Using Disney gift cards to pay for food?

[NLD]

Is it possible to use Disney gift cards to pay for food there?

We'd be doing all counter service, with just one table service.

I'm trying to decide whether to get the QSDP. The biggest appeal is having the food pre-paid. If we can do it with gift cards, I may go that route instead.

Any caveats? Are there certain places that won't take a gift card? Resort pool bar.... snack carts... etc?

Thanks!

 

[jlk806]

I have several disney gift cards also - it says they can be used at any Disney-owned restaurants and shops where credit cards are accepted. The resort pool bars DO accept credit cards (the ones Ive been to anyhow) but I know some of the snack carts are cash only and dont even accept the dining plan. So pretty much any restaurant that accepts the dining plan SHOULD accept the gift card as well.

 

[Jetta8300]

This is exactly the same question I wanted to ask! At a TS restaurant, how is the tip handled paying with a gift card then? Does anyone know if Il Mulino of the Bluezoo takes the gift cards?

 

[NLD]

So pretty much any restaurant that accepts the dining plan SHOULD accept the gift card as well.

Thank you jlk, this makes sense and also makes the gift cards just as viable an option as the QSDP.

I guess I need to sit down and figure out whether QSDP is likely to save us any money. Looks like we'll be spending a day off-site at Universal, plus we're planning one sit-down meal, so right now I'm thinking gift cards might make sense...

 

[Order66]

I always get a gift card for OOP meals, tips and extra snacks we might want to get beyond the DDP. I like that better than planning cash out. Never had a problem using it at any park or resort. Anything we don't spend on food we blow on last day extra souvenirs.

regards

 

[o2bnoz]

I'm buying giftcards for our trip, so I'm interested in hearing of any places that do NOT accept them, as well.


Thank you, OP, for this question

 

[dawnbu40]

We always take gift cards and use them for all our purchasing including food and snacks. Only one time have we ever had a problem and that was at a popcorn cart when a storm was coming and they had turned off their power so it was cash only. Gift cards work great!

 

[madalex]

Does anyone know if Il Mulino of the Bluezoo takes the gift cards?

It does not. None of the restaurants at Swan or Dolphin do, as they are not Disney owned (however, the gift shops in those resorts are Disney owned and gift cards can be used there).

 

[mcd2745]

I've been considering the gift card thing myself as an alternative to carrying too much cash. So I can go to my local Disney Store and get Disney gift cards and use them for almost any purchase (food & beverages, merchandise) within WDW?

 

[thej]

Yup, we do this fairly often... both regular gift cards, and the Rewards cards from chase. Makes it easier to stomach the prices!

 

[o2bnoz]

Mcd2745, I am buying the Disney Gift Cards at a local grocery store (Kroger) that offers gasoline discounts. Whatever I buy at the store goes towards my gas discount. So, by buying my disney gift cards here, I feel that I'm saving a bit more, as well.

I am only able to buy the cards in $25 increments at Kroger, but another helpful poster from an earlier thread told me that you can take all of your giftcards to an actual Disney Store and they will incorporate them into one! How great is that!?

Just thought I'd suggest this, since you might have a similar program somewhere near you.

Have fun!

 

[mcd2745]

Mcd2745, I am buying the Disney Gift Cards at a local grocery store (Kroger) that offers gasoline discounts. Whatever I buy at the store goes towards my gas discount. So, by buying my disney gift cards here, I feel that I'm saving a bit more, as well.

I am only able to buy the cards in $25 increments at Kroger, but another helpful poster from an earlier thread told me that you can take all of your giftcards to an actual Disney Store and they will incorporate them into one! How great is that!?

Just thought I'd suggest this, since you might have a similar program somewhere near you.

Have fun!

Thanks. I don't believe we have a store here with a program like that though.

I know I wouldn't want only one gift card. I prefer to have many in smaller increments (probably $50) - what if you lose the "one"? I'd only carry one or two with me and leave the rest back in the room safe.

 

[Poohs Pal]

This is exactly the same question I wanted to ask! At a TS restaurant, how is the tip handled paying with a gift card then? Does anyone know if Il Mulino of the Bluezoo takes the gift cards?

Your gift card will be run thru like a credit card with a receipt for you to sign. There will also be a line for a tip just like with any other gift card. I love prepurchasing gifts cards for our trips. I have the cutest halloween cards for our October vacation. DD has the christmas Tinkerbell for her December trip.
Susan

 

[halssister]

Did I also read that if you are staying at a WDW resort, you can charge meals and things to your room? We don't want to carry cash either and I had thought it would be nice to just charge all our meals (we'll be doing mostly CS) to our room. Does anyone know for sure it this is possible, or would gift cards be a better idea?

 

[Brian Noble]

Yes you can charge to your room.

You can also use a regular old credit card, which is where the room charge is probably going anyway.

 

[SeptDisney]

I have always used Disney Gift Cards or the Disney Visa Reward Card to pay for meals with no problem. Like the other posters have stated, it gets treated just like a credit card (make sure you are keeping up with your balances, though!)
You can charge your purchases on your room key, but your room must have a credit card number on file. If you visit the front desk before you check out, you can use your gift card to pay for the charges that have been made to your room, so your credit card isn't charged.

 

[whitney37354]

I've been considering the gift card thing myself as an alternative to carrying too much cash. So I can go to my local Disney Store and get Disney gift cards and use them for almost any purchase (food & beverages, merchandise) within WDW?

You can also get Disney GC at Walgreens. Another option would be to charge everything to your KTTW, then use the GC to pay off the KTTW before checking out.

We had dxdp & I carried one $20 bill the whole week, not using it until Thursday night & we left Friday morning. Had I known F! had cotton candy at the refreshment stand, I could have use my KTTW card & used a snack credit for that & not broken a $20.

On Thursday morning, I paid down our KTTW bill with cash, Disney Dollars, & Disney GC. The rest we put on our cc. No problems.

I think next time we might not do DDP or at least not deluxe. I think the gift card route would be a great way to save up money for the trip.

 

[Micky's biggest fan!]

I know you can use the Disney Gift Cards to purchase meals, but can you use Gift cards to purchase the Dining Plan?

I don't know how useful this bit is, but you can buy Disney Gift Cards online at the Disney store up to $500 each.

 

[clutter]

I know you can use the Disney Gift Cards to purchase meals, but can you use Gift cards to purchase the Dining Plan?

I don't know how useful this bit is, but you can buy Disney Gift Cards online at the Disney store up to $500 each.

Yes you can. I buy my GCs from my dd's soccer team's scrip program, so they get the benefit.

 

[Micky's biggest fan!]

Yes you can. I buy my GCs from my dd's soccer team's scrip program, so they get the benefit.

Thank you! It makes sense because eitehr way, they are getting your moolah!