Hack to save ~20% on all WDW purchases

[jas80]

My first family trip to Disney (since I was a child myself) is coming up in less than 2 weeks. I've gotten such great advice from this community, that I want to add something back. There's lots of advice about how to save about 5% by buying WDW gift cards from target, but you can do much better. Here is how you can save roughly 20% on nearly all WDW purchases -- tickets, WDW hotels, meals, souvenirs... anything that accepts WDW gift cards.

Step by step:

1) There are many credit cards that give 5% or 6% cash back at supermarkets and pharmacies. Get one.

2) Use that credit card to buy Visa gift cards at your supermarket or pharmacy. (There is about a 1% fee on these gift cards).

3) Use the Visa gift cards to buy discounted Target gift cards as follows:

3a) Use a website like giftcardgranny.com to find which gift card reseller is currenly offering the biggest discounts on Target gift cards (I was able to get a 6.7% discount when I did this).

3b) Before going to whichever website is offering the biggest discount, go to cashbackmonitor.com to see if that website is eligible for cash back rewards through an online shopping portal (I was able to get an additional 2% cash back by buying from Cardpool through the Top Cashback portal).

4) Obtain a Target Redcard.

5) Go to the Target website and add your Target Redcard to your account.

6) Load your online Target shopping cart with WDW gift cards.

7) Use your Target gift cards to pay for the purchase. But also make sure that at least $0.01 of the purchase is charged to your Redcard. This will result in an additional 5% discount on the entire purchase. (Note: you can only use a maximum of 4 Target gift cards per purchase, so you may need to consolidate your Target gift cards into higher value gift cards before purchsing the WDW gift cards, or just place several different WDW gift card orders.

In my case I got 5% cash back from my credit card (6% cash back less the 1% fee); 6.7% discount on the Target gift cards from the gift card reseller; 2% from the cash back portal on the purchase of the Target gift cards; 5% Redcard discount on the purchase of the WDW gift cards.

5+5+6.7+2 = 18.7% Not bad!

It just so happens that I already had both a 6% cash back credit card and a Target Redcard, so this process was pretty easy. If you have to sign up for those cards, it becomes a bit more cumbersome.

 

[mfly]

Thanks! Note, however, that when you're stacking any percentages you need to multiply them, not add them. This makes your total around 17.5% I believe.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[jas80]

Thanks! Note, however, that when you're stacking any percentages you need to multiply them, not add them. This makes your total around 17.5% I believe.

Thanks for sharing!

Most of these savings are cash back, not discounts, so they can be added not multiplied. But yes, for those that are discounts, you would multiply. Was just trying to keep the math simple.

 

[ontheuptick]

Question -

As someone who's never done this before, but always been intrigued, I decided to check out your steps. On the gift card granny site, it looks like the best Target Gift Card right now is 4% discount. And, it looks like you can buy them in any number of different sizes (from hundreds of dollars down to a few dollars). Is there a recommended size (based on the WDW gift cards you have to buy on Targets site, etc). Should I buy a $300 giftcard or will that make it hard to apply the redcard discount on Target's website (you mentioned that at least $.01 has to be charged to the target redcard).

Thanks for your help!

 

[ontheuptick]

Another question -

Let's say I do this and end up with 10 $100 giftcards to take with me on my trip. Do I have to carry those gift cards around everywhere? Or, can you just use your magic band and then take the gift cards to the front desk and pay off your room charges with the gift cards one at a time?

Thanks!

 

[jas80]

Question -

As someone who's never done this before, but always been intrigued, I decided to check out your steps. On the gift card granny site, it looks like the best Target Gift Card right now is 4% discount. And, it looks like you can buy them in any number of different sizes (from hundreds of dollars down to a few dollars). Is there a recommended size (based on the WDW gift cards you have to buy on Targets site, etc). Should I buy a $300 giftcard or will that make it hard to apply the redcard discount on Target's website (you mentioned that at least $.01 has to be charged to the target redcard).

Thanks for your help!

The discounts on the Target gift cards will vary. I've seen them as low as 2% and as high as 8%. That's just going to be luck of the draw based on supply and demand at the time you purchase, I guess.

As far as sizes, it's probably easiest to purchase in higher denominations, just so you have fewer transactions to make via Target (due to the 4 gift card per transaction rule). But yes, you should purchase Target gift cards whose total value is roughy 5% less than what you want to purchase in WDW gift cards. For example, purchase $520 worth of Target gift cards if you want $550 worth of WDW gift cards. When you put $550 worth of WDW gift cards into your Target shopping cart and use your Redcard, you'll get a 5% discount of $27.50, making your cost $522.50. Pay the first $520 with your Target gift cards and the remaining $2.50 with your Redcard.

 

[jas80]

Another question -

Let's say I do this and end up with 10 $100 giftcards to take with me on my trip. Do I have to carry those gift cards around everywhere? Or, can you just use your magic band and then take the gift cards to the front desk and pay off your room charges with the gift cards one at a time?

Thanks!

Two things:

1) You can consolidate your Disney gift card balances to fewer cards via: https://www.disneygiftcard.com/

2) Yes, if you are staying at a Disney resort, you should be able to charge everything back to your room, and then pay the balance with the WDW gift cards. But be careful, because the hotel could periodically charge the CC you have on file if your balance gets too high.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Another question -

Let's say I do this and end up with 10 $100 giftcards to take with me on my trip. Do I have to carry those gift cards around everywhere? Or, can you just use your magic band and then take the gift cards to the front desk and pay off your room charges with the gift cards one at a time?

Thanks!

You can consolidate Disney gift cards at disneygiftcard.com. Reduce them down to one or more cards as needed.

 

[shystalips]

My first family trip to Disney (since I was a child myself) is coming up in less than 2 weeks. I've gotten such great advice from this community, that I want to add something back. There's lots of advice about how to save about 5% by buying WDW gift cards from target, but you can do much better. Here is how you can save roughly 20% on nearly all WDW purchases -- tickets, WDW hotels, meals, souvenirs... anything that accepts WDW gift cards.

Step by step:

1) There are many credit cards that give 5% or 6% cash back at supermarkets and pharmacies. Get one.

2) Use that credit card to buy Visa gift cards at your supermarket or pharmacy. (There is about a 1% fee on these gift cards).

3) Use the Visa gift cards to buy discounted Target gift cards as follows:

3a) Use a website like giftcardgranny.com to find which gift card reseller is currenly offering the biggest discounts on Target gift cards (I was able to get a 6.7% discount when I did this).

3b) Before going to whichever website is offering the biggest discount, go to cashbackmonitor.com to see if that website is eligible for cash back rewards through an online shopping portal (I was able to get an additional 2% cash back by buying from Cardpool through the Top Cashback portal).

4) Obtain a Target Redcard.

5) Go to the Target website and add your Target Redcard to your account.

6) Load your online Target shopping cart with WDW gift cards.

7) Use your Target gift cards to pay for the purchase. But also make sure that at least $0.01 of the purchase is charged to your Redcard. This will result in an additional 5% discount on the entire purchase. (Note: you can only use a maximum of 4 Target gift cards per purchase, so you may need to consolidate your Target gift cards into higher value gift cards before purchsing the WDW gift cards, or just place several different WDW gift card orders.

In my case I got 5% cash back from my credit card (6% cash back less the 1% fee); 6.7% discount on the Target gift cards from the gift card reseller; 2% from the cash back portal on the purchase of the Target gift cards; 5% Redcard discount on the purchase of the WDW gift cards.

5+5+6.7+2 = 18.7% Not bad!

It just so happens that I already had both a 6% cash back credit card and a Target Redcard, so this process was pretty easy. If you have to sign up for those cards, it becomes a bit more cumbersome.

 

[shystalips]

If you don't mind me asking, what credit card are you using for the high cash back at grocery stores. I'd like that one. Thanks

 

[edk35]

I pay on my room charges all the time using Disney gift cards.

 

[Lvsdisney]

There is an extremely detailed thread on this on the Budget Board!! Lots of info there...
http://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-gift-card-deals.2941964/

 

[mfly]

Most of these savings are cash back, not discounts, so they can be added not multiplied. But yes, for those that are discounts, you would multiply. Was just trying to keep the math simple.

I realize I came across a lot snottier than I intended: I didn't mean to diminish the quality or helpfulness of your post, and I'm very appreciative of individuals like yourself who do so much legwork in figuring out deals for the rest of us. I just wanted to clarify right away as I anticipated others being upset if they couldn't match your deal to the same tenth of a percent. Thanks again!

 

[Mouseketeers4]

Question -

As someone who's never done this before, but always been intrigued, I decided to check out your steps. On the gift card granny site, it looks like the best Target Gift Card right now is 4% discount. And, it looks like you can buy them in any number of different sizes (from hundreds of dollars down to a few dollars). Is there a recommended size (based on the WDW gift cards you have to buy on Targets site, etc). Should I buy a $300 giftcard or will that make it hard to apply the redcard discount on Target's website (you mentioned that at least $.01 has to be charged to the target redcard).

Thanks for your help!

The OP was actually incorrect in this regard, unless something has changed very recently. You do not have to put any of your purchase on the Target card to receive the discount online. As long as the Target card is saved in your account, you will get the discount regardless of the payment method you actually use. I have placed many orders, paying only with gift cards, and the 5% discount has applied every time without issue.

Other important things to note: You may apply up to 4 Target gift cards to pay for your purchase and if there is a balance leftover it will save in your account to be applied easily to a future order without having to enter the gift card information again.

 

[jas80]

If you don't mind me asking, what credit card are you using for the high cash back at grocery stores. I'd like that one. Thanks

Mine is an Amex card that is not offered anymore, but I'm grandfathered in. But if you google something like: (5% cash back supermarket credit card), you'll find plenty of options. One good one I think is the Amex Blue Cash Preferred - 6% at supermarkets and 3% at gas stations.

 

[jas80]

I realize I came across a lot snottier than I intended: I didn't mean to diminish the quality or helpfulness of your post, and I'm very appreciative of individuals like yourself who do so much legwork in figuring out deals for the rest of us. I just wanted to clarify right away as I anticipated others being upset if they couldn't match your deal to the same tenth of a percent. Thanks again!

Didn't sound snotty to me. Unfortunately, I'm not sure most would really even understand the difference between adding discounts and multiplying discounts.

 

[jas80]

The OP was actually incorrect in this regard, unless something has changed very recently. You do not have to put any of your purchase on the Target card to receive the discount online. As long as the Target card is saved in your account, you will get the discount regardless of the payment method you actually use. I have placed many orders, paying only with gift cards, and the 5% discount has applied every time without issue.

Other important things to note: You may apply up to 4 Target gift cards to pay for your purchase and if there is a balance leftover it will save in your account to be applied easily to a future order without having to enter the gift card information again.

I just did this a few days ago, and there was no way to get the 5% discount to apply without actually using my Redcard for at least a penny of the purchase. Even with my Redcard saved as the the default card on my account. The discount would appear, but then would disappear on the checkout screen unless the Redcard was being applied.

 

[momto4obkids]

I just did this a few days ago, and there was no way to get the 5% discount to apply without actually using my Redcard for at least a penny of the purchase. Even with my Redcard saved as the the default card on my account. The discount would appear, but then would disappear on the checkout screen unless the Redcard was being applied.

Unfortunately some people have this glitch where they have to put at least some of the purchase on their red card or the discount disappears. For most people they don't have to put anything on their card and can purchase with it all on their gift cards.

I've purchased thousands of dollars using gift cards only, not having to use my red card for any of it.

 

[Mouseketeers4]

I just did this a few days ago, and there was no way to get the 5% discount to apply without actually using my Redcard for at least a penny of the purchase. Even with my Redcard saved as the the default card on my account. The discount would appear, but then would disappear on the checkout screen unless the Redcard was being applied.

That's weird. Is your card information permanently saved on target.com? My purchase from a week ago was paid with gift cards only and the receipt clearly shows the 5% Redcard discount. Although I wasn't buying gift cards that time, so maybe they changed something there? The workaround sounds easy enough though. Definitely worth the effort for the extra savings!

 

[momto4obkids]

Another step you can add in is go through www.mypoints.com to get to target.com when you are ready to buy the disney gift cards.

They give you the points for your purchase even though you are using gift cards to pay. Most cashback/point sites don't do that. But, I've received credit for every purchase i've made for gift cards.

I use the points to either get a Landry's gift card which is good at Rainforest Cafe, TRex and Yak & Yeti or I get a Target gift card to recycle into a Disney gift card.

I know people have had luck getting ebates to credit them when they add something else to their cart like a place mat, but I'd rather take the sure bet.lol