Resorts blocking available cc limit??

[ralphd]

999ghsts,

Thanks, once again, for your input! Your input on the forums is appreciated and has always been helpful and credible.

ralphd

 

[Carrieberry]

I also know 999ghsts is correct. When we stayed at the Polynesian in 98, we only had about $500 in our bank account. The trip was a gift to us, and we had traveler's checks. The check card was authorized for $1 to make sure it was an open account, which showed up immediately as we checked when we got to the room. We checked on our laptop and with online banking. We still received the $1500 limit even though we had nowhere near that amount in our account. I just went down with our travelers checks every couple of nights and when we only had three nights left, we just charged to the room. I think we did what most people do, we spent only what we knew we had in our account and then did express check out. We have been two more times, and both times the account was authorized for only $1, which like I said, usually is just to verify that the account is an open active account and that you didn't hand over an expired or closed account card whether it be a check/debit card or a regular credit card. The one time we did leave an actual credit card, we could not check for the $1 verification, but there was absolutley no hold placed on the card. We always check, because one time when we were in Vegas we left a card for incidentals at the Hard Rock hotel and they put a $200 hold on it without telling us and there was only $230 in the account. Needless to say, that wasn't very fun-esp in Las Vegas!

We have never had a problem with holds. I read somewhere that Disney has a deal with the credit card companies that they except that insure them payment even if the person bails before they can get a dime from them. Then the credit card company goes after the money via collection activiity. Not sure if this is true, but if it is it might explain why they are so trusting.

 

[VickiVM]

What if we want to leave $1000 in travelers checks at the front desk (we're booked on points at BCV) and charge on our room key. Will we receive any credit that may be due to us back in cash? Just thinking I might want to keep the CC with us for emergencies only and use Trav. cks as our budgeted spending money.

 

[Tinkbell]

Last year I purposely took a credit card with about $750 available credit on it for my room charging privleges. That was the amount I was willing to charge to the room. I was still given the $1500 limit at the Grand Floridian.

 

[Kimkimba]

Thanks 999ghsts for making this clear. I no longer have credit cards (got myself into HUGE debt and have since paid off) and only have bank/credit/debit cards now. Before, I never paid attention since I had a $10,000 max. Now I know better. This will work great for our trip, as I plan on having our room paid off by the time we get there. I really appreciate the accurate info; it makes me feel a lot more comfortable checking into a deluxe when I know I don't have a deluxe credit card.

 

[StrwLady]

VickiVM,

Im sure someone else can better answer your question but I think I remember a post where this was discussed (leaving cash or Travelers checks at the front desk and what happened at the end of the trip if money was left over). If I recall correctly (which doensn't always happen cus I have a 4 year old boy and im quiclky losing brain cells ) it was said that if money left over it is returned to you in disney dollars. As I said thats from memory.

Can someone else clarify this?

 

[mattjs]

Thanks so much 999ghsts,

Have never before seen this accurately explained. Very, very nice to finally understand preicisely how it works. Particularly the info on debit cards which we prefer to use.

Thanks again

 

[cinlee3]

Yes they do take your available credit. We stayed at CBR last Dec-Jan. We checked in with our CC. I told my husband to check on the charging privileges and he didn't completely understand (my fault, I didn't inform him). Anyway he went to charge a camera at MGM using the CC and it was declined so he used the debit card - His face was red and he was very embarrassed. Later that day, I charged several things, both at the park and at the resort, using the room key and the charges went through fine. Our CC does not have a very high limit and the only thing we used it for was CBR and a couple of other hotel nights on the road. The rest of time we used our debit card or cash.

So the answer is yes - While nothing was actually charged on our CC until we checked out - there was a reserve for a certain amount (don't know how much) on that account. I have first hand experience with this.

Also, make sure if you use a debit card that you know what your daily limit for withdrawls is.

 

[LibertyBelle]

cinlee3 I am not sure what happened in your particular situation if the hotel made an error and charged your card and then reveresed the charge (which happens often and will tie your card up) but I can assure you that there is NO hold put on your card in any way shape or form just for charging privledges. I have worked in WDW resorts for 5 years at the front desk and they only verify $1 to make sure the card has not been reported lost or stolen. Again, many things could have happened in your particular situation but again there is NO hold on the card The resort credit limit is exactlly the same for every guest (which is not possible if we were actually calling the credit card companies to verify funds and/or hold funds...everyone would have different limits based on their own account standing and that just simply is not the case)

 

[Tinkerbells2000]

999ghsts,or Libertybelle, can you do the room charge thing at the campground too?? We have almost always stayed at the Comtemporary, but now because we have too many children to stay in one room, we are taking the camper. I'm assuming since we still have a resort ID, this can be done.... And, is it the same procedure, since we will more than likely be using a debit card instead of an actual CC. Haven't decided fully what we are going to use yet.... Thanks

 

[Tinkerbells2000]

Thanks so much for your fast response... You're info has helped me a lot.... Have a great day.... Only 56 more days, and I'm almost all packed!!!!!

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by Bob NC
When you check into a deluxe, they get an approval on your credit card for $1500. They don't actually charge your card until that $1500 is used up. If you make charges to your room exceeding $1500, they actually put thru a charge on your card for the $1500....Then they get another $1500 approval.

Don't let anyone tell you they don't get a 'hold' or 'approval' on your card....Disney is not going to let you run around charging things to your room without concrete assurance they will be paid. They don't just 'trust ya' for it.

Well this wasn't the case when we stayed at the YC. We used our Visa Check card, which had about $900 on it, but were given a limit of $1500 to charge back to our room. Of course we didn't charge $1500, but there was never an authorization hold placed on the card, as I called the bank daily. We did think it was kind of weird that they would give us a limit that high when we didn't have money in the account.