Disney reward points - Did I make a mistake?

[Redo0418]

I have been saving my reward points for our vacation in October and am now wondering if I have made a mistake.
I thought the points (I have almost 400 points) could be used anywhere in the park but after seeing another post and researching a bit more it would seem I was wrong. I was hoping to use the points at Ridemakerz and to get Star Wars merchandise for my son but those stores aren't listed as places that take the reward card.
I booked my trip through Disneyland.com and it is already paid for so I don't think I can go back now and apply the reward points to that.

Have I been saving my points for nothing? Can I go to the travel co. and try to get it applied to my trip?

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'm not sure who takes the rewards card or doesn't.....we always use ours at the World of Disney store.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

They are Disney reward points so they are usable at Disney-owned businesses. Non-Disney downtown Disney shops and restaurants do not accept the reward points as payment. You can use the points though at most restaurants and shops inside the parks and inside the Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel, and Grand Californian. The points are also usable at the DtD World of Disney store, Marceline's, Pin Trader's and probably whatever other Disney named stores are there.

 

[Davids-Coco]

There should be a list. If they don't take the rewards card, do they take disney gift cards? You can always take your card into a disney store and buy a gift card using your reward dollars.

 

[Heymy]

I agree with PP, use it for food! We usually have a couple hundred available per trip and have no problem going through it with various meals inside the parks and hotels. And as someone said, World of Disney! Somehow it magically disappears.

 

[Redo0418]

Thank you all for your responses. Since it has been so long since I have been there I have forgotten the price of food and souveniers. I'm sure my family will have no problem going through the points before we leave.

If there are any points left I guess it will be a good excuse to plan a return visit!

Robin

 

[dnamertz]

There should be a list. If they don't take the rewards card, do they take disney gift cards? You can always take your card into a disney store and buy a gift card using your reward dollars.

I had not thought of doing that, does that work? Can I buy a regular gift card at my local Disney Store using my rewards points, and then is that gift card good at any restaurant/shop inside Disneyland? That would be great!

I wish the list of restaurants that accepts the rewards card was longer. I could easily use my points on food, but I don't like being forced to choose from select restaurants that I probably wouldn't eat at if it wasn't for the points.

 

[Davids-Coco]

I had not thought of doing that, does that work? Can I buy a regular gift card at my local Disney Store using my rewards points, and then is that gift card good at any restaurant/shop inside Disneyland? That would be great!

I wish the list of restaurants that accepts the rewards card was longer. I could easily use my points on food, but I don't like being forced to choose from select restaurants that I probably wouldn't eat at if it wasn't for the points.

It does work. I have done it locally.

 

[Redo0418]

That's a good idea so will have to get some of the rewards points put on a gift card. The list of restaurants that take rewards points really isn't that long - neither is the store list. I am also trying to find out if there are other stores in Disneyland that will take a gift card but not a rewards card.

This board is really great for information!

Robin

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

That's a good idea so will have to get some of the rewards points put on a gift card. The list of restaurants that take rewards points really isn't that long - neither is the store list. I am also trying to find out if there are other stores in Disneyland that will take a gift card but not a rewards card.

This board is really great for information!

Robin

Your mileage may vary on this. I have read about people successfully using their Disney rewards card to purchase Disney gift cards. I have not had success with this though. Disney reward points are designed to expire. In the state of California, gift cards do not expire. Disney doesn't let you use your limited term rewards points and turn them into a non-expiring gift card. You may find someone who will perform this transaction for you since I have read the claims of others that this works for them, but don't be surprised if it doesn't work.

There are actually quite a number of places that will take your rewards card. We have not been turned down in any of the places we tried it over the years including: Blue Bayou, Carnation Cafe, Plaza Inn, Pizza Port, French Market, Mint Julep bar, Hungry Bear, Goofy's Kitchen, Steakhouse 55, Storyteller's Cafe, Candy Palace, Marceline's, World of Disney, the Emporium, and a bunch of other stores inside the parks. If they have a credit card reader, are are a Disney-owned venue, then they should be able to accept it.

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

We have used our Disney Visa rewards points EVERYWHERE in DL and DCA. Only time we had a problem was 6 or 7 years ago when a cotton candy cart would not take it. But we use it at every restaurant and store and even the churro cards....no problems. But as the previous posters have stated.....you can't use it much in Downtown Disney.

We usually go for 3 days, and have around 300 disney dollars. At the end of our 3rd day, IF we have any $$ left, we let the kids pick out some candy on Main Street. I don't think it will be a problem spending $400.

Have a great trip!

 

[nemofans]

If you are staying at at Disney resort, then it doesn't matter which stores or restaurants will take it as long as you can charge to your room.
What I do is give the rewards card at check in & ask them to use that to pay off my charges 1st. Then I give my DV for any charges over. Now I do this at WDW & haven't tried it at DL yet, but plan to our next trip. This allows us to charge everything to our room & it will be paid for by the rewards card. I don't have to worry about who will take it & who won't.
Once the rewards are put on a card, they expire in a year. If you can use them to buy gift cards, then do that with any rewards left over on the card. I haven't tried it.

 

[disneychrista]

The list on the site that accept is only a "SAMPLING" of where you can use it.

The rewards card is accepted anywhere in the parks that take accept credit cards. There are a few places that do not take it and it is because they are not disney owned. The place that comes to mind is the Crystal Place on Main Street.

Non-disney owned stores in DTD may not accpet the card.

 

[Redo0418]

You guys are great! Thank you so much for the responses.

I didn't know that the list was only a "sampling" so will go to DL and start spending those reward points!

Thanks again everyone.

 

[dnamertz]

The list on the site that accept is only a "SAMPLING" of where you can use it.

The rewards card is accepted anywhere in the parks that take accept credit cards. There are a few places that do not take it and it is because they are not disney owned. The place that comes to mind is the Crystal Place on Main Street.

Non-disney owned stores in DTD may not accpet the card.

That is great news! I thought I was going to have to eat at restaurants I didn't really want to eat in, or load up on souveniers that we didn't really need (although my daughter would have loved this). I'll be sure to use the rewards card every chance I get when I'm at DL.

 

[larina]

You won't be able to use it at Ridemakerz, or many of the other non-Disney DTD stores, but should be able to get Star Wars stuff for your son from within the park or even one of the stores in the DTD area.

 

[ter-moo]

When you redeem your points, they will be put onto a Disney gift card that is just like any other Disney gift card. That way you can use it at ANY Disney-owned place inside the parks, in the resorts and in DTD. In DTD that would include Marceline's candy store and the World of Disney store. You can use the gift card EVERYWHERE in the parks and the resorts, with the exception of a few little kiosks.

As others have mentioned, we always use ours for food. That way, you can go to a couple of expensive places (like maybe Blue Bayou or a character meal) and basically get it for "free" so you don't get so down about the prices! It's a great "treat" for us, and sometimes it really cuts down on our costs!

 

[nemofans]

It actually is not a gift card, it's a rewards redemption card. It does expire in 1 yr unlike gift cards that don't expire.

 

[Sherry E]

I just recently used my accumulated $11 in Rewards points/dollars towards buying a $25 Disney gift card from the Disneyland website (you can use multiple payment sources for one transaction).

This is not the first time I have used my Rewards points/Redemption Card to buy a gift card. I've never had a problem doing it. For me, personally, this method works best.

I have a few reasons why I choose to use the Redemption Card to get a Gift Card, but I won't go into them all now. One reason is that the Disney Gift Card actually is a bit more flexible than the Rewards/Redemption Card and can be used in a few extra places in the whole Disney realm where the Rewards possibly cannot be used, but, most importantly, the Gift Card has the benefit of not expiring.

This method of doing things may not work for other people, for whatever reason, but I prefer to do it this way!

 

[AZMermaid]

I also use my rewards card to purchase Disney gift cards through disneystore.com (make sure they are Disney cards, not just Disney Store). I like that it doesn't expire and I can choose from a million cute designs. For me, it offers more flexibility. I don't know if Ridemakerz takes Disney gift cards though, but almost everywhere in the parks will, except for maybe a random cash only cart and the crystal shops.