Using Gift Cards and Disney Visa Rewards Card

[scjo68]

OK, I have read many threads about this here, so I know people do this. But I just wanted to make sure I have it right.

I have a room-only reservation at CR. I would like to use GC's from Target and my Visa rewards to go toward the room and charges. What is the easiest way to do this?

Am I right that I can not pay for my room online, since it is room only, not a package?

I can call and have them apply them to my room charge as a credit right? The advantage to this would be that I wouldn't worry about keeping up with them on the trip (I know to keep them in case I cancel and need a refund) and also it would decrease my time at the front desk during my vacation. I would rather not have this take forever over the phone, though.

The other option is to go to the front desk and pay off my charges. When is it best to do this? Can I do this at check-in, so that I have a credit on my room charge account, and they will use that first, then charge the remainder to my credit card? Or do I need to go down to the desk on the second day, and each day after that and pay down that day's balance as I go?

I am just trying to get a picture of how to do this without a lot of confusion.

 

[Marionnette]

OK, I have read many threads about this here, so I know people do this. But I just wanted to make sure I have it right.

I have a room-only reservation at CR. I would like to use GC's from Target and my Visa rewards to go toward the room and charges. What is the easiest way to do this?

Am I right that I can not pay for my room online, since it is room only, not a package?

I can call and have them apply them to my room charge as a credit right? The advantage to this would be that I wouldn't worry about keeping up with them on the trip (I know to keep them in case I cancel and need a refund) and also it would decrease my time at the front desk during my vacation. I would rather not have this take forever over the phone, though.

The other option is to go to the front desk and pay off my charges. When is it best to do this? Can I do this at check-in, so that I have a credit on my room charge account, and they will use that first, then charge the remainder to my credit card? Or do I need to go down to the desk on the second day, and each day after that and pay down that day's balance as I go?

I am just trying to get a picture of how to do this without a lot of confusion.

You can pay for your room in full before your arrival by calling Disney. There have been differing reports of people being able to successfully use MDE to make payments but the website/app is so quirky that I don't trust it for that purpose.

You cannot pay for more than the room itself ahead of time. So, you won't be able to apply the additional GCs and Rewards Dollars in order to have a room credit when you arrive. You have no option but to go to the lobby concierge to pay down your room charges if you want to use your GCs for payment on your KTTW (or MagicBand) charges.

A word of advice: Do not do online check in if you don't pay your room in full ahead of time. Disney will charge the credit card on file for your entire reservation on the day of your expected arrival. You would then need to get it refunded and pay it with the GCs, which will tie your time up even more.

I really never found it to be that big of a problem to use the GCs to pay off my charges. The lobby concierge staff are pretty efficient in doing it and I always do it at "off" hours so that I don't have to wait in line or make others wait while the CM runs a stack of GCs through.

 

[scjo68]

You can pay for your room in full before your arrival by calling Disney. There have been differing reports of people being able to successfully use MDE to make payments but the website/app is so quirky that I don't trust it for that purpose.

You cannot pay for more than the room itself ahead of time. So, you won't be able to apply the additional GCs and Rewards Dollars in order to have a room credit when you arrive. You have no option but to go to the lobby concierge to pay down your room charges if you want to use your GCs for payment on your KTTW (or MagicBand) charges.

A word of advice: Do not do online check in if you don't pay your room in full ahead of time. Disney will charge the credit card on file for your entire reservation on the day of your expected arrival. You would then need to get it refunded and pay it with the GCs, which will tie your time up even more.

I really never found it to be that big of a problem to use the GCs to pay off my charges. The lobby concierge staff are pretty efficient in doing it and I always do it at "off" hours so that I don't have to wait in line or make others wait while the CM runs a stack of GCs through.

I already did online check-in. So if I want to pay for the room with the cards, I should call. If I don't, the room will already be on the credit card when I get there? Ok, didn't know that.
Thanks!

 

[PolyLover]

I recently paid for my room with gift cards (from Target). It was just to pay for the room tho. I called ahead and paid for the room with all of the cards (I think I had 10!). It took a little while but I loved having the room paid off when I checked in. Also, save your gift cards just in case you need to cancel or if they don't have record. If they have to refund you it must go on that card. I admit, it was a little tedious.

Also I think I had a few others left over so at check in they applied them to my account so we had the credit to charge to the room (in addition to the credit card on hold).

Have fun!

 

[Loftin716]

Ok can some sum up how this target thing works without me having to go through the whole thread and piecing it together? Would love to find out how this works and how to save $$$ paying for the remainder of my trip! Thanks!!

 

[Marionnette]

Ok can some sum up how this target thing works without me having to go through the whole thread and piecing it together? Would love to find out how this works and how to save $$$ paying for the remainder of my trip! Thanks!!

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3105694

 

[scjo68]

OP back,
I just called and paid off part of my room with my Visa rewards and gift cards. It was incredibly simple and fast. Not nearly as complicated as linking my tickets to MDE last August!
Thanks for the tips.

 

[shannon104]

i am doing a great thing i believe. i am getting the 20 percent off coupon on black Friday and using it Sunday to buy 500 dollars for 400 dollars

and also using the Disney visa to get the 1 percent back and ear Disney dollars on top of it

 

[Marionnette]

i am doing a great thing i believe. i am getting the 20 percent off coupon on black Friday and using it Sunday to buy 500 dollars for 400 dollars and also using the Disney visa to get the 1 percent back and ear Disney dollars on top of it

I really hope for your sake that the 20%-off coupon that they are passing out on Black Friday works for Disney GCs. I'm having serious doubts that it will. The recent $10-off $100 coupon had similar wording and it didn't work on Disney GCs. It's going to put a serious crimp in your plans if it doesn't apply.

 

[shannon104]

Well target states that Disney cards are not gift card they are entertainment cards so I'll ask before I try

 

[Marionnette]

Well target states that Disney cards are not gift card they are entertainment cards so I'll ask before I try

Target states nothing of the sort. The Disney GCs are "coded" as "entertainment" cards in Target's accounting system to keep them separate from Target store GCs, but they are still gift cards. Some recent coupons (like the $10/$100 coupon that was mailed out earlier this month) have similar language to what is reported to be on the 20%-off coupon. Those $10/$100 coupons did not work on Disney GC purchases and neither do the "moving to a new home" coupons.

Chances are very good that if you ask, you will be told that it won't apply to Disney GCs, because the coupon specifically excludes gift cards. Cashiers will also tell you that pharma5 (in-store) and redcard5 discounts do not apply to Disney GCs, but we all know that they will work. The truth is, until someone tries it, none of us will know for sure.

I really do hope that the Black Friday coupon works to take 20% off of Disney GC purchases at Target. It would be a HUGE discount if it does. I'm just very skeptical that it will work like so many are hoping.

 

[rebbyparker]

I'm not trying to buy the Disney cards I need with the 20% coupon until Monday so I will be checking back to see if it works for someone on Sunday. Good luck to everyone!

 

[shannon104]

after looking at the fine print on the 5 % ones there are no restriction for gift cards except target and prepaid cards. and the 20 % includes the words gift cards so i think its not going to work.
good thing i also have my 5 % coupons still