Disney Gift Cards vs Cash

[MBELSANTI]

Hi all, DS and I are leaving on Tuesday for a week long trip. Staying at Swan and used AAA to get a great rate. Bought YES program tickets and DS taking 2 classes at DHS. I want to change some of the cash I have saved into Disney gift cards so that I am not carrying around cash all the time. Does anyone do this? Would $100 denominations be good? I would hate to put more on a card and accidentally lose it. I thought maybe $100 card per day to cover food for the day (DS is 15 and eats a lot lol). We plan to do a TS a day. We had free dining in the past and we are really spoiled for our TS dining options. So do you get the cards before you go out there or while you are there? CVS sells them and you can add any amount up to $500. Do the stores in WDW have different card designs? Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

 

[LadyBeBop]

I know there are a lot who carries around gift cards instead of cash or credit cards. I'd keep a few dollars, just in case though. There are a few places that don't take gift or credit cards.

I don't know if you have Krogers up where you are. However through today or tomorrow (I think it's different days for different parts of the country), you can get 4X pump points when you buy gift cards. For example, if you buy $100 in gift cards, you can save 40 cents a gallon at the pump. Buy $250, and you save $1.00. Buy $700, and you save $2.80 (although you'd have to split that up into two or three visits to the gas station).

I'm pretty sure you have Target. Go in today and apply for their debit card. With their debit card, you can save 5% off of everything. Your card will come in the mail within a week or two (make sure you get your mail held). But you can get a temporary card, and buy up $300 a time in gift cards. (I think it's $300...somebody correct me). And I also think it's $300 a day. When I mean $300 in gift cards, you only pay $285 for the cards.

One thing though...I don't think you can get the "any amount up to $500" cards at either store. I think their highest denominination is $50.

 

[davedmaine]

I'd rather walk around with cash (knowing I could keep some of it in the safe in my room) than walk around with a $500 gift card.. yikes

 

[semo233]

There is nothing wrong with carrying gift cards. Just be sure to take a picture of the back of the cards...I'm not sure if they can do anything, but just in case you lose any.
Try to take advantage of some of the sales or special offers with purchase of gift cards. I saved 20% at my local Stop & Shop! I had to purcase $800 this week, but worth it in the long run if you can do that.
If not, just buy a $50 gift card each week or everyother week.

 

[reindeer]

keep your reciepts and if something happens to the card Disney will cancel it out and replace it at any gift shop or customer services. I like the cards because the help me keep track of my budget.

 

[cglaura]

You could also opt for a Visa Gift Card.

I had one one trip. You can set up a pin online or by phone, then if for some reason you need cash, you can pull it out of an ATM.

My gift card was free through AAA, but ATM I think was $1 or $2 per transaction.

That being said, I have also used WDW gift cards on many trips. As pp stated, just keep the receipt or copy the back of the card. It won't stop someone from using the money on it if found, but they can cancel if notified quickly enough.

I would go with a few lesser amount cards. Take what you think you will need for the day, and leave the rest in the room safe.

ETA: I think the free through AAA might have been a holiday promotion, it had a red bow on it. There might be some small fee like $4.95. I'll see if I can find info online.

 

[blessedby3]

I have gotten Disney gift cards for our food for our October trip. I got them at Kroger when they were doing their 4X fuel rewards. I like carrying the gift card rather than a bunch of cash. It is easier too, when paying for meals and such. I just make sure not to get more than I will use on a trip. I also carry a small bit of cash into the parks in case I run into a place that only takes cash (like some of the small stands).

 

[MBELSANTI]

Thanks for all of your suggestions! I think I am going to get 3 or 4 $100 gift cards. We plan to eat all meals at Disney except 1 or 2 at Swan as I have a gift cert for Garden Grove and $50 hotel voucher at Swan which I will use for those meals. I think with 1 TS and 1 CS per day for DS and I, we should be at about $100 OOP. This way each day I can carry 1 card and leave the others in safe. I will take some cash too just in case for when we go to DTD. I think some of the snack stands there are non Disney owned like Wetzel's pretzels and I am dying for one of those LOL.

I went to another CVS this morning and they didnt have any Disney gift cards. I am going to try another one later today.

 

[blessedby3]

Thanks for all of your suggestions! I think I am going to get 3 or 4 $100 gift cards. We plan to eat all meals at Disney except 1 or 2 at Swan as I have a gift cert for Garden Grove and $50 hotel voucher at Swan which I will use for those meals. I think with 1 TS and 1 CS per day for DS and I, we should be at about $100 OOP. This way each day I can carry 1 card and leave the others in safe. I will take some cash too just in case for when we go to DTD. I think some of the snack stands there are non Disney owned like Wetzel's pretzels and I am dying for one of those LOL.

I went to another CVS this morning and they didnt have any Disney gift cards. I am going to try another one later today.

Wow...thats what I budget a day for our family of 6...of course we dont eat TS, just CS....and we share I think that $100 will be more than enough per day for you two. You can always use any leftover for some souvineers

 

[starbound25]

I just bought some online through the disney website, I got them for the kids souvenir money
they start at $25 denomination
and you can pick from a lot of designs thats why I ordered them that way (easy to know who has the dumbo card who has the ariel card etc)
oh and all GC's are free shipping

 

[MBELSANTI]

Wow...thats what I budget a day for our family of 6...of course we dont eat TS, just CS....and we share I think that $100 will be more than enough per day for you two. You can always use any leftover for some souvineers

LOL I know but the TS I chose are on the pricier side and we like to eat steaks, scallops and other shellfish. I know not exactly Budget Board friendly!

 

[MBELSANTI]

I just bought some online through the disney website, I got them for the kids souvenir money
they start at $25 denomination
and you can pick from a lot of designs thats why I ordered them that way (easy to know who has the dumbo card who has the ariel card etc)
oh and all GC's are free shipping

It's too late for me to order them online because I leave in 3 days. I wonder if all of those great designs are at the Disney store in town or maybe if I can get them at DTD?

 

[wdwfan1]

While at WDW you can get many different designs on your Disney gift cards. I still have some from Christmastime a few years ago that are really unique. Even the CMs at Disney admire them! I have not seen anything like them since I bought them.

Have a wonderful trip.

 

[nobellybutton]

I doing the Disney GC thing too, my DH gets "perks" from work and Disney gift cards are one of them I was able to cash out $650, and my children both started out with $25 GC from Easter & we've added each month $10 a/wk, they also add $$earned from some housework. I like the idea the kids can have their "own"$$$ to be frivolous or frugal with...if it were Mommy/Daddy $$ the process to purchase wouldn't be as thought much more like impulse.
Also like that we have $set aside for our food, those GC's are for food.

 

[bumbershoot]

You can get them at just about any giftshop in the parks, and at WOD.

Keep the original receipt for each giftcard, and keep it *separate* from the GC. Leave it in the room, or something like that. Taking a picture of the back of the card is a good idea, too. Then save the receipts of the things you buy with the giftcard. They show the balance on the GC after each purchase. I'd keep those in yet another place, if you're nervous of losing your whole wallet or purse or whatever you're keeping them in.

So if you lose the GC, you have the original receipt for it. And you can show the CMs your trail of purchases and where they end.

 

[MBELSANTI]

I doing the Disney GC thing too, my DH gets "perks" from work and Disney gift cards are one of them I was able to cash out $650, and my children both started out with $25 GC from Easter & we've added each month $10 a/wk, they also add $$earned from some housework. I like the idea the kids can have their "own"$$$ to be frivolous or frugal with...if it were Mommy/Daddy $$ the process to purchase wouldn't be as thought much more like impulse.
Also like that we have $set aside for our food, those GC's are for food.

Wow my company gives us lots of perks, but I would LOVE to get Disney gift cards as a perk! Lucky!!!

 

[MBELSANTI]

While at WDW you can get many different designs on your Disney gift cards. I still have some from Christmastime a few years ago that are really unique. Even the CMs at Disney admire them! I have not seen anything like them since I bought them.

Have a wonderful trip.

Thanks!!!!

I went to Walgreens and they had the same design as CVS. It's a holiday design where all of the characters are building a snowman. I made that for $100. I don't want to get too many because I forgot that I have $398 in Disney Visa rewards that I need to use up too. I guess after I used that up I can see if I need to buy more while I am out there. I don't want to end up with too many Disney gift cards that I cannot use. I wonder if they would let you cash them in? Probably not?