Room charges limit

[TheRustyScupper]

1) The basic room charge limits are
. . . Value -$500
. . . Moderate - $1,000
. . . Deluxe & DVC - $1,500

2) This can be insulting.
3) It is assumed that Value and Mod guests won't spend as much as Deluxe.
4) I have no idea if they also made a judgment on credit-worthiness.
5) However, you can get these limits changed up-or-down.
6) In most case the CM can do this for you.
7) Some CM's may ask a manager for permission.
8) If you ask and are refused, ask to speak with a manager.

NOTE: On the first computer screen a Front Desk or Concierge Desk CM sees for your room number, the charge limit is prominently displayed and can be changed as easily and as fast as you can type. It can go up or down and anywhere in between. And, there is NO policy about refusing to change a charging limit in the Front Desk Policy Manual.

 

[Mom2Evie]

ok, i will have paid in full for my trip before we even arrive, so how does this work? do they authorize whatever credit card i paid for the trip with, or do they ask for another one and pre authorize it?

When you check in, they'll ask if you'd like to associate a credit card with the room. You can use any single credit card at that point, not just the one you booked the reservation with.

I have a checking account that I use as if it were "savings". It's easier to electronically transfer money in and out with no penlaty at my bank for checking. I transfer the money I want to spend into that account for a few months before our trip and then associate that Visa check card with room expenses. It works well for us!

I'm like sbsteel and don't like to use a real credit card. In my early 20's, I was pretty careless. I'm a responsible parent & home-owner now, but I don't want to give myself the option of just "paying it off later". I don't need the temptation.

 

[sunny45]

So basically for DH & I at a value resort they will swipe an authorization of $500 for the two of us off of one credit card for our stay amd issue us 2 keys. We have the dining plan so we shouldn't really charge too much extra anyway. Day of check-out they will ask if we want to keep any charges on that card or pay them off in cash. Sound right?

 

[mkycrzy1971]

So basically for DH & I at a value resort they will swipe an authorization of $500 for the two of us off of one credit card for our stay amd issue us 2 keys. We have the dining plan so we shouldn't really charge too much extra anyway. Day of check-out they will ask if we want to keep any charges on that card or pay them off in cash. Sound right?

No...there will not be any upfront charges....they will NOT send an authorization or charge through until you reach, are near, you request it to be charged, or the day of check out....it is actually kind of nice...just keep track of your charges (KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS) in case of errors. OR, if you prefer, you can pay your charges in cash and not charge it to your card...just keep track of your charged amount and make sure you tell the CM at check in that you want to pay in cash when your limit is reached or at check out...which ever comes first.

 

[CleveRocks]

You can set up a room charge with a credit card, debit card (with VISA/MC logo), travelers checks, cash, even Disney Dollars.

The aforementioned limits by level of resort are UPPER limits. If you are staying at a Moderate, you don't have to set up a room charge with a $1,000 limit ... you can set it up for $752.09 if you really want to.

When you present plastic to set up a room charge, they place NO HOLD on your card, and they don't even check to see if you have that much available ... they simply run the card to make sure it's associated with an active and open account.

If you backed up the room charge with credit or debit card, when you reach/exceed your limit your credit/debit card will be charged IMMEDIATELY and AUTOMATICALLY. At that point, if you want further room charge privileges you have to contact your resort's front desk. You can do this by phone.

Let's say you set up a $500 room charge and had a $495 balance on it. You are in Magic Kingdom and go to charge a $12 souvenir and your room charge will be declined because it's over the limit. The resort just charged your credit/debit card for the $495. You can stand there right there and call your resort's front desk from your cellphone. You can then give verbal authorization to set up another room charge using the same credit/debit card. It can be for any amount (within the pre-set limit), it doesn't have to be for the identical amount you set the first one up for.

Before you reach your limit, you are free to go to the front desk and pay off the account using any OTHER means. For example, let's say you brought a bunch of travelers checks with you and you want to use them before you go back home. Rather than having the room charge balance be charged to your credit card, you can pay it off with the travelers checks instead, if you want. But again, this must be before you reach your limit, before the amount actually does get charged to your card.

I researched this before my last trip. It worked exactly as described -- it took me about 90 seconds to set up the next room charge by cellphone. The only problem was that I had to convince the front desk CM that she could set up a room charge for LESS than POFQ's pre-set maximum limit of $1,000. She said she wasn't allowed to, I told her I'd done it many times, including the room charge for $800 that just got charged to my debit card because it had just reached its $800 limit! Obviously she learned something new that day.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . I had to convince the front desk CM that she could set up a room charge for LESS than POFQ's pre-set maximum limit of $1,000 . . .

Like I said, you can go lower or higher than the standard limit for your room.

 

[debbiet1]

I plan on giving them 2000.00 when we first check in on our room, room is already paid for btw. This will be for shopping,dining etc. When we check out any balance will they give it to us in cash or will it be a hassle?

 

[DisneyClay]

Hold on, please. Can someone please explain why it is this way? When I first read this, it seemed to be quite judgemental and very insulting-especially to people who stay at a value resort.

I do not find it insulting. I will be staying at the all star movies. I just do not see spending money on a room when I will only be spending about 10 hours a day in. You figgure 8 hours sleep and just a few hours in the morning getting ready, and a few at night shower and sleep.

 

[ducklite]

You can set up a room charge with a credit card, debit card (with VISA/MC logo), travelers checks, cash, even Disney Dollars.

The aforementioned limits by level of resort are UPPER limits. If you are staying at a Moderate, you don't have to set up a room charge with a $1,000 limit ... you can set it up for $752.09 if you really want to.

When you present plastic to set up a room charge, they place NO HOLD on your card, and they don't even check to see if you have that much available ... they simply run the card to make sure it's associated with an active and open account.

If you backed up the room charge with credit or debit card, when you reach/exceed your limit your credit/debit card will be charged IMMEDIATELY and AUTOMATICALLY. At that point, if you want further room charge privileges you have to contact your resort's front desk. You can do this by phone.

Let's say you set up a $500 room charge and had a $495 balance on it. You are in Magic Kingdom and go to charge a $12 souvenir and your room charge will be declined because it's over the limit. The resort just charged your credit/debit card for the $495. You can stand there right there and call your resort's front desk from your cellphone. You can then give verbal authorization to set up another room charge using the same credit/debit card. It can be for any amount (within the pre-set limit), it doesn't have to be for the identical amount you set the first one up for.

Before you reach your limit, you are free to go to the front desk and pay off the account using any OTHER means. For example, let's say you brought a bunch of travelers checks with you and you want to use them before you go back home. Rather than having the room charge balance be charged to your credit card, you can pay it off with the travelers checks instead, if you want. But again, this must be before you reach your limit, before the amount actually does get charged to your card.

I researched this before my last trip. It worked exactly as described -- it took me about 90 seconds to set up the next room charge by cellphone. The only problem was that I had to convince the front desk CM that she could set up a room charge for LESS than POFQ's pre-set maximum limit of $1,000. She said she wasn't allowed to, I told her I'd done it many times, including the room charge for $800 that just got charged to my debit card because it had just reached its $800 limit! Obviously she learned something new that day.

You don't even need to use your cell phone. You can ask the CM to dial the operator and be connected to your resort from their phone.

One thing I would suggest, if you are buying park passes at your resort, pay either directly with your credit card or cash, that one transaction can put you within dollars of the daily limit before you even hit a park!

Anne

 

[mgilmer]

Can you set up different charge limits per room cards? For example, can I have the max limit of $1500 on my and my wife's card but only have a $200 limit on my teen son's card (with all being tagged to the same credit card)?

 

[julz_e]

this is interesting...we will be useing or debit card, we are a no cc family. So, they will not put a hold of 1000.00 on the card? (we may do sea world etc... but if they are placing the hold for 1000.00 it won't work. I also get while we are down there. (so i will have more $$ avialable halfway thru the trip) We are staying at por, if they don't put a 1000.00 hold on your card what do they do??

I don't think we will spend anywhere near the limit, we have the ddp, but this is our first time, so i have no idea what we will be spending.

 

[CleveRocks]

this is interesting...we will be useing or debit card, we are a no cc family. So, they will not put a hold of 1000.00 on the card? (we may do sea world etc... but if they are placing the hold for 1000.00 it won't work. I also get while we are down there. (so i will have more $$ avialable halfway thru the trip) We are staying at por, if they don't put a 1000.00 hold on your card what do they do??

I don't think we will spend anywhere near the limit, we have the ddp, but this is our first time, so i have no idea what we will be spending.

Like I said a few posts ago, there is NO HOLD placed on your debit card when you use it to back up a room charge. NO HOLD. I know this not only from "book knowledge," but from actual experience. NO HOLD.

 

[julz_e]

wow...that seems a little crazy, but i guess maybe they do the 1.00 thingy like a gas station, to make sure it's ok?
Thanks for the heads up! that makes me less worried.

 

[CleveRocks]

Can you set up different charge limits per room cards? For example, can I have the max limit of $1500 on my and my wife's card but only have a $200 limit on my teen son's card (with all being tagged to the same credit card)?

No, sorry, they can't or won't do it that way. There is ONE room charge, and each individual room card either has complete access to it or no access at all.

One thing you can do with your teen son is get a Disney gift card that's reloadable. That way, you can monitor and limit his spending and not have it impinge upon what you and your wife can do with the room charge.

 

[CleveRocks]

wow...that seems a little crazy, but i guess maybe they do the 1.00 thingy like a gas station, to make sure it's ok?
Thanks for the heads up! that makes me less worried.

I asked and asked and asked about it before our most recent trip, and it worked exactly as advertised. I called my bank's automated system several times during the trip, and there were ZERO Disney transactions, except for one that I did directly with my debit card rather than using the room charge system.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Just to reiterate - there are no longer any holds on cards.
2) At one time they used to have "authorizations".
3) Not an actual charge, but a kind of hold.
4) They stopped this in 2001 due to complaints about using available credit.
5) Now, the card is simply on-file and ready for use.

NOTE: Each morning (early AM hours) there are usually several people at each resort who have charges to the room where the credit/debit card is declined. A note is slid under the door to ask the guest to go to the Front Desk and settle the account. If they leave without covering the bill, Disney contacts them at home, then gets the collection people after them.

 

[julz_e]

so do they automatically just charge the cc on file each day, or you have to go to the front office and tell them too?

 

[ducklite]

so do they automatically just charge the cc on file each day, or you have to go to the front office and tell them too?

Around 4:00 am on your check out day they will automatically charge your card. If you do'nt want them to do this, settle your account the night before with either cash or a different card.

Anne