Disney Rewards and Cruise

[brady961]

I am new to havine disney rewards and haven't used any as of yet.

How does it work if I want to use rewards to purchase merchandise on a Disney Cruise? Not pay for the cruise which will be on my Disney Visa, but just to buy items from MouseMates?

another question not related: I understand your points can expire, but how long can you keep points before they expire? Like can I keep adding up points for a year before expire?

thanks in advance

 

[starwood]

I'm assuming you're speaking of the Disney Visa Rewards. When you get your rewards card from them just present it at guest relations in the atrium. They will apply the reward $ to your onboard bill. Anything you buy on the ship will be bought with your KTTW card and charged to your stateroom.

As far as expiration - I believe the points that have not been transferred to the reward card are good for 5 years. Points that are transferred to the reward card expire at the end of the year (the reward card has an expiration date on it).

 

[brady961]

thanks. Yes I mean Disney Visa Rewards. So I can present my Reward cards at check-in. And if I spend more money that I have in reward points the balance would then go towards my Disney Visa card?

again thanks.

 

[starwood]

thanks. Yes I mean Disney Visa Rewards. So I can present my Reward cards at check-in. And if I spend more money that I have in reward points the balance would then go towards my Disney Visa card?

again thanks.

Yes when you check in they will put the money on the rewards card on your account (it would be like giving them cash toward your bill). You also give them a credit card. When the rewards money is used up they start charging your credit card.

 

[brady961]

great exactly all the info i needed. thanks to you all.

 

[3dog2kidmom]

One more thing, you don't want to put more rewards dollars on your shipboard account than you will use because if you don't spend them all they cannot return them to your card and you will lose them (or have to spend more, LOL!!). But you can return to Guest Services multiple times to check your account and add more if necessary.

Rewards dollars and Disney gift cards can be applied to your shipboard account to cover everything from Mickey's Mates purchases to drinks to your tips. We ended up with only $11 being charged to our visa at the end of our cruise

 

[brady961]

thanks. now i need to decide whether to use the small amount of points i have in Sept for that cruise, or continue earning points for the cruise in Sept 08. Wondering if did that would i have enough by then to cover a nice percentage of the cruise booking rate.

This Sept cruise I get a 50.00 onboard credit. I am sure to buy some merchandise from MouseMates, at CC, and from Shutters. I will probably only have around 200 points (realize that isn't much but I am new to this earning rewards, and learning how to use them) by Sept for this year's cruise. So decisions decisons decisons, use points on this cruise, which would probably use up most, or not use this year, save and earn more for Sept 08 cruise <G>

again thanks.

 

[IzzysMom]

brady961 - I personally think that 200 credits is a lot if you think that you had to spend $20,000 to get those 200 crddits. I'm I doing the math right? 1% for every dollar spent. So 1% of 20,000 is 200 - right?

Anyway - I can't help you when to spend it - I don't know how long you have been earning )how long it took you to spend $20,000). I'm not judging - I hope that's not the tone I'm setting here - because in January I had 257 credits after only a year.

Good luck and have fun on your cruise!

 

[brady961]

not taking it anyway <G> I have had the card about a year and right now have around 120 points. so am guessing by Sept will be around 200 based on putting cruise on card, and a few other expenses between now and then.

i can't do math, 2 plus 2 equals 22 to me LOL. So I have no idea how you earn points, percentage of spending etc.... I just look to see how many points i have.

got so frustrated today as I realized i could have booked my airfare for a trip in July to visit family using another reward points from hotel stays. never even thought about using points i have earned over last couple years staying in hotels for anything put other hotel stays. oh and then i saw i could actually use those points for a cruise. not a disney cruise though. bummer.

so i like said don't know how i earn points i just look to see how many i have. and the 200 was a guess based on what i have now, and how i have almost 5 months before cruising.

and then realized I have points on another card that I haven't used in at least 7 years. the points never expire so they have been sitting there all this time. Of course haven't earned any in those 7 years but what had earned just sitting there.

i have got to get better at remembering all this point/reward stuff and be using them.

 

[jessica52877]

I would use them this year. I know how good it can feel to build up alot and then use a huge chunk for payment but I always worry what if, what if they stop the program, what if we don't end up going, what if this or that. I would assume (never used the rewards card on the cruise ship) but that you can do it at the end, so if for some reason you didn't spend all $200 or whatever your balance is they only take what they need to pay for it. With tips I think it is quite easy to hit spend that on a cruise (not sure if this is a 3,4 or 7 day) but if I remember right our tips usually came to around $350 for two adults.

 

[brady961]

I would use them this year. I know how good it can feel to build up alot and then use a huge chunk for payment but I always worry what if, what if they stop the program, what if we don't end up going, what if this or that. I would assume (never used the rewards card on the cruise ship) but that you can do it at the end, so if for some reason you didn't spend all $200 or whatever your balance is they only take what they need to pay for it. With tips I think it is quite easy to hit spend that on a cruise (not sure if this is a 3,4 or 7 day) but if I remember right our tips usually came to around $350 for two adults.

thanks for your input and suggestions. I will probably be using it on cruise this year. and then build up for 2008 cruise. and depending on what i have then use it as can.

actually like idea on this cruise to buy in store without putting more on credit card. will be like getting it free although i realize not really free since i had to spend to get points