Money? Travelers Checks? Use room id charge?

[millerjmls]

We are getting ready for our trip and are having some problems deciding how much cash or travelers checks to take. Here are some of our dilemma's if anyone could give us some input.

1) Are travelers checks worth it...or a pain?

2) How does this resort id room charge thing work? Do you pay at the end of your stay? Can you pay by check or credit card? (If so, this would greatly reduce the amount of money we would need to take along. The only cash needed would be for snacks, tolls and grocery stops.)

3) Do you need to leave a credit card number at the desk to use the room charge or do you pay ahead with cash to use it?

Thanks for the help...Michelle

 

[djm99]

I'm not sure about the room key thing, but Travelers Cheques are just plain smart to me. If you lose them they are replaced, simple as that. Everywhere in ALL the parks/outside the parks, etc. take them. Even the little guy at the food stands take them.

 

[llp479]

We charge as much as we can to the room. They will require a credit card upon check in. As for cash, I take advantage of the numerous ATM's located throughout WDW. The fees to get $ about equal the fee to get the traveler's checks.

 

[iluvtink]

We charged everything to the room... food, souvenirs, kids' club fees, it is so convenient (almost too easy!!) ... If you have a Disney VISA, you can be earning Disney Dollars for your next trip, if you use that to guarantee your room card upon check-in. So as you're spending your dollars at Disney, you can get at least a little of it back!

Kim

 

[ValpoMan]

I have a $100 traveler check that was given to me by my company as part of my 5 year anniversary package...can I give this to WDW to credit my account as soon as I get to the resort?

Thanks

Monte

 

[MichaelH]

We use the room key to charge everytime we go. I like it a lot it makes things easy for us. When you check in they will ask you if you want to charge to the room. If you say yes, they set it up on your room key.

It is just like charging to your credit card I believe. We like it because we can leave everything in the safe in the room.

 

[snugglepeas]

You can also put down cash, instead of a credit card so that you can use the charging privleges, and the privleges for charging end when you run out of the money you put down, you can also go to the front desk and put down more money if you go through the first amout of money.

 

[VAN]

This question has come up before and most people seem to like charging the bulk of their purchases with their credit card or resort ID.

I do a little of each because I find I don't spend as much.

> Credit Card for gas, hotel, big purchases and sit-down dinners
> Cash for counter service and small purchases
> Traveler's Checks (from AAA - no cost) for when I run out of cash (use them for a smaller purchase and replenish the wallet)

I really think I would start to lose track of my spending if I used the plastic for everything ... somehow cash gets spent slower. LOL.

 

[hercamore]

Hi, I split it up like Van does, except I also use disney dollars for our small purchases around the parks. My kids like them.

herc.

 

[doombuggy]

I usually use travler's checks, disney dollars and cash, along with my credit cards (charge things like rental car and big ticket items, like the WDCC pieces I bought last May!).

If you have travler's checks left over when you get home, use them at teh Grocery store, or just deposit them into your checking account, like you would a check.

Traveler's Checks (from AAA - no cost) for when I run out of cash (use them for a smaller purchase and replenish the wallet)

Just a tip about buying T/C from AAA. You can no longer write a check for these. Twice last year, I used my check card (that's hooked up to my checking account at Wachovia) and the transaction was supposed to be a credit. I never gave my pin, but both times, AAA sent the transaction in as a "debit" and I was charged a fee. I was back and forth with the branch manager of AAA in West Chester, and speaking to the bank. The bottom line is, I will never buy T/C from AAA again. They are Visa ones, anyway, not American Express.

Sorry, I had to rant. I don't want anyone else to go thru what I did!

Have a great trip!

 

[prncess674]

I charge EVERYTHING possible to the room ID. It serves as an easy way to see all my vacation expenses in one place. If I lose my room card they can easily turn it "off" without me having to call and cancel a credit card (what a hassle). You can always stop by the front desk and get a current copy of your expenses if you would like to see if you are staying in budget. I want to carry as little as possible and loathe getting coin change back. It just weighs down my wallet.

 

[Disney Doll]

We guarantee the room with a credit card, and charge most things to the room. I also put some money into our savings account which is accessible with our ATM card, and when we need cash, we just stop at an ATM. There is a small fee, but it usually equals what travelers checks would have cost.

 

[djm99]

I love going to Disney DEBT FREE!!!! I pre-pay for EVERYTHING - my room, my food (vouchers), junk in the parks (Disney Dollars and Travelers Cheques, etc. The best feeling in the world is to return home from a vacation and not be in ANY KIND OF DEBT!!!!! On average I spend some $2500- $3000 on vacation (2 adults 1 chid and we drive) and NEVER worry about DAMAGE - once we are home!!!!!

And I heard that AAA will have their reloadable VISA Debit/Gift Card available AGAIN on April 1. That is a GREAT way to put $40 -$50 a pay on the card and spend at when/where neccessary in the parks/gas/food, etc. And I have never had a problem with my t/c. I give $100 cash and AAA gives me $100 in t/c. No fees, no taxes, AND NO SHIPPING - DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR!!!!! Most banks have this too (often called a buxx card).

 

[my3princes]

I do tt's. AAA doesn't charge a fee and neither does our bank. I find that using a room charge is way too convenient and I know that we would spend much more than we budget for. TTs are accepted most everywhere and I use the change from them for the food carts. It works great, never too much cash on hand that could be lost and no fees. I know exactly what I have spent and what I have left.

 

[loonertic]

Originally posted by snugglepeas
You can also put down cash, instead of a credit card so that you can use the charging privleges, and the privleges for charging end when you run out of the money you put down, you can also go to the front desk and put down more money if you go through the first amout of money.

this doesn't apply to the swan or dolphin though does it? you can't use your room key for those resorts in the world right, as they are not disney owned? or can you? I like the idea of fronting a certain $ in cash and having the card as payment untill you run out. neat idea!

 

[VAN]

I just got my traverler's checks at our local (Michigan) AAA office. I wrote a personal check for them and then they called the bank to verify/put a hold on the funds until the check clears.

 

[djm99]

I've read of people that think that is a problem, but travelers cheques (TC) are seen as "cash" or cash advance. So if anyone gives you a rubber check for TC's you are kind of screwed - until or if you get your monies back. If you used any kind of credit card to buy TC's, it will show up as a cash advance, not a regular purchase.

I have been to AAA SEVERAL times and I usually pay with cash or I use my debit card. You will never get a problem using those methods.


Sorry for the confusion!!!!!

 

[Tamickey]

Travelers cheques all the way. I never charge to my room, but that's just my preference. For me it's too easy to lose track of just how much I've spent! I take one cc in case I see something that costs more than the tc left in my fanny pack. That rarely happens. I take about $200 with me for the day and leave the rest in the hotel safe. Usually I return to the hotel with some left. Usually.
After we get home, I take the leftover tc (if there are any....) and deposit them in the bank. It seems easier to spend them in a tourist spot then at home.

 

[pampam]

Once I lost my travelers cheques about an hour after I arrived. Phoned American Express and had them replaced the next day. It was wonderful. The vacation could have been simply terrible, but it was instead, great. I swear by travelers cheques. If I had lost my charge card or bank card I'm sure it would have been more aggrevation. Also, I too like to prepay or not go in debt. With travelers cheques, I can see how much money I have left, see if I should slow down on spending etc. I budget so much per day, and it seems easier for me to count my cash and travelers cheques.

 

[fran99999]

I use the room key. It was less expensive than $$ . I didnt want to hand my DD15 a bunch of $$. We always bring her best friend and I just need to get away from 2 15 yr old girls for a few every once in a while. I then go to the desk either in the am or pm depending on my schedule and settle up. It helps me keep track of how much I spend. I do bring along a few $$ for the cart vendors. I heard they now accept the key cards so even that will help.

I want to watch the $$ but not worry if I brought enough for the day. Also Ihave lost money once it might have fallen out of my pocket when I was reaching in for something else . thank goodness it was only a few singles.

My DD knows if she wants to buy something except food she must call me and ask permission with how she will pay me back. Last year she begged for a kimono from China or Japanese Pavilion. I would have never let her carry that kind of $$ around all day. I gave permission and there it was when we returned to our hotel waiting for her.