Hotel Payment / Disney Gift Card Question

[FarmBoy78]

Our trip is in 2 weeks - is that enough time to set up a DVA and be able to use it?

Did you end up setting one up? Or just pay with gift cards?

 

[cattywampus]

Be careful with DVA. I was not able to use it at Grand Californian, because I booked an AP rate room only and for whatever reason, it is not technically a Walt Disney Travel Co recognized rate (even though I booked it through them). I took it up the chain to the manager and never did get to use it for my room. I could have used the giftcards.

I had a trip to WDW planned (2 weeks ago) so I used balance for that. It was a ridiculous display of how segmented a large company can get. GC was very apologetic and I ended up with several FP for the delay but the whole thing was silly.

I did pay my Grand Floridian room only in advance with DVA but could not do it at Grand Cal. Why?? No one could tell me.

From now on, I will bring my stack of $50 gift cards and make them enter them (I originally set up DVA as a courtesy, since it would let me do the entering ahead). Not any more.

Also, they do require hard payment via credit/debit card but upon arrival, you can request they refund that amount and the pay with the gift card.

Sometimes they just make it overly difficult to give them our money.

 

[5forMickey]

I put the second item in bold because I wanted to say that I almost always pay off my hotel bill in advance, and it's hotel only, not a package.

I just did this a few days ago also. I wanted to pay off our room before we left so I didn't have to have that balance sitting on our card. Our rooms were booked with WDT and they won't take a payment; but the Hotel was more than willing to take it. I'm not even sure why I do this but it makes me feel better -- I guess it so when I arrive I don't have to think about how much I just spent

 

[DizMe]

I just did this a few days ago also. I wanted to pay off our room before we left so I didn't have to have that balance sitting on our card. Our rooms were booked with WDT and they won't take a payment; but the Hotel was more than willing to take it. I'm not even sure why I do this but it makes me feel better -- I guess it so when I arrive I don't have to think about how much I just spent

LOL! If I can swing it, I like to pay a night at a time and get it paid off about a month before I go. That leaves me with more spending money when I'm there!

 

[FarmBoy78]

We head to Disneyland in February for our trip, which is a massive trip (19 days at two different hotels - GC and DLH). I'm not a fan of having to carry all the $50 gift cards from Target w/ me on the trip, but I see no other way (we have an AP discount because it made things cheaper for that long a trip, so can't use Vacation account, etc).

Oh well. I guess each night/morning when not too busy I will sneak down to the desk and have them put 20-30 cards in, so it's not all at once.

 

[junmatno]

We head to Disneyland in February for our trip, which is a massive trip (19 days at two different hotels - GC and DLH). I'm not a fan of having to carry all the $50 gift cards from Target w/ me on the trip, but I see no other way (we have an AP discount because it made things cheaper for that long a trip, so can't use Vacation account, etc). Oh well. I guess each night/morning when not too busy I will sneak down to the desk and have them put 20-30 cards in, so it's not all at once.

You can take your smaller cards to the Disney store and they can out all on one card for you as courtesy.

 

[DharmaLou]

You can take your smaller cards to the Disney store and they can out all on one card for you as courtesy.

No they can't. I've tried more than once.

 

[TheChapman6]

I wish they would start selling larger amounts on the gift cards at target

 

[landheim]

Just reviving this old thread with a follow-up question...I have booked the GCH using the Dapper Day rate (they later added my convention rate park tickets as well on to the reservation). Can I pay the balance of what is owed with my physical gift cards upon check out? Anyone have experience doing this? Specifically with the Dapper Day rate or other convention rates I'm just wanting to be sure I can use gift cards to pay the balance of what will be owed.

Also, for those who my not be aware you can combine Disney gift cards here (so you don't have to carry around all those gift cards, just the one):
www.disneygiftcards.com

 

[Belle Ella]

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[Djscarlette]

The one issue with using Disney gift cards purchased at Target is they only come in $50 max. We did this on our last trip and it took a very long time to process. Unless they have sped up the process, the time it takes the front desk to run one card is pretty long. If I recall correctly checking in took me around 40 minutes or so.

Ugh. We still owe $2000 on our DLH stay and all I have is $50 gift cards. Sorry if you're in line behind me.

I tried to use the multiple gift cards to buy just one gift card, but you can't do that. I'd much rather only have to carry one.

Go to disneygiftcard.com and consolidate your cards. It's a site run by Disney designed to do just this. I have an account and its works beautifully.