Do you take money to WDW or something else?

[MUFFYCAT]

We bring cash, Disney reward dollars and our Visa card. We charge some of our meals and souvenirs.

 

[SaraMc]

Being from Canada we try to exchange some money before we go since DH works for a bank and gets a good rate
Im not sure if anyone else had this when they travelled across the border. When we flew into MCO we went through customs here. The Customs agent asked us how much $$ we had on us. So we said. We bring $300 US with us. Credit cards.. no.. We use our ATM cards once that's gone. He said to us that we were the first people who didnt say they were using a credit card. We find using cash or travellers checks we end up being more on target with our budget than we do with our credit cards.

 

[jmminarik]

He said to us that we were the first people who didnt say they were using a credit card. .

I've read advice saying 'Use a card, it gets better exchange rates'. I've also read, "Don't use a card, you get the worst exchange rates!". Same thing about ATM's(though we call them MAC machines here in Flyers country).

Can anyone clarify this with insider banker knowledge or recent International travel experience?

-Joe

 

[disneymagic16]

be sure to bring quarters too if your flying, because there are toll roads between the airport and the hotels.Have fun!

 

[tammyandtommy]

has anyone sent down cash in advance so that you have room charging privliges and dont have to use credit? I think it would be more convient, no cash on hand but all on your room card?

 

[MKFan-PR]

has anyone sent down cash in advance so that you have room charging privliges and dont have to use credit? I think it would be more convient, no cash on hand but all on your room card?

Yes (at least from my experience), you can leave a cash amount on your account and you can charge to your room. I've sent a little in advance and they have credited my account. I also had a problem once with my CC (it wasn't authorizing the $1 verification charge), so I just went to the ATM, took out cash to cover a couple of days, they credited my account and I was able to charge back to my room, until I sorted the CC problem with the bank. There may be a limit, but I'm not sure about that.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I bring some cash, debit card, and credit card.

Cash is for small things like Mickey bars, drinks, tips, etc.
Debit card is for most everything else.
Credit card is for any purchase over $50. I just feel more secure putting large purchases on a real cc. I had Disney triple charge my debit card once (the card that is directectly attached to my checking account). They triple charged me $800! and it took over a week to get it sorted out. So that was a week I had no access to $1600 of my money because until it got sorted out the bank considers it unavailable cash. I have heard of this happening to other people as well, regardless of what bank they use. And not just from Disney.

I feel much better putting cash away in my checking account, and just paying the cc off with that right away when I get home.