Gift Cards

[gabzee]

I am planning our upcoming trip and was wondering if there is a benefit to use a Disney gift card over an American Express or Visa gift card? Are you able to use one at more locations than the other? How you had any problems using gift cards? We don't want to carry cash but don't want to not be able to buy something. Also, I we get a Disney gift card as a present, can we go to guest services or somewhere in the parks to get one of the gift cards with designs? Thanks!

 

[CatNipRules]

The one big benefit I see for using a Disney Gift card over an AE gift card is that usually there are fees associated with the AE gift cards and not the Disney ones.

Also, if you purchase your Disney GC at Target and use your debit or Target credit card, you can save an extra 5%......

Oh and they can pretty much be used anywhere at disney. Even the restaurants take them and you can use them to pay off your trip. As for getting special designs, you can go to the Disneystore.com and they have a few different designs that you can choose from.

 

[auger]

I only use CCs @ WDW or anywhere else.
I like the security of the CC and the extra protection I get when using it.
What I don't like about GCs is, if you lose it, you lose your money.
If I lose my CC, I know any fraudulent purchases will not be my responsibility, and I know I haven't lost all of my vaca money!

 

[EMAW_KSU]

I am paying for all of our upcoming trip with Disney gift cards. I get fuel discount points for purchasing gift card which will save us about 12%.

 

[gabzee]

Has anyone had any problems with gift cards not working and being declined anywhere? I feel a little uneasy about using gift cards as my method of payment and would love to hear anyones experience. Thank you!

 

[delmar411]

I had a TON of trouble using AE gcs in Jan. Even when there was plenty on the GC, the register would reject it. It took until our last day to get a cashier who knew how to make them work. I won't use them again.

I've never had any trouble with the Disney GCs. And those still work even when the purchase is more than what's left on the card. It will use up what's on the card and then ask for another payment to cover the remaining. Much better than ending up with random amounts on the Visa/MC/AE gcs.

 

[gabzee]

I had a TON of trouble using AE gcs in Jan. Even when there was plenty on the GC, the register would reject it. It took until our last day to get a cashier who knew how to make them work. I won't use them again.

I've never had any trouble with the Disney GCs. And those still work even when the purchase is more than what's left on the card. It will use up what's on the card and then ask for another payment to cover the remaining. Much better than ending up with random amounts on the Visa/MC/AE gcs.

That is what I was worried about! Thank you so much for telling me! So basically only use Disney gift cards and you will be fine, right?!? Any other experiences would be great!

 

[Buckeye Bob]

If you're staying on property you can charge your meals and purchases to the room and then pay your room bill with your gift cards. This is what we do and it saves us the hassle of having to carry various gift cards with us and remembering the declining balances on them. We just charge it to the room and then I visit the Resort Concierge and pay off my bill during my trip with my gift cards.

Have a magical day!

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

We had trouble using visa gift cards but not Disney gift cards. The reason was because certain places charge more than the value on the card to make sure it is there in case gratuity is added. It is done for just in case purposes and you are not responsible to pay that much as you only get charged for what you sign for. This is automatic and done at many establishments, not just WDW. So if you told them to put $50 on the visa or Amex gift card, the machine would automatically add 20% gratuity and your card that is valued at $50 would get declined. It was a pain the neck. We couldn't use it to pay for our dining plan or at restaurants. The Disney gift cards worked every here at WDW with no trouble at all.

 

[gabzee]

We had trouble using visa gift cards but not Disney gift cards. The reason was because certain places charge more than the value on the card to make sure it is there in case gratuity is added. This is automatic. So if you told them to put $50 on the visa or Amex gift card, the machine would automatically add 20% gratuity and your card that is valued at $50 would get declined. It was a pain the neck. We couldn't use it to pay for our dining plan or at restaurants. The Disney gift cards worked every here at WDW with no trouble t all.

Thank you! I'm a little confused as to why it didn't do the same thing with the Disney gift cards. Does it automatically add gratuity too?

 

[friend2Figment]

We always write down the numbers from the back of each card just incase something were to happen that we would hopefully have some type of recourse. Not sure if they would be able to void a lost one and load it onto a new card but if something happened we would have the card number available.

Never had a problem with the kids carrying their Disney GC and I hate using my Debit card just any where.

Once we figure out our details for our next trip I will start buying Disney GC.

 

[brianheather]

I only use Disney GC's, Every pay I order a GC from Disneystore.com and that is what I use to pay for my souvenirs, and things I want to buy as gifts. It really helps.