Do you need a physical Disney gift card to use it?

[tippytoes]

I hope this isn't a dumb question, but this is my first time using Disney gift cards and my first trip to WDW.

I live overseas and was hoping to purchase some gift cards from BJs for a quick 5% off my expenses on my upcoming trip. I have a friend living in the US and I can ship the cards to that friend.

My question is, will I be able to use the gift cards if I don't have possession of the physical cards? Can I simply quote the card/PIN number (or flash a picture of the gift card) to the resort desk in order to use the balance on it?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[supersnoop]

My question is, will I be able to use the gift cards if I don't have possession of the physical cards? Can I simply quote the card/PIN number (or flash a picture of the gift card) to the resort desk in order to use the balance on it?

Nope.

 

[BarbMike821]

I think you'd need the physical card with you. Could your friend send the gift cards to your resort via certified mail or FedEx? That way you've got tracking information and the cards are on site when you arrive.

 

[Marionnette]

I hope this isn't a dumb question, but this is my first time using Disney gift cards and my first trip to WDW.

I live overseas and was hoping to purchase some gift cards from BJs for a quick 5% off my expenses on my upcoming trip. I have a friend living in the US and I can ship the cards to that friend.

My question is, will I be able to use the gift cards if I don't have possession of the physical cards? Can I simply quote the card/PIN number (or flash a picture of the gift card) to the resort desk in order to use the balance on it?

Thanks in advance for any help!

You need ONE physical Disney gift card and a disneygiftcard .com account (which is free). You can wait until you arrive in the US to purchase a physical Disney GC like at the Disney Store in the airport or in the resort gift shop. Add 4 of the GCs which were purchased at BJs to your online account. Then add the physical GC to the account. Transfer the balances from the BJs Disney GCs to the physical GC using the website. Repeat for the remaining BJs Disney GCs up to a maximum of $1,000 transferred to the physical GC. You would then have up to $1K on the physical GC for your use at Disney World. You can add more funds to the physical GC as you spend it down but the total value of the physical GC will not be able to exceed $1K at any given time.

 

[tippytoes]

I think you'd need the physical card with you. Could your friend send the gift cards to your resort via certified mail or FedEx? That way you've got tracking information and the cards are on site when you arrive.

You need ONE physical Disney gift card and a disneygiftcard .com account (which is free). You can wait until you arrive in the US to purchase a physical Disney GC like at the Disney Store in the airport or in the resort gift shop. Add 4 of the GCs which were purchased at BJs to your online account. Then add the physical GC to the account. Transfer the balances from the BJs Disney GCs to the physical GC using the website. Repeat for the remaining BJs Disney GCs up to a maximum of $1,000 transferred to the physical GC. You would then have up to $1K on the physical GC for your use at Disney World. You can add more funds to the physical GC as you spend it down but the total value of the physical GC will not be able to exceed $1K at any given time.

Thank you both so much for the replies, I really appreciate it! I guess I would need at least one physical gift card. I don't want to trouble my friend too much, so I think I will go with the suggestion to purchase a physical GC when I arrive and transfer the other BJ Disney cards' value to it.

Thanks again for clarifying my doubts