How do you pay for your Disney Vacation

[Celidh]

I am hoping to be able to plan another Disney trip for next year. For those of you who book and pay in installments, what method do you use to pay.

Specifically, I don't want to end up paying the extra charges by using my credit card. You know, the extra 2.5% credit card companies like to add to the regular exchange. On our last trip this wasn't an issue because we paid it when the Canadian dollar was above the US dollar.

What do people do usually or do you just suck it up any pay the extra charge with a credit card? I don't have a US credit card and don't want one. I wouldn't use it enough to make it worthwhile. I do however have a US funds bank account that I will put $ in when I can afford it and when the exchange rate is good.

TIA

 

[chimo2u]

That's what I do....I put US funds into my US bank account throughout the yr, usually every pay day....actually today, I bought $800 US for $820.00!
I usually get a bank draft about a couple weeks before the balance is due and mail it out to WD travel company to pay off my balance

 

[thehowells]

money order, we buy through our work, (my in laws own the company) so we don't pay the fee and use our fed-ex account to ship it, so we only pay the exchange, if any

 

[saskdw]

One of the perks of my credit card is trip insurance so it's a no brainer for me.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

This is one area that I definitely don't have a decent strategy for. With my airfare, I usually fly continental where I can use their website and book in Canadian Dollars.

But for Disney, I attempt to make payments via credit card when our currency cycles high. This doesn't always work and yes, I end up paying the credit card currency conversion fee (2 - 2.5%).

Why can I chose other currencies to pay in, like USD, GBP and EUR, but I cant select CDN. Come on Disney .... throw me a bone here!

 

[Celidh]

Thanks everyone for the info. When the time comes I was thinking about maybe getting a bank draft or something and mailing it. I wouldn't use regular postal service though because I wouldn't want it to get lost in the mail. (just my luck, have my payment for my trip get lost in the mail) I think I would either use registered mail or Fedex or something. Using this, I would have confirmation that they received it. I remember another post somewhere on this sight where they mailed their $ and Disney said they never received it.

Of course I would have to figure out the difference in cost. I would imagine it would still be cheaper to pay for the shipping of the envelope rather than the extra fees on my credit card. As someone else said, there is also the advantage of insurance, which I also have on my card and the fact that I would collect Westjet points also. I get 1% in Westjet dollars using my card to that would cancel out part of the extra 2 or 2.5% fee the credit card company charges on my card. That would go towards my flight if I end up using Westjet. Is my though process making sense here?!?!

Thanks again for the input. If anyone else has any other suggestions, let me know.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Celidh:

A few months ago I read a post about someone sending in a payment (similar to what you suggest) and Disney not having any record of getting it ...

 

[dis_guy]

Celidh:

A few months ago I read a post about someone sending in a payment (similar to what you suggest) and Disney not having any record of getting it ...

I remember that one too and it's weirder than that...two reservation payments were sent in the same courier envelope but only one was received and credited by Disney.

For the record, I like to book as far ahead as possible so I can make small monthly installments on my Aeroplan credit card. Sometimes I do very well with the exchange and sometimes I don't...it all averages out in the end I suppose.

I buy my flights with same card and get points for the purchase and when I fly, I get points for the miles traveled. I also book with Continental, soon to be United, so it doesn't matter, I suppose.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

I book early too, but here's my problem. When a new code comes out ... I apply it to my existing Res, but they cancel the original and start a new reservation. Hence, my refund gets charged the currency exchange rate again.

 

[Sue M]

I book early too, but here's my problem. When a new code comes out ... I apply it to my existing Res, but they cancel the original and start a new reservation. Hence, my refund gets charged the currency exchange rate again.

They shouldn't have to cancel & re-book unless you are going from a room-only to a package,
We did a room only this coming Jan trip, with a CAA discount. When AP discount came out i was just able to apply it to my existing res.

 

[Sue M]

I am hoping to be able to plan another Disney trip for next year. For those of you who book and pay in installments, what method do you use to pay.

Specifically, I don't want to end up paying the extra charges by using my credit card. You know, the extra 2.5% credit card companies like to add to the regular exchange. On our last trip this wasn't an issue because we paid it when the Canadian dollar was above the US dollar.

What do people do usually or do you just suck it up any pay the extra charge with a credit card? I don't have a US credit card and don't want one. I wouldn't use it enough to make it worthwhile. I do however have a US funds bank account that I will put $ in when I can afford it and when the exchange rate is good.

TIA

I suck it up an use my Visa because it has trip insurance on it, but only if the card is used to pay for vacay.
I calculate out how much I'll need for monthly payments, and do that. Even with room only, I like to be PIF before I arrive.

 

[Celidh]

I remember that one too and it's weirder than that...two reservation payments were sent in the same courier envelope but only one was received and credited by Disney.

For the record, I like to book as far ahead as possible so I can make small monthly installments on my Aeroplan credit card. Sometimes I do very well with the exchange and sometimes I don't...it all averages out in the end I suppose.

I buy my flights with same card and get points for the purchase and when I fly, I get points for the miles traveled. I also book with Continental, soon to be United, so it doesn't matter, I suppose.

That's exactly the post I remember as well. It did seem odd that both were sent but only one was received but it still made me think twice about sending it vial mail or whatever. That is why I figure I will just end up using my credit card rather than risk something being lost.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Yup Room only going to an AP code,

 

[Alderbrook]

you have to pay a fee just to buy US $ & then usually a fee to do a money order or certified chq, so paying the fee to the credit card companies doesn't bother me. I too make installments when the dollar is high so by the time my balance is due, there isn't much left to pay.

 

[MedicGoofy]

If you really think about it, paying 2.5% is nothing. You need to look around at credit card companies and see which company offers you the best bang for your buck....which equals out to.....when you spend money, you get money back....either in points or travel discount or whatever. OR look and find a card that doesn't charge you the 2.5%. We have a VISA GOLD and dont get charged.

BUT even if we did have to pay 2.5%......on a trip costing $3000 if you did it over payments in a year, it wouldn't amount to much. BUT, if you got a card that offered rewards, like the VISA points cards do (see GOLD, AVION) then you would bank $3000 worth of points. Keep building to that and in time that translates to money for you. Literally. We have gotten gift cards from VISA just because we have spent money. And with a $3000 trip coming up, thats a huge jump in points.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

What I would like is to see payment in Canadian Dollars. That way I still make my money back though my Momentum Card (or others would earn points) without the 2.5%.

Ted

 

[chimo2u]

I have often wondered how much that 2.5% fee would add to my final total...it would be nice to get the PC points for a $4,000 - $5,000.00 transaction! Would it add a lot to the final balance if I paid of my whole package via credit card instead of mailing in a draft??

A bank draft usually costs me $7.00 and the envelope to track it (about another $10.00 or so).....so what would a 2.5% fee add on? is it a huge amount like $100 plus??? or a doable amount that is equal to my $20.00 that I usually spend to mail in a payment??

 

[MedicGoofy]

Just do the math.....its simple. If the trip is costing you $4000....then times it by 2.5%. Which would cost you $100. Which really, is nothing. Considering you reap the benefit of getting to put $4000 worth of points onto a card. Take off the money you would spend having to get a certified check and purolate it to Disney, and the difference is only like $70. You come out further ahead with the points if you ask me. And its easier

 

[Ted in Halifax]

This will be my eight trip to disney. Since I often travel with 5 people and now incorporate a land and sea in my recent plans ... it is not unusual for us to spend $6000USD per trip. So 6000 x 8 trips x 2.5% is $1,200 Doesn't count my refund loss of 2.5% but you get the idea.

That's $1,200 I can't spend ... $1,200 that Disney doesn't make. If the take GBP and EUR, why not CDN?

Even if this is paid on my card as CDN I get my points! see my point?

 

[chimo2u]

Just do the math.....its simple. If the trip is costing you $4000....then times it by 2.5%. Which would cost you $100. Which really, is nothing. Considering you reap the benefit of getting to put $4000 worth of points onto a card. Take off the money you would spend having to get a certified check and purolate it to Disney, and the difference is only like $70. You come out further ahead with the points if you ask me. And its easier

Thank you for helping me do the math! I am a little math-challenged to be honest My current package is actually $4,790.00....
but your $100 estimate is close enough to give me a good idea....it might be something to think about this time, I suppose maybe it would be worth it just to charge it for the PC points I'll gain...I'll probably make up the difference in free groceries I'd gain from the PC points