Disney Gift Cards in Canada

[LoveDisneyDad]

I have been lurking on the budget board since I was given a trip for my family (DW, DS5, DS1) from my bosses to WDW in July. We found out in March that they wanted to send us, and they are covering airfare (from vancouver), hotel (at POR), and 6 day park hopper passes (including water park) for the trip. We have already purchased the dining plan because we got a very good deal through their travel agent. They booked the entire trip through a TA so any add ons or changes I believe we need to make through her.

Being as this was a surprise trip, we have not budgeted at all for it as we just went to DL in November and Arizona in April. I was absolutely not going to turn it down (because that is crazy talk!!) but when you add the dining plan, souvenirs, misc expenses (travel day food, luggage fees, etc.) the cost is going to add up since we have budgeted nothing for this. I have seen lots of talk about people buying disney gift cards at a discount at various stores but this seems to apply to the USA only and I live in Canada. I am not far from the border, can be across in 30 mins, but........

Does anyone know of disney gift card discounts in Canada?

As well as....

We are not going to be visiting the water parks on our trip as we feel we would get more enjoyment from the 4 parks based on our preferences, boys ages, etc. Does anyone know if we are able to exchange the passes once we get there (before activating them) for regular park hopper passes and getting the difference either in cash or on a disney gift card?

I hope this makes sense and thanks in advance for the replies

 

[Davey Jones II]

The only gift cards I know of are the ones at Target, and that company moved out of Canada. You can get 5% discounts with their Red membership card.

I would recommend that you reconsider the water parks. It will be very hot and humid in Florida in July. The basic strategy is to go to the theme parks in the morning, run to the water parks when it gets very hot and crowded in the afternoon, then head back to the theme parks in the evening (I would book FP+ reservations for the early evening).

Either that, or I would just head back to the hotel and hit the pool. But the water parks are a lot more fun (although they will be crowded, too).

 

[Marionnette]

I have been lurking on the budget board since I was given a trip for my family (DW, DS5, DS1) from my bosses to WDW in July. We found out in March that they wanted to send us, and they are covering airfare (from vancouver), hotel (at POR), and 6 day park hopper passes (including water park) for the trip. We have already purchased the dining plan because we got a very good deal through their travel agent. They booked the entire trip through a TA so any add ons or changes I believe we need to make through her.

Being as this was a surprise trip, we have not budgeted at all for it as we just went to DL in November and Arizona in April. I was absolutely not going to turn it down (because that is crazy talk!!) but when you add the dining plan, souvenirs, misc expenses (travel day food, luggage fees, etc.) the cost is going to add up since we have budgeted nothing for this. I have seen lots of talk about people buying disney gift cards at a discount at various stores but this seems to apply to the USA only and I live in Canada. I am not far from the border, can be across in 30 mins, but........

Does anyone know of disney gift card discounts in Canada?

As well as....

We are not going to be visiting the water parks on our trip as we feel we would get more enjoyment from the 4 parks based on our preferences, boys ages, etc. Does anyone know if we are able to exchange the passes once we get there (before activating them) for regular park hopper passes and getting the difference either in cash or on a disney gift card?

I hope this makes sense and thanks in advance for the replies

Nice little perk you got from your job!

I don't know if there are any discounts on Disney GCs in Canada. My guess is that they are probably not sold there because they are in USD and not CAD and there's could be an issue with exchange rates. You might be able to find some Disney GCs on websites like cardpool, cardcash or raise. Just be careful to purchase actual Disney GCs that can be used in the parks and not Disney Store GCs that might be merchandise credits.

As to the tickets, you will not be able to exchange them for a refund of the WPF&M option once you get to Disney. If they were purchased through a TA, you would have to go through the TA to have the option removed before you arrive. If you have already added them to MDE, I don't know if making the change would be possible. But since your workplace is paying for the tickets, why not just keep that option on there? You could use them for mini golf one or two afternoons. Maybe spend an afternoon at one of the water parks to cool off. July weather is extremely humid and hot in Orlando. Getting out of the parks during the afternoon in order to relax and recharge your batteries at a water park can be a pleasant change of pace.

 

[Gigi22]

OP, you might want to post your question on the Canadian board here. All I can say is that I am envious! Great perks like this are unheard of in my line of work.

Are you able to contact the TA directly, or do you have to go through channels at work? Perhaps he or she could suggest cost-cutting measures for you, if you are able to switch your hotel reservation from POR to ASM (assuming ASM is cheaper at that time of year) for example?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You cannot buy Disney gift cards in Canada, so you won't find discounts there.

I would just keep the tickets you have. You may decide that you want to go to the water parks.

 

[LoveDisneyDad]

Thanks for the replies. It is doubtful that we will be able to hit the water parks in the afternoons as we are scheduling that time to be back at the resort for the kids to take a nap. But you never know, Maybe I will go and hit the water park for an afternoon while the kiddies and DW sleep and rest.