How does room charging work?

[dizneefamily5]

Okay, I know this is probably a silly question. I assume we will get room keys with charging privileges on them at SSR. Do we have to give them a credit card for charging? If so, can we tell them not to charge the card? I'd like to pay cash for everything. Can I give them the cash at check-in and credit a credit on our account to be charged against? Thanks for your help. I figured I'd ask here to make the check-in a little quicker for us and those behind us in line

 

[drusba]

Charging to room is optional. To get it you give them credit card to swipe and then you can use your room key like a credit card to buy anything which gets charged to room and then to credit card. You can choose not to have any charging privileges put on your room key and the key will then not be usuable as a charge card. Not sure whether you can give them a cash advance and get charging privilege on room key up to amount given but guess you can likely do something like that.

 

[BillPA]

Also you can use the room key attached to a credit card so you don't need to walk around with cash, and stop by the front desk and pay the bill with cash. Just track the amount, at $1,500 they will charge the card and start another 'tab' until you reach $1500 again. You can pay every night or settle up the night before check out.

 

[Disney_Daddy]

Disney handles the credit card processing a little different than most hotels.

When you check in, they essentially give you a credit line rather than placing a hold on your credit card. If your line is set at $500, then you may charge on your room key until your balance hits $500. At that point, Disney will run a $500 charge on your card and start the tab over again. It will do this until you check out and the final balance is charged. Disney does not ever place a "hold" on funds in your account.

A typical hotel will place a "hold" on your expected expenses. So you are staying at a typical hotel, they may place a hold on $1500 of your card's credit limit. This can be problematic if you do not have a credit card with a high open balance.

I remember several years ago staying at a hotel in NYC on business. I used my only credit card to pay for the room and incidentals. When I flew home and tried to use the card to pay for parking it was denied. I knew there was room on the credit card, but the "hold" consumed my entire open balance. It was traumatic! I had to park the car and run inside to use my ATM Card (remember those?). Anyway, long story to let you know that I am a big fan of Disney's method of room charges!

 

[dvcdisney]

Is it possible to request that they charge your credit card for a certain amount ie. $100 and use this amount for charging privileges?

 

[Chuck S]

Is it possible to request that they charge your credit card for a certain amount ie. $100 and use this amount for charging privileges?

I don't think so. One option is to leave the CC number on file, and then the night before you check-out, go to the front desk and pay whatever amount of the bill you want to in cash. Any remaining balance wil be billed out to the credit card the next morning.

You can also leave the cash at the time of check-in, but leave a CC# for any overage.

 

[Disney_Daddy]

Is it possible to request that they charge your credit card for a certain amount ie. $100 and use this amount for charging privileges?

Since there is no hold on your card, you could just present the card at check in and then only charge $100.

You can also decide who in your party is eligible to charge. My kids receive keys, but do not have charging privileges.

But you might want to be careful here. If I removed my wife's charging privileges, I might end up with the room key implanted in my forehead!

 

[dvcdisney]

I don't think so. One option is to leave the CC number on file, and then the night before you check-out, go to the front desk and pay whatever amount of the bill you want to in cash. Any remaining balance wil be billed out to the credit card the next morning.

You can also leave the cash at the time of check-in, but leave a CC# for any overage.

So if I don't want them to use my cc, then cash would be the only option.

I have always used cc for charging privileges until one trip I had where they decided to charge my cc in the middle of my stay (and no, it did not go over the limit) for the DDP ( and yes, I don't know why they charged it because I already paid for the whole amount at check in as I was suppose to do). So even after that was cleared up, my cc (Canadian cc) was charge a certain amount and then refunded a different amount (yes, you guessed it, the refund was less than the original charge because of the exchange rates - the purchase rate is always more than the credit/refund rate). Now that wasn't a big deal if it was my fault, but it wasn't. I did not authorize them to charge my cc for a DDP I have already paid for. So when I called them to get the difference reimbursed, all they could say was . They did ask me to send them a fax of my statement and they will look into it. So I just called my cc company and explained the problem and they reimbursed my account with the amount and said they will investigate. But clearly, I don't thing they did anything to get the funds back from the resort. I suppose they thought it wasn't worth the inquiry. But they did explain to me that purchases have different exchange rates than refunds, which I understood, but this is definitely not my fault. If I purchased something and I decided to return it, well that's the choice I made and I understood that this would happen.

So basically, I have not provided my cc for that purpose anymore. I assumed that as long as I stay within the prescribed limit no charges will be put on my cc until check out, when at that time, I can settle the bill by paying cash (which I have done several times before with no problems) or charge it to my cc and ask for a receipt. I just found that whole situation annoying, so prevention is the best recourse.

 

[Chuck S]

So if I don't want them to use my cc, then cash would be the only option.

I have always used cc for charging privileges until one trip I had where they decided to charge my cc in the middle of my stay (and no, it did not go over the limit) for the DDP ( and yes, I don't know why they charged it because I already paid for the whole amount at check in as I was suppose to do). So even after that was cleared up, my cc (Canadian cc) was charge a certain amount and then refunded a different amount (yes, you guessed it, the refund was less than the original charge because of the exchange rates - the purchase rate is always more than the credit/refund rate). Now that wasn't a big deal if it was my fault, but it wasn't. I did not authorize them to charge my cc for a DDP I have already paid for. So when I called them to get the difference reimbursed, all they could say was . They did ask me to send them a fax of my statement and they will look into it. So I just called my cc company and explained the problem and they reimbursed my account with the amount and said they will investigate. But clearly, I don't thing they did anything to get the funds back from the resort. I suppose they thought it wasn't worth the inquiry. But they did explain to me that purchases have different exchange rates than refunds, which I understood, but this is definitely not my fault. If I purchased something and I decided to return it, well that's the choice I made and I understood that this would happen.

So basically, I have not provided my cc for that purpose anymore. I assumed that as long as I stay within the prescribed limit no charges will be put on my cc until check out, when at that time, I can settle the bill by paying cash (which I have done several times before with no problems) or charge it to my cc and ask for a receipt. I just found that whole situation annoying, so prevention is the best recourse.

You are correct. And to clarify, though it sounds like your trouble with DDP was definately a CM error, any park tickets, dinner shows or DDP that you charge to the room are an immediate charge out, they process right away and do not wait until check-out day to charge out.

Are refunds a different exchange rate from charges, even if they process the same day? That just seems odd.

 

[dvcdisney]

You are correct. And to clarify, though it sounds like your trouble with DDP was definately a CM error, any park tickets, dinner shows or DDP that you charge to the room are an immediate charge out, they process right away and do not wait until check-out day to charge out.

Are refunds a different exchange rate from charges, even if they process the same day? That just seems odd.

By the way, my husband and I did take this to the manager (at different times) since when I went down to fix it they said it was fine and it wasn't . I usually do everything I can, in this case, everything except for going behind the desk and fixing it myself rolleyes: but I do wish I could do that sometimes). So after playing the yes, it's fixed...no it's not game with me. I had my husband go down and speak to them. I just had it. I think at that point it was a good idea because after awhile, I tend to get very upset and my husband was able to calmly explain what had happened and unlike myself, he demanded to speak to another manager since the manager with whom I have been dealing was obviously clueless. I assumed to be able to be a manager, that person would have at least enough knowledge to deal with it or at least have the forsight to request assistance from someone else. But I was wrong. I won't make that mistake again.

Moving on....

Yes, even on the same day, the cc company charges a certain exchange rate (usually a bit more than the bank exchange rate) and any refunds are at a different rate. Similarly to the bank, if you purchase foreign money, you are charged a different rate than if you were to sell funds back (exchange it back to local currency) . I don't like it, but I understand it. So unless you really need money, it's best not to exchange it back.

 

[dizneefamily5]

Thanks for all the responses! I think it is possible to do what we want - give the CM our cash and create a credit on our account, then a credit card for amounts going over that. I just don't like carrying around loads of cash. This will work perfect for us as we plan to be at Disney the entire time so we shouldn't need a whole lot of cash for incidentals.

Thanks!!

 

[Carlnne]

How do they handle charges to debit cards? Is there a difference in the charge allowance?

 

[Disney_Daddy]

How do they handle charges to debit cards? Is there a difference in the charge allowance?

No difference. Disney's room charge policy actually helps debit card users because there is no hold on your account.

We use debit cards exclusively and have not had a problem with anything related to room charges.

 

[CraftyMouse]

Do they still only allow one credit card per room? We are traveling with friends and it would be so much easier to have them put a cc down for their keys while we put one down for ours. I know in the past this was not possible but has that changed?