master card gift cards and kids????

[kaylajr]

My DD's 8 and 10 and my nephew want to earn spending money for our trip this fall
they are helping with yard work and other extra stuff

i thought about putting the money they earn on a M/C gift card that i would carry but give to them when they want to make a purchase

has anyone done this does it sound like it will work

are the cards accepted in WDW and the orlando area
just like a regular m/c

thanks

 

[got2lovedisney]

I haven't used the gift cards but another, possible simpler, thought would be Disney Dollars. I say this because I read a thread (not sure when or where) and the complaint was the cashiers needed to know exactly how much was available on the gift card. This may mean keeping track of each previous purchase and if they kids are buying small things...it could be more aggravation in the end. Just my $.02.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

I think for young kids, disney dollars are a better plan. that way they can SEE they have 5 dollars or whatever to spend. I can see teens or older elementry kids doing well with the card. My DS 11 would love that. Thanks for the idea.


Jordans' mom

 

[dsnycrzy]

kaylarjr,
I thought about this same thing. I would just get conserned that some idiot merchant would ask them for picture ID and then they be in trouble. At ages 8,9,10,11 and 12 none of them will have an ID. Also is there an age limit on it like 18 and older?

 

[kaylajr]

HMMMMMMMM never thought about an age limit???

i thought about disney dollars but since i am carrying it in my fanny pack i thought this would take up less room

they will be 8 10 and 11 on the trip

has anybody out there ever used the cards?/?

thanks for the input guys

 

[djm99]

My great aunt gave me a Visa Gift card last May. I put it up for a rainy day and of course forgot all about it. I found it last week (it was never lost just put away) and I used it at the mall. The problem came in when I went to Walgreen’s to buy something for like $19 and had only $15.XX on it. Well, I had to call and get exactly the right amount on the card in order to use it ALL up and pay for the rest in cash. It cost me .50 off the card total for that call. It wouldn't just ring up all that was on the card and tell me what I owed. A little incontinent, but its okay - It was a great gift!!


To give to children who will use it more than once (at many different places), I would advise against it, it could become hard to keep track with amounts. But I am using them for my up coming trip to WDW. Because we are driving for St. Louis to Atlanta and spending the night at $36 a night and doing the same thing as we return home at the same price. I know that at most (with 14% tax) that hotel stay for both nights in Atlanta will be $84 so I got 1 card for that amount. We just extended our stay in the world (2 nights extra at a Days Inn near DTD) for $36 a night. I plan to get another one for $84.

What I do recommend is the Visa Buxx card. Its designed specifically for young people (teens) you can put on it as much as you want at any time, and it does NOT carry any fees outside of the first $6 for each card. You can check the balances free and online. I got my little sister (who is now a senior in college) one for those days she calls and claim broke. I send her monies very easy online and the funds are immediately useable. US Bank has them along with a few others. Go to http://www.visabuxx.com/ for more. Hope this helps!!!

 

[Barb D]

If you're staying onsite you can give your kids charging privileges on their room keys. As I recall, you can set a limit. I let my big kids (10yo and 12yo) have the charging privileges. They enjoyed being able to charge their own souvenirs, or use them to go get ice cream for everyone while I sat and rested on a nearby bench.

 

[dsnycrzy]

do you know if there is a number to call to check balances? I know it says on the computer but we won't have access to one in FL.

 

[Rpsemont]

I chime in and vote for Disney Dollars. My Brother got a visa card for a gift that was supposedly for $25 but when he went to use it he was told the store charges a transaction fee.So his spending power was only about $18.00. Needless to say, the giver thought they were giving him $25 to spend!

 

[djm99]

Originally posted by dsnycrzy
do you know if there is a number to call to check balances? I know it says on the computer but we won't have access to one in FL.

The one I had on it did from AAA - for .50. Now, if you are talking about the Visa Buxx one yes you can call. And it isn't a fee involved.