Prepurchasing gift cards to use @ WDW & Downtown Disney

[Maddie2]

We are not doing the Disney Meal Plan for our upcoming trip, but I would like to have our meals prepaid. So, I've decided to get a bunch of gift cards before we go. I will buy mostly Disney gift cards for meals and snacks in the parks and at our resort, but what other gift cards would be valid on property and at DTD?

Can you use Rainforest gift cards at AK?

Can you use Starbucks gift cards on property? I know the Main Street Bakery at MK is Starbucks. Can Starbucks gc be used there? Other locations?

Any others?

Thank you!

 

[HappyHappy]

I have used my Starbucks gift card at all Starbucks on property. There is a Starbucks at each park and 2 at Disney Springs, one large, one small. The only thing I couldn't do was use a promo for a free breakfast sandwich in MK that came up on my phone app one day. They told me it would only be honored at the large Disney Springs location.

 

[MinMou]

You can use Landry's cards at T-Rex, Yak and Yeti and at Rainforest Cafe. More ways to save money at these restaurants here: http://www.couponingtodisney.com/di...s-select-club-get-25-off-your-birthday-month/

 

[Maddie2]

I have used my Starbucks gift card at all Starbucks on property. There is a Starbucks at each park and 2 at Disney Springs, one large, one small. The only thing I couldn't do was use a promo for a free breakfast sandwich in MK that came up on my phone app one day. They told me it would only be honored at the large Disney Springs location.

This is probably a dumb question, but can you only buy Starbucks products at these locations, or Disney Parks food items too? For instance, all the yummy baked goods at Main Street Bakery, breakfast items, etc. We are not coffee drinkers, but like the Disney treats and snacks some of these type places have.

 

[Maddie2]

You can use Landry's cards at T-Rex, Yak and Yeti and at Rainforest Cafe. More ways to save money at these restaurants here: http://www.couponingtodisney.com/di...s-select-club-get-25-off-your-birthday-month/

Thanks for the tip!

 

[momto4obkids]

This is probably a dumb question, but can you only buy Starbucks products at these locations, or Disney Parks food items too? For instance, all the yummy baked goods at Main Street Bakery, breakfast items, etc. We are not coffee drinkers, but like the Disney treats and snacks some of these type places have.

You can buy anything! We bought cupcakes most of the time, lol.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Are you staying on property? If so buy almost all Disney gift cards and just charge all of your meals back to your room. Then you can pay it all including tips with your gift cards. Just pay it off at least the night before check out.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

You can also use gift cards for House of Blues at Disney Springs, & Shula's Steakhouse in the boardwalk area.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

The Starbucks at Disney Springs is also serving light dinners!

 

[Bree]

Are you staying on property? If so buy almost all Disney gift cards and just charge all of your meals back to your room. Then you can pay it all including tips with your gift cards. Just pay it off at least the night before check out.

Make sure you have a backup payment. Our magic bands kept resetting to no charging privileges last weekend.

 

[kool_kat]

I would also just go the Disney gift card route. That's what we did for my last trip a couple of weeks ago. 100% of what we bought in parks, at resorts, and at DTD we could use gift cards for. If there is a specific place you know you want to eat at DTD, look up there number and give them a call to verify they take Disney gift cards. I believe all restaurants that are on the Disney dining plan do take Disney gift cards as well. (In case you aren't staying on property or don't want to charge it to your room).

 

[Halle]

You can also use gift cards for House of Blues at Disney Springs, & Shula's Steakhouse in the boardwalk area.

Shula's and Todd English's Blue Zoo did not accept Disney Gift cards in November 2015

 

[Maddie2]

Thank you all for your words of wisdom. I just went on the Sam's website and bought a bunch of Disney gift cards and a few Starbucks cards (all at a discount, nice!). If we don't use the Starbucks, they are nice to have at home too. We are staying on property and in the past, before wristbands and we had the Keys to the Kingdom cards, we never did charge back to the room. Maybe it's just me, but for some reason I feel like it would be too easy to just keep charging and not keep a running total of what we've spent. I'd rather hand over the gift card and SEE right then and there what we have left. I know phone apps probably do that too, but I just would rather not do that. There are 4 of us and we will all have better accountability with the cards.

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

Another option is to get a pre-paid Visa card and load it with whatever amount you feel you need. This would be accepted anywhere.

 

[Marionnette]

Thank you all for your words of wisdom. I just went on the Sam's website and bought a bunch of Disney gift cards and a few Starbucks cards (all at a discount, nice!). If we don't use the Starbucks, they are nice to have at home too. We are staying on property and in the past, before wristbands and we had the Keys to the Kingdom cards, we never did charge back to the room. Maybe it's just me, but for some reason I feel like it would be too easy to just keep charging and not keep a running total of what we've spent. I'd rather hand over the gift card and SEE right then and there what we have left. I know phone apps probably do that too, but I just would rather not do that. There are 4 of us and we will all have better accountability with the cards.

That's why they make it so easy to scan your Magic Band and enter a PIN. People who use plastic instead of cash tend to spend more money and Disney know this. They are masters at separating you from your money!

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Shula's and Todd English's Blue Zoo did not accept Disney Gift cards in November 2015

I didn't mean Disney Gift cards...I meant Shula's gift cards! They can certainly be used.

 

[QVCshopper]

Thank you all for your words of wisdom. I just went on the Sam's website and bought a bunch of Disney gift cards and a few Starbucks cards (all at a discount, nice!). If we don't use the Starbucks, they are nice to have at home too. We are staying on property and in the past, before wristbands and we had the Keys to the Kingdom cards, we never did charge back to the room. Maybe it's just me, but for some reason I feel like it would be too easy to just keep charging and not keep a running total of what we've spent. I'd rather hand over the gift card and SEE right then and there what we have left. I know phone apps probably do that too, but I just would rather not do that. There are 4 of us and we will all have better accountability with the cards.

You can have the hotel desk print out your magic band charges every couple of days. Our last trip, I was actually surprised by how little we had spent--in my mind, it was at least $100-200 more, but we have pretty high will power when it comes to spending money, even in Disney. Or, keep a pile of receipts.

 

[Halle]

I didn't mean Disney Gift cards...I meant Shula's gift cards! They can certainly be used.

My apologies , I didn't realize you meant Shula's gift cards.