OOP options? Disney gift cards?

[MiraDawl]

Still debating doing a dining plan or going OOP for two adults. I am reading a lot about individuals using Disney gift cards for their food purchases. How does this work? I am looking for ease on this trip. We want to eat well, but the parks our the main focus, not food. Where can I get a disney gift card (my local disney store closed a few years ago) and does everyone accept these? I don't want to go out of my way to buy a disney card only to find most snack vendors, etc can't process them.

Thanks!!

 

[bicker]

There is nothing easier than charging food to your KTTK (room key). How you pay for your meals (Dining Plan, cash, or applying gift cards to your hotel bill) shouldn't affect that.

 

[disneychic2]

I agree that using your KTTK card can't be beat for simplicity. As for purchasing gift cards, I get them at my local grocery store and I've seen them for sale at Sam's club. You could google it and find where you can get them. DH and I personally always do the dining plan, but still use the KTTK card for tips and extras. Disney goes to great lengths to make spending money quite easy!

 

[Faldred]

The idea behind using gift cards is to have the prepaid convenience of a dining plan, but without the restrictiveness of dealing with plan entitlements. So, as the theory goes, you'd just budget what you want, put it on a gift card, and then use the gift card to pay as you go.

If you don't use it all, well, then I'm sure there's something you can spend the extra money on.

Personally, the idea doesn't appeal to me, because I'd find that since I still have control of the actual dollars and cents, that I'd be thinking "budget" when ordering, rather than just going with what I want at the time. But other people seem to find that this works for them.

As for the type of card to get, a prepaid credit card (actually a debit card) from any of the major issuers (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) would work. Disney gift cards fit the spirit, but then of course, you're committed to spending the money on Disney-related purchases only.

 

[MiraDawl]

Thanks everyone!!! I just figured there must be some benefit to the gift cards! I think we'll just stick to using our room keys and paying the bill at the end of the trip =] One less thing to do before vacation!

 

[hannahdrewmom]

You can also buy giftcards and use them to pay off your balance at the end of the trip. Sometimes schools or other clubs, think Sams, give a good bonus gift when you buy the cards. So I know that some people buy the cards and then use it to pay the end balance before they check out.