What can you pre-pay for?

[squirk]

We have a cruise coming up in Feb. My wife finds that paying for stuff during or after the vacation (i.e., port adventures, gratuities, dog kenneling, hotels, etc.) bursts the vacation bubble and "harshes her buzz".

I know we can put stuff on a Visa or Disney Gift Card to "pre-allocate" our vacation money. However, she would like to try to get as much squared away as possible so that once the vacation begins, we just don't have to think about it anymore.

So, while I can't really pre-pay for stuff like gas to/from PC or food while in port, I have already used points to pay for the PC hotel the night before embarkation, and I have already paid the kennel.

I know it is possible to pre-pay DCL for your default gratuities, but how is that done exactly? Does my TA just call up DCL with my card info and put the charge through? Can I do it now, or must I wait until after PIF date?

Also, is it possible to pre-pay for stuff like port adventures, spa treatments and Remy/Palo as well? Like, after PIF date when I register for all those things, can I pay for them in advance just as I paid for the gratuities?

Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We have a cruise coming up in Feb. My wife finds that paying for stuff during or after the vacation (i.e., port adventures, gratuities, dog kenneling, hotels, etc.) bursts the vacation bubble and "harshes her buzz".

I know we can put stuff on a Visa or Disney Gift Card to "pre-allocate" our vacation money. However, she would like to try to get as much squared away as possible so that once the vacation begins, we just don't have to think about it anymore.

So, while I can't really pre-pay for stuff like gas to/from PC or food while in port, I have already used points to pay for the PC hotel the night before embarkation, and I have already paid the kennel.

I know it is possible to pre-pay DCL for your default gratuities, but how is that done exactly? Does my TA just call up DCL with my card info and put the charge through? Can I do it now, or must I wait until after PIF date?

Also, is it possible to pre-pay for stuff like port adventures, spa treatments and Remy/Palo as well? Like, after PIF date when I register for all those things, can I pay for them in advance just as I paid for the gratuities?

Thanks!

As to the pre-paid grautities, yes, your TA will contact DCL with your credit card info. Basically it adds the cost of the gratuities to your cruise fare.

Any overage that you pay in your cruise fare will be applied to your onboard account as a credit. So you can put whatever amount on there that you want (cover gratuities, excursions, adult dining, whatever). If there is credit left over after the cruise, it will be credited back to your credit card.

 

[squirk]

Thanks. It seems that is pretty much the same thing as the pre-paid gift card idea, just substituting the card with your onboard account. Is that right?

If so, then I guess the only real challenge is to dig up the current pricing on all the stuff we are most likely going to do, and add it all up.

 

[diznymom]

Thanks. It seems that is pretty much the same thing as the pre-paid gift card idea, just substituting the card with your onboard account. Is that right?

If so, then I guess the only real challenge is to dig up the current pricing on all the stuff we are most likely going to do, and add it all up.

This is what we do. I keep a spreadsheet w/ list of costs of all things we want to do (incl. gratuities). Things like port adventures, spa packages, Palo brunch, etc. The prices can usually be found on the DCL website. We are staying at AKL before the cruise and that is already paid for. We are using DCL Bus for the transportation to / from the cruise......that is already paid for.

I use a TA (Dreams Unlimited) and I have them add the $$$$ to my cruise account. I'm like your DW: I want everything paid for in advance so I don't have to worry about it.

Things that will require payment once we get there (meals before the cruise, cash for room service, etc)..........I made up envelopes and put that money aside.

If by chance I have over-budgeted / paid, then a refund is always nice.

 

[lanejudy]

"Pre-paying" -- gratuities or other -- is simply a way of saying "adding a credit to the onboard account." The amount you pre-pay can be anything and used toward anything. If you can estimate your onboard costs for tips, excursions, spa services, adult dining, even souvenirs and beverages, you can have your TA contact DCL to have it put on your onboard account. If you end up overpaying, it will be refunded back to your credit card post-cruise.

If you use a Disney Visa, pre-paying will qualify for the 0% financing, whereas those same charges put through once on your cruise will not qualify.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[squirk]

Thank you all. It'll be a nice Xmas present for her to know that a large portion of the incidentals are covered and she no longer has to budget for them.

 

[CM Dad]

If you use a Disney Vacation Account to get the $20 gift card for every $1000 spent on a Disney vacation, you can call DCL to transfer money from your DVA to your stateroom account to cover expected expenses (gratuities, excursions, onboard shopping, Palo/Remy, adult beverages, specialty coffee, bingo, sports simulator, Bibbidi Boppidi Boutique, spa, anything else you would charge to your room). Any money not spent would be refunded to your DVA for the next Disney vacation.

 

[squirk]

If you use a Disney Vacation Account to get the $20 gift card for every $1000 spent on a Disney vacation, you can call DCL to transfer money from your DVA to your stateroom account to cover expected expenses (gratuities, excursions, onboard shopping, Palo/Remy, adult beverages, specialty coffee, bingo, sports simulator, Bibbidi Boppidi Boutique, spa, anything else you would charge to your room). Any money not spent would be refunded to your DVA for the next Disney vacation.

Thanks. But wouldn't Target Red Card or Sam's Club give me a 5% discount when I buy Disney Gift Cards vs. the 2% credit you mentioned above from DVA? Or am I missing something?

 

[CM Dad]

Thanks. But wouldn't Target Red Card or Sam's Club give me a 5% discount when I buy Disney Gift Cards vs. the 2% credit you mentioned above from DVA? Or am I missing something?

The only thing you are missing is that you can do both. Buy discounted Disney gift cards and then deposit them to your Disney Vacation Account. That way you get the DVA bonus gift card ($20 for each $1000 spent on a Disney vacation) in addition to whatever discount you get on buying the gift cards. No additional reward with the Target Red card, but using some credit cards at Sam's might also get you additional credit card rewards. I know that Chase Freedom card is currently offering 5% cash back for warehouse purchases at least through Sept.

 

[squirk]

The only thing you are missing is that you can do both. Buy discounted Disney gift cards and then deposit them to your Disney Vacation Account. That way you get the DVA bonus gift card ($20 for each $1000 spent on a Disney vacation) in addition to whatever discount you get on buying the gift cards. No additional reward with the Target Red card, but using some credit cards at Sam's might also get you additional credit card rewards. I know that Chase Freedom card is currently offering 5% cash back for warehouse purchases at least through Sept.

Ah. I did not know that you could deposit Disney Gift Cards into DVA's. Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

No additional reward with the Target Red card,

If you purchase Disney gift cards at Target, using your Red Card (debit or credit) you get 5% off.

 

[CM Dad]

If you purchase Disney gift cards at Target, using your Red Card (debit or credit) you get 5% off.

Yes, you get the 5% off with Red card. If you can buy discounted gift cards at Sam's club (which I think is also about 5%, but don't know since I am not a member) you can also get whatever additional reward points from your credit card company. Some grocery stores may sell gift cards for face value, but give you 4x fuel points at times.

 

[Imahikergirl]

I am going to buy a SunPass transponder sticker (approx. $5) and prepay my tolls. The website has a tool where you can calculate based on your route.

 

[squirk]

Yes, SunPass actually has a pretty decent iOS app, too.

 

[Imahikergirl]

Yes, SunPass actually has a pretty decent iOS app, too.

Just downloaded it, thanks for that. I was just trying to think outside the box for stuff that can be paid ahead of time.