New GCs are reloadable IF the CM knows how!

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I went to the Disney Store today to purchase one of the new gift cards that are valid in the parks/restaurants, not just the stores. They are very clearly marked that they can be used at WDW and DL, fabulous! I asked the manager if I could add to the amount, but she didn't know. We rang up the card with half the amount I wanted, then tried to add the other half in a new transaction and it wouldn't work. I guess if you have all of your cash for your trip saved up and you go buy a single card with it then it is a good thing. But for folks who save up a bit at a time it isn't any better than the Dollars.

EDIT: It appears (according to the website) that the cards ARE reloadable! My CM obviously didn't know the procedure for adding more money.

 

[we3disneygo]

bummer, this week's Wal-green's sale ad they had a reloadable visa or mastercard for only 5.00 activation fee. I think the bank charges 10.00 I was going to do this for dd12 this time instead of disney dollars.

 

[Linzybrooke]

It would still be easier to keep up with a few cards than a whole lot of Disney Dollars. Maybe do 1 card for each day you are there and write the activated amount on the back with a permanent marker.

The BIG bonus is that the gift cards are easier to replace if lost. Keep track of the account number and amount on the card and in the event that the card is lost you can most likely get it replaced. If you lose Disney Dollars there is NOTHING you can do about it.

 

[Enna]

Is it possible to buy Disney Dollars now and then trade in those dollars for a single gift card before you leave for your trip?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I don't know what happens if the gift cards are lost or stolen. The back of the card says it can be replaced with proof of purchase, but they are not responsible for unauthorized use. So if you lose it and somebody redeems it I think you are out of luck.

From that standpoint I would almost be ahead to get Traveler's Checks from AAA, then if we don't use them we can just deposit them back in the bank at home.

There is more info at www.disneygiftcard.com about redeeming them and so forth, but it doesn't say anything about being able to add more money to the cards. It does say you can get a refund on an unused card with proof of purchase, but no refunds on partially redeemed cards. I am going to e-mail them and tell them I wish it was reloadable!

 

[TSM1993]

Be careful when buying these some actually have age limits. I was thinking about getting some pre paid cards and they have age limits on them they must be over a certain age. I am not saying all have this but some do.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Is it possible to buy Disney Dollars now and then trade in those dollars for a single gift card before you leave for your trip?

That might be possible. We went with a huge stack of Disney Dollars last time and it was fine. We just locked the majority of them in the safe and took some out each morning before we went to the parks. I probably won't bother to convert the Disney Dollars into a card, but it might be worth asking just for future refernce.

 

[Linzybrooke]

ATTENTION:

The New Gift Cards ARE Reloadable. Please visit www.disneygiftcard.com for a list of FAQ's, locations for use etc.

Store registers have a function that must be pushed prior to trying to reload the card. If the CM just scanned a card and then entered the card number for the one that you had just purchased it wouldn't have worked, they would have needed to use the computer function.

Hope this clears it up.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

ATTENTION:

The New Gift Cards ARE Reloadable. Please visit www.disneygiftcard.com for a list of FAQ's, locations for use etc.

Store registers have a function that must be pushed prior to trying to reload the card. If the CM just scanned a card and then entered the card number for the one that you had just purchased it wouldn't have worked, they would have needed to use the computer function.

Hope this clears it up.

Thanks for the new info!
I wasn't looking in the FAQ section so I missed that part! I will take my card back this weekend and see if the main store manager knows how to add value to the card - the manager that was there today is one of the assistants.

 

[Linzybrooke]

They have only been available since Monday, there is bound to be some learning involved on the ends of ALL cast members and users.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

As a former TDS Mgr I can tell you that re-loading or adding onto gift cards was not a common transaction at all (at least in the stores where I worked). Yes, it certainly could be done but it would be a procedure that would most likely have to be looked up. The register systems that were being used while I was there (not all that long ago) were not as high tech as you would expect (or maybe not) from Disney & things that you would think should be simple just weren't. "Why can't they just configure this to...." was a common complaint.

Please have patience with the Mgr. you deal with. Give him/her some time to figure it out. Remember you get more bees with honey....

FWIW, I have gotten pre-paid Visa gift cards at my bank with no fee. Dollar for dollar even exchange.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I wasn't angry or frustrated with the CM. She said they didn't get much training or info on dealing with the new cards, and I had never purchased an old one so I wasn't aware what the procedure was on the old ones. My original post was frustration that the cards didn't seem to be reloadable - I don't blame the CM. I do know the main store manager has been with the Disney Store for several years so she is probably just more familiar with the resgister functions. I am really glad the cards can have value added! I am sure as the stores gain experience in selling/reloading all the CMs will know the procedure.

 

[scrappystamper1]

I went to check out the web site for the Disney cards. I had a different idea this year. (We have been back a week now) I got Visa gift cards for each of us with our spending money on them. They are accepted ANYWHERE visa is accepted (if you look at the site closly, there are alot of places theirs are not accepted that we used ours.) I got them at AAA for $4.95 each no minimun load. The kids (well, all of us) had to sign the back, sign for each transaction. They are protected if lost or stolen. and the best part, when we get home, they can still use them. They each came home with SOME money left even if only a few dollars. Now they can use them to spend here too. I used it as a banking lesson too, they had to write their initials on the receipt and keep a bank log to watch the balance. It was a good learning experience for them, they were very fugal with their own money. Hubby and I too our own too as it always seem that our "goodie" get bumped for the sake of the budget. This year we ALL got special things. I love the fact that I can buy ANYTHING at Disney with my visa card.

Janet Paddock

 

[MJMcBride]

They have only been available since Monday, there is bound to be some learning involved on the ends of ALL cast members and users.

Its always nice to have Disney store peeps to turn to, ya know?

 

[Iluvpooh&mickey]

I went to check out the web site for the Disney cards. I had a different idea this year. (We have been back a week now) I got Visa gift cards for each of us with our spending money on them. They are accepted ANYWHERE visa is accepted (if you look at the site closly, there are alot of places theirs are not accepted that we used ours.) I got them at AAA for $4.95 each no minimun load. The kids (well, all of us) had to sign the back, sign for each transaction.
Janet Paddock

Is the card that you are referring to called the "Visa TravelMoney Card"? I think these are a good idea too b/c you can use them on anything afterwards. I had already looked at this option but decided against it b/c of the minimums and fees however now I am curious b/c you said you had no minimums. Here is what it says on my area's AAA website...is it the same card you used?


The minimum card load is $250, the minimum order is $300, maximum order $1,500
There is an activation fee of $4.95.
Reloads are $250 minimum by calling (866) 339 3378 or online at www.aaa.com/prepaid cards.
A second card can be taken for a fee of $2.00
Card cash out fee is $15
Card life is 24 months, an optional monthly statement can be ordered for $0.50 per month, Inquiries by phone are $0.50 each, there is a $1.25 monthly maintenance fee after 12 months of inactivity. No fee for ATM balance inquiries.
Online balance inquiries are free at www.aaa.com/prepaidcards
Cash advance fee (in-bank) $10, $350 limit per advance
ATM withdrawals in the US are subject to daily and weekly maximum amounts of $350 a day and $850 a week, maximum international withdrawal $2000 per 24 hour period.
ATM withdrawal fee: Domestic: $2.50 International: $2.00
Reload fee: Free (maximum of 3 reloads per card life)

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Travelers checks through AAA are free, so I would get those before I got a Visa pre-paid card. Or we could just use our debit card.

If we come home with money left on the Disney gift card we will have a head start on the December trip! So really, I think I will just add money each week to the card I bought yesterday and when we get back from the August trip I will start adding to it again for December.

Of course I don't actually believe I will come back from the August trip with money still on that card.