OT: Disney Gift Cards and Room Charges

[Schachteles]

Ok, this is our first time coming up staying at a Disney resort where you can have room charges. I have accumulated about $1800 in Disney gift cards thanks to SR, DBP and CD...but now how does that work to apply that to the room charges? We were hoping to just charge everything to the room and then have the GCs pay that balance off.

Also, we are staying at POR, so I know we have a $1000 charge limit, when we check in and give them our credit card are they going to put a hold on the card??

I am just getting nervous that I will have to give them a credit card (the one we use is linked to our checking account) and they will put a $1000 hold on it and then we will bounce a check at home or something. I am just trying to figure this out, I hope I am not being to vague.

THANKS for any tips!!

 

[cglaura]

You don't have to give them a cc when you check in. You can give them cash or gift cards if you want. Then you just "work off" that balance when you charge w/ your room card. The only thing is I'm not sure if there is a limit to how many gift cards you can apply at one time. You could probably call Disney and ask about their policy if someone doesn't come in w/ an answer.

Actually you don't have to put anything at all unless you want the conveniece of just carrying your room card.

When I was there last time I gave them 2 travelers checks to put on my room, then when I checked out they gave me back what I didn't use.

ETA: That's an impressive amout of GC you rec'd....congrats!

 

[Schachteles]

Ok, hopefully they won't have a huge limit, I have more then my share of $25 and $50 cards.

 

[bartleby1]

We took a trip to POR for 12 nights in August and paid the entire room with gift cards at check-in (with the exception of our one night deposit that was previously charged on our disney visa). I believe we used two $500 cards and 14 $25 cards - so it doesn't appear that there is a limit. We didn't charge anything to our room, so I can't help you there. We just used the rest of our gift cards for meals, souvies, snacks, stroller rental, etc.

Be prepared for possibly a long checkin wait. The CM checking us in messed up and charged the cards to the wrong room at first, then needed to fix it, then went in the back to verify all of my gift cards, then got a manager, etc, etc, etc, well, you get the picture. We stood at the checkin desk for an hour while he straightened it all out. Hopefully, you will not have the same experience! We may have just had a clueless CM?

 

[azgal81]

I applied gift cards to my room fairly recently at POR a couple of weeks ago. It was fairly simple but it did take forever because the CM had to enter each one in one by one and select that it was a gift card. Some gift cards would not scan in the credit card thing so he had to enter the number by hand which took awhile. It wasn't his fault though the system was just wacky I had about 25 gift cards lol poor guy I felt bad but he was cool about it he asked me how I got so many so I told him about reward programs and wrote down the links for him to check out.

I asked him if there was a limit to how many gift cards I could use because I was curious and trying to make conversation since it was such a long process and he said no. So I don't think there is you should be fine.

 

[Schachteles]

I applied gift cards to my room fairly recently at POR a couple of weeks ago. It was fairly simple but it did take forever because the CM had to enter each one in one by one and select that it was a gift card. Some gift cards would not scan in the credit card thing so he had to enter the number by hand which took awhile. It wasn't his fault though the system was just wacky I had about 25 gift cards lol poor guy I felt bad but he was cool about it he asked me how I got so many so I told him about reward programs and wrote down the links for him to check out.

I asked him if there was a limit to how many gift cards I could use because I was curious and trying to make conversation since it was such a long process and he said no. So I don't think there is you should be fine.

AWESOME, so now I can apply like $1000 at check in, what would happen if you didn't spend all of it? I am sure it won't be a problem spending that much and MORE.

 

[~Kathie]

AWESOME, so now I can apply like $1000 at check in, what would happen if you didn't spend all of it? I am sure it won't be a problem spending that much and MORE.

I would think they would credit any leftover back to the original form of payment so make sure you get those used GC's back. I would check with them to be sure. You can always call the 800 on the back of the gift card and ask. There is an option to speak to someone if you just wait for all the instructions.

There is also a website with FAQ. disneygiftcard.com

I had an issue with one of my gift cards and when I called, the gentleman was very helpful. He reserached the transactions with the dates for me to let me know exactly where each transaction was. Turns out it was my mistake, and he was so pleasant and helpful.....made me feel like less of an idiot.

Keep in mind you can use your gift cards all over WDW. We even used them at the cart to buy icecream.

Have a great time!!!

 

[3darlings]

We also used GCs to pay for our room bill. But, like the other posters mentioned, it does take quite awhile. I had alot of smaller ones from the same type sites as you. It seemed to take forever to do so many. The CM did seem alittle clueless. My kids got very restless. So now I try to make sure I get GC in higher denominations - it makes things much easier. I second the congratulations on accumulating so many. I will have about $ 850when we go at the end of Oct. They do go fast, however, once you are there.

 

[wdwdreamin]

As long as we're on this subject--can the Disney Visa Rewards Card be applied in the same way?

 

[TwoOwls]

Yup, I just (well last week) applied my Rewards Card to my room account. There was no problem at all.

 

[lilstint]

Someone posted (not too long ago yet I cannot seem to find the post now) about taking your GC's to a Disney store and consolidating them. I would much prefer to visit the store on a quiet weekday morning, than hold up the line at checkin. I always checkin for President's week which is a real busy time. Does anyone remember this??

 

[chocovrdmicears]

You can also pay for your room over the phone with the Gift Cards. We did it ourselves about a month ago. It did take a LONG time because we had a bunch too...But it was only my husband who had to sit on the phone for a while so it didn't bother me much! Then you wouldn't have to carry so many actual cards with you.

As far as I know you cannot consolidate them into 1 card. We went to the Disney Store and asked but they wouldn't/couldn't do it.
You can convert Disney Dollars to gift cards and apply them to you room ressies over the phone. But you can't buy Disney Dollars with Gift Cards.

Also ~ If for some reason you need to receive a refund make sure you save the actual gift cards! The only way to get credit back is for them to re-apply the $$ to the gift card. And it takes a about 5-7 days for the credit to issue.

HTH! And congratulations on earning so much!

 

[LorieR]

You can also pay for your room over the phone with the Gift Cards. We did it ourselves about a month ago. It did take a LONG time because we had a bunch too...But it was only my husband who had to sit on the phone for a while so it didn't bother me much! Then you wouldn't have to carry so many actual cards with you.

You can apply them over the phone to room-only reservations? I have seen people talk about applying them to packages but never just rooms so that is good to hear!! Last November we applied about 4 gift cards and a Disney Visa Rewards card at check-in and that took quite a while!! This year I have over $1400 in gift cards so far in addition to my rewards card so it would be great to be able to apply some or all of the cards before we arrive!!

 

[chocovrdmicears]

You can apply them over the phone to room-only reservations? I have seen people talk about applying them to packages but never just rooms so that is good to hear!!

OK ~ Wait! Now I have to change my post!! I am so sorry! In thinking about it we originally had a room only reservation. About a week before we left we upgraded it to a package and that is when we used all our Disney GC to pay it off. I hadn't thought that it was because we were now paying off a package rather than our room only! Yikes! Don't listen to me! You may very well be correct in saying that you can't pay off room-only with GC over the phone...it very well may be package only. I can't say for sure! Sorry for the possible mis-information!

 

[TwoOwls]

You can use it to apply to room only, but your first night has to be put on the credit card (the initial nights deposit), everything else you can pay off with gc , rewards cards, cash, your first born.

 

[connie254]

Ok, this is our first time coming up staying at a Disney resort where you can have room charges. I have accumulated about $1800 in Disney gift cards thanks to SR, DBP and CD...but now how does that work to apply that to the room charges? We were hoping to just charge everything to the room and then have the GCs pay that balance off.

What's DBP and CD?

 

[azgal81]

What's DBP and CD?

DBP = www.dealbarbiepays.com
CD= www.cashduck.com

Those are just two more rewards programs. Cash duck closed though but it will be back up in mid October. Both excellent programs.

 

[budbeerlady]

I also have used my gift cards to get our MNSSHP tickets! We just use them in the park so I know how much I have left, Dh can get alittle outa hand with all of his non-shopping bag carrying that he does for me.

 

[cglaura]

You can use it to apply to room only, but your first night has to be put on the credit card (the initial nights deposit), everything else you can pay off with gc , rewards cards, cash, your first born.

I used my disney gc when I made my room only reservation. I made it on the phone, and used a AAA discount. It was a $100 gc and I just applied the whole thing. I've paid off a little at a time as I get more gc, never had to give a cc at all. I did this in July 07, so not sure if the policy has changed since then. HTH!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I have a question that I hope someone can answer. I have earned quite a few gift cards as well. I wanted to put aboput 800.00 in gift cards down on my room charge. Our limit is 1500. I do not want to charge 1500. Can I put down an amount below the limit?