So, if you use your MagicBand to "pay" you don't actually pay until checkout?
When you have reached a certain dollar amount your on your bill, your CC will be charged. I think the value starts at $1000, but I could be off. We just go every couple days to apply a gift card to the balance. I have missed the cutoff before and they were able to reverse the charge and apply the gift card.
I'm not trying to be argumentative but how is it easy and convenient to make a special trip to the front desk to pay for the same thing a second time? I just never understood that. But maybe my vacations are more go-go-go than yours since I'm traveling with a kid and they are far less frequent. I had to deal with a DDP issue that meant 3 trips to the front desk and it was irritating to have to go there first (it was a special trip and not on the way to anywhere) and second to wait in line for someone to open up. It is not so much harder to pay by gift card right there at the table than MB (you just hand it to the server) that I would want to build up a second trip to have to deal with paying off my room bill at some point later. I would not want that hanging over me, that I have to go and pay it off before they charge it back to my credit card... it would be a constant worry in the back of my head, and then I am stuck with this gift card good nowhere but disney!
our kids knew whatever was left over on the cards at the end of the day could be used for whatever junk they wanted to buy, MB accessories, the 9th bag of goofy candy, etc. This amazingly simple idea saved so much wasted food. They were willing to share food with us or even each other, when I knew their portions would be too much for them alone.
I also just charge everything as I go to my MB and then pay at the end of my stay. I think it's easier than carrying around a bunch of gift cards and trying to calculate in morning how many of them I need for the day. Even if Disney charges my credit card, they will reverse the charge when they apply the gift cards. If you want to make it easier for the front desk CM you can always combine your gift cards in advance and they only have to scan one card instead of 10 or more of them.
There aren't many people checking in/out late at night so almost always no wait...and I like strolling back after getting the gift card out of the safe for a little quiet time...Especially at Poly where it can be dark other than the torches.
Well I just carry around my one main gift card too... I don't carry around a pile of them. That would be ridiculous. I always buy smaller denominations then immediately transfer them to my main one. I do not spend in excess of $1k on vacation usually after all of the prepaid stuff so just having the one is not an issue at all. I can't imagine standing there while they scan a whole pile of gift cards! I figured everyone combined.
. But if you can and want to take a walk alone then I can see the charm. But it is not "easier" - you are adding an extra step to the whole process. It is a step that you enjoy but it is there nonetheless. I also put everything on my gift card (tips, snacks, souvenirs), until it was gone, then I just used the MB for the extras (I bought low on the gift card because I did not want to end up with leftovers) and had that automatically go to my card. You have to pay one way or the other so the extra 2 seconds of taking the gift card out of my purse (i have card slots directly in my purse and don't use a wallet on vacation) is way preferable to me than having to make an extra trip or two or three to the front desk. We do all have preferences but you can't argue it is less work to do it that way (and less work is my priority on vacation!)
. But if you can and want to take a walk alone then I can see the charm. But it is not "easier" - you are adding an extra step to the whole process. It is a step that you enjoy but it is there nonetheless. I also put everything on my gift card (tips, snacks, souvenirs), until it was gone, then I just used the MB for the extras (I bought low on the gift card because I did not want to end up with leftovers) and had that automatically go to my card. You have to pay one way or the other so the extra 2 seconds of taking the gift card out of my purse (i have card slots directly in my purse and don't use a wallet on vacation) is way preferable to me than having to make an extra trip or two or three to the front desk. We do all have preferences but you can't argue it is less work to do it that way (and less work is my priority on vacation!)[/QUOTE]
I would not want to carry $1000 in gift cards with me. That would be ridiculous. That's the same as carrying cash and if something happens and I lose it, I'm out a bunch of money. My gift card(s) stay in the safe until the end of the trip where they can't get lost. When we stayed offsite last summer, we still paid with gift cards and we brought multiple ones with us for that day (I was too lazy to combine them in advance like @TellTheHubbyLater did
) and I was much more comfortable carrying only $100-$200 around with me.
I would not want to carry $1000 in gift cards with me. That would be ridiculous. That's the same as carrying cash and if something happens and I lose it, I'm out a bunch of money. My gift card(s) stay in the safe until the end of the trip where they can't get lost. When we stayed offsite last summer, we still paid with gift cards and we brought multiple ones with us for that day (I was too lazy to combine them in advance like @TellTheHubbyLater did
I get your point. It is one more step to pay at the front desk but it's worth it for me to (1) see everything on one bill and (2) keep my gift card(s) safe from loss.
Your server will not assume you are putting it on your MagicBand at all.
