hold on debit card???

[Pats Dragon]

my news station just warned that some hotels put a 250$ hold on debit cards when used to pay for your room. Does Disney do this?

 

[msmayor]

I would suspect ALL hotels do this. Its done with credit cards too, as a way to ensure payment of all charges (especially those that may be made after checkout).

The difference is the hold on a credit card is virtually invisible, while the hold on a debit card can cause problems if you are counting on having that money available.

 

[pudge the fish]

Unless it's a very new policy, in all my years staying at Disney I have never had a hold put on anything Debit or Credit.
Again Policy changes often, But I have never had this happen to me.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

WDW does not put a hold on your credit or debit card. They run the card, to see if it is valid, and they usually do a $1 pre-authorization, so that they are able to charge your card at check out. You don't even have to use the same card at check out that you used at check in - if you choose, you can use the card, cash, another card. That $1 charge will drop off.

With that authorization on your card, they are allowed to charge you, even if it puts you over your credit limit.

Disney allows their guests to put up to a certain amount on their account, and will only run the card when the guest hits that amount. It is different for each category of resort; for values, I think it's still $500/mods $1000/deluxe resorts $1500. As long as you don't go over the preset, they won't charge your account until check out. If you do hit the preset, they charge your card and you start over, until you hit the limit again.

ETA: - the above relates to incidental charges to the room; when you check in, they usually charge you right then for your room balance, if it hasn't been fully paid in advance.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

$1.00 - unless it's changed, but Disney has been doing this for years. Your room will be paid at check-in, if not already paid in full, then you will have a credit limit for purchases with your CC on file (or if debit has Visa/Mastercard logo). The limit is different for each resort level. If it has not changed, it was $500 for a value, $1000 for a moderate and $1500 for a deluxe. When this is reached they will charge the balance to the card on file and the limit will be rest. You can check your balance at any time and pay it in cash, another card or with the card on file.

You can decline to leave a CC/debit and therefore will not have a credit limit attached to the key card. We do this from time to time as we prefer not to use our key card for charging in the shops, resorts, food etc.

One more thing - if it is all adults and you want to pay for charges with different cards that can be done as well (at any time or check out, but not express check out). Each card is numbered so ask for a printed statement to see the charges for each card.

Hope this helps.

ETA - Must have typing when K&a&c'smom was posting!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

LOL! Minnie&Nana, we were posting the same info, at the same time!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

LOL! Minnie&Nana, we were posting the same info, at the same time!

LOL I noticed too! We are just full of great information! lol

 

[Pats Dragon]

Thank you!!

 

[jenjen212]

Were you asking about possible holds once you check in? Or, after you've paid for your room?

I know that some hotels will do this. They may not charge you for your reservation at time of booking, but rather just hold the room for you with a hold on your card. Or after you've checked in, will still place a "security" hold on your card, in case there are any charges during your stay (i.e. room service, etc). Once you check out, if there were no charges, they release the hold, or the balance.

But, at Disney ....
If you have a resort package reservation, you shouldn't have any credit holds on your card, in addition to your payments for the package (which usually has to be paid in full at 45 days prior to arrival). If you have a room-only reservation, you should only have a charge for the first night's stay at time of booking. Then, when you arrive, they'll ask for you to pay the balance in full at that time. You should only be charged for your balance, with no additional holds.

During that check in, they will also ask you if you'd like to add charging priviledges to your room card keys (KTTW - keys to the world), and if so, which ones should have it. If you do, then they will need to have a card to place those charges on. As some of the other posters have said, they will place a $1 hold first, then either charge the card at check-out, or once you reach the spending limit - which ever comes first.

Good Luck & Enjoy your trip!

 

[disneyfans95]

my news station just warned that some hotels put a 250$ hold on debit cards when used to pay for your room. Does Disney do this?

Almost all hotels do this. I have been a hotel GM for 20+ years. This is industry standard.

There is no "warning" as if they are doing something illegal. This is to protect the hotel in case of damage done by guests, misc charges etc.

 

[verticalchaos]

Almost all hotels do this. I have been a hotel GM for 20+ years. This is industry standard.

There is no "warning" as if they are doing something illegal. This is to protect the hotel in case of damage done by guests, misc charges etc.

I don't think the warning about check/debit cards implies they are doing something illegal. I think it's a courtesy to the guest so that they are aware of what is being done if they choose to use a check/debit card, at least in cases where it's not just the $1 test authorization.

I have been in some hotels where they do have notification up at the front desk explaining that if you use a debit card, an authorization of x-amount (usually between $200-$300 or the rate of the room for one night) will be placed on the card and released upon check-out, though it may take a couple of business days for your bank to expire the hold. I've found it nice that they do that so that you don't accidentally overdraw your account - or try to use the card to pay for something only to discover that when you thought you had enough in your account to make the purchase, you are in fact $200+ short because of that hold.

It may not be a requirement to tell your guests, but it's certainly a courtesy, and I'm far more likely to re-patronize a hotel that has the courtesy to let me know up front than I am one that keeps it hidden and makes it possible for me to find out the hard way. To me, the hiddenness of it makes it seem MORE suspicious than if they tell me up front.