How do I pay for things on ship with Disney Gift Cards?

[SJDisneyFanatic]

Hello,

I have been banking Disney Gift Cards to pay for extra's on our upcoming cruise such as port excursions, drinks, shopping, etc. Can anyone tell me what I need to do to ensure that my cc is not charged vs. my gift cards?

Thanks so much for any feedback, advice!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hello,

I have been banking Disney Gift Cards to pay for extra's on our upcoming cruise such as port excursions, drinks, shopping, etc. Can anyone tell me what I need to do to ensure that my cc is not charged vs. my gift cards?

Thanks so much for any feedback, advice!

You can either purchase onboard credit via the gifts & amenities procedure pre-cruise. Or go to Guest Services once onboard and apply the gift cards to your account at that time.

To be sure that your credit card will not get charged, you can change your onboard account back up to "cash" on your online check in page. Then apply the gift cards once onboard.

If you don't plan on having enough gift cards to cover everything, and wish to leave the credit card on the account, you can.

Any onboard credit (either pre-purchased, or with gift cards, or OBC given by DCL or a TA) will be used up first. Then any charges will be applied to your credit card.

 

[adamki]

You can also use the gift cards in the shops. That is how we provide a souvenir budget for adamki-Kid.

 

[kdecroo]

Also you can use this Disney site to combined all of your Disney GC to 1 card. It will make it easier on the Guest Service Rep.

https://disneygiftcard.com/Manage/MyCards

 

[tee11]

Since your CC doesn't get charged until the very end of your cruise you can upload gift cards onto your onboard account via guest services at any time, or in stages, or whatever works best for you. That way you have a better idea how much to upload. You can cover it all exactly to the last cent, if you wish. You can also hand them a gift card in the shops, but the photographers wouldn't take gift cards directly in our experience.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Since your CC doesn't get charged until the very end of your cruise you can upload gift cards onto your onboard account via guest services at any time, or in stages, or whatever works best for you. That way you have a better idea how much to upload. You can cover it all exactly to the last cent, if you wish. You can also hand them a gift card in the shops, but the photographers wouldn't take gift cards directly in our experience.

You can use Disney gift cards directly only in the Gift Shops only onboard. All other things you pay for onboard are charged to your onboard account (spa, nursery, Shutters, drinks, excursions, tastings).

 

[CM Dad]

Since your CC doesn't get charged until the very end of your cruise you can upload gift cards onto your onboard account via guest services at any time, or in stages, or whatever works best for you. That way you have a better idea how much to upload. You can cover it all exactly to the last cent, if you wish. You can also hand them a gift card in the shops, but the photographers wouldn't take gift cards directly in our experience.

Your credit card may be charged before the end of the cruise. I believe they charge the card once your stateroom account balance exceeds a certain amount. I don't know what that threshold is.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Your credit card may be charged before the end of the cruise. I believe they charge the card once your stateroom account balance exceeds a certain amount. I don't know what that threshold is.

I believe the limit is around $300 for a short cruise and $500 for a 7 night cruise before Disney actually charges the credit card. I could be wrong on the limits, though.

 

[SJDisneyFanatic]

Thank you all for your super helpful information! I will definitely make sure I change my payment method to cash to start with and will plan to stop at guest services periodically throughout the cruise to pay.

 

[Fan of the Mouse!]

Has anyone tried to buy discount Gift cards from Sams Club or Costco and then apply them to your on-board account to pay for port excursions? Is there a limit to the amount of gift cards that can be used?

 

[Dug720]

Has anyone tried to buy discount Gift cards from Sams Club or Costco and then apply them to your on-board account to pay for port excursions? Is there a limit to the amount of gift cards that can be used?

I don't think there is a limit... BUT make sure you hold onto ALL the cards because any refunds will go back on one or more. Far better to consolidate them into one or two.

 

[tinytinkmom]

I call DCL ahead of time to load my GC's as onboard credit, so I don't have to carry the physical GC's onto the ship. Toward the end of the cruise, I get a printout of my shipboard account to see how much I've spent. If I'm going to have leftover OBC, I just go buy a Disney GC in one of the stores on the ship... That way, I don't have to wait for DCL to refund my excess OBC back to my original gift cards after the cruise.

 

[WDW Enabler]

I call DCL ahead of time to load my GC's as onboard credit, so I don't have to carry the physical GC's onto the ship. Toward the end of the cruise, I get a printout of my shipboard account to see how much I've spent. If I'm going to have leftover OBC, I just go buy a Disney GC in one of the stores on the ship... That way, I don't have to wait for DCL to refund my excess OBC back to my original gift cards after the cruise.

I didn't know I could add them prior to the cruise. I have always added onboard. I am combining them into one card this time though.

 

[JenPinks]

I didn't know I could add them prior to the cruise. I have always added onboard. I am combining them into one card this time though.

Can you load them onto your DVA account and transfer to your onboard account?