Strange Disney GC Issue

[nw6675]

I had two gift cards consolidated on the Disney gift card site. One hard card, one electronic. I checked the balance online and it showed $19.37.

I went to use the card on our last day last week and it wouldn't go through. All other transactions during the week were fine. The CM tried and it still wouldn't so she looked up the balance and told me it was zero. She asked if I just wanted to throw the card away and I said no, I wanted to keep the card.

I just checked online again and it has the $19.37 and I entered it on ShopDisney and it was fine.

Do you think it was just a system glitch when it wouldn't go through? I'm worried to use this hard card in the future and am wondering whether I should just get a new one for our next trip.

Anyone else have this happen?

 

[princesscinderella]

I had two gift cards consolidated on the Disney gift card site. One hard card, one electronic. I checked the balance online and it showed $19.37.

I went to use the card on our last day last week and it wouldn't go through. All other transactions during the week were fine. The CM tried and it still wouldn't so she looked up the balance and told me it was zero. She asked if I just wanted to throw the card away and I said no, I wanted to keep the card.

I just checked online again and it has the $19.37 and I entered it on ShopDisney and it was fine.

Do you think it was just a system glitch when it wouldn't go through? I'm worried to use this hard card in the future and am wondering whether I should just get a new one for our next trip.

Anyone else have this happen?

Sometimes I think certain gift cards only work for shop Disney and others can be used for all Disney travel related purposes at the parks and cruise lines. It is odd though that you were able to use it on your trip but not the last bit of money. Maybe too they had a problem with their register and it wasn’t reading the card correctly.

 

[nw6675]

These were regular Disney gift cards bought at Target for all parks, etc. I think it was just a glitch, but will probably buy a new one if I use a gift card next time.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Did a magnet or phone get near the gc so it wouldn’t scan right, but if you entered the numbers on ShopDisney it was fine? Just an idea.

 

[starry_solo]

Did a magnet or phone get near the gc so it wouldn’t scan right, but if you entered the numbers on ShopDisney it was fine? Just an idea.

this, it has happened on some of my gift cards too. Usually the cast member gets some register roll, covers the black strip. Then swipes and it works.

 

[nw6675]

I bet you are right that it is the strip. I can't remember what the error code was, but it wasn't what you would expect if just a zero balance/decline.

 

[kylenne]

Sometimes I think certain gift cards only work for shop Disney and others can be used for all Disney travel related purposes at the parks and cruise lines. It is odd though that you were able to use it on your trip but not the last bit of money. Maybe too they had a problem with their register and it wasn’t reading the card correctly.

Disney gift cards absolutely do not work that way.

Dollars to donuts it was a problem with the POS terminal or the card got demagnetized. Most likely the latter, it’s actually very common. Stacking cards on top of each other is a common culprit, strips from one can mess up the other. Sometimes wallets and purses themselves can cause it too, given magnetic clasps.

 

[snowwite]

Disney gift cards absolutely do not work that way.

Dollars to donuts it was a problem with the POS terminal or the card got demagnetized. Most likely the latter, it’s actually very common. Stacking cards on top of each other is a common culprit, strips from one can mess up the other. Sometimes wallets and purses themselves can cause it too, given magnetic clasps.

We never knew about magnets causing trouble and I carried all of our park passes and room keys one year and they all got destroyed because my bag had a magnetic closure! Whoops