Something Cool...and free!

[trodrigue]

I stopped by the Disney Store today, checking for Disney Dollars. I like to buy them and stash them as a savings tool for our next trip. I know, I could save cash, but it is not as easy. They were out, as they have been for about 3 months now.

Anyhow, picked up a few things on the 75% off table and then as I was paying, saw the gift boxes. They looked so cute, and I was like, "Are those gift boxes free?" "Why yes they are." "Great! Could I have one of each. I know I said I don't need a gift receipt for my $10 worth of discounted merchandise, but I do need those really cute "free" boxes"

The gal was so nice, she put them in a seperate large bag for me, because the large box is really big!!! I love the bags too, by the way!

So, here is my happy dance!

 

[Sy-]

Unless you are really wealthy and have a lot in your savings, Saving for your trip by converting you money into Disney Dollars is probably not a good idea. If some unforeseen incident should happen and you say lose your job or someone gets sick, you don't want to have your money tied up in Disney Dollars because not a lot of places (none except Disney) accept them as regular currency. If you want to save money for your trip you are probably better off opening a separate savings account that you cannot access except for a visit to the bank (no check or debit cards that would draw from the account). At least this way you have access to real dollars should you need it.

Sorry off topic but hey... Thanks for the tip on the Gift Boxes!

 

[WA Kay]

Thanks for the great tip. I will have to remember that the next time I am shopping at my local Disney Store. I am taking my Nephew to Disneyland next June and have been shopping sales for things to give him on the trip. A couple of gift boxes would be a nice way to wrap them.

I save for my trips by purchasing Disney Dollars through out the year also. It is a fun and easy way to save for the trip. I do not worry about things like canceled trips preventing me from using them as they never expire.

My tip for you. When my Disney Store is out of Disney Dollars I get a gift card instead. It keeps me saving for the trip and you can use them at most locations in Disneyland and Disney Hotels.

 

[trodrigue]

Oh, I don't invest a ton in Disney Dollars. Expect to have maybe $200 bucks. But I love the designs and feel so "disneyish" when I have them in my wallet for the trip. And my kids love them! I also make color copies for my scrap booking pages. They can also be spent at the Disney Store, so worst case scenario, I would use them there.

I have considered the gift cards, but they are not the same feel. Also, gift cards are not refundable, but the Disney Dollars are refundable, if you have your receipt. Not that I expect to have to do this for any reason at all.

I agree though. I would not put a small fortune into the Disney Dollars.

 

[DL4my2kids]

Even at the food carts? I don't think I have even seen what they look like. Is there an advantage to them over cash? Sorry, I am very inquisitive today.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks for the great tip. I will have to remember that the next time I am shopping at my local Disney Store. I am taking my Nephew to Disneyland next June and have been shopping sales for things to give him on the trip. A couple of gift boxes would be a nice way to wrap them.

I save for my trips by purchasing Disney Dollars through out the year also. It is a fun and easy way to save for the trip. I do not worry about things like canceled trips preventing me from using them as they never expire.

My tip for you. When my Disney Store is out of Disney Dollars I get a gift card instead. It keeps me saving for the trip and you can use them at most locations in Disneyland and Disney Hotels.

You just reminded me of questions I had, WA Kay. Maybe you can answer them for me. About the gift cards - are these the same cards that are sold in the parks and on the Disneyland website? Okay, so I knew that the cards could be used at all the Disneyland and DCA restaurants as well, and I ASSUME they can be used at a hotel restaurant like Goofy's Kitchen, correct? I also know the gift cards can obviously be used at the shops for souvenirs, but here is the real question - can the gift cards be used on buying Disney tickets/park hoppers? Like if someone gives me a gift card and I get to Disneyland and want to buy another Park Hopper, can they be used towards that? AND, here is the other big question - can those gift cards be used for a hotel payment? If someone gives me a gift card for whatever amount, and I want to put that amount towards my Disney hotel room, can I do that? I mean, I don't see why not because the money is good with a gift card, but they may have limitations. Do you know?

 

[CraftyMouse]

Even at the food carts? I don't think I have even seen what they look like. Is there an advantage to them over cash? Sorry, I am very inquisitive today.

Disney Dollars are considered the same as cash anywhere at DL or WDW. You purchase them at face-value (a $1 DD for $1 cash) so there is no real advantage to having/using them. They are just fun. They come in $1, $5 and $10 denominations. They have different characters on the front and Disney scenes on the back. They change them each year and for special occasions. When you use them in the park you get regular cash back as change.

Here's an idea of what they look like...
http://www.banknotes.com/dis1005.htm

 

[Sy-]

One advantage Disney Dollars has over gift cards is that you CAN use them at food carts. While gift cards can only be used where they accept credit cards!

to the OP... Sorry your thread seems to have been hijacked!

 

[PRINCESSplazola]

hahaha i love those disney gift boxes too! me and my sister inlaw got tons last time we went shopping...i use them for everything! they are suuuuper cute!!

 

[bumbershoot]

I sure do wish the Disney store wasn't hours away from me!

Even at the food carts? I don't think I have even seen what they look like. Is there an advantage to them over cash? Sorry, I am very inquisitive today.

You just reminded me of questions I had, WA Kay. Maybe you can answer them for me. About the gift cards - are these the same cards that are sold in the parks and on the Disneyland website? Okay, so I knew that the cards could be used at all the Disneyland and DCA restaurants as well, and I ASSUME they can be used at a hotel restaurant like Goofy's Kitchen, correct? I also know the gift cards can obviously be used at the shops for souvenirs, but here is the real question - can the gift cards be used on buying Disney tickets/park hoppers? Like if someone gives me a gift card and I get to Disneyland and want to buy another Park Hopper, can they be used towards that? AND, here is the other big question - can those gift cards be used for a hotel payment? If someone gives me a gift card for whatever amount, and I want to put that amount towards my Disney hotel room, can I do that? I mean, I don't see why not because the money is good with a gift card, but they may have limitations. Do you know?

Disney Dollars can be used everywhere, including in DTD restaurants and stores. You get change back in regular money.

And you can turn them back in for cash.

For giftcard questions, disneygiftcard.com will tell you all.

I *think* that at Disneyland Resorts you canNOT use them for hotels (or maybe that's just for packages), while at WDW you can, but check on the site just to make sure.


I budget with giftcards; I save up the money and buy either one big card at the very beginning of the trip, or divide the budget by # of days and buy that amount each morning (I like to collect the different giftcards, though I've also refilled a cute card I had at the park). You can tip with them at restaurants, buy souvenirs, and so on.


And I have continued to get 10-20 in Disney Dollars b/c I don't stop at the bank on my way down, and it's a good way to get "cash" for the vendors that don't take the giftcards, without paying Chase a fee to use their ATMs.

 

[dizneekrazee]

Unless you are really wealthy and have a lot in your savings, Saving for your trip by converting you money into Disney Dollars is probably not a good idea. If some unforeseen incident should happen and you say lose your job or someone gets sick, you don't want to have your money tied up in Disney Dollars because not a lot of places (none except Disney) accept them as regular currency. If you want to save money for your trip you are probably better off opening a separate savings account that you cannot access except for a visit to the bank (no check or debit cards that would draw from the account). At least this way you have access to real dollars should you need it.

Sorry off topic but hey... Thanks for the tip on the Gift Boxes!

If this happens for any reason, Disney will gladly refund your money back to you (in original payment form) with proof of purchase (receipt).

And for OP on the topic of the store being out for 3 months: my store is out as well, have been out for quite some time. Distribution has placed the order, we are all now just waiting.
ANd regarding boxes: stores frequently run out of these as well, especially at the holiday periods, and especially of the plush size boxes. Please only take what you really need, that way someone who is buying a gift for someone will have a gift box to use. Thanks!!

HTH!!

 

[Sherry E]

Disney Dollars can be used everywhere, including in DTD restaurants and stores. You get change back in regular money.

And you can turn them back in for cash.

For giftcard questions, disneygiftcard.com will tell you all.

I *think* that at Disneyland Resorts you canNOT use them for hotels (or maybe that's just for packages), while at WDW you can, but check on the site just to make sure.

Thanks, Bumbershoot! Actually, before I realized you had replied to my questions about the gift cards, I did look them up on the Disneyland website, and according to their language, the gift cards CAN be used for resort hotel rooms AND packages, surprisingly, as well as Park Hoppers and everything else we know about. That is a good idea. Those cards are multi-purpose and since they CAN apparently be used for hotel rooms and packages, that makes them even better than the Disney dollars to me, because, I assume, if I have a gift card, I can call reservations and put money from the card towards a room or package. That is excellent! Good information to know. Plus, it comes in so handy for the restaurants there if you have one. Goody!

 

[trodrigue]

ANd regarding boxes: stores frequently run out of these as well, especially at the holiday periods, and especially of the plush size boxes. Please only take what you really need, that way someone who is buying a gift for someone will have a gift box to use. Thanks!!

HTH!!

Oh Brandy. You are so right. We shouldn't be greedy about the gift boxes or they may go away! But...I have shopped tons and bought plenty of gifts for real, and no one ever offered me a gift box! So I felt really great about getting my boxes this time. And they are truly just too darling! So all you crazy dis folks out there. Don't take tons (you know who you are!) and blow this for us.

I hope they don't try to do away with the Disney Dollars! Please do post when your store gets them in. If I keep stopping by my store, my husband may divorce me. My stash of Disney goodies keeps piling up.

 

[PRINCESSplazola]

Oh Brandy. You are so right. We shouldn't be greedy about the gift boxes or they may go away! But...I have shopped tons and bought plenty of gifts for real, and no one ever offered me a gift box! So I felt really great about getting my boxes this time. And they are truly just too darling! So all you crazy dis folks out there. Don't take tons (you know who you are!) and blow this for us.

I hope they don't try to do away with the Disney Dollars! Please do post when your store gets them in. If I keep stopping by my store, my husband may divorce me. My stash of Disney goodies keeps piling up.

i agree not to load up on boxes every time you go shop, but i think its alright every once in a while. especially when you spend a TON of money there, i think you deserve a few boxes to take home with you

 

[Gisele]

These boxes sound very nice!

 

[dizneekrazee]

The boxes are very nice.

And I do agree with the PPs, if you spend a ton, or not even a ton, you are entitled to boxes, especially for what you purchased. But we do get guests, who say for example, buy a t shirt or 2, and want like 4 large boxes. Or even better yet, when someone comes in, doesnt even buy anything, doesnt even look at anything in the store, and just asks the CMs at the cash wrap for boxes for things they bought at other stores. I once had a girl come in and ask me if we had bags that had Ariel on them, we do, the largest size bag we have she is on, and she asked if she could have one (she bought nothing). I politely explained to her that bags were for items purchased in the store only. So she proceeded to purchase a magic towel. For those of you that dont what a magic towel is, it is a tiny little washcloth, all dried up, so when you put it in the tub, it expands to a full size washcloth. With that purchase, she wanted a hugemongous bag!! I was like, um, no sorry, you get a bag for what you purchase. Not a giant bag for something the size of an avatar!!

Oh, P.S. I will let you know when the Disney $$ come in.

 

[DevilDuckie]

The boxes are very nice.

And I do agree with the PPs, if you spend a ton, or not even a ton, you are entitled to boxes, especially for what you purchased. But we do get guests, who say for example, buy a t shirt or 2, and want like 4 large boxes. Or even better yet, when someone comes in, doesnt even buy anything, doesnt even look at anything in the store, and just asks the CMs at the cash wrap for boxes for things they bought at other stores. I once had a girl come in and ask me if we had bags that had Ariel on them, we do, the largest size bag we have she is on, and she asked if she could have one (she bought nothing). I politely explained to her that bags were for items purchased in the store only. So she proceeded to purchase a magic towel. For those of you that dont what a magic towel is, it is a tiny little washcloth, all dried up, so when you put it in the tub, it expands to a full size washcloth. With that purchase, she wanted a hugemongous bag!! I was like, um, no sorry, you get a bag for what you purchase. Not a giant bag for something the size of an avatar!!

Oh, P.S. I will let you know when the Disney $$ come in.

I used to work in a higher end toy store and had a woman get snippy with me when I refused to give her extra gift wrap and stickers for things she bought elsewhere. We cheerfully wrapped items free of charge but we were not in the business of giving away our supplies so that people could pass off gifts as being from us when they weren't.