Using debit card for "incidentals"

[Rose Marie]

I only have a debit card, which is what I used to pay for our upcoming vacation package. The balance is completely paid off. BUT I just read an article that says when checking in, hotels put a hold on the card for incidentals. For a debit card, that could mean going into a negative balance. Does Disney do this? I read somewhere else that we could possibly pay cash upfront. Could we do that instead? How much would it be?

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/hotels/2008-03-13-debit-cards_N.htm

 

[newddmommie]

They can link you card to a cc for incidentals but you can request that they don't and just pay cash. I would not link anything to a debit card as it is harder to dispute charges than on a CC. Have you though about getting a Disney Visa? Having a CC can be helpful if nothing else than for emergencies. Just a thought.

 

[brentalex]

Disney does not put a hold on the card if you give it to them for charging purposes. They do a check to insure it is valid, but do not automatically charge anything to it.
Also, you can use cash when you check in to cover room charges as well. You can give them as much cash or as little as you want. And you do not need to give them anything if you don't want your room key to be used for charging purposes.

 

[klwdisney]

I am giving them cash at check in and not a credit/debit card. The cash will be applied to my room charge so I have charging priviledges. I have done this many times in the past and it's worked out well for me. If we haven't spent it all by the end of the week we get the remaining money back in cash.

 

[RMAMom]

You don't have to put a card on the room. I don't. When I check in and they ask you if you want to put a card on the room I say No Thank you and pay my way through my vacation with cash. This also means that you can't charge to your room with your KTTW card. Another option is to not put your card on the room but put your cash on it. The first time we went I put a couple of hunderd dollars on the room instead of a card. Every other day I would stop at the desk at the end of the day and ask for a print out of my charges and I would add dollars to the room as I was spending them. (Does that make sense)

If you are referring to a debit card with a visa on it, you can use that anywhere in the parks that you can use a visa. So that gives you the option to use cash or your visa/debit card with each purchase!

 

[DznyDreamz]

There is definately no hold with a debit card. I've used it many times and they don't put a hold on your account.

 

[Rose Marie]

Ah thanks so much everybody! That definitely clears up my worries. From what you all have said, I think I'll pay cash up front and ask to put it on my room charge for the charging privileges on my KTTW. That way I have a budget and don't blow all the money in my checking account.

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

Last visit, we were told that if you did not place a card on file, you could not use 'express checkout'. That seemed to be the only drawback, though it wasn't drawback at all for us. We didn't place our card on file.

 

[safetymom]

They run a charge for .01 to make sure it is good. We have used our debit card numerous times at WDW. We get a print out every couple of days to check the balance. Had no problems with express check out. My Visa debit card has the same protection that a credit card has.

 

[tink771]

I have used my debit card every time without any problems!!!!

 

[SpecEdismyLife]

We have used our check card debit (MC or Visa logo) for every trip in the last 8 years or so and never had a hold placed. They will authorize the card for $1 to make sure it is valid, and then when you reach your resorts charging limit they will charge the card and then start over. You will not be able to use express checkout as the pp mentioned, but there is no other problems with using the debit card. Use it as long as it has the Visa or MC logo on it and don't worry!

 

[disnut8]

Just wanted to add that we've had absolutely no problems with using our debit card at Disney World either. My husband checks the balance every single day and Disney does not put a hold on it. It's really one of best places to use a debit card as it's accepted just about everywhere at the parks (except a few kiosks that don't have credit card swipes).

 

[kaytieeldr]

You can provide a card at check-in JUST for Express Check-out, i.e. no room-charging privileges added to your KttW.

I did this last year, and used a previously-purchased (online) Disney gift card for incidental expenses.