Using gift cards in shops?

[kittyscrap1]

Does anyone know if you can buy Disney gift cards online or in the retail stores that you can use in the Disney Cruise shops or Castaway Cay shops? Since this trip is about celebrations (3 bdays, 1 anniversary, 1 graduation, 1 welcome home)..I'm going to decorate our room each night when they are all asleep for the next days celebration..and I thought leaving gift cards would be a nice idea for the kids.
Thanks for the help.

 

[erionm]

Gift cards can not be used to shop on board or at Castaway Cay.

 

[GTO-Girl]

Does anyone know if you can buy Disney gift cards online or in the retail stores that you can use in the Disney Cruise shops or Castaway Cay shops? Since this trip is about celebrations (3 bdays, 1 anniversary, 1 graduation, 1 welcome home)..I'm going to decorate our room each night when they are all asleep for the next days celebration..and I thought leaving gift cards would be a nice idea for the kids.
Thanks for the help.

I think you can have them applied to your "onboard" account. My granddaughters have received one each from their Aunt for our upcoming cruise and we were told they could be used this way.

If someone else has different info, please let us know.....

 

[cmclaura]

You use your Key to the World exclusively while on DCL and in it's shops. You can take the gift cards and lodge them with Guest Services to offset your on board charges.

My daughter always gets some gift cards as birthday/Christmas gifts and takes them on the cruises with us. We put them against the bill at the beginning of the cruise and she knows she can spend up to that amount on things she wants without having to ask our permission.

But you cannot use them separately. Everything is done via the KTTW.

 

[kcashner]

We've read that they intend to start accepting gift cards at the various shops, but this has not been confirmed by DCL.

Currently, you use your KTTW card for all on board charges. You would take the gift cards to Guest Services and use them to pay off the KTTW account.

 

[ydrj]

Actually, I was on the 4/17 Dream cruise, was on line to pay at the Sea Treasures shop, this father and daughter was in front of me and took out a Disney GC to pay, I immediately I thought, they can't pay that way they're gonna have to go to Guest Services to get it applied to their account. Lo and behold the CM takes the card from them and swipes to complete the transaction! The card still had money left so the CM handed the card back to the father! I was in shock I did not even think to ask and confirm with the CM that they take actually take GC's at the register now!

I don't know if it's so new that we all still automatically put our GC's on our account cus that's how we have always done it.

Has this happened to anyone else? Seen it done or have done it themselves already? Maybe the ones leaving on the Dream tomm. can confirm this and let us know.

 

[kcashner]

Actually, I was on the 4/17 Dream cruise, was on line to pay at the Sea Treasures shop, this father and daughter was in front of me and took out a Disney GC to pay, I immediately I thought, they can't pay that way they're gonna have to go to Guest Services to get it applied to their account. Lo and behold the CM takes the card from them and swipes to complete the transaction! The card still had money left so the CM handed the card back to the father! I was in shock I did not even think to ask and confirm with the CM that they take actually take GC's at the register now!

I don't know if it's so new that we all still automatically put our GC's on our account cus that's how we have always done it.

Has this happened to anyone else? Seen it done or have done it themselves already? Maybe the ones leaving on the Dream tomm. can confirm this and let us know.

This is certainly consistent with what they SAID would be happening...glad to see that it appears to have started.

 

[Loriekins]

On our 1/28/11 cruise we DID use gift cards at the gift shop. Cannot use the reward card from on our Disney credit card at the gift shop. We took the rest of our gift cards & reward card to customer service & had them applied to our account. We used them for not only purchases but excursions. Next cruise we will have enough gift cards to use for tips too.

 

[marhs]

Great to know! I will have the Disney credit card rewards card to use, so if they don't accept it, I'm glad to know I can take it to Guest Services to have it applied to our KTTW card balance. Thank you so much!

 

[kittyscrap1]

This feedback is great...thanks everyone. And an add-on to this is..and I think I remember this being offered before when we went...but can't you put a spending limit on the kids' or anyones KTTW card..ie..give kids up to $100 on them? I'm just afraid of them forgetting them somewhere and someone else charging on our KTTW card.

 

[soul_power]

Thank for you the info! DBF and I have been buying $100 worth of gift cards every month, so by the time our cruise and WDW trip roll around, we'll have $800 in gift cards! Glad to hear they can be used on excursions, too.

 

[Mmketeer]

Actually, I was on the 4/17 Dream cruise, was on line to pay at the Sea Treasures shop, this father and daughter was in front of me and took out a Disney GC to pay, I immediately I thought, they can't pay that way they're gonna have to go to Guest Services to get it applied to their account. Lo and behold the CM takes the card from them and swipes to complete the transaction! The card still had money left so the CM handed the card back to the father! I was in shock I did not even think to ask and confirm with the CM that they take actually take GC's at the register now!

I don't know if it's so new that we all still automatically put our GC's on our account cus that's how we have always done it.

Has this happened to anyone else? Seen it done or have done it themselves already? Maybe the ones leaving on the Dream tomm. can confirm this and let us know.

Wow, I had GC's and I just applied them to my onboard account. I didn't know you could do that. I'll have to give that a shot next time.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

So you can use them in the gift shops on the ship and at Castaway Cay? What about using them to buy special drinks or pics at Shutters?

 

[Loriekins]

We were told that you could not put a limit on the KTW cards but you can get a print out of all charges broken down by card used as often as you want at customer service.

Once the gift cards are on your acct you can use it for drinks, anything you buy on the ship or CC, shutters, etc. If you are worried that you won't use them all just put them on as you go or toward the end of your cruise. I wouldn't wait until the night before though, the lines get really long.

The only thing I know that you can't use your OBC for is deposit for another cruise...

 

[kittyscrap1]

I received an answer from Disney itself regarding gift cards...

The Disney Gift Card can be used as payment for a Disney Cruise Line
vacation through Reservations or online at www.disneycruise.com.

If you would like to use your Disney Gift Card to settle your onboard
account, indicate 'Cash' as the form of payment on the Payment
Authorization Form online. Once on the ship, take the Disney Gift Card
to the Guest Services Desk on Deck 3, Midship and the payment will be
applied to your shipboard account.

The Disney Gift Card can also be purchased, redeemed, or reloaded
onboard the ship. In addition, Guests who purchase a Disney Gift Card
onboard will be able to choose the exclusive Captain Mickey and Minnie
themed gift card.However, the Disney Gift Card cannot be purchased nor can additional
funds be added to the card at the Disney Cruise Line terminal in Port
Canaveral.

The Disney Gift Card is valid for purchases until all remaining funds
have been depleted from the card. Please keep the Disney Gift Card until
after travel has been completed in the event a refund is necessary.

To purchase a Disney Gift Card, please go to www.disneyshopping.com and
type 'gift card' in the keyword search box.

 

[Lizzy'sMom]

When you go to Sams club and buy $100 in gift cards you get a Free $10 Disney Store gift card - can THESE $10 cards be used as an on-board credit?
that would be fabulous! please let me know...

Andrea

 

[robandkelly13]

With the risk of sounding ignorant, how do gift cards and reward cards differ. We have had our Disney visa for a year and I have not redeemed our rewards yet. We also have a gift card (I think) that was sent by DVC for a referral. How do these two differ? I was thinking that I could have my reward dollars uploaded to the card sent by DVC at the last minute instead of having to wait for the reward card to come by mail.

Insight, please

 

[stlkeeler]

I'm just afraid of them forgetting them somewhere and someone else charging on our KTTW card.

I don't think anyone can do this with your card. Your card doesn't have any identifiers on it (no name, room number). When you purchase something, they ask you for your room number. It has to match the number that comes up in their computer. That's how they know the card belongs to you or someone in your party.

 

[stlkeeler]

With the risk of sounding ignorant, how do gift cards and reward cards differ. We have had our Disney visa for a year and I have not redeemed our rewards yet. We also have a gift card (I think) that was sent by DVC for a referral. How do these two differ? I was thinking that I could have my reward dollars uploaded to the card sent by DVC at the last minute instead of having to wait for the reward card to come by mail.

Insight, please

Gift cards are something someone has purchased and loaded monies onto. Rewards cards are tied to your Disney Visa card. The monies on those are "earned" by using the card for purchases. I don't think you can load your rewards money onto your gift card (if that's what DVC sent you). They are 2 different things. Hope that makes sense. If I'm wrong, I'm sure some kind person will chime in.

 

[Mummum]

When you go to Sams club and buy $100 in gift cards you get a Free $10 Disney Store gift card - can THESE $10 cards be used as an on-board credit?
that would be fabulous! please let me know...

Andrea

That would be nice! Maybe you could use the Disney Store gift cards to buy regular Disney gift cards.