Question - unique spending ideas???

[loonertic]

I saw a similar thread regarding different types of payments accepted in the World, but I wanted to ask something a bit more specific. We are staying at the Swan and we know we cannot charge to our room. Ideally I wanted to put some $$$ up front and use a card in the parks and at resturants, and once the $$$ started depleating we knew to regulate our spending. This way we know our limits and spending cannot get out of control. Any suggestions? Pre-payed credit card, and if so which is the best? Can you frequently and eaisly chech balances? Need something accepted EVERYWHERE in Disney. Thanks in advance!

 

[Disney_1derland]

Instead of putting our Disney money into our regular savings account we transfer it out of our checking and into a Paypal account. We have a paypal debit Mastercard (no fees unless you withdraw cash at an atm) that works as a credit card. You can use it until your paypal balance is depleted. There are no charges to get a paypal account and there are no charges to transfer money back and forth from/to your checking account. I think this is one of the best kept secrets. People who use ebay frequently generally know how to use paypal, but other people have no idea what a valuable resource it is. Also, with certain paypal accounts you even get a tiny bit of interest, every penny counts! (especially if you're me and you're out there pressing those pennies at the World!)

Pay no attention to the outdated trip counter below......we return November 5, 2004!

 

[FeePeeDisney]

I agree with Disney 1derland, the paypal MC is the way to go. I also won a $50 Visa gift card at a company party, and I have added funds from my checking account to my Visa balance. You can always do a search for Visa or MC gift cards if you want to use those, or sign up with paypal. I usually have a card and carry a small amount of cash or Disney Dollars, and I find that that works best when trying to maintain your budget.

Happy trip!

• '96- Dixie Landings, All Star Sports
• '97- Coronado Springs - Grad Trip
• '99- BoardWalk Villas
• '00- BWV (May), Disney Institute (Oct)
• '01- BWV
• '02- BWV
• '03- Polynesian (May), BWV (Sept)
• '04 - Port Orleans Riverside (May), Saratoga Springs (Sept)

 

[loonertic]

Very nice idea! I am already a pay pal user, however i am not familiar with the debit card they offer, i will have to check it out. I just like the idea of having something pre-determined to spend so your not always wondering "how much money did we spend?" Instead you allot yourself an amount and spend freely untill its gone With the pay pal debit, can you check balances eaisly? And I also wanted to surprise my girlfriend with a some type of spending card, any ideas? Visa gift card?

One last thing, travelers checks and Disney dollars... when you pay with either and there is change what type of change do they give you?
Travelers Checks - cash?
Disney dollars - more Disney dollars or cash?

 

[ABCMom]

I can't help you with the paypal questions but I am fairly sure that with both disney dollars and traverlers checks, if you are owed any change you will recieve it in cash.

 

[loonertic]

Thanks ABCmom! I actually did some pay pal research and I LOVE the idea of loading up your pay pal account and using their debit card. Its so easy to sneak $$$ in the account here and there for the trip. Not to mention the fact that if you NEED cash you can use it at an ATM in addition to point of sale purchases. Question though for Disney_1derland and FeePeeDisney - the debit has a MasterCard Logo, not a Visa and I know Visa is Disney preferred, were you able to use it all over? Also, to the best of your knowledge - do all the stands and food carts take credit cards, or are they strictly cash? Thanks for all the insite so far, Pay Pal... great idea!!!

 

[Disney_1derland]

Disney takes MC everywhere in in the parks though the smaller stands and stuff to my knowledge are still cash/disney dollars only. All the counter service places take CC's and so do all the shops.

 

[loonertic]

Ok cool, just wanted to be sure the MasterCard would be good to go. I figured small stands and vendors of that nature would be cash only. I would imagine that the resturants like "Casey's Hotdogs" in MK and other walk-up food services take credit cards too - and thats really where we will be spending in the parks - food and gifts! Thanks again!

 

[ssgtwife]

Loonertic-

I read recently SOMEWHERE on these boards (Lord knows I have jumped around from board to board!! ), but I do recall that someone has just returned from Disney, and they said that the Kiosks in the parks now have portable credit card machines, and so you CAN use your debit card there!

I have the PayPal Mastercard, and I have NEVER had any problems using it ANYWHERE!! It's wonderful!

Hope this helps!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[disneygoof]

I hope I'm not repeating info that I skimmed past, but I recently stayed at the Swan and couldn't charge dinner at Tony's Town Square to the room account. I was never sure where "official" began and ended, but we also could not confirm our priority seating for Hoop Dee Doo at Swan guest services, and when we had a problem with reservations (double booked, we had canceled a res and it wasn't deleted from WDW Dine system) I had to spend time on my cell phone playing phone tag with WDW dine. Boy would I have loved to stop by and have a quick conversation with a person at guest services and then go on and forget about it until I returned that night!

Still, the Swan was beautiful, we used Starwood points so it was free, and I wouldn't change my reservation in hindsight. Before I stay there again, however, I will get clarification on what services Disney resorts offer that they don't.

-DG