Pre-Apply gift cards to room?

[Marshmelo]

We are staying at POR next month and I was wondering if it’s possible to give them gift cards at check in so that our daily magic band charges will be paid with the gift cards and not the credit card on file? Or would we have to go to the desk every day to pay charges with gift cards?

 

[Dug720]

No. You can go every day or so and pay down - or just use the gift cards for purchase. But they will not let you “buy credit”.

I have tried. I just opted to pay with my gift card. No big deal.

 

[Pmm_]

We wanted to do this same thing last year and, unfortunately, couldn't. What we ended up doing was just using the gift cards to pay for things until they run out, then switched over to Magic Band payments. The other option is to just go down every morning and pay yesterday's balance with gift cards.

Note: for your last day you'll need to go there in the evening the night before checking out. Otherwise they may charge your credit card early in the AM before you're able to go square up with them.

 

[maxiesmom]

You don't have to go down every day to pay your balance. Just do it before you hit your resort's limit.

 

[Dean Marino]

Worth noting WHY this happened - vs previous years?
WDW is not being evil . What they discovered was that folks would Pre-Pay too MUCH - and they had no practical way to RETURN "too much money" to either a Gift Card, OR a "Chase Disney VISA Rewards Card" (yup - their own branded "Gift Card"). This was why we dumped the "Chase Disney VISA Rewards Card" in favor of a 1.5% CASH BACK ""Chase Freedom Unlimited Card". No hoops, no running to the desk, it just works.

 

[verleniahall]

You e never been able to have a credit on ur account

 

[Deb & Bill]

Worth noting WHY this happened - vs previous years?
WDW is not being evil . What they discovered was that folks would Pre-Pay too MUCH - and they had no practical way to RETURN "too much money" to either a Gift Card, OR a "Chase Disney VISA Rewards Card" (yup - their own branded "Gift Card"). This was why we dumped the "Chase Disney VISA Rewards Card" in favor of a 1.5% CASH BACK ""Chase Freedom Unlimited Card". No hoops, no running to the desk, it just works.

When we get a large amount on our Chase Rewards Card, we just use it to pay down whatever we have already spent. It was never a credit to our account.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Worth noting WHY this happened - vs previous years?
WDW is not being evil . What they discovered was that folks would Pre-Pay too MUCH - and they had no practical way to RETURN "too much money" to either a Gift Card, OR a "Chase Disney VISA Rewards Card" (yup - their own branded "Gift Card"). This was why we dumped the "Chase Disney VISA Rewards Card" in favor of a 1.5% CASH BACK ""Chase Freedom Unlimited Card". No hoops, no running to the desk, it just works.

I was able to get the BRV concierge to putgift cards on my account, but he warned strongly about inability to refund, and also realized that our ADRs would easily cover. But he is awesome and your results may vary with other CMs.

 

[Dug720]

You e never been able to have a credit on ur account

If someone has cruised a lot, they are accustomed to being able to either buy "on board credit" ahead or put money on the account on boarding. Disney Cruise Line can in fact put a credit on your account using gift card(s) - and refund the unused portion to the gift card(s) so they remind you to hold onto the card(s). I do it every cruise on DCL - so yes, it was surprising to me the first time I asked upon checking in to a WDW resort that they could not because they "can't refund the money". Clearly it's a different system than their cruise line.

 

[GiJohnsGirl]

It's also something they're not supposed to do and FD is not trained in how to do it. It's at your own risk or if you catch someone who has been there forever on a good day.

 

[Marshmelo]

You don't have to go down every day to pay your balance. Just do it before you hit your resort's limit.

So each resort has a different limit? Does anyone know what POR is?

 

[Dave006]

The resort charge limit is currently $1,500 for the Value Resort Hotels and Moderate Resort Hotels and $2,000 for the Deluxe Resort Hotels and Deluxe Villas. Once you get close to reaching this limit, the balance of all the items that have been charged to your room up to that point will be placed on the credit card you have on file.

Your room charge balance will then restart at $0. Make sure to check with the front desk of your desk when you check in, as limits are subject to change!

Dave