Using gift cards at restaurants...

[pat fan]

I know this....but please confirm. Can you use Disney gift cards (like from BJ's) at sit down restaurants? How about quick service and snack carts?

I know this isn't dining related, but can you put the gift cards in your room account? That would be waayyy easier! Then we could just charge to the room! TIA!!

 

[izzylovesmickey]

Yes you can. You can't add the gift cards to your room but you can charge to the room and then pay off the charges at the front desk. I've done it almost every trip. You just have to pay the charges off before you reach the limit that the resort allows before charging your CC. Sam's Club has a slightly better discount on the cards sometimes!

 

[DISNEY1975]

Yes you can. You can't add the gift cards to your room but you can charge to the room and then pay off the charges at the front desk. I've done it almost every trip. You just have to pay the charges off before you reach the limit that the resort allows before charging your CC. Sam's Club has a slightly better discount on the cards sometimes!

Ive done this before. I give them my CC at check in, but let them know I would like to use gift cards to pay. Im rpetty sure they make note of it, though cant see the monitor, so dont know 100% sure! I usually stopped at the front desk every other day or so to pay off my balance, that way it never got too high in case they did charge me CC, which they didnt. Every time I walked through the lobby, if there wasnt a line, I would swing by. It took 2 minutes.

But, you can also give the GCs to your server at the restaurant, that way there is no chance of being charged on your CC attached to the room.

Walt Disney World® Resorts
The Disney Gift Card offers a convenient option to shop, dine, stay and enjoy recreation experiences throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort. Present the Disney Gift Card at any of the Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels Front Desks as payment toward hotel room nights or accumulated purchases on your MagicBands and Cards. The Disney Gift Card can also be used at most Walt Disney World® Resort Hotel merchandise, restaurant, or Spa locations.

Just make sure the restaurant you are going to is owned by Disney. There are some on Disney property that are not.

 

[denecarter]

Last trip, we just paid with our gift card. We had gone online and combined several cards, keeping a spare so we could quickly transfer the balance in case we lost the main card. We liked that the receipt showed our balance. We always carry some sort of backup payment when we use room charges (there have been glitches with pins and such over the years), so the gift card isn't any big deal to carry. Yes, we could charge everything to our magic band and go in and pay it off, but that just seems like extra work compared to just using the card.

 

[pat fan]

So you can't put the cards on your account, but you CAN pay your bill at the front desk with them?? Just clarifying.

No SAMs Club near me that I know of, unfortunately. I figure the couple bucks I save will add up to at least a couple Dole Whips!

 

[pat fan]

Yes, we could charge everything to our magic band and go in and pay it off, but that just seems like extra work compared to just using the card.

I see pros and cons to both ways. the magic Band is easy, you don't have to carry anything or think about it. But you can also get in trouble that way...gee, ya think Disney??

Using a GC is better for not over spending, but one more thing to carry. I can have DH carry them, but I tend to be a control freak.

Either way, I'm buying them. Every dollar saved is a free dollar!

 

[DISNEY1975]

So you can't put the cards on your account, but you CAN pay your bill at the front desk with them?? Just clarifying.

No SAMs Club near me that I know of, unfortunately. I figure the couple bucks I save will add up to at least a couple Dole Whips!

No, cant leave the GC as a deposit. You need to leave a debit/CC in case you tear up the room and it costs more than the $100 on the giftcard that is attached to nobody!

BJs.com is the best Ive seen, with 5% off. You dont have to be a member to buy on their website. I buy them with my discover card for another 5% cashback..full savings 10% Between buying the GCs through BJs and the cashback from discover, I saved close to $800 on my trip!