GV and Room Charging Advice?

[hematite153]

We're heading to the world with my DW's whole family in a few weeks.

We've never previously thought too much about allowing room charging on all cards, although, we've advised others that they can prevent it on their kids cards.

But, we don't really want our relatives charging purchases to our credit card.

Can we place multiple credit cards on the room? I.e. allow each family to charge to their own?

If not, how have others handled this issue?

We see three options:

1. We allow everyone to charge to our credit cards and ask everyone to save and label receipts. (A lot of paperwork and the possibility of problems if something doesn't seem to match.)

2. We allow charging on our cards and tell everyone else that they will have to use their credit card or cash.

3. We don't allow anyone (including us) to charge so that nobody can complain about us taking advantage of being the ones who know more.

Thoughts???

Thanks!

 

[tjkraz]

You can only link one credit card to the room. But at check-in you can designate which keys have charging priviledges and which do not. You could just keep that perk for yourselves and turn it off on the other keys.

If you do want to allow charging priviledges for all, you can go to the front desk on your departure day and they will print a list of all of your charges. The list will include a notation indicating which key was used to purchase each item. You'll have to work a bit to figure out which key is which family member, but once you do it's pretty easy to add up all of the charges for each person.

Personally, I tend to think that room charging is of dubious value. I've heard far too many stories about the key cards not working for a variety of reasons (front desk error, credit card company error, charging limit reached, etc.) And consider what happens if someone in your group loses their room key.

I wouldn't leave my room without a backup payment source, and then it just becomes easier to go that route instead--the room key becomes by last resort.

 

[hematite153]

The list will include a notation indicating which key was used to purchase each item. You'll have to work a bit to figure out which key is which family member, but once you do it's pretty easy to add up all of the charges for each person.

Thanks. We hadn't noticed that the list told us which card was used. We'll write down each card number at the beginning and it will be easy to sort out.

I usually carry a small amount of cash, but, figure there isn't anything I really need to purchase if the card doesn't work.

As long as we know that it can be easily sorted out who made each purchase, we'll probably allow room charging for the adults and then let them each decide whether or not they want to use it.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Everyone will have their name on their card.

 

[hematite153]

Everyone will have their name on their card.

Yes, I know that. But, the list of charges doesn't include names, unless things have changed for 2008--that I would have noticed if it'd shown up on a prior visit. So, if the list includes info about which card was used, then, I'm assuming it is listed according to the card #.

 

[DebbieB]

The keys have the same number except for the last 2. For example:

1234 5678 1234 5678 01
1234 5678 1234 5678 02
1234 5678 1234 5678 03

What you could do is the day before you check-out is get a list of charges from the front desk and sort out each family's charges. Then have them go to the front desk and charge their total to their own card.

One thing to think about - if you all dine together, are you going to ask for separate checks? Otherwise, if you just charge 1 total to the room, you will have to figure that out.

Personally, I would just have them use their own charge cards. It seems like it would be more of a hassle sorting it all out.

 

[snowbunny]

Personally, I would just have them use their own charge cards. It seems like it would be more of a hassle sorting it all out.

I agree - sorting it out and then extracting checks from everybody. I would keep the only key card with charging power and let everyone else use their credit cards.

 

[hematite153]

What you could do is the day before you check-out is get a list of charges from the front desk and sort out each family's charges. Then have them go to the front desk and charge their total to their own card.

One thing to think about - if you all dine together, are you going to ask for separate checks? Otherwise, if you just charge 1 total to the room, you will have to figure that out.

Personally, I would just have them use their own charge cards. It seems like it would be more of a hassle sorting it all out.

We're sharing a room with my DW's brothers and they are pretty trustworthy. We won't be dining together very often since they have young kids and we don't (yet).

As long as things are listed by card number on the list of charges it shouldn't be a problem at all to have them go by the front desk and pay the charges that were theirs just before checkout. (I.e. we won't need to deal with getting cheques from them, just have them put the right amount on their own credit cards.)

I suspect that they may use their credit cards anyway, just because that's what they are used to. But, knowing that I can easily identify who made which purchase, means that I can give them the option of room charging without worrying about it.

ETA: I suspect that for many the math of adding up each families purchases would be daunting. But, I'm a math teacher and do that kind of stuff in my head all day long.

 

[JimMIA]

Personally, I tend to think that room charging is of dubious value. I've heard far too many stories about the key cards not working for a variety of reasons (front desk error, credit card company error, charging limit reached, etc.) And consider what happens if someone in your group loses their room key.

I agree. We always decline room charging, even though it's just us in the room.

I've read way too many stories of a DDP glitch being billed to the room, just because it was available...and then the poor guest having to take an hour or so of their vacation to straighten out a server's mistake. I think sitting down with the whole group and spending a lot of time doing the accounting and settling would be even worse than fixing a DDP mess.

I always have my wallet anyway. How hard is it to just whip out the credit card?

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you hit the charging limit before the last day of your trip, they automatically charge your card with the $1500. If that might happen because of the number of guests and the number of dinners, etc, just keep charging only on your cards. It's no big deal to pull out a credit card at WDW and use that instead of charging to the room. Your charges just get put on the card immediately instead of when Disney submits the charges to the card.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

I agree. We always decline room charging, even though it's just us in the room.

I've read way too many stories of a DDP glitch being billed to the room, just because it was available...and then the poor guest having to take an hour or so of their vacation to straighten out a server's mistake. I think sitting down with the whole group and spending a lot of time doing the accounting and settling would be even worse than fixing a DDP mess.

I always have my wallet anyway. How hard is it to just whip out the credit card?

I always use one of the kids cards to pay for our DDP credits. Since the kids don't have charging on their cards they can't mistakenly charge it to our room.

I don't carry cc with me b/c I thinks it's easier to call the front desk and cancel a lost KTK card than call my CC company and report a stolen card.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I think it would become far too complicated to have charging privileges for that many people to sort out on your credit card.

I know $1500 seems to be the current limit, but one year they charged off my bill when it reached each $500. Don't know if it was the card I had used or what, but that would mean your guests would need to write a check out to you since your credit card would already have their charges on it.

IMHO your guests should not be picky about not having charging privileges. After all, they can always reserve their own accommodations through CRO and use their own credit card, but at a much higher cost to them of course.

 

[OlderMan]

FWIW...

Several years ago, DW and I had a large family group in a GV at OKW.

Since we made the ressies, and were the first to check in, we only allowed charging on OUR TWO CARDS.

It would have been terribly complicated sorting out charges from DW's parents, DW's aunt & uncle, BIL #1's family and BIL #2.

It got a nose or two out of joint, but prevented bigger problems in the end.

 

[hematite153]

The DDP glitch with charging is an issue. But, one we've dealt with before and now know that we can solve simply by calling the concierge and leaving it to them to resolve. I like the idea of using a kid's card to charge DDP meals and will suggest that to the group. Part of my fear about not allowing room charges actually has to do with DDP glitches. We had a stay last year where they only allowed DDP charging on the card that was connected to the CC--it took us a LONG time to figure out what the problem was!

I really don't understand why everyone thinks it's going to involve a lot of time to do accounting and settling. If the printout tells me which card was used, then, it should take less than 5 minutes for me to add up each family's charges. (Obviously, if it would take you a long time to do this addition, then, you'd probably make a different decision from me. But, seriously, in order to do my job I need to be able to do this kind of arithmetic faster in my head than my students can on their calculators.) Then, I can just leave a note on the kitchen counter and people will go pay it.

I also agree with Good Ol Gal with regards to carrying credit cards. I never carry my wallet at wdw. My DW once had her CC stolen while traveling for work and it was nightmarish to deal with. And, we had a wheelchair (with personal property on it) stolen in the MK last Sept. So, when I have the option of using a KTW card for everything and leaving my wallet locked in a safe, I do it. (Yes, I carry a small amount of cash. But, the buses are free and there isn't really anything that I MUST buy while there.)

I wouldn't allow charging to everyone that I would allow to share my room, but, I am not worried about it with this group. They also aren't the ones asking for it--we're the ones who would like to provide options. I'm sure that some of them will just use their CCs. But, this way they will have a choice.

Anyway, my question has been answered and I am comfortable with the decision I've made. Thank you to everyone who has provided information and advice. Feel free to continue the discussion for others if you feel so inclined.

 

[DebbieB]

Just be sure to have them go down to the front desk the night before to settle their charges. Otherwise, the total charge will be processed to your card overnight before check-out. When you ask for a copy of the bill the day before check-out, I would ask for a copy for each family, so that they can keep a copy (maybe highlight their key # and give it to them). Also, any ticket purchases are processed immediately to the credit card.

 

[castleri]

I really don't understand why everyone thinks it's going to involve a lot of time to do accounting and settling. If the printout tells me which card was used, then, it should take less than 5 minutes for me to add up each family's charges. (Obviously, if it would take you a long time to do this addition, then, you'd probably make a different decision from me. But, seriously, in order to do my job I need to be able to do this kind of arithmetic faster in my head than my students can on their calculators.) Then, I can just leave a note on the kitchen counter and people will go pay it.

II wouldn't allow charging to everyone that I would allow to share my room, but, I am not worried about it with this group. They also aren't the ones asking for it--we're the ones who would like to provide options. I'm sure that some of them will just use their CCs. But, this way they will have a choice.

Anyway, my question has been answered and I am comfortable with the decision I've made. Thank you to everyone who has provided information and advice. Feel free to continue the discussion for others if you feel so inclined.

It is not a big deal to get it sorted out. My daughter went to the front desk and told them she wanted the charges from keys 3, 4 and 5 put on her credit card the night before checkout and they took care of all the adding etc. It can also be done at intervals during the trip if there is a chance that the $limit might be reached before the end when you want them to separate it out before it can be put on your card. It took about 10 minutes for her to do it. On another occasion we just asked to have the print out with the charges listed by card.

 

[tjkraz]

I really don't understand why everyone thinks it's going to involve a lot of time to do accounting and settling.

It's not that I think it's a terrible hassle; I just happen to view the entire process of charging to the room as being more trouble than it's worth. A credit card is one more small piece of plastic to carry around--a piece of plastic that I feel is an absolute necessity to carry at all times.

I have no desire to deal with the aggravation and embarassment involved if my charge were to be declined following dinner at a Disney restaurant due to a poorly-trained CM or a glitch in the computer system. Sure, my credit card could be declined in error, but using the room key just adds one more level of complexity. And I happen to trust my CC vendor (who has much more experience in these matters) than I do Disney.

And then there's the issue of losing the room key. What happens if one of your party loses their key and the key is then used by another party to charge several purchases to the room? The agreement signed at check-in indemnifies Disney against any wrongdoing. The charges aren't Disney's responsibility and they won't refund the money.

I also question how the credit card company would handle it. It wasn't their plastic card that was lost and abused, instead it was a Disney room key. Does that room key carry the same protections as the vendor's card? With the agreement to pay all charges signed at check-in, can the credit card company rightfully withhold payments to Disney (and bills to you) over the loss of a room key?

I've never viewed this perk as anything more than a "warm fuzzy" offered to resort guests. From a practical standpoint, it holds little value. One plastic card fits in my pocket just as easy as two.

 

[dianeschlicht]

It's not that I think it's a terrible hassle; I just happen to view the entire process of charging to the room as being more trouble than it's worth. A credit card is one more small piece of plastic to carry around--a piece of plastic that I feel is an absolute necessity to carry at all times.

I have no desire to deal with the aggravation and embarassment involved if my charge were to be declined following dinner at a Disney restaurant due to a poorly-trained CM or a glitch in the computer system. Sure, my credit card could be declined in error, but using the room key just adds one more level of complexity. And I happen to trust my CC vendor (who has much more experience in these matters) than I do Disney.

And then there's the issue of losing the room key. What happens if one of your party loses their key and the key is then used by another party to charge several purchases to the room? The agreement signed at check-in indemnifies Disney against any wrongdoing. The charges aren't Disney's responsibility and they won't refund the money.

I also question how the credit card company would handle it. It wasn't their plastic card that was lost and abused, instead it was a Disney room key. Does that room key carry the same protections as the vendor's card? With the agreement to pay all charges signed at check-in, can the credit card company rightfully withhold payments to Disney (and bills to you) over the loss of a room key?

I've never viewed this perk as anything more than a "warm fuzzy" offered to resort guests. From a practical standpoint, it holds little value. One plastic card fits in my pocket just as easy as two.

I totally agree with these statements, and it is why we NEVER use a key card for charging. We each carry our own credit card in the little passholder folder we get with our APs. I also carry my drivers license in there too. Three little pieces of plastic in the same passport holder is no big deal. Heck, sometimes I even stick a couple dollars of cash in there! I carry it in a zippered or buttoned pocket in my jeans or shorts, and it's no big deal. NEVER would I give charging priveledges to someone else!