Do you take cash or travelers checks

[dumby]

Just wondering what everyone else carries into the park. I was trying to decide whether to get travelers checks or not.

 

[yellowfish78]

I buy TC's just for the safety of it, and cash a $50 the day I arrive for the "small things" like snacks or water.
I just feel safer leaving TC's in the room safe over cash.

 

[njdisneyfam]

We use our Disney Visa! and cash for the small things.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Many years ago, my family always got travelers checks when traveling.

These days, with ATM machines everywhere (handy even when traveling overseas) and most credit cards accepted everywhere as well, I don't carry cash. Travelers checks are just a pain in the neck and you would be surprised how many cashiers have no idea of how to handle them.

 

[jme829]

Last trip we took some cash and the rest we put on a prepaid gift card from our bank (the mastercard ones that you can use anywhere). We do have credit and debit cards, but we went with the gift card because we had budgeted a specific amount for disney and we didn't have to worry about going overboard in our credit card and bank account. Plus if there is any extra $ left on the card at the end of the trip, we can just use it at home or wherever.

 

[staci]

Last trip we used our disney visa rewards card and cash. We only had about 80 cash between the two of us; usually some tucked in a front pocket and some in the hidden pocket inside the fanny pack.
We would replentish the cash as needed at the atm at the resort but only had to do this once or twice.

 

[Wheresmyfrygdmthr]

You can go to visa's web site and get a visa gift card loaded up with as much money as you want. You just use it like a regular gift card and they deduct from your balance each time it is used, but you run it like a credit card! I thought this was a great idea and plan to do it when we go on our 1st family trip this June

 

[Callalily6]

We used to use travelers checks and some cash. Now we stay onsite and chrage everything to the room and pay on bill at checkout. It avoids the 5 million little purchases. Some credit card companies will turn off your card if there is a lot of actiuvity in another state suddenly. We were in the middle of moving cross country when that happened once. Now we tell them that we will be traveling out of state prior to leaving - hearing the beep and getting declined isnt fun. Charging it to your room also avoids that from happening.

2nd honeymoon so soooooon!

 

[rt2dz]

I've found travelers checks to be a bigger pain than convience. We take some cash, but charge almost everything back to the room. It's nice to just get a print out of the days charges every night and check everything. Then when we're all done with the trip, we just back one big payment to the credit card company.

 

[HeatherC]

I agree that at some places travelers checks are a pain. But Disney and Orlando in general are so used to seeing them that we have never had a problem.

The reason I bring them is because I have had problems in the past with debit cards or prepaid cards or even a credit card on occasion. We have had things declined for absolutely no reason. We would wind up paying cash and then have the card/s accepted at another place with no explanation. This just makes me nervous traveling. And...I like the idea that if they get lost or stolen I don't lose my money.

Good luck to you.
HeatherC

 

[powellrj]

I have to agree, Orlando is the most travelers check friendly place to use them. We stopped using them several years ago, but started taking them again. The main reason we started taking them again was when one of my reward cards went out of business. While I wasn't on vacation at the time, there were reports of many people who were and they were pretty much out of luck (this is also the reason I always take 2 different credit cards on trips).

I have also used the AAA gift cards and have found it much easier and cheaper just to stick with travelers checks. We have never had a problem cashing a large one for a purchase and then just getting change back to use as cash.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We tend to take travelers checks but usually wind up using the credit card instead. We carry them as a backup because it is safer than cash but recently haven't had to use them.

 

[dumby]

Thanks to all of you who replied. I think I will take a combination of cash and travelers checks. I will have one credit card with me but really don't want to use it unless I have to.

Thanks again. It has been helpful to see what others do.

 

[catherines_mama]

I just use my 'key to the kingdom' card from the resort. If we're staying offsite, I just use my CC or cash. If I had TCs then when I had to break it, I'd have cash change anyway.