Disney Vacation Account questions

[Kkb0517]

I just opened a DVA. Yes it did ask for a CC and planned out a series of deposits from your CC. Just go through the motions to setup the account with the first payment starting someday in the future. Then after the account is setup, delete the automatic deposit plan and make deposits at will.

My first deposit was a Gift Card.

You can also deposit ten dollars on a credit card, deposit gift cards, and then request a ten dollar refund. The refunds go credit card first, then gift cards.

 

[beno44]

Can DVC members use this account to pay for dining plan??

 

[MinMou]

Back with more questions.
Have any of you used this for a Disneyland vacation? The website shows that DVA can be used for hotels only at WDW and in Hawaii. I think all you have to do is also purchase tickets and it becomes a "package", but I wondered if anyone had experience with this.

I just tried to make reservations 2 different ways.
If you reserve just the hotel and the tickets separately, Disney wants a bigger deposit (almost half the total amount!), and only allows you to pay it with credit/debit card or a Disney Rewards Redemption Card. But it you reserve the two together, you get an offer for trip insurance, the price for the adult tickets goes up about $18 each, but then you only need to pay a $200 deposit AND you also get the option to pay with a DVA or Disney Gift Card.

Has anyone tried this with different results?

 

[SUSIEQ]

But if you're buying your souvenirs ahead of time from the online Disney store, you can use the DVA account number as a form of payment in the gift card line.

Marionnette, have you actually been successful using your DVA# on Disneystore .com?
If so, I'm definitely doing something wrong.
Thanks.

 

[lorijohnhill]

Back with more questions.
Have any of you used this for a Disneyland vacation? The website shows that DVA can be used for hotels only at WDW and in Hawaii. I think all you have to do is also purchase tickets and it becomes a "package", but I wondered if anyone had experience with this.

I just tried to make reservations 2 different ways.
If you reserve just the hotel and the tickets separately, Disney wants a bigger deposit (almost half the total amount!), and only allows you to pay it with credit/debit card or a Disney Rewards Redemption Card. But it you reserve the two together, you get an offer for trip insurance, the price for the adult tickets goes up about $18 each, but then you only need to pay a $200 deposit AND you also get the option to pay with a DVA or Disney Gift Card.

Has anyone tried this with different results?

Yes, I have used my DVA for a Disneyland vacation. Your trip has to be booked as a "package" (your invoice number will begin with a "P") in order to use DVA to pay. You cannot use DVA to pay for room-only reservations (which frustrates me to no end!).

 

[Marionnette]

Marionnette, have you actually been successful using your DVA# on Disneystore .com?
If so, I'm definitely doing something wrong.
Thanks.

Not recently. It was after I'd paid my DVC dues in January. I entered the account number as if it were a GC and the website accepted it.

 

[mkmwall]

Does anyone know if you can use Disney Vacation Account funds for purchases made on DisneyStore.com? I have spent about $3800 on a vacation. But I wanted to get to $4000 so I would get another $20 bonus. Or does anyone have any other ideas to spend the extra $200 wisely. I have already paid for my room, tickets, Halloween Party, and Memory Maker. Thanks

 

[MinMou]

I think you can get a refund in the form of a Disney gift card.

 

[davper]

Give it a try. Select pay with GC option and enter in your DVA account #. If it works great, let everyone else know.

 

[lorijohnhill]

How about dining vouchers?

 

[jasonlaw]

Not recently. It was after I'd paid my DVC dues in January. I entered the account number as if it were a GC and the website accepted it.

thanks for this post. Very interesting.

 

[dbramer]

No and sort of yes. The money in the account can only be used for Disney purchases. If you buy airfare directly from the airline or even through one of the discount travel websites, you can't use the DVA to pay for it. But if you're buying your souvenirs ahead of time from the online Disney store, you can use the DVA account number as a form of payment in the gift card line.

It be refunded to the original form of payment or you can request a Disney GC for the overage.

This isn't a credit account. It's a "savings" account that pays zero interest and is not subject to the same terms that bank accounts operate under. If you neglect to add money, you just have less money in there to apply to your vacation payment.

It is harder to get your money back than with a bank account. There are limits on where it can be spent. It ties your funds up in Disney money. That means that, unlike a real savings account, you don't have immediate access to cash if you have an emergency.

But on the plus side - it allows you to combine a lot of Disney GCs in one place so that you can make an online payment for tickets or room reservation. And, you get a $20 Disney GC for every $1000 you spend from the account.

You can request a refund back to your original form of payment at any time. It does not "tie up" your money.

 

[themommy]

Does anyone know if you can use Disney Vacation Account funds for purchases made on DisneyStore.com? I have spent about $3800 on a vacation. But I wanted to get to $4000 so I would get another $20 bonus. Or does anyone have any other ideas to spend the extra $200 wisely. I have already paid for my room, tickets, Halloween Party, and Memory Maker. Thanks

Maybe a tour...Keys to the Kingdom comes to mind.

 

[wenrob]

I've been reading these threads off and on and felt the account wouldn't be right for me since we are Disneyland people who stay offsite. Oldest DD and I have had APs off and on the last couple of years since she and I do a girls trip and we time it so that we get two family trips out of it as well. However, it just hit me that my youngest two will be Disney adults next year and the price I'd be paying for park hoppers for them and DH, I might as well get them APs and squeeze two trips out of them. So, I thought I'll start collecting $100 Disney gift cards from Target over the next year. Then I thought, that's a lot of gift cards! Am I right in thinking I can deposit these cards into the account, buy their APs and cash out the rest on one gift card for spending?

 

[mara512]

I recently booked my 2016 cruise through Dreams Unlimited but I had to call Disney myself to make the payments with my Disney Vacation Account. It was very easy and they even emailed my travel agent an email with the payment information.

What number did you call? I have called to make a payment and they told me I could not make payments only my TA can. She called and they told her she couldn't make payment using my DVA. I have a room and tickets package at Disny World for Oct. any help would've greatly appreciated.

 

[MinMou]

Mara, perhaps your TA can set up a conference call with your TA and Disney.

 

[nhgirl]

Can you have them put the balance on a Disney GC and give that to the TA to make a payment?

 

[sunflare]

Give your TA your account number - though, technically it's against the rules to do so, it works. She may have to enter it as a gift card, I've heard. I'll let you know for sure when I do it in a couple months

 

[mara512]

Mara, perhaps your TA can set up a conference call with your TA and Disney.

I thought of trying this. I will let you know if it works.

 

[mara512]

Give your TA your account number - though, technically it's against the rules to do so, it works. She may have to enter it as a gift card, I've heard. I'll let you know for sure when I do it in a couple months

We did give our account number to our TA and they would not let her make the payment using the account.