WDW Without a credit card

[CSAColl]

So DH and I have worked our butts off to pay off debt and save money for our trip in September. We've been thinking DL, but with free dining it would be as cheap to go to WDW.

Our problem is that we don't have any credit cards. How do you lock in the free dining without it? Airfare we can go pay cash at the local airport for our tickets, but is there a deposit system we can send a cheque to Disney for?

Thanks!

 

[want2bamommy]

So DH and I have worked our butts off to pay off debt and save money for our trip in September. We've been thinking DL, but with free dining it would be as cheap to go to WDW.

Our problem is that we don't have any credit cards. How do you lock in the free dining without it? Airfare we can go pay cash at the local airport for our tickets, but is there a deposit system we can send a cheque to Disney for?

Thanks!

Do you have a debit card linked to your checking account? That's what DH and I use.

 

[CSAColl]

Those aren't something you can get in Canada! Crazy I know!

 

[Aidan's Mommy]

Another option is to load a prepaid debit card at Walmart and use that. If you already have the cash for it, just load it with that amount. It is also helpful to use as your card to attach to your key (if you do that) so you know how much you have on it, don't have to carry cash, and it's not attached to your bank account if it's stolen.

 

[KingK12]

So DH and I have worked our butts off to pay off debt and save money for our trip in September. We've been thinking DL, but with free dining it would be as cheap to go to WDW.

Our problem is that we don't have any credit cards. How do you lock in the free dining without it? Airfare we can go pay cash at the local airport for our tickets, but is there a deposit system we can send a cheque to Disney for?

Thanks!

If you have the money to deposit, try and get a prepaid card.

 

[JennyWren]

If you book online you can use Disney Gift Cards. I'm currently paying off a Disney cruise with gift cards.

 

[angierae]

Can you buy a prepaid visa at the drugstore for the $200 deposit? Buy $200 worth of Disney gift cards?

 

[adisneymama]

If you call Disney directly to book you are given a 10 day hold on the reservation. You could then mail a check or money order. Not having a credit card at Disney isn't that big of a deal. You would just have to have cash/travelers checks available.

 

[knud]

If you decide to go with a prepaid credit card as some PP's are suggesting, just make sure you read the fine print carefully. I used this method on a previous trip and ended up getting gouged on the currency exchange rate and service charges for foreign transactions.

Also, we went in mid-February, and apparently Disney will no longer allow you to make a cash deposit on check-in for KTTW charging priviledges.

 

[mollymar]

I would go the Prepaid card route and not send a check or money order. We tried that last year to pay off our balance and it took a month for them to find the check and post it. They have some kind of lock box that gets checked sporadically. Fortunately, Disney was good about it since we were calling multiple times a day and didn't cancel our reservation. Lesson learned.

 

[Marionnette]

If you call Disney directly to book you are given a 10 day hold on the reservation. You could then mail a check or money order. Not having a credit card at Disney isn't that big of a deal. You would just have to have cash/travelers checks available.

There is no need to buy prepaid Visa gift cards or Disney GCs. You can mail your check to Disney. The only problem that I see for the OP would be the exchange rate. If she had a credit or debit card, the rate would be automatically converted from $CDN to $USD. The currencies are just about even right now (with the Canadian dollar being slightly stronger).

OP might want to visit the Canadian Board on the disboards for more information.
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=19

 

[Sunnywho]

paying cash at the airport is a sign of potential terrorist intent
when my dad was a delta gate agent, it was one of the things they watched out for and this was before 9/11

 

[want2bamommy]

Those aren't something you can get in Canada! Crazy I know!

Wow, I'm sorry I had no idea. I've learned something new today.

 

[CSAColl]

paying cash at the airport is a sign of potential terrorist intent
when my dad was a delta gate agent, it was one of the things they watched out for and this was before 9/11

Wow. I never thought about that!

 

[Golf4food]

If saving money is your intent then do the math and compare going another time with a room discount and paying OOP for food vs. paying full price for the hotel to get the "free" dining. You might come out better the other way.

 

[jodifla]

Another problem OP is going to run into is that Disney now requires a credit card to make reservations at a lot of the restaurants, EVEN when you are on the dining plan, to make sure you show up. There's a 10 buck no show fee per person.

 

[Hoodie]

paying cash at the airport is a sign of potential terrorist intent
when my dad was a delta gate agent, it was one of the things they watched out for and this was before 9/11

I was going to say the same thing. Be prepared for LOTS of extra security as it would be "international" AND in cash. You'll be throwing up red flags everywhere!

 

[sissy_ib]

I was going to say the same thing. Be prepared for LOTS of extra security as it would be "international" AND in cash. You'll be throwing up red flags everywhere!

Can you use a check for airfare?

 

[sunshinehighway]

Have you checked out AAA for a prepaid card (is it CAA in Canada?) Here, AAA has several options for travel cards. Usually with AAA you don't have to worry about hidden fees and being gouged. They'll be upfront with what you'll get charged for.

 

[crashbb]

Those aren't something you can get in Canada! Crazy I know!

I have a debit card linked to my chequing account - and I'm in Canada (using a Canadian bank).