Disney Vacation Account, Imerdiate Use of Funds

[MrDanielOwens]

Hopefully we are going to make reservations this evening for our our 1 year anniversary trip to WDW. If I buy gift cards from Target today and come home to make a new Disney Vacation Account with them, can I immediately turn around and book the trip with them? Has anyone done this? Also, is this the only way to use multiple gift cards for the down payment?

 

[runmickeyrun]

I have used multiple gift cards toward the final payment, but not for the reservation. I would go to the CHAT feature or give them a call to be sure.

 

[MrDanielOwens]

Well after I searched harder, it seems you can and if you set up a recurring payment at set up and cancel it after entering gift cards, you don't have to make the initial $10 deposit.

 

[supersnoop]

They recently announced a change that looks like there will be a 7 day holding period before you can use the funds deposited in the account. I'm not sure how soon that change goes into affect, so be sure to read through the terms if you must use the funds quickly.

 

[tooh8ful]

When I signed up in late January you had to have the DVA open 120 days before you are eligible for the $20 Disney gift card. Just FYI since that is a benefit of the DVA.

 

[MrDanielOwens]

So first, our trip is booked!!! To confirm, you do have to wait 7 days to use funds.

I just called to make the reservation and they accepted 4 gift cards no problem then I just linked it to MDE with no glitches.

 

[Marionnette]

They recently announced a change that looks like there will be a 7 day holding period before you can use the funds deposited in the account. I'm not sure how soon that change goes into affect, so be sure to read through the terms if you must use the funds quickly.

Here's what the email said:

Dear XXXXXXXXXXX,

Your Disney Vacation Account User Agreement is About to Change
This email is to notify you of a change to your Disney Vacation Account User Agreement.

Please take a moment to review the updated Disney Vacation Account User Agreement by visiting disneyvacationaccount.com and clicking on the User Agreement link at the bottom of the page. For your convenience, the changes to the Disney Vacation Account User Agreement are set forth below.


1. Paragraph 18 is changing. Here is the new Paragraph 18:
Disney may impose an automatic seven (7) business day hold on each payment you make to your Account so that the payment may not be used for a purchase or refunded for a period of seven (7) business days after the payment is made to your Account. Disney may further delay the use or refund of any amount which is not received in the Program Bank Account from the financial intermediary.

Here is the old Paragraph 18:
A refund of an amount which has not yet been received in the Program Bank Account from the financial intermediary may be delayed until it is received.

2. A sentence in Paragraph 2 regarding Disney Gift Cards is changing. The change is shown below:
When your Account has been open for 120 60days or more, you can also use the value in your Account to purchase Disney Gift Cards by calling (407) 939-7734.

If you have any questions, please call us at 407-939-7734.

Remember, with a Disney Vacation Account there are no fees to create or maintain your account, and the amounts you contribute to it are fully refundable. Visit disneyvacationaccount.com today to see how close you are to your dream Disney vacation.

Thank you for participating in the Disney Vacation Account program.

Walt Disney Travel Co., Inc.
1375 Buena Vista Drive
PO Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 33830
You may obtain a full refund of your Disney Vacation Account at any time.
​

So, it looks like customers will have to wait 7 days after entering GCs before they can make a payment using their DVA. But, the good news is that you no longer have to wait 3 months before you can order a Disney GC using the funds in your account.