Gift Cards

[luulu1999]

I am thinking about getting my kids 2 gift cards starting out with $25 or $50 each, since its going to be a year before we get to go I figured I would put like $10 a month on each of their cards and they are going to be 5 & 6 so that should give them plenty of spending money, I am also planning on putting any money from birthdays and stuff on there......my question is can you add just $10 from your debit card on to the gift card are does if have to be certain increments...also can they be used in the places in DTD also or just inside the parks...like build a bear and ridemakerz

 

[DisneyBiskit]

I am thinking about getting my kids 2 gift cards starting out with $25 or $50 each, since its going to be a year before we get to go I figured I would put like $10 a month on each of their cards and they are going to be 5 & 6 so that should give them plenty of spending money, I am also planning on putting any money from birthdays and stuff on there......my question is can you add just $10 from your debit card on to the gift card are does if have to be certain increments...also can they be used in the places in DTD also or just inside the parks...like build a bear and ridemakerz

As long as you go to a Disney Store, I think you can reload the cards with any amount you want. As for DTD, I'm pretty sure you can use it at most places. The one place I know for sure you can't is the Lego store.

 

[JadesFire]

I am thinking about getting my kids 2 gift cards starting out with $25 or $50 each, since its going to be a year before we get to go I figured I would put like $10 a month on each of their cards and they are going to be 5 & 6 so that should give them plenty of spending money, I am also planning on putting any money from birthdays and stuff on there......my question is can you add just $10 from your debit card on to the gift card are does if have to be certain increments...also can they be used in the places in DTD also or just inside the parks...like build a bear and ridemakerz

There is a list at disneygiftcard.com of where you can use the card at Disneyland and DTD.

disneygiftcard.com/where/disneyland

ETA: Also - from the site's FAQ --

Can I reload my Disney Gift Card? Yes! Disney Gift Cards can be reloaded for any amount between $5-$1,000.

Where can I reload my Disney Gift Card? Disney Gift Cards can be reloaded at any Disney location that sells Disney Gift Cards. Online reloads are not available at this time.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

From the Disneystore.com website:

Can I reload my Disney Gift Card?
Yes! Disney Gift Cards can be reloaded for any amount between $5-$1,500.

Where can I reload my Disney Gift Card?
Disney Gift Cards can be reloaded at most locations that sell Disney Gift Cards. DisneyStore.com cannot reload Disney Gift Cards or DisneyStore.com Online Gift Cards at this time.

Where can I use my Disney Gift Card?
The Disney Gift Card can be used for purchases at participating locations at Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland® Resort, and at Disney Store locations in the U.S., DisneyStore.com and Disney Cruise Line® onboard ship.

Disney gift cards are not accepted at RideMakerz or Build-a-Bear at DtD. I don't believe they are accepted at the Lego store either. Those locations will accept Disney dollars, the paper gift certificates sold at the parks, but not the plastic gift cards. DtD locations that should accept Disney gift cards include World of Disney, Pin Traders, and D Street. That was not an inclusive list.

Here was another recent thread discussing using Disney gift cards:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3135150

 

[DisneyMarvelStarWars]

Would you consider putting ten dollars on Lego and BABW cards? The majority of the money could be put on Disney cards, and this way they'll have a budget at other places, too.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

You can't use Disney gift cards at Build a Bear or Ridemakerz or the Lego store. Disney gift cards are cute, and you could certainly buy one for $5-$10 just so they feel like they are big with a "credit card", but if you sink a lot of $$$ into Disney gcs, inevitably they will want to spend their money at BAB or Ridemakerz or Lego -- ask me how I know! Then you'll just have to find some way to spend that money in Disneyland -- I know it will be so very hard.
For a few years now what works for us is to have the kids stop spending their money (allowance, bday, Grandma gives them a dollar, etc.) a few months before a big family big trip, then they are filthy stinking rich by the time we go, plus we kick in about $20 because more is [stupid] better.

 

[luulu1999]

Well I guess I can put $50-$100 dollars on a disney card for them and then get a build a bear and ridemakerz card that is big enuff for them to get what they want......but I can't just call a number and add money to disney gift cards?? Or where would be a place I could add to it with no disney store around?

 

[sunflare]

I would think you could add funds at the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney... or really, any Disney property store that sells the variable ones. You would just have to find one that has the variable ones...

 

[luulu1999]

Well I was actually planning on getting the cards and just adding a little to them at a time since it will be a year before we go but I guess I'll just put the money back and get them with the full amount all at once

 

[krispin41]

Well I was actually planning on getting the cards and just adding a little to them at a time since it will be a year before we go but I guess I'll just put the money back and get them with the full amount all at once

I would just get a jar -- you could decorate it with Disney Fund or something like that. Then use that money to buy the cards before you leave.

I don't think there is an easy way to add to GC if you don't have a Disney Store nearby.

I buy GCs at Target in $25 & $50 increments and use my Red Card and get a 5% discount.

 

[chabelita545]

We have done gift cards and have decorated our own piggy banks and my family has always enjoyed the piggy banks more. We take a box and cover it in DL and Disney character pictures and phrases and stickers (even old park tickets and fast passes) and then cover it in clear packing tape and cut a slot for the money to go in. The kids love having them in their rooms as they save and look forward to their trip. Its much more tangible than telling them there is money on a card. Besides, if they don't spend all the money on stuff at DL, they can spend or save the rest any way they like. With a Disney gift card, you have to spend it on Disney.

 

[luulu1999]

We decided to do the jar thing....they are excited about that and this week my mom is having a yardsale and all of the stuff of theirs she sells is going in their jar and if shes still got it set up Sat. Were gonna do a lemonade stand at it

 

[chabelita545]

We decided to do the jar thing....they are excited about that and this week my mom is having a yardsale and all of the stuff of theirs she sells is going in their jar and if shes still got it set up Sat. Were gonna do a lemonade stand at it

Fun! They will be more selective in what they spend their money on that way. They won't be begging you to buy them things everytime you exit a ride through a gift shop either.

Another visual thing we have done to prepare for our trips, and yours may be too far away to do this just yet, is to make a paper chain and hang it from the ceiling. Each link represents one day before you leave on your trip. They can countdown the days by ripping off a link each morning. I have a picture of Mickey, Goofy and Donald with suitcases packed (cut from some Disney advertising I got in the mail) at the top. My kids never ask, "How many days til we go?" because they know the answer!

 

[luulu1999]

Fun! They will be more selective in what they spend their money on that way. They won't be begging you to buy them things everytime you exit a ride through a gift shop either.

Another visual thing we have done to prepare for our trips, and yours may be too far away to do this just yet, is to make a paper chain and hang it from the ceiling. Each link represents one day before you leave on your trip. They can countdown the days by ripping off a link each morning. I have a picture of Mickey, Goofy and Donald with suitcases packed (cut from some Disney advertising I got in the mail) at the top. My kids never ask, "How many days til we go?" because they know the answer!

We did that with our last one with Mickey ears but I am going to TRY to keep this one a secret...they know we are going back and that is what they are saving their money for but they don't know when and I REALLY want to surprise them with it....but Im not good at keeping exciting news from them lol

 

[chabelita545]

I always thought it would be fun to pick up the kids from school and drive straight to the airport and, when they ask where we are going, non-challantly say "Disneyland." But I could never keep it a secret...

Good thing they know they are going sometime. Then they can still enjoy the anticipation of the trip, which I think is half the fun!

 

[2003MandM]

We have been planning our trip for about a year for this October. My three kids (DS5 and twin DD2) have gotten $50 Disney gift cards each from their grandparents for their birthdays. They also have been getting cash for other holidays and birthdays from other family members. I have just been depositing it in our savings account and keeping track of how much they each have. I've already bought Build a Bear gift cards for my twins with some of their money and plan on buying my son a ridemakerz gift card soon. I figured $50 each was perfect for gift cards, that way they're not limited to just Disney items. DS will probably want to spend most of his money at the Lego store! We also took some of the twins money and bought them princess dresses for MHP (the family that gave them this money was so excited that they got something special and not just random toys!) My son also has a jar, but its mostly change and won't be too much money, (since most of his gift money has been checks) but having the visual really gets him into saving!

 

[luulu1999]

Well my kiddos made out pretty good this week with selling their stuff at a yardsale and having a lemonade stand they each have almost $35 in their jars I think they are doing pretty good

 

[chabelita545]

Well my kiddos made out pretty good this week with selling their stuff at a yardsale and having a lemonade stand they each have almost $35 in their jars I think they are doing pretty good

Good for them! And good for you, teaching them lessons about earning, saving and spending money. I bet they had fun, too, and love watching the coins add up.

 

[luulu1999]

I decided to add this on to here instead of starting a new thread.....for their birthdays they will be getting $60 gift cards from Build a bear for DD and Ridemakerz for DS, I figure that would be a good start they each have about $50 saved now and we still got a ways before our trip so Im betting they can get $100 each before then (they get 5 every two weeks for keeping their rooms clean, cheap labor) and I figure I will add another $100 for each of them because we will be there for 10days I don't want it all on Disney cards because that way they can spend it where ever and how ever they want, I also don't want to have to keep up with their cash would prepaid visa cards be to much of a hassle or should I just do maybe $100 on a disney gift card and keep $100 cash for them?