Is this a change to paying dues with gift cards?

[sethschroeder]

I want to outline fairly straight forward.

If DVC is able to redeem the giftcard payment for 100% funds this is a Disney issue not a DVC issue. They are supposed to be separate.

If the only reason they are making this change is to benefit Disney it shows a breakdown in how actions are supposed to be taken and inability to correctly manage the membership as a whole.

We all know they lean Disney and even though I can pay for everything upfront without issue this does impact others negatively and seems to be something done under the table by Disney to their own benefit.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Since it was me, the rules I was referring to indicate payments for monthly have to be drafted from the bank account

And when I read the T and C, not the new ones, the old ones, it says that, doesn’t it?

That’s what I meant…or is your point that I am wrong about the current rule?

I share this understanding. Those of us who selected the monthly pay option have had to connect our debit accounts to allow this feature to go into effect. That was always the base requirement. THEN, we could apply gift card payments outside of this base requirement, which was great while it lasted.

I don't see this as DVC suddenly changing the rules. I see this as more DVC enforcing the rule, as stated. And, as you know, I am a big fan of DVC following and enforcing the doggone rules!

 

[Sandisw]

I want to outline fairly straight forward.

If DVC is able to redeem the giftcard payment for 100% funds this is a Disney issue not a DVC issue. They are supposed to be separate.

If the only reason they are making this change is to benefit Disney it shows a breakdown in how actions are supposed to be taken and inability to correctly manage the membership as a whole.

We all know they lean Disney and even though I can pay for everything upfront without issue this does impact others negatively and seems to be something done under the table by Disney to their own benefit.

And that is where we differ in interpreting the rules.

This is DVC giving owners who don’t want to or can’t pay in full by February 15rh an interest free payment plan.

They do not have to allow that and could charge a fee for monthly.

If you want to, instead of monthly, you can pay in full using CC, gift cards, or rewards card

You simply can no longer do both.

 

[eticketplease]

What T+Cs? I saw someone else ask and I asked as well and I have not seen someone point me directly to the terms that stated it.

Sorry but until I see it and read it won't buy this. People also say DVC can categorically remove benefits which I hold is not accurate as well (and they haven't done previously) based on the actual terms of their Membership Benefits disclosure. I remember all the claims that ticket discounts were gone forever during COVID.

I am not saying they can't change their payment terms I am pushing back on this concept of "they are now enforcing T+Cs". Which by the way if you go long enough without enforcing terms there is a claim the Terms have been waived for the consumer.

So not really on topic for my original post that someone took issue with.

That might be the case but I replied about you asking about the T & C which I showed you where they were and highlighted some portions.

Per your view they can then void all payment methods except by AHC.

I stated things can change. I never even mentioned ACH transactions only that payment of a check was no longer present in the new terms.

Here is the thing they are supposed to work FOR US not against us as we are the ones essentially employing them as a membership group.

Agree 100% with that statement.

 

[trenty]

Maybe this was answered; maybe we won't know until Jan 2026; my concern -

Will they definitely allow partial payment using a gift card for 2026 dues before Jan 15, 2026? Or is this year's option to turn off monthly payments and make a partial payment (then turn monthly back on) just a courtesy for this year because they are enforcing this for the first time?

 

[eticketplease]

Maybe this was answered; maybe we won't know until Jan 2026; my concern -

Will they definitely allow partial payment using a gift card for 2026 dues before Jan 15, 2026? Or is this year's option to turn off monthly payments and make a partial payment (then turn monthly back on) just a courtesy for this year because they are enforcing this for the first time?

Very good question. I think it is just a wait and see approach.

I may just prepay 2026 dues with random amounts with GC I pick up throughout 2025 just to be sure I can take advantage of the discount.

 

[Sandisw]

Maybe this was answered; maybe we won't know until Jan 2026; my concern -

Will they definitely allow partial payment using a gift card for 2026 dues before Jan 15, 2026? Or is this year's option to turn off monthly payments and make a partial payment (then turn monthly back on) just a courtesy for this year because they are enforcing this for the first time?

Anything is possible but it doesn’t sound like the ability to use gift cards for dues is going away.

It’s just that you can no longer take advantage of the interest free monthly plan if you want to use gift cards.

They are applying the same rules to these as they have to credit cards, which could not be used for partial payments after the Feb due date.

 

[trenty]

Anything is possible but it doesn’t sound like the ability to use gift cards for dues is going away.

It’s just that you can no longer take advantage of the interest free monthly plan if you want to use gift cards.

They are applying the same rules to these as they have to credit cards, which could not be used for partial payments after the Feb due date.

I get that. But with the $1000 gift card max, hopefully they will still allow partial payment before 1/15 for 2026 dues.

Very good question. I think it is just a wait and see approach.

I may just prepay 2026 dues with random amounts with GC I pick up throughout 2025 just to be sure I can take advantage of the discount.

It is wait-and-see for sure.

 

[RuntheMouse]

They are now choosing to change it. Which we absolutely can push back against.

While I have taken advantage of using discounted GCs to pay my dues many times, I’m in agreement with Sandisw.

In terms of pushback? Not interested because I prefer to have a monthly option with no fees.

This is DVC giving owners who don’t want to or can’t pay in full by February 15rh an interest free payment plan.

^^^THIS! They could for sure charge a fee for this option, be thankful they don’t!

 

[Sandisw]

I get that. But with the $1000 gift card max, hopefully they will still allow partial payment before 1/15 for 2026 dues.


It is wait-and-see for sure.

As I said, just from the way it was explained at the meeting, the issue stemmed from having people make partial payments ahead of time once monthly option was set up...as that was never the intent of allowing people to pay monthly......the system blocked credit cards from doing it, but not gift cards and reward cards, so now they updated the system to work the way it should have worked all along.

That is why I do not think that the system will stop accepting gift cards...it just won't allow you to prepay your monthly withdrawal from your bank account with them....but, at any time, you can still pay the balance in full.

 

[trenty]

As I said, just from the way it was explained at the meeting, the issue stemmed from having people make partial payments ahead of time once monthly option was set up...as that was never the intent of allowing people to pay monthly......the system blocked credit cards from doing it, but not gift cards and reward cards, so now they updated the system to work the way it should have worked all along.

That is why I do not think that the system will stop accepting gift cards...it just won't allow you to prepay your monthly withdrawal from your bank account with them....but, at any time, you can still pay the balance in full.

Yes. I am in agreement with what you are saying. But those with dues over $1000 will have to make a partial payment of $1000 if intended to pay with gift cards.

I am not in opposition to any of this - just wondering how it will work for those still wanting to use gift cards, considering the max you can put on a gc is $1000.

 

[Phatscott25]

Yes. I am in agreement with what you are saying. But those with dues over $1000 will have to make a partial payment of $1000 if intended to pay with gift cards.

I am not in opposition to any of this - just wondering how it will work for those still wanting to use gift cards, considering the max you can put on a gc is $1000.

Since you're talking about 2026 dues, am I correct to assume you're not using autopay for 2025? If you're not, then you will be able to make partial pre-payments with GC because the option for partial payments still exists in the system for any contracts that aren't enrolled in autopay.

 

[Sandisw]

Yes. I am in agreement with what you are saying. But those with dues over $1000 will have to make a partial payment of $1000 if intended to pay with gift cards.

I am not in opposition to any of this - just wondering how it will work for those still wanting to use gift cards, considering the max you can put on a gc is $1000.

If you want to use gift cards, then you will need to apply them in January before you set up monthly.

Once monthly starts, you will only be able to use a gift card to pay in full…which means once the balance is below $1000.

Once your dues are paid in full, then the system should allow prepayment of the 2026 dues at any time using a gift card of any amount.

This is how it appears to me it will work from now on.

Basically, partial payments with gift cards will only work before the monthly payments starts or after you have finished paying in full and want to start a credit against the following year.

 

[Anthony1971]

I see the issue. you can dues the following year.
Was going to say you can always apply gift cards each month but you are then paying forward.
Most places these days have removed any type of discount for autopay on CC and some even charge... Direct debit is the new norm.
I always just paid mine with a CC when due except the last few years I got discounted GF around BF along with a CC bonus so we paid almost in full before the new dues posted.

In theory you can buy a gift card with a CC so Disney still loses out on the CC fee plus any commission they pay to a retailer other then buying direct.

 

[jennypenny]

I think people wouldn't react so negatively to the change if DVC had announced it over summer. That would have given people time to buy gift cards, build up rewards dollars, etc. Making such a change through a quiet notification a month before dues are due is kind of annoying. I can adjust, but a little more notice would have been really helpful.

I'll just toss this onto the growing pile of small-ways-DVC-annoys-members-unnecessarily.

 

[Phatscott25]

I think people wouldn't react so negatively to the change if DVC had announced it over summer. That would have given people time to buy gift cards, build up rewards dollars, etc. Making such a change through a quiet notification a month before dues are do is kind of annoying. I can adjust, but a little more notice would have been really helpful.

I'll just toss this onto the growing pile of small-ways-DVC-annoys-members-unnecessarily.

I completely agree. I definitely would've prepaid my dues by now had this been the case.

 

[CarolynFH]

Yes. I am in agreement with what you are saying. But those with dues over $1000 will have to make a partial payment of $1000 if intended to pay with gift cards.

I am not in opposition to any of this - just wondering how it will work for those still wanting to use gift cards, considering the max you can put on a gc is $1000.

I plan to pay our 2025 dues in full with the DGCs we’ve accumulated when we get our statement, so I hope the system will allow me to go through the process of applying more than one GC in a single session - as it did in the past. I’ll need to apply three.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I plan to pay our 2025 dues in full with the DGCs we’ve accumulated when we get our statement, so I hope the system will allow me to go through the process of applying more than one GC in a single session - as it did in the past. I’ll need to apply three.

I prepaid a portion on each contract that was over $1000 just in case.

 

[Judique]

I prepaid a portion on each contract that was over $1000 just in case.

Good decision!

I've been lax about this whole process this past month as I've been on vacation plus have had other busy work to attend to.
But, lucky for me I've collected gift cards already for about 80% of my dues. Wish I'd applied them earlier this past week but didn't get around to it.

As soon as the system opens back up, I'll do just that. I also intend to buy up enough gift cards to bring my stash up to 100% of what is needed for 2025 to meet the Jan 15 deadline. That will be at the 5% level.

I've got some other ideas for going forward to 2026.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Good decision!

I've been lax about this whole process this past month as I've been on vacation plus have had other busy work to attend to.
But, lucky for me I've collected gift cards already for about 80% of my dues. Wish I'd applied them earlier this past week but didn't get around to it.

As soon as the system opens back up, I'll do just that. I also intend to buy up enough gift cards to bring my stash up to 100% of what is needed for 2025 to meet the Jan 15 deadline. That will be at the 5% level.

I've got some other ideas for going forward to 2026.

Unless you get a discount on the rest of the required GC’ why not just use a CC?