What's with Disney gift cards?

[surrealrain]

I've read so many post's with people mentioning buying Disney gift cards to use for their spending money during vacation, but why? How's that any better than a regular credit card? Please explain to me what I'm missing here Is there special discounts for using a Disney gift card or something?

Thanks!

 

[sissy_ib]

I've read so many post's with people mentioning buying Disney gift cards to use for their spending money during vacation, but why? How's that any better than a regular credit card? Please explain to me what I'm missing here Is there special discounts for using a Disney gift card or something?

Thanks!

If you have a Target Red card (credit or debit) you get 5% off. Other than that I don't know why people use them instead of cash or CCs. I just use one of my rewards CCs for everything.

 

[clanmcculloch]

For some people, it's the only way they can set aside money specifically for Disney without risking spending it something else. It's a personal discipline thing. For others, it's just the feeling of having everything pre-paid. Some people in this category are using Gift Cards are trying to go without a dining plan but still want that same feeling of the money's already spent/the food's already paid for so they load up Gift Cards. For others, it's the same concept as the Target Red card savings mentioned by PP but it could be Target or it could be gas savings with the purchase of any gift card so while the GC is still the same value, they've saved money on their budgets by buying the GCs.

 

[surrealrain]

If you have a Target Red card (credit or debit) you get 5% off. Other than that I don't know why people use them instead of cash or CCs. I just use one of my rewards CCs for everything.

Thanks for the answer. I was just thinking that it must be because a lot of people have negativity towards credit cards so a gift card give he convience of credit and not the hassle of cash.

We use our credit card for everything as well, we charge all our bills with it too. We pay off the balance in full every month and rack up cash back. When our fridge went out this past December we used $1300 in cash back money and bought a new one, completely free to us. A few years ago we used cash back money for a free vacation. I'll never understand why credit cards get such bad stigma.

So if that's the only reason to use a gift card then I guess I'm not missing out on anything. I was just thinking there was some killer deal going on since they seem to be so popular.

 

[surrealrain]

For some people, it's the only way they can set aside money specifically for Disney without risking spending it something else. It's a personal discipline thing. For others, it's just the feeling of having everything pre-paid. Some people in this category are using Gift Cards are trying to go without a dining plan but still want that same feeling of the money's already spent/the food's already paid for so they load up Gift Cards. For others, it's the same concept as the Target Red card savings mentioned by PP but it could be Target or it could be gas savings with the purchase of any gift card so while the GC is still the same value, they've saved money on their budgets by buying the GCs.

I get that thinking. We pay more into taxes during the year so we can get a large federal refund and a lot of people have told us that's crazy and that it doesn't make sense to let the government keep our money for a year. Everyone is different

 

[Marionnette]

I've read so many post's with people mentioning buying Disney gift cards to use for their spending money during vacation, but why? How's that any better than a regular credit card? Please explain to me what I'm missing here Is there special discounts for using a Disney gift card or something?

Thanks!

Rewards or gas points at the grocery store for every purchase, including gift cards. So even if you don't get the Disney GC at a discount, you could still get a discount on gasoline because you bought the Disney GCs. If you have to pay for your Disney trip anyway, this is a good way to get an added perk.

Someone else also mentioned the 5% Target discount. And then there's also just buying them because you know that you lack the willpower to keep from delving into your vacation fund.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

For others, it's just the feeling of having everything pre-paid. Some people in this category are using Gift Cards are trying to go without a dining plan but still want that same feeling of the money's already spent/the food's already paid for so they load up Gift Cards. For others it could be gas savings with the purchase of any gift card so while the GC is still the same value, they've saved money on their budgets by buying the GCs.

Those are my reasons.

 

[QVCshopper]

Last year at Acme food store, I got $20 in Catalina coupon per $100 in gift cards. I bought food with the coupons, so that was a 20% discount basically.

 

[momdisney]

Last year Sam's Club gave you a free 10 dollar Disney STORE gift card with every 100 regular Disney gift card you bought.

 

[Ava]

A lot of people use GCs as a way to give spending money to their kids. Each child gets a certain amount on their GC and that's all they have to spend on souvenirs for the trip. Or for teenagers who may split up from their parents in the parks to buy food/souvies.

 

[vwaller72]

Last year Sam's Club gave you a free 10 dollar Disney STORE gift card with every 100 regular Disney gift card you bought.

We did this for last years trip. We ended up with $150 in Disney Store cards. We took that and bought a bunch of stuff for the kids for the trip.

 

[vickalamode]

I am one of the people who buys Disney gift cards because I am bad at disciplining myself to set aside money for vacation. This way, I can buy say a $25-$50GC whenever I go to the grocery store to save money for my trip.

 

[mirandag819]

There are also a lot of reward programs that allow you to earn Disney giftcards

 

[buckeev]

Ditto with the "personal discipline" thing for me!
Plus...I can't use a Disney Gift card at Chuck E. Cheese, or the skating rink, ball park, fishing marina...etc.

I can "easily" afford to buy a $29.93-(don't ask)-Disney Gift Card every week, but if I put that into a "savings account"...it is MUCH too easy to get to!

Our last three WDW trips have been paid for almost entirely with the gift cards...and now Universal has brought back theirs too, although so far I've only seen them on the US website.

 

[Fire14]

For me it's a combo of things. Sets money aside that I can't spend elsewhere, I save on gas buying gift cards, gives teen money, "prepays" for things.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I buy the Disney gift cards at Giant Eagle and get 20 cents in fuel perks per $50 in gift cards. Plus I use my Chase Freedom card to buy them. In April through June, I get 5% back for purchases at grocery stores for up to $1500 in purchases.

 

[addicted2dizney]

Ditto with the "personal discipline" thing for me!
Plus...I can't use a Disney Gift card at Chuck E. Cheese, or the skating rink, ball park, fishing marina...etc.

I can "easily" afford to buy a $29.93-(don't ask)-Disney Gift Card every week, but if I put that into a "savings account"...it is MUCH too easy to get to!

Our last three WDW trips have been paid for almost entirely with the gift cards...and now Universal has brought back theirs too, although so far I've only seen them on the US website.

lol... I like to be "creative" with my Disney budget... If I buy one $25 disney card each trip to the supermarket or the drug store it does not look like disney expenses. It looks like general food expenses. My DH then has no idea what the trips actually cost!

 

[Interpol]

I'll never understand why credit cards get such bad stigma.

The reason why is because a lot, if not a majority, of credit card users are not as disciplined, responsible, or financially secure as you are.

If you maintain a balance on a credit card account, usually the interest one ends up paying rapidly outpaces any cash back or points rewards that are earned. You're doing it the right way by taking advantage of the interest free grace period that most credit cards give you any paying off the bill every month. And that's pretty much the only right way to do it...

 

[Dismom55]

For me it is a gentle way of putting money aside for Disney that I will not spend elsewhere, I do not do CC's, and I consider them "safe" also visa and mc charge a fee to get thier pre paid cards. I also earn Disney gift card in various ways online. Also a local store from time to time will do a special buy so much in gift cards and get so much free. These gift cards turn into my spending money or my OOP meals while in Disney. The less cash I have to carry, the better I like it, as stated, I do not have credit cards, well one, that is strictly used for renting the car for the trip and other reservations, I have been a pay cash as I go all my adult life and not planning to change now.

Hope this helps answer your question.