How's the payment test going at AKL?

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

A couple of quick guesses (and they are just guesses) People will spend more on their cards than they will cash and my number 1 guess is tracking. The more data they can mine about repeat customers they better they can try to get you back. I posted this before but a few months ago I had an issue that got me past their front line and I actually got to talk to someone in their IT staff. They quickly fixed my issue but the woman jokingly asked me if I would like to know how much money I had spent on my previous 4 vacations. I really didn't want to know that total (OUCH) but she commented that I seem to use my Disney Visa only while there (true). Its my guess that if they know how much you spend on other stuff might influence future offers you get from them.

WOW. Scary! I want to know that info, but I don't want others to have it!

 

[maryr1oz]

Newbie question here - we're coming to stay at AKL later in the year. As an international traveler i hate using my card overseas too much as the fees are just a waste. If we were to charge everything to our magic band, could we pay the balance at check out in cash?

 

[AngiTN]

Newbie question here - we're coming to stay at AKL later in the year. As an international traveler i hate using my card overseas too much as the fees are just a waste. If we were to charge everything to our magic band, could we pay the balance at check out in cash?

Yes, the check out desk is the one location at the resort that can accept cash.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Newbie question here - we're coming to stay at AKL later in the year. As an international traveler i hate using my card overseas too much as the fees are just a waste. If we were to charge everything to our magic band, could we pay the balance at check out in cash?

According to the email I received regarding my April stay, you can provide a cc or cash deposit upon check in so you can charge to your magic band!

"A cash deposit or credit card may be provided at check-in to activate room charging privileges as needed."

 

[Linkura]

I did forget to update my own post.
We didn't keep our ADR but when I got the ADR reminder it did mention the cash only policy.

You get reminders for your ADRs?

 

[CarolynFH]

You get reminders for your ADRs?

I do - two days before each one I receive an email from Disney Destinations reminding me of the ADR and giving me the phone number and a link to use if I want to cancel.

 

[AngiTN]

You get reminders for your ADRs?

Yep

 

[dansdad]

WOW. Scary! I want to know that info, but I don't want others to have it!

Too late for that.

 

[Linkura]

I do - two days before each one I receive an email from Disney Destinations reminding me of the ADR and giving me the phone number and a link to use if I want to cancel.

Yep

Boy do I feel silly. I checked my email from prior trips and, yep, they send email reminders for ADRs. Even DLR does it.

 

[shocker]

...the woman jokingly asked me if I would like to know how much money I had spent on my previous 4 vacations. I really didn't want to know that total (OUCH)...

This made me LOL. This weekend I was showing a friend the 2 hand drawn Mickey/Minnie's I received in the mail from WDW after our last trips. They were received after 2 different visits but were signed by the same artist. They are dated and have our names on the print. Sooo, I had them matted and framed together and they hang side-by-side in my kitchen. One of my friends said "I guess that's what you get when you spent thousands there." To which I corrected saying "hundreds, spent hundreds there." My DH was within ear shot.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I was surprised at how many people I saw spending cash at the gift shops and quick service locations last week. My thought was "Don't you know about Magic Bands? Who wants to deal with cash when you have this wonderful little treasure on your arm?" I was thinking about how much time it took to wait for people to count out the cash and then for the cashiers to have to make change. I am sure they have reasons from a management standpoint, but from a guest standpoint, lines at shops and counter service places would go so much faster if everyone would just use their Magic Bands (I know everyone doesn't have one, but even credit is quicker than the cash transactions I saw). And how nice for the CMs not to have to be responsible for a cash drawer. I remember being responsible for a cash register at the end of the night and dreading coming up short (or over, for that matter).

I still had other guests asking me about the Magic Bands last week. Many people who stay off site have no idea.

I wonder if it could be a way to push Magic Bands on everyone (which would be a wonderful thing, in my opinion- I know some would disagree).

I hope this test goes well.

 

[pigletgirl]

So if someone brings a few hundred dollars in cash, will they exchange that for a GC?

 

[Capitalangel]

We ate there two weeks ago and I totally forgot to pay attention! We paid for our meal on credit and used a gift card in the shop or put it on our magic band ( I don’t remember). I guess we are a lot more cashless then I thought!

 

[AngiTN]

I was surprised at how many people I saw spending cash at the gift shops and quick service locations last week. My thought was "Don't you know about Magic Bands? Who wants to deal with cash when you have this wonderful little treasure on your arm?" I was thinking about how much time it took to wait for people to count out the cash and then for the cashiers to have to make change. I am sure they have reasons from a management standpoint, but from a guest standpoint, lines at shops and counter service places would go so much faster if everyone would just use their Magic Bands (I know everyone doesn't have one, but even credit is quicker than the cash transactions I saw). And how nice for the CMs not to have to be responsible for a cash drawer. I remember being responsible for a cash register at the end of the night and dreading coming up short (or over, for that matter).

I still had other guests asking me about the Magic Bands last week. Many people who stay off site have no idea.

I wonder if it could be a way to push Magic Bands on everyone (which would be a wonderful thing, in my opinion- I know some would disagree).

I hope this test goes well.

Not for a cash replacement. At this time, those not staying on site have no means to charge using a MB, even if they were made to buy them, or included them with tickets.

So if someone brings a few hundred dollars in cash, will they exchange that for a GC?

Or you give the cash to the check in desk and they'll apply it to your account

 

[CarolynFH]

So if someone brings a few hundred dollars in cash, will they exchange that for a GC?

Not for a cash replacement. At this time, those not staying on site have no means to charge using a MB, even if they were made to buy them, or included them with tickets.


Or you give the cash to the check in desk and they'll apply it to your account

If you're staying on site, you can give the cash to the front desk and they'll apply it to your account, and you can charge to your MB. If you're staying off site, you can buy a gift card with the cash and pay with the gift card.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Not for a cash replacement. At this time, those not staying on site have no means to charge using a MB, even if they were made to buy them, or included them with tickets.


Or you give the cash to the check in desk and they'll apply it to your account

I know. It’s just so easy to forget that there are people who choose not to stay on site.

I imagine they may come up with a way for those not staying on site to pay with the bands. We have an upcoming stay at the Dolphin and I so wish I could just sign up to have my credit card charged through the band. In my mind I’m staying on property, but I guess not in theirs.

 

[GPC0321]

I somehow missed this, and I'm staying at AKV in June. Do they take Disney gift cards. Please tell me yes, I just bought a $500 one that is meant for my food while on the trip, much of which will be consumed at AKL/AKV!!

EDIT: Okay, I hadn't made it all the way through the thread before I freaked. I see a post about gift cards being okay, yes?

Whew.

 

[gillep]

I somehow missed this, and I'm staying at AKV in June. Do they take Disney gift cards. Please tell me yes, I just bought a $500 one that is meant for my food while on the trip, much of which will be consumed at AKL/AKV!!

EDIT: Okay, I hadn't made it all the way through the thread before I freaked. I see a post about gift cards being okay, yes?

Whew.

YES, gift cards are fine.

 

[minniebeth]

Oops! We just ate at Boma on Sunday and I paid cash. I did read about the cashless test here on this thread a while ago. And I did get a reservation reminder which had the policy stated on it (which I didn't read since I wouldn't forget about the reservation), but I totally forgot about it!! They should tell people when you check in for your dining reservation at your restaurant to either remind you or make you aware of the current test/policy. If a guest is dining there and not staying at the resort, how else would they have known about it? (How many people actually read their reminder emails if you have MDE to remind you?)
So I paid cash for the bill and tip and no one said anything and no one chased after me. And believe me, after doing all three 5K/10K/Half-Marathon races for Princess Weekend, that wouldn't have been very hard!
So... that's my experience, so I guess they know those things will happen!

 

[AngiTN]

Oops! We just ate at Boma on Sunday and I paid cash. I did read about the cashless test here on this thread a while ago. And I did get a reservation reminder which had the policy stated on it (which I didn't read since I wouldn't forget about the reservation), but I totally forgot about it!! They should tell people when you check in for your dining reservation at your restaurant to either remind you or make you aware of the current test/policy. If a guest is dining there and not staying at the resort, how else would they have known about it? (How many people actually read their reminder emails if you have MDE to remind you?)
So I paid cash for the bill and tip and no one said anything and no one chased after me. And believe me, after doing all three 5K/10K/Half-Marathon races for Princess Weekend, that wouldn't have been very hard!
So... that's my experience, so I guess they know those things will happen!

Sounds like a typical test at Disney to me. LOL
I said from the get-go that they'd have a difficult time doing this for dining guests only. Resort guests sure, that's easier. Dining only, way hard. I mean, what about someone who just goes in to Mara? They never made an ADR and they never get a notice.