'Loading' money on your account

[maplevale]

Last time I went to Disney (2014) I remember hearing about people 'loading' cash onto their Disney accounts when they check into the resort - this was more common for Canadians to help save on exchange rate.

Is this still possible? Trying to avoid carrying cash but also to not have to deal with CC exchange at the time we travel.

 

[Dug720]

I've never heard of it being possible - mainly in case of refund needed. Could you just buy a gift card with the cash you're bringing and then use that either at point of purchase or pay off a little at the desk each night?

 

[stevelle]

I've been stockpiling Disney gift cards to take to pay off my account periodically while I'm there. I get reward points for buying them at the grocery store, and should save on foreign exchange fees while I'm there.

 

[Her Dotness]

It used to be possible. I recall people posting around 10 years ago or so that they did that but often had to ask for a manager to assist desk CMs, most not knowing how.

As far as I'm aware, unless you put a credit card on file at your resort, you can't room charge these days. You can still use a gift card nightly to pay off the day's charges so they won't post to the credit card, I believe but may be mistaken.

 

[bnf0522]

I was able to use my Disney Rewards Redemption Card in 2021 to add $60 to my account when we checked in to cover our parking fees. Not sure if I'd be able to load a larger sum of money.

 

[Jangles]

Have you thought about using a Revolut card and changing money into USD periodically so that you ride currency fluctuations? From the U.K. that’s what I do. There is no fee.

 

[Dug720]

I was able to use my Disney Rewards Redemption Card in 2021 to add $60 to my account when we checked in to cover our parking fees. Not sure if I'd be able to load a larger sum of money.

I think the difference is that's a known amount so there wouldn't be a refund issue.

 

[garris3404]

Loading cash might be possible? I would suggest using Disney gift cards (DGCs) I did this back in November for a 10 night trip. I had Disney gift cards to cover our dining. Since Disney will charge your credit card on file when it reaches a certain amount, I wanted to avoid that and pay with my DGCs. So I stopped by the front desk and preloaded my account via my DGCs. Just monitor your charges on the MDE app, and add more if needed. You need to keep the DGCs incase a refund is due. That way they can refund to original payment type.

 

[HopperFan]

I think the difference is that's a known amount so there wouldn't be a refund issue.

Yeah all they really did was pay for parking with card, not placing open cash in an account. It's like when you arrive they have already charged your room to your card but when you get your receipt it prints out like they charged you daily/end of stay.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I just left Disney POFQ last Sunday.
As I was in line at the desk a CM told a guest who asked NO, they will not load money on the account
They will take cards to pay off during your trip but only AFTER charges are done. They can not load anything in advance

 

[Anthony1971]

Years ago you could. Seems to make sense how they did way back and people who said they could…. In the past you had to have a charge on your room in which case they could add funds above that amount by cash or another way. How much or if they will still do it is questionable.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Yes long ago you could give $$ to put on your account, but they stopped that for a long time. We have been paying our trips using discounted GCs for 10+ years now. I payoff our RO or package before I check-in using my GCs and then I leave a CC on file so we can charge to our room and then every 2-3 days I would stop at the counter and payoff our room balance with my GC. I always stop the night before checkout to payoff any balance. I haven't had anything go against my CC in all those years I know a PP mentioned that you can leave your GC on file, but we have never been allowed to do that and have always been been told that only a CC can be kept on file and I heard that from a lot of other customers. Go old consistent WDW. LOL
TIP: if you have a bunch of GCs, instead of taking all of them, sign into the disneygiftcard site and they will allow you to combine as many GCs up to $1,000 onto 1 GC. You can do this as many times as you like. We usually take 2 or 3 GCs on our trips. Also; I like to keep the GCs in the room safe and we use the MB to charge to our room since you have to have a PIN code, which is more secure. Because if you happen to lose a GC, anyone who finds it, can then use it Plus, that is another thing I do not have to carry around and any of my family can buy something without coming to me for a GC.