How Do People Take Their Currency For Disney Trips?

[Biggs87]

Hi All,

We’re heading to Florida from UK next summer for 4 weeks, just interested how people take their currency.

Obviously don’t want to be carrying that amount of cash around for the whole trip, so just inserted what others do, that is also a suitable method for using in the parks etc.

What’s the best rates people have found for transaction fees etc and with which companies?

Thanks All

 

[_19disnA]

I live in the US and regardless of where in the US I travel, I use local ATM machines and my debit card to get cash. That is far safer than carrying a large amount of cash when there are so many available ATM machines at tourist destinations such as Disney. I can't speak to the exchange rate issue when traveling from a foreign country. Could a gift card you purchase while still at home be an option? Obviously, you still want to careful to not lose it, but if the debit card options doesn't work for you, then seems like a Disney gift card could be another option.

I would assume a regular credit card can also be used when making purchases at Disney. For small/incidental purchases, always a good idea to bring a few dollars from home to start your vacation. Your local bank will likely be able to provide you some US currency. Major airports often have a currency exchange place, but saves time to do that at home prior to your trip and the rates are probably better.

 

[CarolynFH]

Did you know there’s a DISboards forum for visitors from the UK? You can ask there too for more suggestions.

https://www.disboards.com/forums/uk-trip-planning-community.47/

 

[AnnaS]

I don't carry much cash. I have singles, fives, 10s and a few 20s. Mostly used for tips. I charge everything to my room or my cc if eating at a non-disney location (maybe airport/I think Fountains at the Swan I used my cc). As posted, there is always an ATM. When we did drive, always carried a little extra for the road (in case something/somewhere was down for whatever reason - hotel/gas station/buy lotto ticket).

 

[Best Aunt]

I just got back. The only time I used cash was for tips: the towncar driver who took me from airport to grocery store to hotel, the guy in front of the hotel who took my bags out of the car, Bell Services for taking my bags up to my room and then back down from my room when I departed, and housekeeping.

That's it.

I used a credit card for everything else.

I always have some cash on me, because occasionally the credit card system in the parks goes down. But that didn't happen this trip.

Many people use credit cards because of the perks (cash back, frequent flyer miles, etc.).

 

[peachiepie]

I use a Revolut card when traveling from the UK

 

[zanzibar138]

Aussie here. We used a no-fee credit card for our 4 week trip earlier this year. We took about USD $100 in cash, and came home with most of it Even for tipping now, you can mostly just add it to the bill to pay on the credit card.

 

[wabbott]

If you do use ATMs, find one at a bank or branch bank, rather those at a convenience store or stand-alone. Less like to incur extra transaction fees from a bank machine. Looks like the WDW ATMs are all Chase Bank.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/atm/

 

[CoachBeard]

I use a Revolut card when traveling from the UK

I watch a Leeds-based YouTube channel that regularly travels across Europe and the US. They recommend Revolut as well. I have no personal experience, as I haven't been to Europe since a few weeks before they changed over to the Euro (1998).

 

[MICKIMINI]

US here. When overseas we used to bring $500 or so equivalent but that was years ago. Our son and DIL travel to Europe and UK and had issues with gift cards in the past several years, issued in the US (ones we've given them, or course LOL!) They now use the GC's in the US to buy local currency for their trip. If you have a credit card that doesn't charge fees in the US, that will be your main source of payment, however tips for baggage transfer and other service should be in $5's, $10's and $20's at most. If you bring $100's, you can make change at the resort's front desk as needed. We get rid of most of the currency on the last day and only have enough for tips for baggage or transportation on the way to the airport. I will say that once, we were buying a pizza at WDW and our card was declined! Our bank detected our card had been hacked (before texting was common) but they had cancelled it. Thankfully, we had our AMEX with us. It happens. Our bank tells us we don't need to inform them we are traveling, however if I was traveling overseas, I would certainly let them know...

On RARE occasions, payment systems have gone down at WDW, sometimes for several hours (it has been a long time since I remember it happening) but you don't want to be hungry while waiting for the system to come back up.

Enjoy your trip!