Settling account at end of trip

[TheGottis]

Was just wondering, when settling your account at the end of the cruise, will they allow you to pay it off with a debit card? If not, will a check work? I am trying to avoid the use of credit cards. Have paid everything off in cash to this point and would like to continue to do so.

PS- I HATE to carry cash (especially large amounts) with me!

Thx in advance!

 

[SueEllen]

You can use cash, check, credit (or visa/mc debit card), Travelers Checks, and Disney Dollars (and the Disney reward dollars) to pay your account. You can put the debit card on the account to be charged intermittently if you choose (as long as it has a visa/mc logo on it) to save you from paying it all at the end of the cruise. Also, they charge the account when it hits a certain dollar amount during the cruise so I would recommend paying on it every so often during the cruise.

Sue Ellen

 

[TheGottis]

PERFECT!

Just what I wanted to hear! Many thx!

 

[invaderzim]

On our last cruise we paid our final balance off with a personal check. No problems. If you do not guaranty your charges with a credit card, then I think your charge limit is $250 at a time. So you can write a check when you arrive and put a balance to charge against right at the beginning.

 

[chasbos]

Just wondering why you do not want to use a credit card? As long as you pay off your balance every month they are the most economical sense. I have a Platinum Visa card that gives me back 2% of all my purchases at the end of the year - nice little surprise at Christmas. And you are protected if you buy something and it does not work you have a money back guarentee for up to a year.

Once again just wondering why not credit.

 

[RickW]

Disney wants to make the separation of you and your money as painless as possible, so they will be happy to take the money from you in just about any form that you can give it.

 

[TiggerKing]

Speaking as someone who has counseled people on the use of credit, there is an inherant problem with most credit cards. They DO NOT REQUIRE payment of the balance at the time of the statement. I have seen many people who said "I will pay the balance when it comes." When the statement arrives and the realize that they have charged $500 or $1000 during the month, they think "Well, I will pay part this month and the rest next month." And thus begins the cycle.

Some people can force themselves to pay off the balance, but that temptation always exists to just pay the minimum, or something less than the balance. If you ever get in credit card trouble once, you will not do it again.

As for the buyer's protection, most debit cards now offer that as well.

For some people, this is the best way to avoid the temptations.

 

[Grumbo]

I pay the money onto my credit card from my bank account while I'm away. I bank online BEFORE I leave and just do a bill payment for midway or at the end of my holiday. That way it is like using cash. I get my airmiles on the card and the cash is used for what I intended it for, not other things.
I guess it is a personal thing for everyone, but if you have the ability to control your spending the credit card is best for me. The air miles are a great deal for me. (Now if I could control DW's spending I'd be in great shape )

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[natdencro]

Grumbo my friend, you aint NEVER gonna control Mrs Grumbo's spending!hehe.

We pay our bill daily at Guest Services: sometimes,there is a mistake, and it is much easier to sort it out on a daily basis. Besides, its a good way of limiting the damage!!! Nat

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

What if I put down $500 in travelers checks at the beginning of the cruise? If I have money left over will I get it back in cash??

 

[TheGottis]

Originally posted by chasbos
Just wondering why you do not want to use a credit card?
Once again just wondering why not credit.

Simply - the "pay-it-later" mentality is not for me...

My debit company offers protection, so it's all good.

 

[tvguy]

Sadly, many debit cards now rollover to your credit card is you go over your account balance so that "overspending" protection for those with bad credit practices is gone.
Just remember, with a debit card, if there is a dispute over a charge, it's between you and the merchant. With a credit card, Master Card and Visa will mediate the issue.
I always have vacations paid for before I go, except for incidentals.
Due to a family illness and death, I racked up $5k in air fare, motels and rental car charges on my credit card in the past 10 days. That's why I have a credit card, for emergencies.
And it will be a struggle to pay it off without digging into savings.

 

[chasbos]

Thank you tvguy, that is why I was asking the why not credit. I too have had my january 05 cruise paid for for over a month now -paid for first on my Visa. I just like to know that Visa or Mastercard is there to back me up if something does go wrong with a purchase after you have returned home 2000 miles away.

 

[mmouse37]

Gottis...I think you took what Chasbos was asking the wrong way...I do not think they were trying to pry into your personal financial life...they were just curious why you would not want to use a credit card....no harm was intended. I'll admit I was curious too!! It just makes sense to me to use a credit card for the protection it offers and the air miles I can accrue.

I think they were just trying to point out the benefits of using a credit card. To each his own...this is a pretty mellow board and I think the reply was a bit harsh.

MJ

 

[pppiglet]

SueEllen...Can you transfer your disney rewards to the ship once they have been transferred to your rewards card, or do they have to be transferred from the credit card directly to the ship?

 

[TheGottis]

There are many opinions floating around as to credit card useage - what works for me might not work for you. I'll edit my prior response so to keep things mellow - no biggie - as my original question was answered and that's all I really wanted.

Hey - mmouse37 - I grew up in White Plains and Harrison!!! Right over the bridge!

 

[cwf1028]

I used to have a debit card and when the Disney rewards card came out I decided to change the way I do things. We do NOT use credit cards, never have, but the rewards were too good to pass up. What I decided is that I would use the credit card just like my debit card and for every transaction, I would enter it into my checkbook just like a debit. Then, when I get my statement, I "balance" it kind of like a checking statement and make the payment. It makes it a little more difficult to balance my real checking statement, but it is now much shorter as it only includes may deposits and my occasional ATM withdrawals. The withdrawals are limited because we charge EVERYTHING possible on the card. We now have over $400 in rewards and have only had the card since 5/2004. By our 4/2005 we should have almost $600. Just a thought for those who don't like to use credit but would like the rewards!

 

[mmouse37]

Gottis....yep...Rockland County girl all my life!!! Thanks for editing original post...we do try to keep things mellow around here.

Pigglet....you give DCL guest service your rewards card not the Visa Card.

They will then put however many Dream Rewards dollars towards your onboard account.

Very easy!!

Of course you can use the Disney Visa to pay off the rest of your account, thereby accruing more points for future use!!!

MJ

 

[chasbos]

You have to love those points ro the cash back in may case. The Disney Visa cards are only available in the US not Canada. So I just have to settle for my cash back. I have even paid for my vacation with the Visa and paid it off the next day - anything for a extra reward!