just pay out of pocket this trip.

 

[sydneysmom]

Also once you have just 1 gift card you can add $$ to it by calling DelivEARS ~ 800-362-4533 *you give the CM your credit/debit card info and they mail you the receipt. That way you have just one Disney Card/number to keep track of and not try to lose I suggest you email all of your card #s including the pins to yourself. You could call twice a month or whatever and add $$ that way.
You could also order one online ~ *here* they are from disneystore.com *they ship for free. Also *here* they are from the Disneyland website *yes they work at WDW ~ they also ship for free ~ when I researched GCs on the WDW site I don't think they shipped for free.

this is a great idea !! Now, (stupid question coming....) if I order a $25 card from the Disney Store online, can I then call and keep adding $$ to that or do I need to call the first number you have above to get a card and load it that way. I love the idea of just having one card and adding to that one

 

[DisneyMomma81]

this is a great idea !! Now, (stupid question coming....) if I order a $25 card from the Disney Store online, can I then call and keep adding $$ to that or do I need to call the first number you have above to get a card and load it that way. I love the idea of just having one card and adding to that one

No matter where you purchase your gift card you would call the DelivEARS # in my 1st post

No you don't need to order the gift card from DelivEARS - just pick one up wherever/however and then call the # to add $$

 

[hercamore]

So one just waltzes up to the reservation counter at a resort and you give them dozens of gift cards for a 1k reservation amount due?

Disney doesnt frown on that and limit the # of cards you can use?

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

This is a really informative thread, I think it would be a great sticky.

 

[sydneysmom]

So one just waltzes up to the reservation counter at a resort and you give them dozens of gift cards for a 1k reservation amount due?

Disney doesnt frown on that and limit the # of cards you can use?

that's why I was asking if I bought one card, could I keep adding (or loading) money to that one card. I don't want to walk in w/ 25 cards either and have to worry about keeping track of them...... so it's really nice to know that you can do this !

 

[erinmomof2]

Thanks for posting this. I think I may do it for our trip next year.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

So one just waltzes up to the reservation counter at a resort and you give them dozens of gift cards for a 1k reservation amount due?

Disney doesnt frown on that and limit the # of cards you can use?

I'm not sure about at the resort, but I've read there's a limit of either 3 or 4 giftcards at the ticket windows.

 

[Tink9295]

I'm not sure about at the resort, but I've read there's a limit of either 3 or 4 giftcards at the ticket windows.

It's three cards at a time. Last year I did two separate transactions when purchasing tickets at the park. This works if buying more than one ticket because you can purchase in separate transactions.

 

[Catira]

At resort check in can I add as many gift cards to my KTTW?

 

[StephMK]

If you buy through Kroger, I think they double the fuel points. Not sure if it is a usual promo or just sometimes. I just bought a Disney card last night & it looks like my fuel points were doubled. Just something to keep in mind if you use their gas program like we do.

I plan to use our gc for meals & snacks since we are staying offsite.

 

[sydneysmom]

If you buy through Kroger, I think they double the fuel points. Not sure if it is a usual promo or just sometimes. I just bought a Disney card last night & it looks like my fuel points were doubled. Just something to keep in mind if you use their gas program like we do.

I plan to use our gc for meals & snacks since we are staying offsite.

I didn't know this !! I could totally get one through Kroger to double the fuel points.... every little bit helps ! thanks for posting this !

 

[ThisIsTheYear]

Also once you have just 1 gift card you can add $$ to it by calling DelivEARS ~ 800-362-4533 *you give the CM your credit/debit card info and they mail you the receipt. That way you have just one Disney Card/number to keep track of and not try to lose I suggest you email all of your card #s including the pins to yourself. You could call twice a month or whatever and add $$ that way.
You could also order one online ~ *here* they are from disneystore.com *they ship for free. Also *here* they are from the Disneyland website *yes they work at WDW ~ they also ship for free ~ when I researched GCs on the WDW site I don't think they shipped for free.

This is great, thank you! I almost just ordered my 3rd gift card!

 

[kristinlynn]

You can put as many cards as you want to your hotel room. Sometimes our local grocery store has a promo on disney gift cards (buy $25 or more and get a $5 coupon). Last time we went I walked in with 50 cards. I was able to put all 50 cards to my room and then work the balance off with my KTTWC. The CM wasn't exactly thrilled to do this, but it works.

I've also heard that you can call before your trip and apply the cards to your room ... but I've never done this.