rewards, gift cards, disney dollars?

[lolobug]

hi!
i have never been to WDW but are planning a trip in the years to come. I have the premier Visa card and several gift cards. can someone explain the difference between disney dollars, gift cards and rewards? what do you accrue with the visa? what can each be used for? and do any of them expire? thanks!

 

[Marionnette]

hi!
i have never been to WDW but are planning a trip in the years to come. I have the premier Visa card and several gift cards. can someone explain the difference between disney dollars, gift cards and rewards? what do you accrue with the visa? what can each be used for? and do any of them expire? thanks!

Disney Dollars = paper "money" with Disney characters on them. Came in denominations of $1, $5 and $10. Could be used at any location within the US Disney resorts, Disney Stores and Disney Cruise Line. Change was given in US currency. No longer available for purchase but still accepted.

Gift Cards = like any store gift card. Can be purchased in preset amounts or for any dollar value. Additional money can be added to the card in Disney Stores or at the resort shops. Comes in many different styles, even custom cards. Accepted in both online and B&M Disney Stores, the US Disney Resorts and the Disney Cruise Line. Some locations within the resorts are cash-only and cannot accept the cards. There are also some locations on Disney property that are not run by Disney and therefore will not accept gift cards. Refunds are returned to the card, so don't throw it out.

Disney Rewards = earned by using your Disney Visa. Must be transferred to a rewards card before you can use them. You can obtain a card for the first time once you have accrued $20 worth of rewards dollars. The card and all of the rewards dollars on it expire on Dec. 31 of the year following the year in which the card was requested. Additional rewards dollars can be added to the card at any time with a minimum transfer of $10 worth of rewards dollars. Can be used anywhere that gift cards can be accepted. Refunds are returned to the card, so don't throw it out if it is empty and make sure that you use all funds before the card expires.

 

[lolobug]

Disney Dollars = paper "money" with Disney characters on them. Came in denominations of $1, $5 and $10. Could be used at any location within the US Disney resorts, Disney Stores and Disney Cruise Line. Change was given in US currency. No longer available for purchase but still accepted.

Gift Cards = like any store gift card. Can be purchased in preset amounts or for any dollar value. Additional money can be added to the card in Disney Stores or at the resort shops. Comes in many different styles, even custom cards. Accepted in both online and B&M Disney Stores, the US Disney Resorts and the Disney Cruise Line. Some locations within the resorts are cash-only and cannot accept the cards. There are also some locations on Disney property that are not run by Disney and therefore will not accept gift cards. Refunds are returned to the card, so don't throw it out.

Disney Rewards = earned by using your Disney Visa. Must be transferred to a rewards card before you can use them. You can obtain a card for the first time once you have accrued $20 worth of rewards dollars. The card and all of the rewards dollars on it expire on Dec. 31 of the year following the year in which the card was requested. Additional rewards dollars can be added to the card at any time with a minimum transfer of $10 worth of rewards dollars. Can be used anywhere that gift cards can be accepted. Refunds are returned to the card, so don't throw it out if it is empty and make sure that you use all funds before the card expires.

I opened my card in 2012. Does that mean they will expire by Dec. 31, 2013?

 

[Marionnette]

I opened my card in 2012. Does that mean they will expire by Dec. 31, 2013?

NO. The date that you opened your Visa account has nothing to do with the expiration of the rewards dollars.

In order to be able to use the rewards dollars that you earned with your Disney Visa, you have to have them transferred to a Rewards Card.

You must have a minimum of $20 worth of rewards dollars to order your first Rewards Card. You can transfer any number of rewards dollars to the card after that as long as it is at least $10 worth per transfer.

The Rewards Card will expire on Dec 31 of the year following the year in which you ordered it. So, if you were to order a Rewards Card today, it will expire 12/31/13. If you were to order one a week from today, it will expire 12/31/14.

Any rewards dollars that are on the Rewards Card when it expires will also expire. Rewards dollars that have not been transferred to a Rewards Card will expire 5 years after the date that they were earned. Your Visa statement shows the expiration dates for all rewards dollars in your account.

 

[dtstampz]

I have 2 cards that have rewards that will expire soon (end of Dec.)!!!!
Good thing I checked the cards. Can I use them online at the Disneystore.com
to buy gift cards??? I hate to waste any dollars...

 

[lolobug]

I have 2 cards that have rewards that will expire soon (end of Dec.)!!!!
Good thing I checked the cards. Can I use them online at the Disneystore.com
to buy gift cards??? I hate to waste any dollars...

I think you can buy gift cards at the disneygiftcard site

 

[dtstampz]

Okay, I think I figured it out.
You CAN buy a gift card on disneystore.com, BUT they don't charge your rewards card
until they ship the gift card. My rewards would have expired by then!
I was able to go to disneyland.com and purchase gift cards there! ( A big thanks
to "Bumbershoot" for the suggestion from another thread.)
Looks like they took the reward dollars off right away, so hopefully my dollars have been used and didn't expire...