question about tipping and buying items with magic bands/gift cards

[slickpoetry]

We have the DDP so we will scan our magic bands when paying for a meal, to deduct the appropriate amount of credits.

My question is about tipping, mainly. I have about $300 of Disney Gift Cards. When doing online check-in I had to identify a credit card to link to my magic band, and set a pin number. But I'd actually like to use up my gift cards before I start charging anything to my credit card.

Should I give the waiter my gift card and say "Take you $xx tip off of this card, please?" That seems awkward.

If I scan my magic band to pay the tip, will it come off that credit card automatically? Or can I set it up with my resort that there will be a single bill at the end of the trip that I can pay with the credit card (More like a "charge it to my room" kind of situation?)

The same thing goes for buying anything in the park. I'd like to just charge all expenses to my room and pay my bill at the end with the gift cards, as opposed to things getting charged to my credit card immediately.

TIA

 

[brooke789]

It gets charged to your card once you reach certain amounts. I believe it's $500 if you're staying value and higher for Moderate or Deluxe.

If you're paying with gift cards I think you want to "load' them onto your account/magic band before hand. Otherwise they may charge your CC before you get them on.

 

[MrPTato]

We go to the front desk every couple days and they will credit the account with the gift cards. If the charge does happen, they can easily fix it to reverse and then apply the gift cards.

 

[Alesia]

Just charge them to your room and pay off the room charge with the gift cards.

 

[Figmentmommy]

When you charge using your magic band it goes on your resort room folio. Nothing is charged directly to your credit card at that time. Your room folio is charged to your credit card once your resort limit is reached - but there has been feedback here and it was my experience personally that it can happen well before you reach your limit. My suggestion would be to use your magic band and then stop at your resort front desk every other day to apply any gift cards to pay down your room folio.

 

[DebbieB]

They will give you a bill just like if you were paying cash. You write in the tip and give it back, then tell them you want to pay with your magic band or gift card. I had some gift cards last month that I consolidated into 1 card. I just used the card rather than fool around with the magic band and resort charge.

 

[bumbershoot]

You can't put the gift cards into your room account up front any longer, but you can pay off charges as you go once you have charges.

Or just charge the tips to the gc. No more awkward than putting it on a cc.