Disney Gift Cards - swipe or not?

[MarkinNM]

I was wondering on when using Disney gift cards to the CM swipe the cards or enter the numbers? Only reason i am asking is when scratching off the grey stuff to get the numbers, some of the magnetic strips on a few cards were scratched up a bit, wondering if they will work?

TIA!!

 

[Disneyfan754321]

If you are worried about it combine your cards or switch the balance to another card. Disneygiftcard.com
You can get a empty card and move the balance

 

[MarkinNM]

If you are worried about it combine your cards or switch the balance to another card. Disneygiftcard.com
You can get a empty card and move the balance

Thanks for that, I am going that route now as my fumble fingers are more careful when scratching off that junk......

 

[wenrob]

Thanks for that, I am going that route now as my fumble fingers are more careful when scratching off that junk......

If you get your fingernail right underneath the edge you can just peel it off, no scratching needed.

In addition to the above advice make sure to take photos of your gift card numbers.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Another method to peeling off the strip is to use another gift card or credit card to gently roll up one edge until you can grab it and pull it off. No mess.

 

[starry_solo]

They can still be used (the gift cards). A lot of times, they get demagnetized and the CM puts a strip of receipt paper over the magnetic strip and voila, it works again...(you can tell I've had that happen to me quite a few times!)

 

[MarkinNM]

Wow, thanks all, great info!!!

 

[georgina]

I was wondering on when using Disney gift cards to the CM swipe the cards or enter the numbers? Only reason i am asking is when scratching off the grey stuff to get the numbers, some of the magnetic strips on a few cards were scratched up a bit, wondering if they will work?

TIA!!

I've used Disney GC at WDW many times. They always just swipe the magnetic strip and hand me the receipt. Quicker than using a magic band and having to enter a pin! Although I've never scratched up the magnetic strip when removing the PIN cover to use online. I like the advice above to transfer the balance to a newer card.

 

[godisney14]

If you are worried about it combine your cards or switch the balance to another card. Disneygiftcard.com
You can get a empty card and move the balance

Thanks for the tip.
Now, I don't have to be bothered by having to carry around and keep track of multiple gift cards. Have a handful of physical GC's and electronic GC's, and some with partial balance.

 

[DVCjj]

Aside from peeling (so easy...I use another card to gently pry up) and combining on the gift card site, I also read a tip on one of the forums to make sure the card you take to Disney with the balance on it is DIFFERENT from the same old red ones of Mickey ones EVERYONE ELSE has. Buy a different, unique cute one (lowest you can put on it is $15), transfer your balance and always use that card.

Sometimes, especially at QS registers, it SO insanely busy that it's easy for CM to mix up your card that matches everyone else's. I thought it was a good tip and always do it now. Plus the Mickey & Minnie sitting on a beach reminds me of an Aulani trip and makes me smile. My DD always uses an Animal Kingdom card.

 

[wenrob]

Thanks for the tip.
Now, I don't have to be bothered by having to carry around and keep track of multiple gift cards. Have a handful of physical GC's and electronic GC's, and some with partial balance.

Make sure you keep a blank one registered in case the one you’re using goes missing. That way you can transfer your balance quick right from your phone. We actually had to do this in May when my DD was on a school trip. I had her pack a spare in a different place than the one that had her spending money on it. She called me frantic, that she’d lost her card. I transferred the balance while I was on the phone with her in less than a minute.

Aside from peeling (so easy...I use another card to gently pry up) and combining on the gift card site, I also read a tip on one of the forums to make sure the card you take to Disney with the balance on it is DIFFERENT from the same old red ones of Mickey ones EVERYONE ELSE has. Buy a different, unique cute one (lowest you can put on it is $15), transfer your balance and always use that card.

Sometimes, especially at QS registers, it SO insanely busy that it's easy for CM to mix up your card that matches everyone else's. I thought it was a good tip and always do it now. Plus the Mickey & Minnie sitting on a beach reminds me of an Aulani trip and makes me smile. My DD always uses an Animal Kingdom card.

I do this too. I have quite the collection.

 

[MarkinNM]

Got my latest GC's in yesterday and peeled them off, worked like a champ!