How much cash do you carry around?

[Daisybelle]

So...here I am at work again, over-thinking every little bit of my trip and not being able to concentrate on my actual job that is funding this trip to Disneyland in 4 days.

I shall pose my latest question to you more experienced travelers.

Paying for things. I'm planning on transferring my vacation money from my Savings to my checking so I can just use my debit card to pay for most things. Then I heard from someone at work it's safer to pay for things with a credit card.

I also can't decide what a safe amount of money would be for having on my person. Or how much actual cash I'll need (I know the food kiosks around the parks only accept cash, for example.)

So what do you all do? Use credit or debit? And how much cash to have on hand?

 

[Leofoenget]

So...here I am at work again, over-thinking every little bit of my trip and not being able to concentrate on my actual job that is funding this trip to Disneyland in 4 days.

I shall pose my latest question to you more experienced travelers.

Paying for things. I'm planning on transferring my vacation money from my Savings to my checking so I can just use my debit card to pay for most things. Then I heard from someone at work it's safer to pay for things with a credit card.

I also can't decide what a safe amount of money would be for having on my person. Or how much actual cash I'll need (I know the food kiosks around the parks only accept cash, for example.)

So what do you all do? Use credit or debit? And how much cash to have on hand?

I take about $50 cash and use my ATM/Visa card for anythign else. But then again i'm a tightwad. I don't spend a lot, snacks mostly

 

[Lynzer Torte]

I find myself hardly using cash at all. I always use a cc. However, I would keep about $50 cash on you for snack carts (assuming it's just you & your daughter going).

 

[bumbershoot]

I take the money I've saved for food and souvenirs, put it into checking, and buy Disney giftcards when I get to the park. Either one big one, or smaller ones each day of the vacation.

That takes care of almost everything, and I don't have to micromanage a bazillion debits (we only have an emergency credit card, and Disney might FEEL like an emergency, but it isn't, LOL).

There are some outdoor carts that can't take cards, so in the past I have used my debit card at a giftshop (they are also at City Hall) to buy Disney Dollars. I never have the aforethought to get cash from my bank, and I'd rather get DDollars than pay a fee at the Chase ATMs in the parks. Every place takes those (even stores in DTD) and you get change in normal money (and you can turn in unused Disney Dollars for cash later if you got too many).

The extra bonus for the giftcards is that you can use them later (they never expire) at DLR, at Disney Stores, on Disney cruiselines, at WDW, and at disneyshopping dot com.

 

[Daisybelle]

Yes, it's just me and my daughter going.

Those are great suggestion about buying disney dollars and gift cards after we get there. I wasn't loving the thought of being charged by an ATM to get my own money.

Can the gift cards be bought in the shops or do I go to City Hall for that?

 

[jencav5]

I always bring some cash, but I mostly use my credit card. I do not like using a debit card because if your card is compromised, that is your cash. A credit card is money owing and the credit card companies will remove it. I've actually had this happen to me more than once with credit cards, so I would never use a debit card to pay for stuff. How much cash I bring depends on the length of the trip-anywhere from $100-$1000 (the larger amount for more than a week). We drive down, so we like to have the confidence of having some cash. We just use the hotel safe for money we don't want to carry around. I still mostly use my credit card, and any cash I bring back I just put on the card when I get back.

 

[jencav5]

I take the money I've saved for food and souvenirs, put it into checking, and buy Disney giftcards when I get to the park. Either one big one, or smaller ones each day of the vacation.

That takes care of almost everything, and I don't have to micromanage a bazillion debits (we only have an emergency credit card, and Disney might FEEL like an emergency, but it isn't, LOL).

There are some outdoor carts that can't take cards, so in the past I have used my debit card at a giftshop (they are also at City Hall) to buy Disney Dollars. I never have the aforethought to get cash from my bank, and I'd rather get DDollars than pay a fee at the Chase ATMs in the parks. Every place takes those (even stores in DTD) and you get change in normal money (and you can turn in unused Disney Dollars for cash later if you got too many).

The extra bonus for the giftcards is that you can use them later (they never expire) at DLR, at Disney Stores, on Disney cruiselines, at WDW, and at disneyshopping dot com.

I do love your way of handling your expenses in the park! If you've got the money already planned, then this is a great idea! I do also use my Disney Rewards card when I have accumulated a good amount of dollars, and it is nice to know that it's paid for!

 

[Daisybelle]

I never had even considered any problems in using a debit card. But that makes sense.

 

[Sy-]

On the day of travel or when travelling between hotels i carry $400-$500 on me. I use that most for tipping (porters, valets, skycap, bellmen etc..etc..). Also for baggage fees or whatever else pops up. When I'm in the parks I usually only carry around $200. This for soda/turkey leg/corn dog/pin carts that don't take Visa and don't allow me to charge back to the room.

I told my DD(4) that she can collect any coins or loose dollar bills she finds lying around the house. The weekend before our trip we are going to take all those coins and dollars and change em to Disney Dollars that she will be able to spend at Disneyland. The past couple months, whenever I go buy breakfast or lunch I only use paper even if I have enough change in my pocket just so that I can return home every day with coins in my pocket. She's probably got a couple hundred dollars saved up... She should have closer to $400 or more by the time we go. I just gotta figure out how to change the coing to dollars (no banks around me do coin counting).

 

[blue donkey]

Yes, it's just me and my daughter going.

Those are great suggestion about buying disney dollars and gift cards after we get there. I wasn't loving the thought of being charged by an ATM to get my own money.

Can the gift cards be bought in the shops or do I go to City Hall for that?

You can get the gift cards from the shops.

I like to buy them from different places b/c some have different pictures on them. When I use up my gift cards, I like to put them in my scrapbook.

 

[bumbershoot]

You can get the gift cards from the shops.

I like to buy them from different places b/c some have different pictures on them. When I use up my gift cards, I like to put them in my scrapbook.

What the blue donkey said.

The minimum for a giftcard is $5, and I actually found myself buying one of those b/c the card was in the cool retro Disneyland design, only half an hour after I bought the big card with my budgeted money. What a silly thing to do. The money from the card was used on the next trip.

But now I'm gathering all my used-up cards (note: you CAN refill them in the parks!!!!!) and putting them with my scrapbook stuff, and it's going to be fun to use them.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I never use a debit card anywhere. Credit card only for several reasons:

1. Both my cards give me money back.

2. If my CC # is stolen, I can cancel the card or call and dispute the amount and there is no money taken from me. If your debit # is stolen, that money comes directly out of your account and then you have to work to get your own money back.

My card # was stolen once and they called to ask if I wanted to spend $600 at a pharmacy back east. Of course, I hung up and called the company myself just to be on the safe side. It was true and they canceled the card.

I wouldn't carry more than $50 in cash at the park, then use CC for everywhere possible.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

If it were me I would be worried about using my debit card too much and spending more than I transfered in there for vacation. Here is what I would do. Take that cash and put it on a Disney Gift Card. It can be used almost everywhere in the parks, as well as World of Disney.

Then I would take about $30 cash for snacks and stuff, like popcorn or icecream.

 

[EnnEss]

I use my debit card. If its compromised you get the money back and can switch to your credit card. Its a lot harder to compromise a debit card than it is a credit card and its usually done via the handheld device, I wont use ones that aren't validated as being correct via security stickers etc.

Having said this, I have no clue what is being used in America for debit cards right now, I know its quite different than Canada. Debit card fraud is far less common here than credit card fraud and most of the times banks are able to stop it before it happens. I had my card shut down and got a phone call because someone had theirs compromised at a place I had been or something and they were able to switch it all up and protect me.

I often carry cash at Disney though, then I have set limits. I usually carry 100 per day for myself and girlfriend. I think its the only place I carry cash and its mainly to prevent me from getting carried away with how much I spend. Its not uncommon for me to not handle cash for 3 - 4 months at a time in day to day life as I use debit card for everything. I think thats pretty common where I am in my generation.

 

[bumbershoot]

Wanted to mention that when you buy the giftcard at the stores at DLR, you get two receipts. The receipt that you bought it, and the activation receipt.

One or both has the number on it. Buy the giftcard, and put those receipts in a DIFFERENT place than you're putting the giftcard.

Should you lose your giftcard, if you have those receipts, you have immediate recourse to get that money, and, I assume, stop the giftcard from further charges.

Doesn't work that way with cash, and I doubt stopping a debit card's purchases involves more than just going to a giftshop with your receipts.


Sorry, LOL, I love my way of doing it, and want everyone else in the universe to do it too.

 

[Daisybelle]

My head is swirly processing everyone's advice. I think I'm leaning towards your suggestions Bumbershoot, and the other posters in favor of the gift card/disney dollars idea. And I like that we can switch the Disney Dollars back into cash at the end of the trip.

See, I clearly need to go on more vacations so that I'm not stressed about these little things so much! Practice makes perfect!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

last year i had debit card problems. i was getting money back from a tour i couldnt go on then i went shopping with that money..well my dumb bank didnt see me get the money from disney till tuesday and i was over charged for la the other money i spent diering that time.. this year im getting pre paid cards and disney cards and disney dollers now. (were also just putting all my money on the tax card we got so nothing to do with the bank. dumb old chase
lol
but hay we are gona caryy 200 in cash for the taxi and stuff before we get to disney but after that i excpect everything except a 20 that each of us will hold for food carts

 

[Daisybelle]

Hmmm...I think there is a Disney Store on the way to the airport. I could made a quick stop to pick up some Disney dollars and a gift card...

 

[c&m]

On the subject of cash, don't forget to carry some quarters and shiny, clean pennies. While in the parks, you may want to press pennies along the way. Those pressed pennies are great for souvenirs/long-lasting memories!

 

[ozvisiter]

Coming from Australia- we won't have any pennies and quarters... but my kids are desperate to do the "penny squash thing" Any suggestions on how I can accumulate some (rather quickly) after we arrive???