How do you "pay" in the parks?

[jenharring]

we plan to use our kttw and pay it off with our debit card which is a visa- ie the only cc we have. I also plan to take cash to pay tips and such.

 

[Todd&Copper]

CC. I have never used KTTK even though I do let them link it to a CC in order to make check-out quicker.

 

[Goofyseven]

We give the kids about $10 in cash each and use a credit card for meals and gifts. We have a credit card the pays about 1-3% of purchases back. Of course, to get a benefit, you need to pay it off each month.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Depends on where you stay. If you're staying at an "official" WDW resort, you can charge pretty much everything to your room (except perhaps food kiosks, like those that sell bottled water - I'm not sure about those).

We stay at Shades of Green, which isn't an official WDW resort, so we can't charge to the room. For myself, I use old-fashioned travelers checks (in large denominations) and some cash. I won't use a debit card when traveling (too risky) and prefer not to use my credit card most of the time. I just budget a certain amount of money per day and use travelers checks. Works great for me, plus I have piece of mind in case they get lost or stolen.

I agree...we've always carried cash & used debit, but...my best friend & my brother have had their debit card info stolen in the past couple of months. Their bank accts were WIPED out! So, we now only use debit for Walmart, Target, & pay-at-the-pump gas stations. We pretty much use cash for EVERYTHING else. It will be a little scary carrying so much cash to WDW, but DH wears those wonderful cargo shorts with 5 million pockets. We'll just "diversify our money."

 

[jennbenn]

We purchase prepaid VISA debit cards from our bank. This way we are strictly limited to our budgeted vacation amount and since they work like a credit card, they are much easier to use.

 

[GetGlowing]

For budgeting purposes, take as many envelopes as days of your trip and split your cash between each according to what you'll be doing that particular day. Take only that day's envelope into the park with you. If there's anything left over at the end of the day, it can go into one of the other envelopes.

I always suggest people make a budget, then add 20%.

 

[hannah_03]

I carry cash or I charge to the room

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

i might try my KTTW card to have purchases sent back to the resort this time, saves having to carry bags around with you.

I don't think you have to use your KTTW in order to have purchases sent to your room - you just have to be staying on property. I used a Disney Gift Card and had the purchases sent back to my room when we were there last year. Maybe this policy has changed since then and someone will correct me if I am wrong.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

i have a question im guessing if we have two keys for one room we only get once bill right? it doesnt track each persons purchases?

 

[Hallowishes]

i save my change all year long in a jar .. so far its added up to about $200. whatever it ends up adding up to is the only cash i bring (i dont really have alot of extra money right now working retail .. ) i use the cash to pay for tips at the restaurants and to buy alcholic beverages at EPCOT (most drink vendors in world showcase only accept cash) all my souvenirs i put on my VISA or my room key card. i have the dining plan so i really dont have too many expenses.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

i save my change all year long in a jar .. so far its added up to about $200. whatever it ends up adding up to is the only cash i bring (i dont really have alot of extra money right now working retail .. ) i use the cash to pay for tips at the restaurants and to buy alcholic beverages at EPCOT (most drink vendors in world showcase only accept cash) all my souvenirs i put on my VISA or my room key card. i have the dining plan so i really dont have too many expenses.

we do the same thing! but ours buys starbucks haha

 

[VAN]

I like to pay cash. I decline charging priviledges to the room.

If I have a larger purchase; however, I will use my credit card just so I don't deplete my cash. This seems to work for me so I don't have so many "surprises" on the credit card when I get home. The bill always seems so high - like, how could I have spent that much!!!

Additionally with identify theft, my credit card isn't being scanned as much or taken out of my sight (like at restaurants). I guess charging to the room would take care of that, but I'm more comfortable paying with cash and feel like that helps me stay more within a budget.

This system works for me, but I think I'm in the minority.

 

[VAN]

Just a couple more comments after reading the rest of the posts.

As long as you are staying at a WDW resort, you can have purchases sent back to your room. The method of payment has nothing to do with it.

When you check into your resort, you will need a credit card on file; however, you can decline charging privileges on any or all of the ID cards issued.

 

[CSS1996]

We use some cash but mostly use our kttw and then pay it off with our debit card before we leave.

 

[Dismom55]

We do not have credit cards, do not believe in them, we live cash only lifestyle. So here is the way we do Disney or any vacation.

First we buy travelers checks, I set up envelopes for travel days to and from, then for each day of our stay. I first estimate how much we will need for travel, then add at bit to be sure. Then I take the rest of the travelers checks and divide them amongst the days of stay, I mark each envelope. I take that days envelope worth of travelers checks to the park and that day only.

In the meantime during the year for birthdays, mothers day fathers day, other gift giving occasions I purchase Disney gift cards. This is the money my kids have for spending, plus I usually will purchase another gift card just before we leave for each child, sort of a bit of extra for them. This last time I purchased Visa prepaid cards since I was not sure if my teen son would spend all his money on Disney property.

I set up envelopes for tips as well, all before we leave the house. Thus only carrying what we need for the day. Of course being the keeper of the money I also am the one to carry the emergency money, which of course I do have.

Also, traveler checks do not expire, so once we get home any that are left I put in our security box and keep them for the next visit. I had $170 left from our last Disney trip.

Also one note our bank does not charge to purchase travelers checks, some do so if you are budget concious, well you might want to find a bank that does not charge, even if it is only a small acct so you can get the freebie.

I also keep all our Disney money in an interest checking acct until needed to pay for the trip and expenses.

I like my method because I do not have to worry about the final credit card bill that would no doubt take away from the magical memories of our trip.

 

[budcollector]

i use paper & plastic {cash + debit card} i'd rather pay as i go that way i don't overspend, and no bills coming when i get back home.

 

[pickleo]

We use cash and credit cards. It really depends on how much we are spending and what part of the vacation we are at...beginning, middle or end.

 

[Ddennis37]

I do what budcollector does. We are strictly cash & debit card. Since we pay all that month's bills weeks before we leave on vacation, we transfer our vacation money into our checking out. We carry some cash on us but we don't charge anything. We take a credit card with us for emergency purposes, but we don't use it at all.

I like the idea of not having a bill when we get home. I would never charge that stuff to a credit card, especially when we have the money for the trip already.

 

[Must C Mickey]

How does KTTW work?

Your KTTW (Key To The World) Cards works like this: When you check into your on-site Disney hotel, everyone in your party is given their own KTTW card. Each of these cards serve as your room key and has all of your park tix on them as well. Also, it has a charge to room service feature meaning that everyone in your party that is NOT a minor is allowed to also use this card as a credit card for the parks and some of Downtown Disney. then you just pay it all off at the end of your trip. it is a very convenient thing that disney has come up with. my family always uses our KTTW for everything. it saves us taking our own cash or credit cards into the parks and risk losing them. We just got back from WDW a month ago and all of the street carts/vendors that we came in contact w/ DID accept the KTTW cards. hope this helps.

 

[TagsMissy]

Hubby and I each carry $20; maybe $40 each plus our Key to the World which we charge to/use meal credits. The chances we use cash are very small -- except in Epcot where my hubby needs his Funnel Cake