What to do with lots of gift cards

[pascagoulabeach]

We are going for our first 7 night stay at WDW in November. This will be our first stay at VGF.

Since I am a hard person to by for people have been giving me Disney gift cars as gifts. Also, I have been taking advantage of gift card discounts (like 5% off at Target).

I will have about 20 gift cards by November. I was wondering if I could just give them to the front desk when we get there so we can just use our MB or should I stop by during our stay to pay down what we have charged.

One year I tried to split our room charges between two different cards and it took way too long to get that done. I don't want to waste too much time with it.

 

[LauraLea]

You will not be able to apply the gift cards to the room charges until there are actual charges made to the room. Disney Reward cards can be applied at check-in, but not gift cards. Once you have made charges, you can then go to the front desk and have the gift cards applied.

Laura

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

We kept ours in the safe and every few days I'd take some down to the front desk to zero out our room charges. I could have just waited until the last day, but I was trying to see how we were pacing ourselves as far as spending. It also takes a few minutes for them to run each gift card, so it was easier to do them a few at a time instead of standing there for 30 minutes.

 

[loveswdw]

If you have an iPhone, there's an app for Disney gift cards that will keep track of the amounts, etc. I had a ton of gift cards last time and used the app to do this. When I went to the front desk at AKVK, the girl was thrilled that I could just use the app and see how much the balance was on each card. It made it so much easier for her.

 

[pachelbel9]

You can try asking if you can apply it up front. We went last year, 3 families staying in a 2BR at BLT (mine, my parents, my brother). They put my parents' cc on their keys, my cc on my keys, and a $200 gift card on my brother's keys (at check-in). From what I've read, getting a gc linked at check-in is very hit or miss (more miss than hit?), so don't get your hopes up. Doesn't hurt to ask though!

 

[Perditamarie]

We skip this step and just bring our budgeted amount of cards with us to the parks each day. Invariably, there is always a line at the front desk and I'm sure I'd rather be doing something else!

 

[wdwfan1]

If you have an iPhone, there's an app for Disney gift cards that will keep track of the amounts, etc. I had a ton of gift cards last time and used the app to do this. When I went to the front desk at AKVK, the girl was thrilled that I could just use the app and see how much the balance was on each card. It made it so much easier for her.

I did not know this. just checked he app store and could not find it. What is the name of the app? sounds like a winner!

 

[kim532]

When we stayed at GCV last year, I took my cards down the day before check out and had them applied against my charges. Don't wait until check-out day.

Kim

 

[helenk]

We skip this step and just bring our budgeted amount of cards with us to the parks each day. Invariably, there is always a line at the front desk and I'm sure I'd rather be doing something else!

This is what I do as well. I figure out my food budget and then I buy $25 gift cards each month once I make my reservation. I am going with my grand-daughter in August so I bought 2 a month this time. I use them to pay for meals and then if I've used them all before the end of my trip, then I charge back to the room. Generally I've got the amount I need figured out pretty close though.
I'd rather not wait in line at the desk, there is too much fun to be had in the parks.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

If you have an iPhone, there's an app for Disney gift cards that will keep track of the amounts, etc. I had a ton of gift cards last time and used the app to do this. When I went to the front desk at AKVK, the girl was thrilled that I could just use the app and see how much the balance was on each card. It made it so much easier for her.

Could you please tell us the name of the app?
I couldn't find it either.

 

[JamesA1]

Could you please tell us the name of the app?
I couldn't find it either.

It is called Disney Gift Card and is only an iPhone app.

I use my gift cards for both daily purchases to control my spending and use them to pay my charges throughout the stay. Also, I review my balance through my member account before heading to the front desk. This way I know how many to take.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Thank you so much for this information, JamesA1. This will be a huge time saver for us - we have over $2300 in gift cards so far. Can't tell you how helpful this is! (I'm sure the CM's at the GF will be very appreciative too!)

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

OK - so I just downloaded the app.
It's asking me for the card label, GC #, and PIN #.
Do these all have to be added manually??? I assumed I could scan the barcode or something, but I don't see any way to do it that way. (I have over 42 cards.)
If so, I'll just call if I need any updates....

 

[AirGoofy]

You could give all your gift cards to me.

I've never had as many as you did, but I just took them with me and used them at the store or restaurant in lieu of room charges.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Too funny, AirGoofy!
Have been amassing them for some time now.
We'll just do as you suggested - can't see any advantage to manually entering all that data just to know my balance. We've always written what was left right on the card with a magic marker. Sometimes technology aint what it's cracked up to be...