Magic Band Charging

[melidy]

So we usually go to WDW as a couple, but this time we are taking family and are all staying in a 2 bedroom Villa in Old Key West. There will be 6 of us total and I'm a little worried about charging privileges. I'll be my card at front desk, and one of our party especially, (sister-in-law) is... hmmm, how do I put it? Excitable? And tends to be not so great with money... As in, she'll charge away, not keeping tabs on how much she's spending... and then inevitably she won't have enough and, since it's my card behind the desk, it will be left to me and my partener to pay up, until she pays us back... eventually.

If possible I would like to avoid this situation, so how do you guys handle charging in large groups? Just go for it and hope everyone has their sensible head on? Not allowing anyone to charge seems a bit mean and means we'd be "forcing" them to carry stuff around. Adding up everybody's charges at the end of each day, seems like it would take a chunk out of each evening, waiting at reception, etc. Just looking for some tips on how you handle situations like this.

Also do I remember correctly that the tab/invoice has the name of who charged what next to it? I want to say it did, but I may not be remembering correctly. That would at least take some of the worry away. I just panic that I'm not going to be able to keep up with who owes what.

 

[delmar411]

You can assign a different CC to each band. So she brings her own and links it or she cant charge. Very simple.

 

[Robo]

OTOH, if "nobody charges" then nobody can be offended.

 

[Chickkypoo]

You can assign a different CC to each band. So she brings her own and links it or she cant charge. Very simple.

This is what I do when I travel and have friends staying with me. We each assign our own credit card to our band.

 

[DebbieB]

When I go with friends, we typically don't charge to the room, everyone is on their own. I don't think it's a big deal to carry a credit card, gift card or cash.

It used to be they couldn't have separate credit cards in one room. If they can separate it, I would do that. If you do online check-in, I would not put a card on there, take care of it when you get there to be sure everyone's is coded correctly.

 

[calliecat]

The invoices do state where something was charged, how much, and whose magic band it was.

I'm sure most people would understand that your card is on the room for incidentals. As far as "forcing" them to carry some cash or a credit card...eh, I wouldn't over think it. It will be fine.

 

[melidy]

You can assign a different CC to each band. So she brings her own and links it or she cant charge. Very simple.

Oh I see, that's great!! When I enquired about the same thing last time we stayed at Port Orleans they told us that it had to be one credit card per reservation, not band. That was during the latter part of the test so maybe they couldn't do it then... or more likely, I probably had a misinformed CM.

This has certainly made me feel a whole lot better about it all!!

Thank you so much!!

 

[melidy]

When I go with friends, we typically don't charge to the room, everyone is on their own. I don't think it's a big deal to carry a credit card, gift card or cash.

It used to be they couldn't have separate credit cards in one room. If they can separate it, I would do that. If you do online check-in, I would not put a card on there, take care of it when you get there to be sure everyone's is coded correctly.

The invoices do state where something was charged, how much, and whose magic band it was.

I'm sure most people would understand that your card is on the room for incidentals. As far as "forcing" them to carry some cash or a credit card...eh, I wouldn't over think it. It will be fine.

Ah but see we aren't American... So we won't have a ton of cash, and if they use their credit card, they will be charged over $2 for every single purchase they make... Which isn't much, but will add up quickly over 14 days. So, it's not so much forcing them into carrying a card, it's forcing them into converting a large bulk of cash (which is at a sucky rate right now), or being charged a large sum for paying on card... Charging to the band just seems like a more economical solution!

calliecat - Thank you for clarifying that the purchaser name is on the invoice! That makes me feel a lot better!

Oh and thanks for the tip on waiting 'till we get there to add the credit card(s) DebbieB

 

[bumbershoot]

inevitably she won't have enough and, since it's my card behind the desk, it will be left to me and my partener to pay up, until she pays us back... eventually.

Then don't put a CC on the room.

This has certainly made me feel a whole lot better about it all!!

I wouldn't feel better about it. If you spend some time finding other threads about room charging, you will find that errors are made *often*. Inappropriate cards are charged, lots of time is spent working out whose card should have been charged. It's not something I want to spend time on, especially since you'll have to rely on a sketchy relative's ability to remember receipts.

OR put HER card on the room and let HER worry about errors. You know you will save receipts and can show her what charges are yours, if mistakes happen on the resort's end.


Or just have people buy giftcards and use those for purchases. One or two big purchases and you're done, no worries about the fees for bunches of little charges.

 

[MYD714]

put HER card on the room and let HER worry about errors. You know you will save receipts and can show her what charges are yours, if mistakes happen on the resort's end.


Or just have people buy giftcards and use those for purchases. One or two big purchases and you're done, no worries about the fees for bunches of little charges.

I think these are great suggestions. It would be less stressful for you to add up your purchases and give her the money, or to have them buy gift cards. The gift card idea might be the easiest for everyone. They can buy one and add money to it as needed.

My brother is the same way (and he never even attempts to pay people back) and I would never allow him to charge on my card. Good luck in whatever you decide!

 

[melidy]

Or just have people buy giftcards and use those for purchases. One or two big purchases and you're done, no worries about the fees for bunches of little charges.

Thanks for the tips! I never thought about buying gift cards when we get there. I always hear of people on the boards buying cards before they go at target etc, but that wouldn't work with the UK giftcards.

It never crossed my mind to just buy them at the park... duh! I just looked them up and looks like $500 is the maximum? That's not so bad, since they'd only be charged one set of fees!

Is there anything you can't pay for with gift cards? I'm talking gratuities, Food Booths etc?

 

[loves to dive]

My DS and I travel together and we always use two separate cards and put them on our own bands, have not had any problems so far. The GC can be used for anything in the parks, at the resorts and I think DTD (not sure about that one). It's used just like a debit or credit card, you can use it at snack carts even.

 

[mountdew1]

Is there anything you can't pay for with gift cards? I'm talking gratuities, Food Booths etc?

Pretty much anything that can be charged to a room or a credit card can be paid for using gift cards.