Traveler's checks

[ougrad86]

Hope this is the right board to put this on!
I am trying to decide the best way to pay for things as WDW. I'm thinking of Traveler's Checks. Problem is, our hotel will only cash up to $300 a week; since we are not on the dining plan, I'm putting aside money weekly to pay for our dinners - and we are going to splurge!
When using Traveler's checks, is there an area at each park where I can cash them out? And also, I was wondering if I use them for dinner, if we have a bill for $40, and I have a $50 check, would that cause a problem? Will they give me cash back, or do I have to have cash if it is less than the amount of the Traveler's check?
We have a credit card, but I'd rather not whip it out to often, and I really don't want to carry that much cash just in case I should lose it.
If anybody can help me with this, I'd much appreciate it!

 

[kelleigh1]

Have you considered a travel money card instead of traveler's checks? We purchased one before our trip to Europe earlier this year. You specify the amount of money you wish to put it on it and because it has a Visa logo, you can use it just about anywhere just like a credit / debit card. You can also use at an ATM to withdraw money if necessary - although there is a fee associated with ATM withdrawals.

I believe it was something like $4.95 to purchase the card in the first place, but it made it much easier than worrying about where to cash travelers checks.

I purchased ours through AAA. You can probably find out more at the AAA website. www.aaa.com

 

[claudia]

Travelers cheques are the same as cash. You can pay your hotel bill with them, you can use them to pay for your meals (you will receive cash back), you can pay for anything in any store. You do not need the hotel to cash them for you, just give them to the front desk to pay your bills. Consider them cash and use them in the same manner as cash. Disney is quite used to seeing them everywhere and you will not have any problem using them there. You do not need to "cash them out", all you need to do is sign and date them in front of the person who is accepting them as your payment. Really all they are is "insured" cash...if you lose them, unlike dollars, they will be replaced.

 

[mitchwebb]

We have gotten some Travelers Checks I was hopping to use them for dinners. Will this be a problem? I didn't know there was a problem or limit to cashing them.

thanks

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I personally don't bother with Traveler's checks. I think Disney may be one of the best places in the world to use them, but otherwise they are a pain in the neck. Most places in the real world will no longer take them, and if you use them internationally you lose out on them twice (first you get charged a fee when you buy them, and then you get charged a fee when you use them in a foreign country!).

If you are staying on-property you can use your room key to charge items (though the Swan/Dolphin room key can only be used at those two hotels). I think you can prepay some money tis way too.

You could also try getting Disney dollars - they are like cash, but only at Disney places. They are really neat to look at too. Again, though, I wouldn't go too overboard, because you probably don't want to have too many of these left over after your trip. Youcan get them at the Disney Store, and I think there is also a number you can call to get them.

 

[we3disneygo]

we took limited cash, credit card dh carried a different one than i did,disney dollars and travlers checks we had no problem at all using them-we even had some left over when we came home and used those to start our Christmas shopping.hope this helps.

 

[janice1234]

we also used travelers ckecks in disney, you can use them everywhere. i find the checks to be very practical, and they can be used in restaraunts, also just to buy bottled water or whatever. good luck

 

[powellrj]

we used them on our last trip and there was never a problem cashing them. Yes you can cash them for more than you need. If your meal is $40, you can pay with a $100 travelers check and they will give you the change in cash. We would use them at the grocery store and never had a problem with them. I would cash a $100 one and then use the cash for small amounts that I didn't want to use a travelers check for. I used them at stores and never had a problem when we bought gifts too! I am guessing that the $300 limit at your hotel is for cash only. Just cash them when you use them in other places like resturants and shops and you shouldn't have a problem. You can also charge things to your room key and pay it off with your travelers checks at the end of your trip.

 

[ougrad86]

Thanks all . I just wanted to make sure, haven't used them in so long. I feel it's safer too...if I should lose them, don't want our vacation to go down the drain, I know I can get them back...just have to keep lists on my husband and me and in our room safe as well.
Wish March would just hurry up and get here!

 

[rickdeni]

If you belong to AAA - they are free. The card is not. I always get Traveler's Checks in $100 denominations and like the previous poster stated, I will pay a $50 breakfast bill with a $100 and $140 dinner bill with two $100 and I will then have cash to buy incidentals. I budget my money this way allowing myself so many traveler's checks per day. When I went to Europe I did not buy them since everyone stated that there was a fee to cash them and the exchange rate was bad. In the US they are great.

 

[dck12ga]

Traveler's cheks are free at AAA? Is there a limit of what you can get? Hmmmm, sounds like I should join AAA !