Redeeming Disney Visa reward dollars questions

[sharona]

Looking for your input on redeeming reward dollars. I've never redeemed any and I want to use them for my upcoming May trip. Should I order the full amount that's available to be put on the card to be shipped or is it better/safer to order just $20 and then transfer the remainder when I have the card safely in my hands?

I'm planning on using most of the rewards to pay toward the balance of our reservation - how does that work? Do I give them the card number over the phone? If it's a room only res is it better to wait for check in to give them the card/pay the balance due in person?

Do I need to leave certain minimum balance on the card in order to transfer additional points to it later? I expect some points to post during our trip and want to use them all up since we won't be back to WDW for quite a while.

TIA for your advice/suggestions!

 

[HM]

Once you have purchased a gift card with at least $20 on it, you can transfer any amount to it from your CC reward balance. I would put all of it on the card when I ordered it, since you plan to use them all.
If you have a room only reservation, I'd wait until checking in and pay with your reward card at that time.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I always order my card with only $20 on it. That way if it gets lost in the mail or I misplace it before I need it then it's only $20 I have to worry about recovering. I like to order the card around 2 months before I need it because I like to allow extra time for problems with shipping it (they say it can take I think 6-8 weeks, don't they?). I transfer the money over to my card shortly before I need the money. It can be done in the amount of time it takes to log onto your online account. It really is very simple to transfer the funds to the card once you have the physical card.

 

[DLW8]

As for needing to leave any points on the card to add more later, no, you do not need to do that.

Your card will have an expiration date on it, and even if you have used all the points and want to add more several months later, you can do that.

Just make sure to use all the points before the rewards card expires.

 

[su_A_ve]

What I typically do is get the minimum number of base tickets necessary for the promotion (ie 1 day base, or 2 day base).

Then I upgrade them at checkin - Any ticket upgrades must be paid at once (cannot be added to the room) so I use the reward dollars to pay for this.

The rest, is used in shopping....

 

[sharona]

Not sure that I understand that last response but I think my main questions were answered:

Order card now w/ just $20 rewards on it in case any problem with receipt of card.
Before leaving for trip transfer other rewards to card online.
Use card at check in to pay balance due for room.


Sounds easy enough - Thanks!

One final question. I have a split stay so have one res w/ MYW tix and one with room only. If I want to use my rewards to pay for the package it's due in advance - I just call them and give them the card number?

 

[clanmcculloch]

Yes, you'll call and give them the card number to make the payment for the package.

That last poster before your response was just sharing what she does with her rewards dollars; she uses it to pay for the upgrade of her tickets when she arrives.

 

[SuzyQue]

I also usually get the minimum amount when I order the card and then transfer what I need when I need it. I did it online before we left, but you can also do it by phone anytime. But as already mentioned, transfer only what you will use before the card expires, they won't transfer unused dollars back to your account. I paid for the balance on our room at check in and it left $1.97 on the card. We then asked if we could be switched to Bldg 16 at POR from where they put us in Bldg. 28, and while the CM was checking on this, my DH said "if you can, there is $1.97 in it for ya".