Parking Payment with Gift card?

[jlj1110]

This is the first time we are renting a car in Orlando. Does anyone know if you can use Disney gift cards to pay for parking at the parks? Also, any advice from people that park at the parks? We will be there starting this Sunday for a week.

Thanks!

 

[TandEsMommy]

I was wondering the same thing yesterday so I called.

The CM I got put me on hold for a few minutes and when she came back said no, they only accept cash and credit cards.

While I was on hold I Googled...and found a thread here on the DIS where someone posted that they worked at the parking area (I forget the terminology now) and had been able to accept the GCs since they started accepting CCs.

I called back this morning and asked another CM. He put me on hold, and when he came back said he called Central Guest Services, who called MK Guest Services, who called the Traffic Head (?) who said yes, they do take gift cards to pay for parking.

So the answer is yes, at least at MK.

 

[jlj1110]

Great...thank you so much!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Trust me.. you want to pay cash!

yes they CAN take other payment methods. But.... they do it so rarely that... you wait and wait and wait. (and sometimes the cars behind you act very "unDisney") The CMs really don't know what they are doing on this based on what I have seen LOL!

 

[Alexander]

Trust me.. you want to pay cash!

yes they CAN take other payment methods. But.... they do it so rarely that... you wait and wait and wait. (and sometimes the cars behind you act very "unDisney") The CMs really don't know what they are doing on this based on what I have seen LOL!

Please, please, please pay cash and have it ready when you arrive at the booth. This is for the sake of not only you but also the people waiting behind you to park. It makes me crazy when people arrive at the booth and act surprised they need to pay to park (gee, what a good idea to put up signs--wait they did) and then dig around to get their money out, and then ask questions. Meanwhile the line behind said "slow person" is getting longer and more frustrated.

 

[jlj1110]

Good to know...I will have my cash ready and save the gift cards for inside the park! I don't want to be "that guy".

 

[wgeo]

we used a credit card everytime and there was never any problems or any slowness at all, maybe we were just lucky?!?

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

we used a credit card everytime and there was never any problems or any slowness at all, maybe we were just lucky?!?

Maybe it's improved, but I once sat across from a car that was paying by card. It was actually rather comical... first they hand CM the card, she goes into booth and does something... (no idea what) ... she then picks up phone and calls someone, goes back to car and says something, someone else shows up.. The two of them go into DEEP discussions and finally after the discussions figure out how to ring up a charge. In the mean time the guy about three cars back of me is LAYING on his horn. The girl finally finishes that car (by now there are a few other honks, but "el jerko" is NOT moving his hand he is DETERMINED HOOOOONK. Girl gets flustred and does the car behind the card payor instead of me. (I am sure this sent El Jerko over the edge LOL!) Then she does me. I have had enough of El Jerko so I make sure to drive off VERY slowly (I figured it really didnt matter, but my experience with this type is that they think you peel out so...)

I have seen a few other back ups but this was epic (And it was this past December so not that long ago)

 

[Hannathy]

Please, please, please pay cash and have it ready when you arrive at the booth. This is for the sake of not only you but also the people waiting behind you to park. It makes me crazy when people arrive at the booth and act surprised they need to pay to park (gee, what a good idea to put up signs--wait they did) and then dig around to get their money out, and then ask questions. Meanwhile the line behind said "slow person" is getting longer and more frustrated.

Yes please!!! This drives me crazy, and I always get behind someone that acts like this.

How hard is it to take cash for parking.

 

[andrews_dad]

I don't pay for parking due to Annual Pass, but if I did I would use CC or GC. $14 a day adds up fast and I like to charge everything to get back points on the CC rewards. Firstly, I would not want to have hundreds in cash to think about in my pocket in the parks. Also, I'd hate to leave CC points on the table because I used cash. Plus, if you used Target to get gift cards at 5% off or almost 10% off with your Pharmacy rewards, then by all means use it at the parking gate and save that money!! I used GC my whole trip this time down.. June 14-24. Found it was super easy everywhere from little carts selling ice cream to Downtown Diz to the merch shops in the parks. Not a single person ever was slowed down by them!

 

[Alexander]

I don't pay for parking due to Annual Pass, but if I did I would use CC or GC. $14 a day adds up fast and I like to charge everything to get back points on the CC rewards. Firstly, I would not want to have hundreds in cash to think about in my pocket in the parks. Also, I'd hate to leave CC points on the table because I used cash. Plus, if you used Target to get gift cards at 5% off or almost 10% off with your Pharmacy rewards, then by all means use it at the parking gate and save that money!! I used GC my whole trip this time down.. June 14-24. Found it was super easy everywhere from little carts selling ice cream to Downtown Diz to the merch shops in the parks. Not a single person ever was slowed down by them!

 

[andrews_dad]

Why the question? I never have more than $20-40 cash in my pocket at a given time. With CC bonuses or (in this case) Gift Card deals, I think you are losing money when using cash and never use cash .... even for $1 charge at McDonalds, I use my credit card to get my mile. ....plus I see it as a security risk to carry lots of money. Someone sees you have a wad of $20's in your pocket when you pay for a water and you are a target.

 

[Hannathy]

You do realize that you are actually paying more for things because of all the people using CC for a few dollar items? it costs the stores and Disney so they just add it on. Especially for the $1 items.

I also don't get the why you would have to have hundreds in your pocket to pay for $14 at the gate for parking.


Plus it is just courteous to do at the parking gate, or maybe Disney should start having cash only booths so those wanting to hold up the line could be together.

 

[andrews_dad]

You do realize that you are actually paying more for things because of all the people using CC for a few dollar items? it costs the stores and Disney so they just add it on. Especially for the $1 items.

I also don't get the why you would have to have hundreds in your pocket to pay for $14 at the gate for parking.


Plus it is just courteous to do at the parking gate, or maybe Disney should start having cash only booths so those wanting to hold up the line could be together.

I have an Disney AP so I don't do either, but do the Math.. my last trip June 13-24, I visited 10 parks... $14 a day is $140 in the pocket. Unless you think I hit the ATM daily and add a $2.50 fee each day?

I had my wallet pick pocketed on the NYC subway once, lost my wallet in a cab, had wallet stolen while I thought I had it "hidden" in my stuff as I was in the water at Ocean City, and have witnessed muggings. Carrying cash really is not needed and not advised in my mind.

 

[Hannathy]

I have an Disney AP so I don't do either, but do the Math.. my last trip June 13-24, I visited 10 parks... $14 a day is $140 in the pocket. Unless you think I hit the ATM daily and add a $2.50 fee each day?

I had my wallet pick pocketed on the NYC subway once, lost my wallet in a cab, had wallet stolen while I thought I had it "hidden" in my stuff as I was in the water at Ocean City, and have witnessed muggings. Carrying cash really is not needed and not advised in my mind.

Why do you have to carry it all with you all the time?

leave it in the room safe and take out some each morning.

 

[Ed J]

Why do you have to carry it all with you all the time?

leave it in the room safe and take out some each morning.

You should marry him, you seem to want to control him so much .

Paper or plastic, never saw a difference in how long it takes to pay for parking.