Visa Gift Cards

[famsen]

Any problems using Visa gift cards for anything at the resorts or parks? I have quite a few I received as gifts and thinking I could pay my room balance at check in with them. Or is it better to buy Disney gift cards with the Visa gift cards and pay that way?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

No issue using Visa gift cards at Disney.

However, If you can buy Disney gift cards at a discount that's a win...Target red card, local grocery store with gas perks, etc - many ways to save a little on gift cards.

Also you can use disneygiftcard.com to combine gift cards and store up to $1,000 on one gift card.

 

[Fangorn]

Using Visa/MC/AE gift cards at Disney can be problematic. They will work fine for merchandise at the shops, but if you try to use them to pay your bill at the resort, you will have some frustration. Because of the way those cards are processed, you won't be able to use the full value of the card to pay your bill - there is a 10%(?) hold back. There is nothing the resort can do about it.

The solution is to go to the nearest gift shop and use the Visa gift card to buy a Disney gift card, then use the Disney gift card to pay the room bill.

Steve

 

[Happy_2_B]

Using Visa/MC/AE gift cards at Disney can be problematic. They will work fine for merchandise at the shops, but if you try to use them to pay your bill at the resort, you will have some frustration. Because of the way those cards are processed, you won't be able to use the full value of the card to pay your bill - there is a 10%(?) hold back. There is nothing the resort can do about it.

The solution is to go to the nearest gift shop and use the Visa gift card to buy a Disney gift card, then use the Disney gift card to pay the room bill.

Steve

Good point, and I second this recommendation- although I would change them into Disney cards before arrival. I think it is a 20% hold back, though, since gratuities are typically 18%.

 

[Bob Dolewhip]

I don’t have specific experience using visa gift cards at Disney, but in general I always encounter problems with them.
They are also not subject to the same rules actual gift cards have to abide by. You would do better to swap them for Disney cards if you know you will use them all there.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Due to problems in the past with Visa gift cards, I always “cash” them out at the grocery by using it to pay for my groceries, then pay any difference with my debit card so I can get cash back for the amount of the Visa card.

 

[Fangorn]

I think it is a 20% hold back, though, since gratuities are typically 18%.

Could well be 20%. It's been several years since my experience with Visa gift cards at Disney and I really don't remember how much they held back. If I get one as a gift now, I always just convert it to a Disney gift card the next time I'm at the grocery store.

Steve

 

[erij11]

On my first Disney trip, I had problems trying to pay on my resort balance with Visa gift cards I received as rebates. When the cast member ran the card, it would only reduce my resort bill by a few dollars or even a few cents. She ran the cards several times with the same results. It was very frustrating. Since then, I take any Visa gift cards to Target and buy Disney gift cards. Works like a charm.