Paying Dues with Gift Cards

[Nikki G]

I have read that you can pay your dues with gift cards and I wanted to try to determine the best way to do so. We just closed on our DVC point package (hurray!) so are brand spanking new at all of this. I want to try to take advantage of the various Target and Sams Club discounts on Disney Gift Cards to save a little money. Now, based on the research I've done, it seems I can either create a Disney Vacation Account and consolidate the cards there, or go directly to the Disney Gift Cards website and do it there. First I wanted to verify from people who've done it that these are both viable options. Next, I wanted to get people's take on which would be the best method. I'm sure each site has it's own pros and cons. Thanks!

 

[Marionnette]

I have read that you can pay your dues with gift cards and I wanted to try to determine the best way to do so. We just closed on our DVC point package (hurray!) so are brand spanking new at all of this. I want to try to take advantage of the various Target and Sams Club discounts on Disney Gift Cards to save a little money. Now, based on the research I've done, it seems I can either create a Disney Vacation Account and consolidate the cards there, or go directly to the Disney Gift Cards website and do it there. First I wanted to verify from people who've done it that these are both viable options. Next, I wanted to get people's take on which would be the best method. I'm sure each site has it's own pros and cons. Thanks!

Congratulations and Welcome Home!

I've used both methods and like all of the Disney websites, both the DVA and the disneygiftcard.com website have been extremely glitchy. The DVA was offering a $20 GC for every $1K in qualifying spending up until 12/31/2017 but the account has got to be open for 120 days before any spending qualifies for that bonus. If you have not opened a DVA, it may not be worth doing it for the bonus GC. However, the DVA allows you to depost all of your GCs into a single account while the disneygiftcard.com website will only allow you to transfer up to a total amount of $1K onto a single GC. IIRC, you are limited to a maximum of 5 GCs when calling Member Accounting to pay your dues. If your MFs exceed that amount ($5K), you have my admiration! That represents a lot of points!

 

[Nikki G]

Ha! I am no where near needing $5K for my MFs! I had been leaning towards DVA and then also using it to consolidate all the gift cards we are trying to acquire to help pay for the trips themselves. I'm not surprised to hear there are glitches on both of the websites, that seems to be the Disney way.

So for actually paying the dues I would need to call and have them applied by a cast member at member accounting? I'm hoping that some of this is clear when we finally get our membership packet, though I've found that Disney can be quite vague with just about everything, so I'm trying to figure out as much as I can so I can plan accordingly.

 

[supersnoop]

Keep in mind that a DVA account can only be used for trip expenses paid in advance, not for anything you pay onsite. So, you could use it for the dining plan and tickets, but not for any sort of ticket upgrade, dining, or other expenses charged to your room. Since the largest expense for most people is the room, a DVA doesn't make much sense for DVC owners. And since you expressed interest in saving money, I think it's unlikely you'd be buying tickets directly from Disney.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

You can't use a gift card to pay dues online; you have to call.

You can now pay your dues online with a disney giftcard. I did it for this year's dues. I think it was a recent change though.

 

[disneynutz]

You can now pay your dues online with a disney giftcard. I did it for this year's dues. I think it was a recent change though.

Same here, we have used gift cards and our DVA account to pay our dues.

Bill

 

[supersnoop]

You can now pay your dues online with a disney giftcard. I did it for this year's dues. I think it was a recent change though.

You're right! I think that was new last year. Sorry for the outdated info.

 

[Nikki G]

Keep in mind that a DVA account can only be used for trip expenses paid in advance, not for anything you pay onsite. So, you could use it for the dining plan and tickets, but not for any sort of ticket upgrade, dining, or other expenses charged to your room. Since the largest expense for most people is the room, a DVA doesn't make much sense for DVC owners. And since you expressed interest in saving money, I think it's unlikely you'd be buying tickets directly from Disney.

I'm thinking specifically for the dining plan. Going completely against our desire to save money, we love the ease of the dining plan. So my general plan was to use the account to pay dues, then use whatever else I have in there towards the dining plan. I was not thinking to use it for on site expenses during the trip, unless I had some physical gift cards on hand.

Thanks everyone for all the input. At least I know I'm looking at things the right way. I have to say a lot of this process has been as clear as mud.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Yes, combining Disney gift cards on the Disney gift card site and paying dues with them is really easy and convenient. I agree with supersnoop about the DVA, but others have varying opinions. You pay the dues in Jan, so you have time to set up and fund what you need to. Target has had a sale in Dec the last 2 years, I think it may have been a coupon in the circular. It was 10% off a Target gift card up to max $300. (So $300 for $270. Then use the Target gift card to buy a Disney gift card. That kind of info will pop up on the budget board around Black Friday. Otherwise, the 5% off with the Target card is available year round.
Enjoy your new membership. It is all very exciting, isn't it? And keep reading these boards. You will learn so much more than you could ever imagine.

 

[Eastcoast02]

If I pay by contract in advance for 2018 online, select gift card and put in the DVA number does it go through? Then are you able to redeem the $20 giftcard for spending the 1k thru DVA?

 

[Phatscott25]

Yes it will go through and yes you will get the $20 gift card per $1000 spend. This is in contrast to what it says on the DVA site but it does in fact work. Between last year's dues and prepaying this year's so far I've received $100 worth. Not too bad considering it was funded by gift cards that were discounted to begin with.

 

[Nikki G]

Does DVA do this deal every year to earn the $20 gift cards? I won't be able to capitalize on it this year, but maybe next year I could.

 

[DebbieB]

The last two years I bought gift cards when my grocery store had fuel perks promotions. Last year I got 3 free tanks of gas. Plus I buy them with my Southwest credit card and get SW points.

 

[Phatscott25]

Does DVA do this deal every year to earn the $20 gift cards? I won't be able to capitalize on it this year, but maybe next year I could.

According to the terms on their site it will end on December 31st. Hopefully they extend it.

 

[Marionnette]

According to the terms on their site it will end on December 31st. Hopefully they extend it.

Looks like instead of extending the bonus offer, they're discontinuing the DVA completely.

 

[Matty B13]

Closing account by 9/27/2017.

 

[Eastcoast02]

Go figure. I had $400 in my account from cycling gift cards through raise and target. Just redeemed the balance for $420 which is great that it will save me the hassle from adding more gift cards, making the dues payment, and requesting the bonus....but obviously losing the long term benefit of this perk.
Sigh.
One less thing to keep my life complicated. So I guess that's the silver lining in this.

 

[disneynutz]

The program is over as we know it. You can take a 5% bonus and get issued $2000 e-gift cards or book a discounted WDW stay to clean out your account.

Bill

 

[Nikki G]

Well I guess this makes my decision of which service to use easier...too bad I was leaning toward DVA. Oh well. As long as I can pay with gift cards in one way or another I don't care.

 

[kristenrice]

I have my gift cards listed in my Disney Gift Card "account". One of them is named "DVC Dues", another is labeled "Family Trips" and another is labeled "Solo Trips". When ever I add a gift card, I transfer it to the appropriate card, depending on what it will be used for. Last year, our dues were just over $1K so I just had a separate card on hand, but eventually, I will add a "DVC Dues #2" card to the account. This is my "dining plan"...everything is pre-paid and if there are leftovers, they simply roll over to the next trip or I can transfer them to another card.