Money Question

[femommy]

When you are in the park, what is the most convenient form of currency? Do you use Debit Cards, Credit Cards or cash for snacks, meals, etc? What have you found most helpful? I have not been as the "adult" and had to worry about this. I would appreciate your input. A friend suggested buying the Disney giftcards but I am not sure who takes those in the park.

 

[iKristin]

I have a prepaid card that I use just for vacay. It's all paid for ) No overdrafts and no stress of payments later involved in a credit card. I make sure I have about 25-75 bucks in cash though for things like ice cream bars or a water or a balloon

 

[PrincessInOz]

IMO, the answer to this is whichever form of currency or card works best for you...

I've used cash, debit card, credit card, traveller's cheques and Disney Dollars (which you can exchange for at the Guest Relations) without any problems at the parks. I have never used a Disney Gift Card; although this and the Disney Dollars locks you in to spending at the Disney resort.

If you are purchasing snacks from the stalls, then cash is best.

 

[Gisele]

I like to use cash. I will be using gift cards and cash on my next trip. I like the idea for using the Disney gift cards.

 

[bumbershoot]

We really like using disney giftcards. FYI, you can use those at DLR, WDW, at Disney Stores, and on disneyshopping.com. The giftcard never expires, so hang onto it if there's a balance.

Also, in CA, the disney dollars can be turned back in for cash.

We like the GCs because we use our debit card, but I do not like having to enter in all the debits from a week! So we either buy one big GC on our first day, from just about any giftshop, or we split it up by days, and buy smaller GCs each day. I also like collecting the giftcards; they are a little free souvenir for me.

Almost every cart takes them now...the balloons and the lightup things they bring out at dusk are about the only places that don't take them anymore (except for the totally non-Disney owned places, of course). You can visit disneygiftcard.com for lots of info.


If you bank with Chase, you'll be glad to know that Chase ATMs are in the parks and DTD. I found that to be really helpful during last year's "divas" trip, when I ran out of cash and I needed to pay for my portion of a meal!

Cash is too scary for me. Oh, with the giftcards, keep the receipt and keep it separate from the card! They can help if you have the receipt and the card has been lost or stolen. But if you keep them together, well, they can't help you at all, then.

The one time we tried to use a credit card, my husband managed to spend twice what I had allotted for spending. That's not a problem that everyone has, of course.

 

[glendalais]

Just a reminder.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US, Inc. does not accept Debit Cards as a form of payment.

Debit Cards issued in association with one of the following Credit Card companies, and displaying their logo, will be accepted, but will be processed as "Credit" (no PIN required). As such, services such as Cashback are not available:

• VISA, The Official Card of Disney Parks
• MasterCard
• Discover
• American Express
• JCB
• Diner's Club

 

[PinkBudgie]

We always use our credit card. First, ours gives money back. Second, you haven't spent it yet (like you would have if you load up a gift card). Third, I worry about putting very much money on a gift card at once- it could get lost or there could be an error. And fourth, a gift card ties up your money for only one thing- Disney. A credit card is good anywhere- in parks and out.
We bring maybe $20 or $40 in cash just in case and usually don't even use that.

 

[LuLusApple]

We always get giftcards. Not just Disney; I get gas cards, and starbucks, for the 8 hour drive down
It's the easiest way for me to budget. I also can't stand to write down all those debit transactions in my checkbook
when we get to the park I usually get some Disney dollars from cityhall. Combined with a bit of real cash just incase.
Giftcards are a good thing

 

[LavenderPeach]

We always use our credit card. First, ours gives money back. Second, you haven't spent it yet (like you would have if you load up a gift card). Third, I worry about putting very much money on a gift card at once- it could get lost or there could be an error. And fourth, a gift card ties up your money for only one thing- Disney. A credit card is good anywhere- in parks and out.
We bring maybe $20 or $40 in cash just in case and usually don't even use that.

We use our credit card too because it's easy to use and ours also gives us cash back. We never use our debit card for anything except to use it as an ATM card. I don't like the idea of using a card that is directly connected to our bank account. It doesn't seem safe. I have to say that i get nervous just hearing about others using a debit card.

 

[reynmagsmom]

Just a reminder.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US, Inc. does not accept Debit Cards as a form of payment.

Debit Cards issued in association with one of the following Credit Card companies, and displaying their logo, will be accepted, but will be processed as "Credit" (no PIN required). As such, services such as Cashback are not available:

• VISA, The Official Card of Disney Parks
• MasterCard
• Discover
• American Express
• JCB
• Diner's Club

I think almost all Debit cards now have such label with very few not having them anymore..... I know here in my area Fibre Credit Union was the last to add the Visa logo.

 

[femommy]

We have several Visa gift cards that don't require a pin. That way I could budget what I was going to spend. But I got nervous about using them. It couldn't be that we only have 28 days until we go. First timers all of us. We are driving from Utah so all of your advice is very appreciated.
Thank you for your time and comments.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

? about the Disney gift cards... are they taken as payment at the on-site hotel restaraunts too??

 

[blackjackdelta]

We use a debit card where the account is dedicated to Disney vacation and take about $500 in cash. Yet to have a problem.

Jack

 

[specialks]

We use our airline credit card -- for EVERYTHING. I love that my credit card company "pays me" to use the card. However, we are VERY frugal and responsible spenders so we don't worry about going on a "hayday" spending spree during vacation. I think you should very honestly address your spending habits and decide if you can hold to making responsible decisions or if you are an impulse spender. If you can "control" your spending then a credit card gives you the opportunity for a reward and a 28 day (approx) interest grace period to pay it off. If you might be tempted to spend more than you should then gift cards would be a great way to keep you on budget. I don't recommend cash because it is just not "insured" in any way. One tip -- copy the front and back of your credit / gift card and leave with a friend or keep in your hotel safe so if you do lose your card you can immediately have access to the phone number and your account number.

 

[rszdtrvl]

We always use cash. For everything.

It works out easiest for us that way.

 

[PinkBudgie]

We use our credit card too because it's easy to use and ours also gives us cash back. We never use our debit card for anything except to use it as an ATM card. I don't like the idea of using a card that is directly connected to our bank account. It doesn't seem safe. I have to say that i get nervous just hearing about others using a debit card.

Yep, we are the same way. I don't even bring my debit card with me in my purse at all because if it is stolen, that is money lost that you have to try to get back. A credit card can be canceled and you won't loose your money out of pocket.

 

[nunzia]

We use a combo of gift cards, cash and credit cards. Cash for quick little things, giftcards, if we have them, for shopping, meals, etc. and credit cards for bigger things like tickets (before we go) and meals. Then we can pay the card off when we get home. We don't buy many items really..couple of little gifts for those at home, snacks and mainly counter service meals. For cabs we use cash.

 

[Brady's Mom]

We have a totally separate bank account at a totally different bank than our regular account and our vacation money goes into that account. We use the card attached to the account for our trip money. Then when we check our bank balance when we are at DLR we know exactly how much money we've spent and how much we have left. It works for us.

We also take about $30 into the parks. Mostly we use the money for kettlecorn at DTD - our fam loves it - or a random mickey bar or whatever, but if we are getting ice cream or something for everyone we just use the card.

We don't usually use all of our vacation money even if we buy extra souvies and we don't usually use all of our cash, unless someone really has a hankering for kettlecorn!

 

[CrazyDuck]

I use the "Key to the Magic" AKA.. room key! I use it for everything, shopping, dining, counter service, snack carts, etc... Also, I ususally carry a couple of hundred dollars in cash for baloons and tips..

 

[Bell<3Disney]

If you tend to over spend then getting a giftcard could be handy because you couls designate a certain amount of money for in the parks. Other wise just use a credit card, then you dont have to worry about using different forms of currency for in the park and out.