New Credit Card Authorization Holds

[Farro]

Right which is why I’m curious as to what my card company could guarantee as far as how this will work on their end. WDW doesn’t care about that part, it’s between us and our CC company at that point.

Ah yes, I get what you are saying.

No, they don't care!

 

[PolyRob]

Chiming in here about a separate hold from Disney. I placed a ShopDisney order with a GC and CC backup on 1/16/19.

My GC was charged and the order has been delivered and there is still a pending authorization on my CC.

 

[creativeamanda]

I see myself doing envelopes of cash for tips for my upcoming stay. I’ll see what the experiences are in March, but going cash only and only using the MB for emergencies may be the route I use. I hate that people who skip out in bills could change Disney’s method here, but that has to be the reason for this move.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Those that want to use gift cards to pay off the magic bands can, with minimal holds, even if they don't allow pre-paying to your folio.

At the end of each day (or in the morning), use gift cards to pay off the balance. CC hold at this point will be for that one day's worth of charges (rounded up to $100). As your balance will now be $0, they won't put any additional holds on, unless your account surpasses the current hold (hence, you are starting over again).

By the end of the trip, your total CC hold will only be one days worth of charges (well, the highest spending day, rounded up, to be exact). And, nothing will actually be charged to your CC (unless you decide to skip paying off the balance on the last day, which many will do if they leave for home directly from a park or DS).

You could also use a debit card to pay off your balance each day, instead of gift cards.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I received the email today about my stay in July at AKL, but not for my stay at POP in March. We never use our MBs to pay for anything, but I'll keep an eye on if they put any holds.

We only use gift cards or our Disney Visa to shop/eat. Wearing the bracelet gift card is very convenient! Just as easy as using your MB and keeps spending in check.

 

[disneyjr77]

Those that want to use gift cards to pay off the magic bands can, with minimal holds, even if they don't allow pre-paying to your folio.

At the end of each day (or in the morning), use gift cards to pay off the balance. CC hold at this point will be for that one day's worth of charges (rounded up to $100). As your balance will now be $0, they won't put any additional holds on, unless your account surpasses the current hold (hence, you are starting over again).

By the end of the trip, your total CC hold will only be one days worth of charges (well, the highest spending day, rounded up, to be exact). And, nothing will actually be charged to your CC (unless you decide to skip paying off the balance on the last day, which many will do if they leave for home directly from a park or DS).

You could also use a debit card to pay off your balance each day, instead of gift cards.

To add to this...they also said for stays longer than 5 days, they will charge your card on the 5th day and then again on your checkout day. So even though they'll place the holds, it does give us an opportunity to pay our room balance off before they actually charge the card. In theory, this should keep the holds to a minimum as well.

I'm hoping the email I received saying that we could pre-load GC's is correct, as that will eliminate a lot of stress or hassle for people.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

Well here is an even different reply from Disney when I sent a question about applying a gift card to your room to pay for charges:

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort! We are so excited to hear that you are planning a visit to come see us here at Walt Disney World®! The new policy regarding the credit card did not go into affect yet. It will be depending on when you are coming for your trip. When the new policy go into affect your credit will get charge as you make your purchase automatically. You can choose to use your gift to make your make purchase instead of having your card on file for charge.

As usual a different story from everyone. Anxious to see how it actually works once it goes into place and we hear peoples experiences.

 

[tex1989]

Those that want to use gift cards to pay off the magic bands can, with minimal holds, even if they don't allow pre-paying to your folio.

At the end of each day (or in the morning), use gift cards to pay off the balance. CC hold at this point will be for that one day's worth of charges (rounded up to $100). As your balance will now be $0, they won't put any additional holds on, unless your account surpasses the current hold (hence, you are starting over again).

By the end of the trip, your total CC hold will only be one days worth of charges (well, the highest spending day, rounded up, to be exact). And, nothing will actually be charged to your CC (unless you decide to skip paying off the balance on the last day, which many will do if they leave for home directly from a park or DS).

You could also use a debit card to pay off your balance each day, instead of gift cards.

This might work. Hard to tell because obviously the policy as written does not address it. I am no authority at all on hotel/ resort portfolio management and since we live in a world of instantaneous electronic transmission (ie I can see a charge to my CC seconds after it is processed) I don't know how it works today. But at one point they used to process all the charges on an overnight basis. Had a friend who worked the graveyard shift at a hotel and literally the biggest part of his job was posting charges to guests rooms. Of course this was in the early 80's so the postings were manual. The charges did not officially get charged to you till sometime over night. So if what you propose is to work I would suggest making gift payments each night when you returned to the resort. Even at that the way I read the policy is that you get an initial $100 hold. Once you spend $100 or more, they will charge your card the full amount say $150 and then place another $100 hold. So any time your were to not pay upon your return to the resort that night then it would be charge + hold so you could rack up a bunch of holds. Until someone actually goes and experiences the policy after February 27th and tries to pay off balances daily I guess it is all really speculation. Going back to instantaneous communication I could very easily see multiple holds in one day if you were to spend over $200 on your MB and it hits your account right away. Then even paying nightly would not avoid the holds. And per the policy they will charge the card on the 5th day and start over with a $110 hold on the 6th day. So even then you are guarenteed at least two $100 holds for a trip exceeding 5 days.

At this point someone will just have to give it a try and see what happens.

 

[PolyRob]

Well here is an even different reply from Disney when I sent a question about applying a gift card to your room to pay for charges:

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort! We are so excited to hear that you are planning a visit to come see us here at Walt Disney World®! The new policy regarding the credit card did not go into affect yet. It will be depending on when you are coming for your trip. When the new policy go into affect your credit will get charge as you make your purchase automatically. You can choose to use your gift to make your make purchase instead of having your card on file for charge.

As usual a different story from everyone. Anxious to see how it actually works once it goes into place and we hear peoples experiences.

HAHA that person seems completely misinformed based on what Disney is posting.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

HAHA that person seems completely misinformed based on what Disney is posting.

Totally agree!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Well here is an even different reply from Disney when I sent a question about applying a gift card to your room to pay for charges:

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort! We are so excited to hear that you are planning a visit to come see us here at Walt Disney World®! The new policy regarding the credit card did not go into affect yet. It will be depending on when you are coming for your trip. When the new policy go into affect your credit will get charge as you make your purchase automatically. You can choose to use your gift to make your make purchase instead of having your card on file for charge.

As usual a different story from everyone. Anxious to see how it actually works once it goes into place and we hear peoples experiences.

It also has poor grammar...

Normally I wouldn't hold it against someone but the whole bit put together makes it sound like someone not aware of things.

 

[PolyRob]

Totally agree!

It's really sad what some CMs say via e-mail and over the phone. I wonder if contacting the resort GM would get a better response. I had a question about an previous stay before I arrived and I got a very fast response and it was 100% correct. I may follow-up my e-mail...

It also has poor grammar...

Normally I wouldn't hold it against someone but the whole bit put together makes it sound like someone not aware of things.

Totally agree! I can usually look past a typo here or there (I hate when I do it here and have to make edits, but sometimes I post too fast!) but there are so many. Its actually hard to comprehend what is being said. I am interpreting that the CM is saying use your gift card rather than charging to the room, but I could also re-read it and think the CM is saying you can link your GC to your stay for charging privileges rather than your credit card.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I am reading it more to say use the GC vs. charging to the room but can also see how you are reading into it now. It is crazy all the different responses you can get to the same issue depending on who you talk to.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

Received another email regarding my questions:

The Walt Disney World Resort hotels will be changing their credit card policy for Guests who wish to leave a credit card on file. Under the new policy, hotel Guests will place an incremental authorization hold on the card for estimated incidental expenses, in addition to any remaining balance that may be due on the reservation. Any authorization holds in excess of the balance due will be released at the end of the resort stay.

Under the new policy, on the day of arrival, the Resort hotels will place an authorization hold on the card on file for any balance due on the reservation plus $100 for estimated incidental expenses. If Guest spending exceeds the original $100 hold, additional incremental holds will be placed on the card automatically. The initial authorization holds on the card will not exceed the current balance due plus $100.

Guests can opt out by not leaving a credit card on file, however, by not doing so, Guests will be unable to charge to their room or use their MagicBands for purchases.

 

[PolyRob]

Received another email regarding my questions:

The Walt Disney World Resort hotels will be changing their credit card policy for Guests who wish to leave a credit card on file. Under the new policy, hotel Guests will place an incremental authorization hold on the card for estimated incidental expenses, in addition to any remaining balance that may be due on the reservation. Any authorization holds in excess of the balance due will be released at the end of the resort stay.

Under the new policy, on the day of arrival, the Resort hotels will place an authorization hold on the card on file for any balance due on the reservation plus $100 for estimated incidental expenses. If Guest spending exceeds the original $100 hold, additional incremental holds will be placed on the card automatically. The initial authorization holds on the card will not exceed the current balance due plus $100.

Guests can opt out by not leaving a credit card on file, however, by not doing so, Guests will be unable to charge to their room or use their MagicBands for purchases.

This sounds more in line with the other communication! Did you send a follow-up, or just get a double response?

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I sent a follow up.

 

[PolyRob]

I sent a follow up.

Ok, makes sense!

I wasn't sure if another CM saw it and was like "OMG this is a terrible response, let me send the correct info!"

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

Have sent another reply back to them to find out when they are charging the card. It does say on the 5th day and at the end of the stay. Want to make sure if we go down each night and pay off the charges with a gift card we can avoid them making the charge to our CC. If they plan to do that overnight or when exactly.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

Below is the response to another one of my questions. They are doing everything but answering my question. I will just wait and see what people encounter when it goes into place. I have lots of time before our trip to see how it is going. This one says they will not charge until after you check out.

Beginning on Feb. 27 Walt Disney World® Resorts have a new policy for Guests who put a credit card on file for Resort charges. Disney Resorts will place incremental authorization holds on the card for estimated expenses, in addition to any balance due. Guests have the option of not putting a card on file, but they will be unable to charge to their room.

Payment is processed for the balance due after you check out. In general, charges will be settled and posted within 1-2 days after check out.

 

[PolyRob]

Below is the response to another one of my questions. They are doing everything but answering my question. I will just wait and see what people encounter when it goes into place. I have lots of time before our trip to see how it is going. This one says they will not charge until after you check out.

Beginning on Feb. 27 Walt Disney World® Resorts have a new policy for Guests who put a credit card on file for Resort charges. Disney Resorts will place incremental authorization holds on the card for estimated expenses, in addition to any balance due. Guests have the option of not putting a card on file, but they will be unable to charge to their room.

Payment is processed for the balance due after you check out. In general, charges will be settled and posted within 1-2 days after check out.

SMH nothing like a copy and paste answer! Hopefully there are reports with gift cards. We're basically a month out.