Using Disney Gift Cards to pay Cabin Charges

[scottb8888]

I know this has changed several times but what is the current policy. Can you put down gift cards at the begining of the cruisde or must you wait until there are charges on your cabin tab?

 

[Quellman]

Wait until you charge some things (like day 2). The line at guest services will also be less. They won't charge your card until it reaches a set amount. They do not seem to like overages anymore and refunding money to gift cards.

 

[mmouse37]

You can also use gift cards directly in the shops which I liked. But in answer to your question....you can add a gift card at the beginning of your cruise or after you have charged a few things. Be aware though that when your onboard account reaches a certain amount they will automatically charge the CREDIT card on file. I think the amount is either $400 or $500 on a 7 day cruise. So, if you charge a few hundred dollars to your onboard account they may charge your credit card before you can apply your gift card. I usually just apply my gift cards at the beginning (usually later on the first day at guest services). I never have to worry about anything being refunded lol...I use it all up and then some.

MJ

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I've never had an issue giving guest services gift cards at the start of the cruise to cover on board charges, but I've also called prior to the cruise and used gift cards to purchase on board credits. That way I avoid any lines at guest services.

 

[Sytrace]

You can add them to your on board account by calling DCL up to 3 days before sailing and they will add them to your account. This avoids waiting in line at GS as well. They take funds from your OBA before they start charging your credit card. If you happen to have any funds left over (this has never happened to me but I thought I would put it out there) they return the leftover funds to your original form on payment so keep those gift cards.

 

[Budzooka]

Guest Services told me the limit was $300 on a 3 night cruise, so I just swung by and settled up with a gift card before I hit that amount.

 

[NS8VN]

You can add them to your on board account by calling DCL up to 3 days before sailing and they will add them to your account. This avoids waiting in line at GS as well. They take funds from your OBA before they start charging your credit card. If you happen to have any funds left over (this has never happened to me but I thought I would put it out there) they return the leftover funds to your original form on payment so keep those gift cards.

We did this with our Disney Visa rewards and several gift cards and it worked perfectly. One thing that will make the process go more smoothly if you have several gift cards is to consolidate them on to a single card before you call. Then you just have to read one number off and you know exactly which card any refund will return to. We did not have a refund to worry about however, and were really glad we had those cards on the account when that final bill came

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

As another poster wrote, the line for the first day or two can be crazy at customer service (GS)! We waited until our OBA was near empty and then went there to put some gift cards into our account. We put a small amount in each time; because we didn't want to possibly have some money remaining in the account and have it put back onto our card. We would rather have a little money get charged to our credit card at the end of the cruise than go through this!

So never having had that happen, I don't know how easy it is to refill the remainder back onto a card (so save a card or two in case this happens to you). If you do have some money remaining on your balance, beware the lines at GS at the end of the cruise are crazy also especially the last day.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

I routinely us gift cards to pre-pay excursions and put a wedge amount in for shopping/drinks for our cruises. I call the castaway line, load up our account over the phone with cards and reap the Target red card 5% savings on excursions and whatnot. Yay!

 

[Shanti]

I know this has changed several times but what is the current policy. Can you put down gift cards at the begining of the cruisde or must you wait until there are charges on your cabin tab?

We cruised in December and I put all of my gift card money on my account the first day. (There were never any significant lines at Guest Services, btw.) I asked if I could get any amount refunded that I didn't use, and she said yes. No problems.

 

[Malibustyle23]

If you booked through at TA can you call DCL directly prior to put the credit on the account or does the TA have to do it?

 

[babyberger]

If you booked through at TA can you call DCL directly prior to put the credit on the account or does the TA have to do it?

You can do it

 

[Oregongram]

First time cruiser on DCL.
Just my experience - I contacted Disney to make a payment using gift cards and was told I needed to make all payments through my TA. I consolidated gift cards using disneygiftcards.com and emailed information to my TA. She has been wonderful. I paid the majority of my cruise using gift cards and will pad my on board account to cover gratuities.

Perhaps if I had been paid-in-full when I contacted Disney they would have allowed me to add more to my account. Not sure. I'm learning as I go through the process.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I always put money on my account the first day or 2 on the cruise. If there is any money refunded, it goes back on my card several days or a couple weeks after the cruise. You can have the extra refunded to your gift card if you want to wait in line on the last night but it will get back there eventually if you don't wait in line to do it.