Edit: will not allow GC payment for convention rate tickets

[lcp9]

We're attending a convention and have a link for convention rate tickets - I have a GC I want to use, but I only see being able to pay using either a visa Disney rewards or a cc...am I missing something? Do I have to call to use the GC?

 

[Angrose]

When I booked the convention hotel rate for Gay Days over the phone, I was able to add the park tickets to my hotel reservation. I only had to put the first night deposit on my credit card and could pay the renmaining balance, along with the tickets at check-in. I ended up cancelling the trip, but the CM said I could use GCs to pay for everything at check-in. I would call the convention booking line to see if they can offer you a similar arrangement.

 

[lcp9]

They won't let me use them! I have a $1000 GC. this is really kind of ridiculous. I'm trying to think of a workaround but I'm not sure there is one aside from selling!

 

[patty57]

They won't let me use them! I have a $1000 GC. this is really kind of ridiculous. I'm trying to think of a workaround but I'm not sure there is one aside from selling!

Selling the gift card? i would never buy a $1000 gift card from someone unless I knew them really really well.

 

[lcp9]

I agree, I was looking for suggestions for sites similar to raise.com. Otherwise I would probably sell locally or start dividing into different cards.

 

[Angrose]

They won't let me use them! I have a $1000 GC. this is really kind of ridiculous. I'm trying to think of a workaround but I'm not sure there is one aside from selling!

Why won't they let you use them? You could just forget about the convention tickets and buy regular tickets online. You can use a GC to do that.

 

[lcp9]

Why won't they let you use them? You could just forget about the convention tickets and buy regular tickets online. You can use a GC to do that.

The group convention people said their system isn't set up to accept gift cards? I tried calling back but I'm pretty sure it was the same lady that answered the phone. Yes I might have to just buy retail price, but it's really irritating to actually be going to a convention and not be able to use the rate. We're doing 4 day hoppers, and the convention rate saves us $180.

 

[patty57]

I might call back and speak to someone else. Doesn't make sense to me although I'm no convention expert.

 

[Angrose]

The group convention people said their system isn't set up to accept gift cards? I tried calling back but I'm pretty sure it was the same lady that answered the phone. Yes I might have to just buy retail price, but it's really irritating to actually be going to a convention and not be able to use the rate. We're doing 4 day hoppers, and the convention rate saves us $180.

That's true, the convention system cannot accept gift cards. Are you booking a hotel too or just wanting the tickets? I think you would have to book the hotel, pay the first night's deposit with a credit card and then attach the tickets to your hotel stay and pay for those with GC at check-in. If you're not booking the hotel room then I don't think it will be possible.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

I don't know your financial situation but if it were me I would buy your tickets at the convention rate and use the gift card to pay for food, snacks, cocktails and souvenirs while at the parks and hotel. Maybe go out to dinner with with your colleagues from the convention and have them pay you back in cash. If you have a couple hundred dollars left when you get home that'll be much easier to sell

 

[lcp9]

That's true, the convention system cannot accept gift cards. Are you booking a hotel too or just wanting the tickets? I think you would have to book the hotel, pay the first night's deposit with a credit card and then attach the tickets to your hotel stay and pay for those with GC at check-in. If you're not booking the hotel room then I don't think it will be possible.

Yeah we aren't staying on property...we're Marriott associates and I can't pass up $49/night. haha. I'm mostly annoyed by this on principle!

 

[lcp9]

I don't know your financial situation but if it were me I would buy your tickets at the convention rate and use the gift card to pay for food, snacks, cocktails and souvenirs while at the parks and hotel. Maybe go out to dinner with with your colleagues from the convention and have them pay you back in cash. If you have a couple hundred dollars left when you get home that'll be much easier to sell

Yes I might have to just pay with cc...it's $180 difference, haven't decided if it's worth it to deal with the hassle of selling the GC!

 

[Traveling on cc points]

Yes I might have to just pay with cc...it's $180 difference, haven't decided if it's worth it to deal with the hassle of selling the GC!

Everyone's situation is different, to me I would put the tickets on a credit card to save the $180. I don't know if your meals are covered under your convention but I'm sure you will still have expenses you could use the gift card on.

 

[Darkbeer1]

FYI, there are companies that have access to the computerized systems, and do resell Gift Cards with a guarantee, similar to what StubHub and TicketExchange do with sporting events and the like. Since they can verify the card before paying for it, they can assure it is valid, and then resell it at a small mark-up to someone else.

Here is one I used before (sold a prize I won and had no need for the gift card).

https://www.cardcash.com/

 

[gottalovepluto]

I wouldn't be able to stomach selling a gift card of that much. Too many times I've submitted claims due to having received empty gift cards, I see no reason fraud on the buying end can't be happening too.

Unfortunately this is exactly what I was told as well on a couple of occasions by the convention booking team there at Disney. The only way to pay for convention rate tickets with a gift card is to combine the tickets with a room package and then you will pay for the room and tickets at the hotel and the hotel system accepts gift cards. Do you already have spending money for in the parks? You can use Disney gift cards to pay for food & merchandise within the parks and at the Disney hotels. (To get an idea on meal costs look at the menus online.) Maybe you'd only have to purchase one or two tickets at full price.

 

[lcp9]

I wouldn't be able to stomach selling a gift card of that much. Too many times I've submitted claims due to having received empty gift cards, I see no reason fraud on the buying end can't be happening too.

Unfortunately this is exactly what I was told as well on a couple of occasions by the convention booking team there at Disney. The only way to pay for convention rate tickets with a gift card is to combine the tickets with a room package and then you will pay for the room and tickets at the hotel and the hotel system accepts gift cards. Do you already have spending money for in the parks? You can use Disney gift cards to pay for food & merchandise within the parks and at the Disney hotels. (To get an idea on meal costs look at the menus online.) Maybe you'd only have to purchase one or two tickets at full price.

ACTUALLY, they are being super nice and have found a workaround. They called me and we were working through it this evening when I had to leave and take my daughter to dance, but I'm supposed to call them back tomorrow and at that point they'll be able to manually change it. It sounded like a few of them were working on this to try to figure something out. Anyway - I obviously won't be doing that again, but there would have be no way to know other than going all the way through to the purchasing page...I got this gift card months ago, before the convention link was even released. I feel like with the number of people that use GC this had to have come up before? It seems like there should be mention of the fact you can't use GC somewhere, since it's made very clear you can purchase park tickets with it. I'm really grateful they've been so nice about it!