How long to move $$$ from DVA to shipboard account?

[Dug720]

When I did my placeholder with giftcards, I never received a confirmation either. I was worried she didn't complete it or something. I had to call Disney and get the number. whew

I've always gotten a printed confirmation from the agent right there when I book. I didn't ask for one, s/he always just gave it to me.

 

[anricat]

I've always gotten a printed confirmation from the agent right there when I book. I didn't ask for one, s/he always just gave it to me.

I asked for a printed confirmation. She said she didn't have the ability to do that. I was pretty nervous. When I found that my gift card hadn't been charged, I was basically freaking out. Thankfully, once I got back to the states I was able to call and they found it. I was still grumpy that they didn't charge my gift card. It was too little too late by then, though. I still have it. I'm taking it back with me in March to try again.

 

[becca-becca]

Can you define DVA? Is this the Disney Visa card or something different?

 

[squirk]

Can you define DVA? Is this the Disney Visa card or something different?

Disney Vacation Account. Basically, a "Christmas Club" account for Disney vacations.

You set aside money (usually on a periodic basis) into your DVA, and then apply your balance toward a Disney vacation when you're ready. You can fund the account from your bank account, through a credit card or even with Disney Gift Cards.

Like Christmas Clubs, the idea is to segregate your vacation money from your general checking/savings, so it's less likely to be spent on other things throughout the year.

You earn 2% ($20) for every $1000 spent. This 2% rebate comes to you in the form of a gift card.

So what folks do is: buy Disney Gift Cards from a wholesale club (Sam's, Costco, etc.) at a 5% discount, using a credit card that gives another 1%-5% reward of some kind (Discover, Disney Visa, AmEx). They deposit the gift cards into their DVA, and eventually earn the above-mentioned 2% as well.

So, stacking all those rewards up, you can shave 8%-12% off the cost of your Disney cruise.

 

[Bree]

Can you define DVA? Is this the Disney Visa card or something different?

Here you go....

https://disneyvacationaccount.disney.go.com/

 

[JenPinks]

I've always gotten a printed confirmation from the agent right there when I book. I didn't ask for one, s/he always just gave it to me.

Now I know to ask for one. I was scared for a minute when I got off the boat and never even received an email.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

It's been reported that it can be done if you bring your 16 digit account number with you. The DVA number is run as a gift card. You can always fund your onboard account before you go with money from the DVA, then purchase a Disney gift card in one of the ship's stores and use that for your deposit.

This is what I did in August. When booking, the lady just told me how much to buy a gift card for the deposit and I used the funds that I supplied on board from my DVA.

@anricat I believe we were on the same cruise. I didn't have any issues like you did. I got an email instantly - well as soon as I could check in port any way. Must have been Disney's glitchy system being Disney's glitchy system!

 

[anricat]

This is what I did in August. When booking, the lady just told me how much to buy a gift card for the deposit and I used the funds that I supplied on board from my DVA.

@anricat I believe we were on the same cruise. I didn't have any issues like you did. I got an email instantly - well as soon as I could check in port any way. Must have been Disney's glitchy system being Disney's glitchy system!

I'm glad it worked for you. Did she give you a print out? She told me she couldn't do that, but it sounds like some other people do get them.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I'm glad it worked for you. Did she give you a print out? She told me she couldn't do that, but it sounds like some other people do get them.

To be honest, I can't quite remember. She just told me to hold onto the gift card in case of any refunds and that I'd be receiving a confirmation email. I got it as soon as I was able to check my email.

 

[squirk]

So just to make sure I have it straight:

The way to play it is a.) buy Disney GCs at a discount at home; b.) apply the GCs to DVA to work toward your 2% ($20) rebate once you spend $1,000; c.) apply the subsequent DVA balance to your cruise folio; d.) use that credit to buy GCs while onboard; e.) use those latter GCs to pay for your OBB deposit.

Is that it?

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Another DVA question - So it really only makes sense to deposit into DVA in thousands, because anything over a thousand increment but not up to the next thousand, doesn't get you anything, correct? So say your cruise is $4,766, it only benefits you to pay $4,000 into the DVA and you might as well just pay directly to DCL the $766 balance.

 

[anricat]

Another DVA question - So it really only makes sense to deposit into DVA in thousands, because anything over a thousand increment but not up to the next thousand, doesn't get you anything, correct? So say your cruise is $4,766, it only benefits you to pay $4,000 into the DVA and you might as well just pay directly to DCL the $766 balance.

Only if you think you'll never ever take another Disney Vacation ever again, yes, I suppose that's correct.

For us, we've now done multiple Disney vacations with our DVA so that $766 is $766 closer to the next bonus. I buy park tickets at WDW or put down a deposit on another cruise and I've just got myself another gift card.