Disney without credit cards?

[tiff211]

When we rent a car we will put it on our credit card and when we return the car, we pay for it with our debit card. Some car rental agencies will allow you to do that.

 

[HenDuck]

We always pay for our vacations in full, even though we use our CCs on the trip. It does make it easier to just whip that baby out. But I'm alway sure I have the money waiting at home to pay it off.

Having said that, I'm toying with the idea of using Traveler's Checks on this next trip, except for car rentals and anything else that requires a CC to hold a reservation.

I'm thinking that I'll get the dual signature TCs and then DH can have his spending money in cash instead of running up the CC bill.

Just a thought at this point.

Good luck to you whatever you decide!

 

[Buttercup26]

Having previously created my own mess of credit card debt (long since painfully cleared up), I completely understand why people don't want to use them.

HOWEVER, credit cards (not logo'd debit cards) offer you the most protection, particularly when traveling.

You cannot dispute charges on your debit card. Also, hotels and rental car companies routinely hold the maximum amount possible at the time you check in/rent the car, blocking those funds for the remainder of your vacation.

I have two credit cards; my Disney Visa, that I use for everything possible to get the rewards. I pay it off weekly so that I don't carry a balance and pay interest. An "emergency" Visa that has a higher APR (so I am not tempted to use it) that I have only used a few times in the last 10 years.

I use my "emergency" card to book hotels/rental cars (because it never has a balance) and then actually pay with my Disney Visa at the end. I send in extra payments right before my trip so that my Disney card has a "credit" I use up during the trip.

 

[Madi100]

We ALWAYS have the money to go to Disney, and we still take a credit card. I always use a credit card online. I never use my debit card. Usually a credit line is much larger than a balance in a checking account. So, if they put holds left and right because of different things you can afford it more with a credit card. We always have the money to pay off that credit card when we get home.

 

[junderwood7]

I don't like to use credit cards if I can help it either. But if I must (which I agree with the others, you will want it for an overseas trip) I will usually use an Amex which forces me to pay it off next month or else. If they don't take Amex (I used mine all over WDW) I will use another credit card. But I will also take my check book with me and subtract the amount on the card so it acts like a debit card. This really helps to keep me in check.

HTH,

Jean

 

[C.Ann]

If I had to rent a car, I would just go with Alamo because they accept debit cards without placing a hold on your account..

However, I haven't needed to rent a car yet so I prefer to travel with travelers checks.. I get them in $100 denominations and break them one at a time.. That way if my cash gets stolen, I'm out less than $100 and if the travelers checks get stolen I can have them replaced right away..

I also find I spend a lot less money that way..

 

[Chicago526]

Personally, I'd just get a "real" credit card with a really low limit, say $500 to $800 and that way you can use it to rent a car without the temtation to run it up. And if you do go crazy and max it out shoping, $500 to $800 is easy to pay off in a short amount of time!

 

[MOMO2DK]

I always do WDW with cash- hate the credit cards, though I do use one for the rental car, but I have the money put aside to pay when we return. I understand your struggle with credit card debt, it is a choking feeling.

Interestingly, I am trying to put a trip to the UK together also. My sister used to live there (she now lives in Australia) we are planning on meeting in the UK with the kids for 2 weeks. I am hoping to put together a deal where I can trade my house, or time share, for a house in the cotswalds. This would eliminate a hotel bill, minimize a food bill- as I'll have a kitchen, and eliminate my car rental if the home comes with a car. See if this option could work for you.

 

[becky7953]

If I had to rent a car, I would just go with Alamo because they accept debit cards without placing a hold on your account..

We did Disney without a credit card last year. It was a great feeling to know that we did not go in debt for it! We used ALAMO with no problems (used our Debit Visa). Great service too!

 

[3PrezGirls]

Last March we did the entire trip to Disney without credit cards. This year we are putting our trip on the cc and paying them off when the bill comes in. It's possible just make sure you overbudget and not underbudget and you should be fine. We even came home with money which is always a plus!!!!

 

[C.Ann]

We even came home with money which is always a plus!!!!

-----------------------------------------

On my last trip to Disney I came home with a LARGE chunk of money - thanks to the travelers checks.. It's just way too easy to swipe that credit card - LOL...

 

[ducklite]

I wouldn't travel without a credit card, unless I had a LOT of cash in several accounts with ATM cards.

What happens if your card gets eaten by an ATM?

What happens if (God Forbid) there's a national emergency like September 11th, and you are stuck there, paying for a hotel room and food for extra days?

What happens if you or someone in your family needs emergency care?

The list goes on...

Anne