Money at the World

[Mama Mouse]

How do you spend at Disney? (Credit card/cash/debit, etc.) And how much cash do you carry with you. I'm trying to figure out how I want to do this. I don't use credit cards so that's out. I need to bring a combination of debit/cash but I'm really undecided about how much cash to bring vs. using the card.

Also, do you do Disney cash? I'm really tempted to do this instead of using my debit card. It makes me nervous to be carrying it around.

ETA: I'm bringing about $1200 for myself and ds (7) for five days. This is only for food and souveniers. I definitely don't plan on carrying around that much cash.

 

[RMAMom]

I take the amount of money I have to spend and divide it by the number of days I will be there and then I put the daily amount in an envelope. The envelopes go in the hotel safe and each morning before I leave I grab that days envelope.
I do the same thing for the kids spending money, they get an envelope a day.

 

[cglaura]

You didn't mention if you were staying onsite, but if so, what I do is take traveler's checks. I cash them at check in then put the cash on my room for "charging" stuff. Only you don't need any credit card at all, it just gets taken from the cash you put down. Then at check out you get back whatever cash is left over.

 

[karen l]

Our last trip I purchased a Disney Gift Card & it was great. We used it in the shops & restaurants where we weren't using the DP with no problem. I'm in the early stages of planning for a 2012 trip & will definitely be using the gift cards again. Gift cards & a little cash is my plan for the next trip.

 

[Iceman10]

I rarely carry more than $50 cash. I use my AMX rewards card for pretty much everything.

 

[breezylabree]

In 2008, I bought WDW gift cards through a fundraising program at my children's school. It was super easy to use the gift cards and the school made a percentage off my purchase! I did bring some cash as a few (very few) places do not take the gift cards. I stored the cards in the hotel safe. I do not use credit cards and this worked very well for my family!

 

[ZoZo]

I used old-fashioned travelers checks. Like you, I don't like to carry my debit card when I travel -- too many potential problems if lost or stolen. I have had problems with gift cards in the past, so that's not an option. I'd prefer not to charge things on my credit card -- plus, our group consists of adults that are not related to each other (too hard to charge things to the room and keep things straight about who charged what!).

So to me, travelers checks make sense. I get them in large denominations ($50 each) and use them as needed. Helps me budget and keep better track of my spending). I grab what I need for the day, then keep the rest in the safe in the room.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

I'm going to buy a Disney Gift Card before I leave for my trip for shopping and such. I don't want to lose track of my debit card and get overdraft fees, or lose it completely and have someone clear out my bank account. I'll be bringing cash in envelopes for server and mousekeeping tips. I will have my debit card in the room safe, so it'll be there if I need to reload my gift card at Guest Services.

 

[lnh'smom]

In 2008, I bought WDW gift cards through a fundraising program at my children's school. It was super easy to use the gift cards and the school made a percentage off my purchase! I did bring some cash as a few (very few) places do not take the gift cards. I stored the cards in the hotel safe. I do not use credit cards and this worked very well for my family!

That's exactly what we do. Paid for the whole trip plus our spending money. Earned back about $70 towards my DK's tuition! That made me happy.

 

[sydneysmom]

I would get a Visa gift card or an Amex gift card loaded with your amount on it. That way you don't have that much cash on you. (maybe some on a card, some in cash for things like tips, etc) If it gets lost or stolen it can be stopped and replaced. ( just make sure you write the # down). You can get them at the grocery store or any bank.

We were going to get Disney gift cards, but after thinking about it, I don't want to be "forced" to spend anything left on the last day. ( yeah, that would be tragic! ) But if you do a Visa or Amex, you could use anything left on it for gas, groceries, etc. ( outside Disney).

But personally, I wouldn't bring that much in cash. it would make me nervous.

 

[skiingfast]

I would do what the PP suggested. Loosing a Disney gift card is the same as loosing cash. Somone can pick it up and use it and you are out the money forever.

But with a Visa gift card you still are in the same boat as using a debit card. You will need to keep track or your spending or you will run out.

You don't have to use cash at all. You can tip your server on a card. And it is really hard to find a place where you had to have a car because it is cash only.

In the end your debit card is your safest choice as long as you don't over draw your account.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Just carry a small amount of cash for waters carts, etc & charge everything back to your room.

Have a great trip

 

[savs]

If staying on property, charging to your room is the best way to go. We would carry around some cash to pay for small purchases, but mostly used the room key to pay for things.

Then every couple days I would go to the front desk and balance out the account (by CC, Gift card or cash) and then your ready to start charging again.

Carrying around too much cash scares me, so this is the best option for my family.

 

[alwaysdisney]

I figure out before we leave where we will be eating and any disney tours we will be taking. If I can prepay for some Disney tours up front, we do that, otherwise, I figure out the cost of the food & tip and get a disney gift card for that item, then I place that inside an envelope & write outside what that gift card is for. We have even used the resort key to make purchases and then prior to checking out, we would go to the front desk and have them apply our unused disney gift cards to the bill. No credit card / debit card issues at check out. We are paid in full, that's one of the reason why we love Disney, we can prepay for our vacation before we even get there.

 

[pinkfanatic25]

I had read something about a card that allows you to put a max of $500 on it at the resort, then use that like a debit card, and when you run out then they'll call you and you can just give them more money. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Is that the "charge to your room" everyone's talking about or the Gift Card? I don't remember what the card was called

 

[Mama Mouse]

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately, we're not staying onsite so charging back to the room, which would be my preference, is out.

 

[alwaysdisney]

If your not staying on site, then it might be best to get some Disney Gift Cards prior to going. You can purchase them up to $500.00 per card. If you need more money to be placed onto your card, I believe you can do that at the resorts. Have a GREAT TIME!

 

[2010Disneymom]

I had read something about a card that allows you to put a max of $500 on it at the resort, then use that like a debit card, and when you run out then they'll call you and you can just give them more money. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Is that the "charge to your room" everyone's talking about or the Gift Card? I don't remember what the card was called

I am interested in knowing more about this as well. I have my Disney Rewards points to bring with me and was wondering if it would be easier to charge to the room and then pay that with the Rewards Card, as opposed to carrying the Rewards Card around.