The good news: I've saved $2700 for my Disney vacation....

[debdreamsofdis]

the bad news: it's spread out across 40 gift cards!! Oh, and the more obvious bad news: I still owe $1100 more on my vacation package

I've been accumulating gift cards for approximately 2 years now. I have them in denominations of $300, $250, $150, $100, $75, $60, $50, $55, $25, $20, $15 and $10. I've received them as Christmas and birthday gifts, cashing out through several rewards programs/surveys, participating in grocery store promos (i.e. buy $50 worth of cards, get $5), a few were test drive incentives. Any rebates received as a Visa/Mastercard gift card were used to purchase Disney gift cards. I'm also including my nearly $500 in Disney rewards in that total (we put almost everything on the Disney card and pay it off monthly). I know some people will argue that saving money for a Disney vacations in gift cards isn't the best idea, but for me it's worked.

How difficult is it going to be to apply 40 gift cards to my package?? Is it better to call and deal with a person or is it easier to apply them online?? Is there a limit to how many cards they can apply at the same time?

 

[chris31997]

I can't help you but I found it funny that you had 40 giftcards. If that is what it takes to get to the World than so be it

Maybe talking to someone and slowly adding the giftcards to your account

40 giftcards, I love it

 

[SaraMc]

On our last trip I had 15 gift cards that I redeemed when I booked our trip. You get a Loooong bill showing your redemptions. But yup the CM should have no problem with you redeeming all of them.

 

[cm8]

the bad news: it's spread out across 40 gift cards!! Oh, and the more obvious bad news: I still owe $1100 more on my vacation package

I've been accumulating gift cards for approximately 2 years now. I have them in denominations of $300, $250, $150, $100, $75, $60, $50, $55, $25, $20, $15 and $10. I've received them as Christmas and birthday gifts, cashing out through several rewards programs/surveys, participating in grocery store promos (i.e. buy $50 worth of cards, get $5), a few were test drive incentives. Any rebates received as a Visa/Mastercard gift card were used to purchase Disney gift cards. I'm also including my nearly $500 in Disney rewards in that total (we put almost everything on the Disney card and pay it off monthly). I know some people will argue that saving money for a Disney vacations in gift cards isn't the best idea, but for me it's worked.

How difficult is it going to be to apply 40 gift cards to my package?? Is it better to call and deal with a person or is it easier to apply them online?? Is there a limit to how many cards they can apply at the same time?

That's a lot of Gift cards! That's a lot of money too! What an accomplishment for your trip as well I hope you all have a wonderful time

 

[a1tinkfans]

Wow, way to go.....what an accomplishment............
Have a great trip!!

 

[Totoro]

I don't see you having any problem applying all those gifts cards. As one CM said to us on one of our first WDW trips, "We do not discriminate when it comes to money. We take it in all forms: gift cards, reward dollars, credit card or cash "

Congratulations on saving so much money.

 

[sydneysmom]

if you booked your trip on Disney's website, can't you pay w/ the giftcards on the website as well ? I know that we could pay w/ Disney rewards online.... that way, you could enter them at home in peace and quiet.

BTW, you're like my saving HERO !! YOU ROCK !!!
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edit : I just did instant chat w/ a CM and asked them about using the gift cards online. here's what he said....

Yes! There is an option to use Disney Gift Cards online. However, you will only be able to use 1 Gift Card per day for payment. It will be much easier to call the Disney Reservation Center at 407-560-CHAT (2428) and have them apply the Gift Cards if you are using multiple cards.

so this is really good to know !!!

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Awesome!!!! I need to start picking up a gift card every other week or so. I'm going with a girlfriend, no family this time. Already have airfare, room and ticket, so now I just need some spending money! 6 months to go!!

That is awesome that you have saved up over 2 years! I used tax money, not as awesome of an accomplishment. But whatever gets us to Disney!!

Now I just need to figure out how much I need for just me. I've never been without the family.

 

[ThisIsTheYear]

That's awesome! You're my idol! lol I recently started going the gift card route. Between Visa Rewards and gift cards, I have about $350 so far. I wish I started a long time ago. Anyway, congrats!

 

[heathernfrankie]

WOW...that's awesome!! Congratulations!!

 

[Karlzmom]

if you booked your trip on Disney's website, can't you pay w/ the giftcards on the website as well ? I know that we could pay w/ Disney rewards online.... that way, you could enter them at home in peace and quiet.

BTW, you're like my saving HERO !! YOU ROCK !!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
edit : I just did instant chat w/ a CM and asked them about using the gift cards online. here's what he said....

Yes! There is an option to use Disney Gift Cards online. However, you will only be able to use 1 Gift Card per day for payment. It will be much easier to call the Disney Reservation Center at 407-560-CHAT (2428) and have them apply the Gift Cards if you are using multiple cards.

so this is really good to know !!!

I wanted to add that we wereable to use multiple cards to purchase our Annual Passes in Feb. We bought them in person at the International Gateway of Epcot, and I was given no hassle what so ever in redeeming about 15 cards of various denominations. Maybe you could use some for the room, some for tickets and maybe even a few for "spending" so that you aren't trying to use them all at the same time?

 

[DisneyBill]

I love you!

 

[debdreamsofdis]

if you booked your trip on Disney's website, can't you pay w/ the giftcards on the website as well ? I know that we could pay w/ Disney rewards online.... that way, you could enter them at home in peace and quiet.

BTW, you're like my saving HERO !! YOU ROCK !!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
edit : I just did instant chat w/ a CM and asked them about using the gift cards online. here's what he said....

Yes! There is an option to use Disney Gift Cards online. However, you will only be able to use 1 Gift Card per day for payment. It will be much easier to call the Disney Reservation Center at 407-560-CHAT (2428) and have them apply the Gift Cards if you are using multiple cards.

so this is really good to know !!!

Thanks for the info. Looks like I'll be calling a CM to apply the gift cards to my balance.

I wanted to add that we wereable to use multiple cards to purchase our Annual Passes in Feb. We bought them in person at the International Gateway of Epcot, and I was given no hassle what so ever in redeeming about 15 cards of various denominations. Maybe you could use some for the room, some for tickets and maybe even a few for "spending" so that you aren't trying to use them all at the same time?

Right. I'm sure we'd be spending some money out of pocket on our trip anyway, so I think I will be reserving the smaller denomination gift cards to use when we're there for souvenirs, etc...

I love you!

I love you too, sir. haha! Thanks for the kind words everyone. My husband and I honeymooned at Disney World in '96. We live on the West Coast and we've been able to go to Disneyland (which, of course, I love), but Florida has always held a special little place in my heart. Now, 15 years and 4 kids later, we're finally getting to go back to the World.

 

[tkitty]

OK- your my new idol! I am so proud of the 3- $50 cards I've saved up so far, along with $200 in Visa rewards. You put me to shame! Good for you!!!

 

[skaliscik]

i paid for my entire trip in gift cards over the course of 2 days...more than 20 gift cards. This was a little over a month ago. I had no problem using more than one card a day...didn't have to wait at all between, just did them one after the other. would have done them all the same day, just ran out of time before work .

 

[skaliscik]

i meant i entered them all on the website...didn't have to call . not sure it was clear

 

[rrbar]

I called and paid with some gift cards by the automated system as well as called and had a CM enter some of them. Can you enter the number somewhere on the website to pay? It did take a little longer to do it the automated way.

 

[Mickeyflower]

Looks like you already got your answer, but I was wondering if you could buy one BIG gift card with all the little ones and do it that way. I know you can't redeem GC's for cash, but some places will let you buy more GC's. Just a thought.

 

[skaliscik]

I called and paid with some gift cards by the automated system as well as called and had a CM enter some of them. Can you enter the number somewhere on the website to pay? It did take a little longer to do it the automated way.

I did it right on the payment page. I had all $100 gift cards (from Sams). Most I used the full balance on, a few I only used half (so that I could give $50 gift cards to my kids). Didn't take long at all.

 

[nunzia]

Great job! Enjoy your trip!