Disney Vacation Account on board ship?

[pirate33]

I read that one can load gift cards to your on-board account in advance of expenditures (unlike at the resort hotels) and, further, that one can do this before boarding. Can you use the Disney Vacation Account in this fashion?

 

[Corfam]

I read that one can load gift cards to your on-board account in advance of expenditures (unlike at the resort hotels) and, further, that one can do this before boarding. Can you use the Disney Vacation Account in this fashion?

I've never heard it being possible to directly draw from your DVA as an oboard funding method, but you can call ahead and have money transferred from DVA to fund your on-board account. Any money not used would be transferred back to DVA account at the end of the cruise.

 

[mmouse37]

There is a special number for DCL for the Disney Vacation Account that you would call and transfer money from your DVA to your onboard credit. I believe it has to be done before your cruise.

I cut and pasted this info in 2015 so I am not 100% sure this is still accurate but try calling the number below for DCL to apply your DVA funds to your onboard account pre cruise. You will need your 16 digit DVA number when you call.

DVA INFO:

How can I make a payment using my Disney Vacation Account on my reservation booked directly with Disney through my travel agent?
Once your travel agent has booked your reservations and you are ready to make a payment, your travel agent can provide you with your reservation number. Please call the telephone number specified below to make your payment using your DVA account. If you have any additional questions or requests about your reservation, please contact your travel agent. Participating Disney Destinations and Disney Vacation Account Payment numbers:

• Walt Disney World® in Florida: 407-939-7626
• Disneyland® Resort in California: 714-520-7032
• Disney Cruise Line®: 800-511-9333
• Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina Hawai'i: 714-520-7032
• Adventures By Disney®: 855-223-2231

MJ

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I called the number for the "in-room gifts and amenities" and was able to purchase onboard credit using my DVA account. I'm not sure if the people who answer the phones when calling that number are the same ones that answer the numbers posted above for the DVA account, but it worked. The number I called was (800) 601-8455.

 

[lanejudy]

You should be able to pre-pay into your onboard account (such a pre-paying gratuities or any other amount you desire) from your DVA -- it must be done in advance.

One thing you cannot do with the DVA is try to use it once onboard. It cannot be set-up to back your onboard account or to pay-off a balance that accrues during your cruise.

I also do not believe you can use it (directly) to pay for an OBB/placeholder. But you can pre-pay to your onboard account and then purchase a gift card at the onboard shop in the amount needed for the OBB.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I do know some cruisers personally who have used their DVA to pay for their OBB. I have asked myself a few times and I get the stare of "what the heck are you talking about" and then just move on, lol. I always bring a Disney gift card (and have already combined several cards onto one) and use that. I wish at least for the OBB or re-booking onboard they would incorporate this into the payments and not just a hit or miss.

Heather

 

[Corfam]

I also do not believe you can use it (directly) to pay for an OBB/placeholder. But you can pre-pay to your onboard account and then purchase a gift card at the onboard shop in the amount needed for the OBB.

I assumed that you could charge an OBB directly to your onboard account (which was already pre-funded from DVA). I'm surprised that you need to purchase a gift card onboard to do it. Disney's process is strange sometimes. Thanks for the info.

 

[LAX]

I assumed that you could charge an OBB directly to your onboard account (which was already pre-funded from DVA). I'm surprised that you need to purchase a gift card onboard to do it. Disney's process is strange sometimes. Thanks for the info.

Just so that I understand this, OBB cannot be charged to an onboard account? It needs to paid for either with a credit card, gift card, or cash?

LAX

 

[Corfam]

Just so that I understand this, OBB cannot be charged to an onboard account? It needs to paid for either with a credit card, gift card, or cash?

That's what I gathered from lanejudy's comments. I tried searching older threads and found previous posts mentioning that OBB could not be directly charged to onboard account...https://www.disboards.com/threads/paying-for-obb-with-gc.3141318/#post-48967953

Contradictory, I also found other posts where people said OBB was directly charged just like there have been a few cases where people said they have charged OBB directly to DVA.

During my past cruises where I have booked OBBs, I really don't remember previous OBBs showing up in my itemized expenses (from things charged to onboard account). This leads me to believe that it's generally true that OBBs don't charge your onboard account. I'll ask when I'm next onboard, but will have plan to guy gift card, if necessary. I don't think I would have thought to buy onboard gift card if not for this thread, so I'm happy to get the info.

 

[KristiMc]

I assumed that you could charge an OBB directly to your onboard account (which was already pre-funded from DVA). I'm surprised that you need to purchase a gift card onboard to do it. Disney's process is strange sometimes. Thanks for the info.

Just so that I understand this, OBB cannot be charged to an onboard account? It needs to paid for either with a credit card, gift card, or cash?

LAX

They do not charge the OBB to your onboard account. They will ask if you want to use the card that you have on file but it ends up being a separate charge to the card.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

They do not charge the OBB to your onboard account. They will ask if you want to use the card that you have on file but it ends up being a separate charge to the card.

This has been my experience.

 

[lanejudy]

While there are occasional reports from passengers who had an OBB charged to their onboard account, that is not the norm. In our experience, it has always appeared as a separate charge on the credit card. You may also pay in cash or gift card. If you have a large amount of OBC that you intended to use for this purpose, it is possible to buy a gift card at the shops which will essentially pull that OBC onto a gift card that you can use to pay for the OBB.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[jrapps]

One thing you cannot do with the DVA is try to use it once onboard. It cannot be set-up to back your onboard account or to pay-off a balance that accrues during your cruise.

I also do not believe you can use it (directly) to pay for an OBB/placeholder. But you can pre-pay to your onboard account and then purchase a gift card at the onboard shop in the amount needed for the OBB.

I have ONCE successfully had them bill my DVA directly from the ship to do an OBB, but to play it safe ever since then I just load money from my DVA to my onship credit before I sail, and then onboard I buy a gift card in the shop to use as my down payment.

Disney will not ever under any circumstances bill your OBB to your stateroom. I asked and they told me the reason is that deposits can only be put onto refundable sources, and once your cruise is over, your on-ship account is closed. So if 6 months down the road you decide to cancel your OBB, they would have no way to refund you the money. So instead, use your onship credit to buy a gift card in the giftshop (I have done several $500 card so they don't limit you at all on this) and then use those cards as your OBB deposit.

 

[Corfam]

Disney will not ever under any circumstances bill your OBB to your stateroom. I asked and they told me the reason is that deposits can only be put onto refundable sources, and once your cruise is over, your on-ship account is closed. So if 6 months down the road you decide to cancel your OBB, they would have no way to refund you the money

Makes total sense now. Thanks.

 

[pirate33]

Just called and got it done! Thanks all.

 

[anricat]

I was successful in using my DVA to pay for an OBB on the Magic a couple of weeks ago. The woman at the desk (I think it's vacation planning desk or something now instead of "Future Cruises") was super on top of it. She said it was totally no problem as long as I had the full number. She took the number, was able to check my balance, gave me the cost of the deposit and even told me what my remaining DVA balance was. We were in a US port the next day (Key West) so I was able to log in with my phone and check that it was debited. My wonderful TA (Hi @IBelieveInTheMagic!!) then took it from there. It was flawless.

On the other hand, I tried to use a gift card for my OBB on the Wonder in Alaska and it was a mess. She didn't use the gift card somehow and it ended up being charged to my credit card on file. I wasn't very happy, but thankfully had kept the gift card safe in case of any issues. This lady seems not as with it and was flustered. She told me there was no way to have a print out of my reservation (which isn't true because I asked on the Magic a couple of weeks ago and she printed me a confirmation no problem).

So it's super hit or miss, apparently, depending on how knowledgeable the CM is.

 

[Dug720]

I was successful in using my DVA to pay for an OBB on the Magic a couple of weeks ago. The woman at the desk (I think it's vacation planning desk or something now instead of "Future Cruises") was super on top of it. She said it was totally no problem as long as I had the full number. She took the number, was able to check my balance, gave me the cost of the deposit and even told me what my remaining DVA balance was. We were in a US port the next day (Key West) so I was able to log in with my phone and check that it was debited. My wonderful TA (Hi @IBelieveInTheMagic!!) then took it from there. It was flawless.

On the other hand, I tried to use a gift card for my OBB on the Wonder in Alaska and it was a mess. She didn't use the gift card somehow and it ended up being charged to my credit card on file. I wasn't very happy, but thankfully had kept the gift card safe in case of any issues. This lady seems not as with it and was flustered. She told me there was no way to have a print out of my reservation (which isn't true because I asked on the Magic a couple of weeks ago and she printed me a confirmation no problem).

So it's super hit or miss, apparently, depending on how knowledgeable the CM is.

Was it Sandra on the Magic? She is AWESOME!

 

[anricat]

Was it Sandra on the Magic? She is AWESOME!

Yes! I hope she's there next year when we're on the Magic because she made the whole process so simple and easy. The woman on the Wonder made me feel all stabby.

 

[KalamityJane]

This is all really wonderful info (and I will be on the Magic so here's to hoping Sandra is there )

Question though, is there a reduced deposit for OBB or is it the normal 20%?

 

[Keira1387]

Thanks for the tip on buying a gift card on board for obb! I am new to using DVA, and that's a great way to maximize savings!