Disney Rewards Card

[ashresiren]

Has anyone attempted to use the Disney Rewards card (for Disney Visa Card members) at Disney World restaurants? I have nearly 200 dollars/points on my card, and I'm wondering whether I'm going to have to explain what it is everywhere we go. Thanks!

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

I'm curious about this myself. I just ordered my rewards card and want to use it in October.

 

[dawgsgirl]

I always use my Rewards card at restaurants and have never had any problem at all. They all seem to know exactly what it is. Happy eating!

 

[wfloyd]

They use it just like a credit card and have no problems with it. You will get a slip back saying what your new balance is and the ability to leave a tip if you want. Everyone seems to know what to do or they get the manager fairly quickly to straighten it out without you knowing.

 

[rarrington]

We used ours last week in the resort gift shop without any problem, as well as the GF Spa. They seem to know what it is.

 

[gigi1313]

we used ours at restaurants, shops and snack carts in the parks... never a problem... cannot wait to use it again this year!

 

[Nora94]

the only place you can't use it is snack carts w/o credit card readers. So, if the resturant or snack cart has a credit card machine you can use the rewards card there. (Assuming of course it's a Disney resturant... )

Nora

 

[ashresiren]

Thanks for your help. There seemed to be a lot of talk on the boards about cashing them in for Disney Dollars, so I wondered if I should do this as well. I feel a lot more secure knowing I can just carry the one card. Thanks again!

 

[Mad4Dizne]

We have used our Rewards Points, our last trip many times with no problems. However, the only problem is everyone eating has to be together to use the points. We have been buying Disney Dollars with ours at the local Disney Store--and this works out better for us.

 

[athenna]

We used ours last week in the resort gift shop without any problem, as well as the GF Spa. They seem to know what it is.

Good to know! I was told you couldn't use the reward dollars at the spa's because they aren't run by Disney. If that has changed, I know what I'll be using my rewards for in November.

 

[Nora94]

you can have the reward split between multiple cards, just ask when you request them.

I had one and got one for dh. That way if we were seperated it was easily taken care of. You can get as many as you would want, so you could get $20 for each kid, then split the remainder between the parents, or all on one or 1/2 and 1/2 or whatever.

I also liked that when the cards arrived I had to call and activate them like they were a credit card. That was a nice safety feature.

They also said that if you lose the card, call them asap and they will get you a new card w/in 24 hours, sent right to your room.

Nora

 

[gigi1313]

wow, that's good to know... i like the idea of distributing the rewards and giving the kids each their own "credit card" w/a set amount of money on it...

 

[Cinderelli]

I think you are safe if you try to use it at the resorts or parks, however, last Thursday night we had tickets to Cirque and we had dinner at House of Blues. They did not accept the rewards card. They said since they lease the land, and are not owned by Disney, they do not accept the rewards. Something about not having a contract with them to do that or something. So be careful. I would ask before-hand.

Lissa

 

[CarolAnnC]

As far as WDW Restaurants, you should not have any problem at all using your Rewards Card. I use mine every trip without problems.

 

[Cinderelli]

CarolAnnC,

I did consider HOB to be a WDW restaurant. I guess live and learn. I thought since you could take a Disney bus there, charge to your room, etc., that it was considered to be a WDW restaurant. But, not true. I have heard the same thing of the spa at SSR. I intend to have a spa treatment while staying at SSR next week, but do not think I can use the rewards there (even tho it is part of a Disney resort).

I'm guessing the way around it is to always charge to your room, and use the rewards to pay off your room account. But, I intend to ask upon check-in if there will be a problem using the "rewards" to pay for my spa treatment or any dinners charge at DTD or the Westside that appear on my room charges , before-hand.

Just a "heads-up". Not sure why this is, but these are the problems I've encountered.

Thanks,
Lissa

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

I had the same problem at the Castle for Dinner and at the gift shop in ASMO.
Had $128 on the card per card services week earlier. Bill was 111.20, wanted to put 17 tip also on card.
Waiter showed me the slip. Where it said balance 0. He said that meant the balance on the reward card was zero. I didn't think it was correct but paid tip in cash.
Used reward card to purchase a $14.00 mug at shop at ASMo. Again the clerk told me that balance zero meant there was nothing left on the card.
It doesn't. It means there is nothing owed on the purchase.

 

[missymouze]

tried to use mine last week at wolf gang puck...NOPE! They wont accept it there either!

 

[Cinderelli]

Wished I Lived In Fl,

We had a similar experience at Concourse Steakhouse for Valentines Day, 2004. I thought maybe since it was pretty new at the time, that explained it. Not sure what our waitress ended up doing, she didn't understand the card either, but eventually I told her to just try to charge it like a credit card and it worked. Took several attempts, tho. How recent was your experience?

Mizzymouse, I wonder if all Downtown Disney/West Side restaurants are this way? Seems crazy, because I would think you could use it to buy merch at the stores, but maybe not?

I still think it's confusing for us. If you can take a Disney Bus to get to the restaurant/store, and you can use your KTTW card to charge your meal to your room, I consider that to be a Disney facility and would have expected to be able to use my rewards there, but it appears that is not the case.

I think this discussion is good so that all are aware. I would much rather have known this before my family had a $100 dollar meal at HOB last week, only to find out we could not use our rewards and had to fork over the cash.

From now on, we'll ask BEFORE we dine, purchase merchandise, or have a spa treatment.

Lissa

 

[rifamtrav]

Sounds like there are lots of rewards for these Visa cards! I just threw out my last invitation to get a card, then a week later decided to go to Disney this year! Can someone tell me what the reward rate is (i.e 1% of purchases, or .5% etc) and if you put your disney vacation pkg on the visa card do you get a higher rate of reward? Trying to figure out if it makes sense to order the card now in time to pay off the balance for the trip. Thanks.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

rifamtrav

I ordered my Disney Visa for that sole purpose last year prior to our big WDW trip. There reward rate is 1% but it also carries special perks for discount rates for other things. We were able to add on a few nights at Vero Beach last year since the discounted Disney Visa Cardholder rates were $99 a night for a Studio/or Inn room w/ Ocean View. There are also some great cardholder rates offered for two bedroom villas at Hilton Head.

We used the card last year for everything during our vacation and managed to accumulate some great rewards. I also use it at home for all our household monthly expenses then pay it off every month. I've got a nice chunk on my reward card to spend this year on our October trip!

I've heard there is a new Chase Disney card that gives a better reward so you may want to check it out.