Gift cards as primary pay method?

[supedewoop]

I've done some searching, but not getting specific information. Sorry if I'm just overlooking the right thread!

I'm thinking that Gift cards might be the most convenient way for me to pay. Do nearly all restaurants, shops, and things that need payment take them? What about in Disney Springs? Can I register them and make them more secure/insured? I've heard about the F&G gift cards, but I'm having trouble searching and finding specific information. Is it good everywhere a regular gc is or just the F&G booths? Is it removable and/or waterproof? Where can I buy it?

I have saved most of my budget as cash, but don't want to carry massive amounts of cash around with me. I'm worried about putting lots on a single gift card though, as they're not very secure. I know there's a website to manage/combine giftcards, do they also have the ability to "register" them so that I have to sign or can potentially recover a lost one? (I know it's unlikely, but I'm a paranoid traveler!)

Part of the issue is that, in daily life, I'm used to paying for things with my phone, but I'm told this isn't as convenient in the US as it is in China, so I'm not sure what the best route will be. I'll also be sharing a lot of meals with family who are on a DDP, but I'm not. I'm not on site, so MB charging isn't an option either (though I wish it was!).

 

[gatorlisa]

Most everywhere in the parks and resorts accept gift cards. I've heard some of the kiosks don't take them, but they are in the minority. Gift shops, restaurants, counter service, most snack locations, will all take them. At Disney Springs it likely depends on if it's a Disney owned shop/restaurant. If it's Disney owned, they should take them, if not, then likely will not.

You can register up to 5 gift cards on the Disney gift card website (disneygiftcard.com). What I would recommend is registering your cards there and having one empty card with a zero balance registered that you will have with you. The website allows you to transfer balances between cards, so if you were to lose one, assuming it was registered in your account, you could transfer it to another of your cards, or the zero balance card you have and then delete the lost card. One thing to note about transferring balances: you can only do it for the entire balance on a card. So if, for example, you have a card with $100 on it, you can transfer the entire $100 to another card, but you cannot transfer $50 to one card and $50 to another. The maximum balance you can have on a single gift card is $1000.

I'm not totally sure about the flower & garden cards, but if they are like the food & wine ones, it's just a small key fob size gift card on a spiral bracelet thing, to make frequent use of the card while enjoying the food and drink booths at the festival easy and convenient. But they are still just a Disney gift card that can be used for anything else a regular gift card can be used for.

 

[Tomh]

We use gift cards as our primary payment method. Do have some cash as well as a debit card, or credit card on hand just in case. I believe that Valet Parking doesn't accept them, and there are some kiosks that can't accept them. Otherwise, they are pretty universally accepted throughout Disney World, though from time to time a particular location might have trouble processing a gift card, hence my suggestion to carry some cash.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I brought 10 disney gift cards with me. I often pick them up while food shopping ... since i was staying Onsite, I used my magic band to charge everything... which of course goes directly to my charge card ( which gives me cash back) and I brought the gift cards to resort registration area and deducted them off my total bill.
I originally planned to use them within parks, but at one kiosk.. I think Epcot they didn’t take it...machine down, cash only..
So , have some cash on hand.
Have a wonderful visit, safe travels , enjoy!

 

[supedewoop]

Awesome, multiple gift cards on my account and some cash on hand sounds like the way to go. I think it will help budget my food, too. I can put x amount on each gift card and know I need to make it last for X days, when I transfer to my "main" card, (probably the F&G if I can get one) and then "extra" can be souvenirs or food over the next X days. Perfect! Thanks so much!

 

[Shellee999]

I brought 10 disney gift cards with me. I often pick them up while food shopping ... since i was staying Onsite, I used my magic band to charge everything... which of course goes directly to my charge card ( which gives me cash back) and I brought the gift cards to resort registration area and deducted them off my total bill.
I originally planned to use them within parks, but at one kiosk.. I think Epcot they didn’t take it...machine down, cash only..
So , have some cash on hand.
Have a wonderful visit, safe travels , enjoy!

You made me realize I have an option (I think) that I didn't realize I had. I have been considering not doing the DDP for the first time, so I thought I'd carry around gift cards instead. But if I just use my MB to charge to the room, I won't need to carry around the cards, right? I can give the cards at the hotel?

 

[kaybird]

You made me realize I have an option (I think) that I didn't realize I had. I have been considering not doing the DDP for the first time, so I thought I'd carry around gift cards instead. But if I just use my MB to charge to the room, I won't need to carry around the cards, right? I can give the cards at the hotel?

This is what we have done the last few trips. Easy to save throughout the year, and easy to pay at the resort.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

You made me realize I have an option (I think) that I didn't realize I had. I have been considering not doing the DDP for the first time, so I thought I'd carry around gift cards instead. But if I just use my MB to charge to the room, I won't need to carry around the cards, right? I can give the cards at the hotel?

Yes, you can charge everything to your room if on-site and then go to the front desk to pay off the bill with Disney GCs. Just make sure to pay it off the night before you check out (or more often if your bill is close to the limit or else they will charge your CC on file).

 

[Shellee999]

Yes, you can charge everything to your room if on-site and then go to the front desk to pay off the bill with Disney GCs. Just make sure to pay it off the night before you check out (or more often if your bill is close to the limit or else they will charge your CC on file).

Thank you! That's much easier!

 

[tinkerbella16]

We use gift cards for all of our food, souvenirs, snacks. It has worked out really well the past couple of trips. There wasn't a place we went, that didn't accept them. I also bring cash with me, but that is just for emergency and rarely ever touch it.

 

[rwdavis2]

You made me realize I have an option (I think) that I didn't realize I had. I have been considering not doing the DDP for the first time, so I thought I'd carry around gift cards instead. But if I just use my MB to charge to the room, I won't need to carry around the cards, right? I can give the cards at the hotel?

Correct. We did that last trip but with the Chase VISA Reward dollars. Works the same way.
(edit)
Questions: How does Disney deal with lost gift cards? Some companies are pretty severe about lost card, Amazon comes to mind.
Unless that card are acquire at a discount I would just pay out of pocket with a credit card and then pay the charges off when I got home or even daily while I'm there. With online banking it's pretty painless.

 

[sharonabe]

Thank you! That's much easier!

Just a note of caution as this subject gets discussed often. At least one person has reported that their room charges were charged to the CC just a few days into their trip, and they were nowhere near the limited amount. Once it's charged, I don't think they can "uncharge" it, so you'll want to go by the front desk every couple days to use your gift cards to prevent this from happening.

 

[rwdavis2]

Just a note of caution as this subject gets discussed often. At least one person has reported that their room charges were charged to the CC just a few days into their trip, and they were nowhere near the limited amount. Once it's charged, I don't think they can "uncharge" it, so you'll want to go by the front desk every couple days to use your gift cards to prevent this from happening.

We were able to "uncharge". We made a mistake with the rewards card thinking that the first time we went to the desk it would show as a credit. Wrong. But when we got home I called Disney and they took the Rewards card number and reversed the credit card charges. But it's better to go pay off room charges every day or 2.

 

[a1tinkfans]

You made me realize I have an option (I think) that I didn't realize I had. I have been considering not doing the DDP for the first time, so I thought I'd carry around gift cards instead. But if I just use my MB to charge to the room, I won't need to carry around the cards, right? I can give the cards at the hotel?

Yes!!!
I did several on 2nd nite then the last g cards on the night before check out. The desk CM told me to do it night before as the final portfolio prints out at 3 am on date of departure.
There was no limit to how many cards submitted. Each swiped card was confirmed with a new balance ( she ran bill for me before we started)
Then after submitting all, gaveme a new print out.
The Only charge after paying off the balance, night before are the parking fees.

And using ur magic band to charge you cc that gives cash back/pts etc, was a great Xtra perk! In my case cash back, plus the waived housekeeping I used towards room and the “didn’t even feel it” gift cards are a total win win!
Enjoy ur visit!!