Cash, Credit or Debit?

[H20Babie]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but ...

Which is best to use on a WDW vacation? While I like the idea of charging to my Key to the World, I do not like it going onto a credit card! Likewise, I don't like carrying a lot of cash and traveller's cheques are just a pain in the !

As a solo, am I better off with just cash and my debit card (bank machine)? Since I'm on the DDP, the only money I'll be needing is for souvies and snacks; everything else is paid for. I am budgeting approx. $50-100 per day (more than enough, I think). And, Disney cards won't work for me as we can only get them in CDN dollars and are only useable at the Canadian Disney Stores.

(Any replies from fellow Canucks or Brits would also be appreciated!)

:wave:

 

[mousefan1972]

We just got back, cry and had some $400 in cash that we wanted to deplete before using CC's. Like you, we were on the DDP so we didn't have many expenses. The CM at the Poly put the $400 on our room charge (as a credit), then when that was used up, the remainer went to our credit card. That way, you can still "charge" to your KTTW card, but in reality, it's functioning as a debit card until you use up the cash you put down. It worked great! Have a great trip!

P.S. The Poly is WONDERFUL!!!! :sohappy:

 

[Monty]

Put a payment of cash onto your Keys to the World card without attaching your credit card. Then when it runs out, the charging portion of the card will stop working. I think you can do that.

If not, give them your credit info, but limit the total to whatever you plan as your maximum.

 

[smk]

If you use a credit card you will get the most recent, updated exchange rate available....and since the US dollar is worth less and less lately you would potentially save money by charging and then paying off the card. The exchange rate varies daily and sometimes even more like hourly so that way you will be sure to get the most recent rate with each purchase charged. Use the cash to pay on the card once you get home.

 

[reptar77]

Link your room charge to your checking account Visa/MC/debit card. You can also put cash on it as stated above.
I really like the room charges, it gives me a chance to review all of the charges before they are put on my card. I hate to say it but some locations at WDW have repeatedly charged us for more than we signed for (rounding up).

 

[Philo]

Last trip we took cash, debit and credit cards (staying off site so no key to the world). We nearly always used the Credit card just because it was easier (and there was no exchange fees on our card). I never normally use Credit Cards but it was just easier.

 

[marypoppins68]

You could use some of the cash to put on a Disney gift card, then use the card like a debit card. I gave my Dad one of these cards and he was able to use it practically anywhere. He mainly bought food and pins with it. It was nice because that way he didnt have to charge anything, and he didnt have to carry a lot of cash around with him either. You can buy the gift cards in your hotel gift shop. That's where I bought mine.

 

[Ms. Tinkerbell]

I would link my debit card to my keys to the world card. That way you aren't charging it, but you don't have to carry around anything extra. With the debit card, wouldn't you still get the best exchange rate of the day? I know our last trip to Canada, and when my husband travels overseas(when the $ rate was better) that's how customer service at our bank described it.....

 

[Phonedave]

I don't particulary like putting stuff on a credit card either. However, I have to look at it this way. As long as I know I stay within my budget I will pay it all off when it comes in and since it's a Disney Rewards Card, I get Disney Points.

I stick all my receips in my wallet and at the end of the day, do a rough total. That way I know what I am spending, and can remain within budget and have no "suprises" when I check out.

Somtimes I use my Debit card for little things and the Credit/room key for larger. For example, during Food and Wine, I put all the food and wine samples on my Debit card. I really don't know why, it just seemed to work for me.

I have a bad habit of not carrying cash - just about anywhere. If have more than $10 on me, that's a rare thing.

-dave

 

[H20Babie]

I love the idea of using my debit card ... it's the only thing I use at home. But I don't whether Disney (or anywhere in the US for that matter) will accept my debit card, other than at actual bank machines :shrug:

EDIT TO ADD: Apparently, my Canadian debit card will work if Disney uses the NYCE system. Does anyone know?

 

[redfive13]

I've always brought my daily budget with me in cash ($50-$100) and also had my debit just in case...

 

[Tinkershelly]

We have had nothing but good luck using our room key card with a credit card attached for charging. The last four trips we have taken we had the dining plan and so didn't charge much, but being able to put the credit/debit cards away in the safe and only use a bit of cash and the room key was great.

Here's a hard lesson that we learned during a trip to WDW a few years ago. We had saved up a bunch of cash in DH's savings account for our spending money and were expecting his paycheque to be deposited during our trip and thought we were all set to use that account for all our meals and souveniers, only to find out that the account that ALL THE MONEY was in was classified as a second savings account at our home bank and wasn't accessible from the bank machine at the hotel. I was able to access my account but there wasn't a lot of money there, and I did have overdraft and a credit card, so we were ok. I guess the moral of the story is to make sure that the account that you will be using for all your purcases is accessible from bank and debit machines at WDW, and make sure that you take a backup method of charging, just in case.

Have a great trip!

 

[Tinkershelly]

Oh yeah, something else to find out, what will you be charged by your bank and the bank machine for each purchase/withdrawl. Perhaps it would be better to make one large deposit from your bank to the hotel for charging rather than racking up a bunch of user fees for each purchase. And find out what your daily limit is for withdrawls. You may simply need to speak to the bank to let them know what you are planning and they may have some better suggestions. Some may save you money!

 

[H20Babie]

I guess the moral of the story is to make sure that the account that you will be using for all your purcases is accessible from bank and debit machines at WDW, and make sure that you take a backup method of charging, just in case. Have a great trip!

Thanks for that advice. I only have one account that I use for everything, so getting access is not a problem

Oh yeah, something else to find out, what will you be charged by your bank and the bank machine for each purchase/withdrawl.

I bank with RBC and the account I have can be used for cross border debit and ATM use with waived/reimbursed fees.



One more question re the KTTW Card: How is it linked to the debit card? Do you authorize (use your PIN) for a certain up front amount? Or do you authorize up to a certain amount and then clear it upon check out?

Darn, but I love the express checkout and bypassing the front desk! Maybe a prepaid Visa to link to the KTTW Card and some cash on hand would work better (I'm only good at saving if I can't see the money in my account or available credit on my cards :hammer

I sooo can't wait to graduate and have some disposable income again!

 

[Shadowdawn]

I love the idea of using my debit card ... it's the only thing I use at home. But I don't whether Disney (or anywhere in the US for that matter) will accept my debit card, other than at actual bank machines :shrug:

EDIT TO ADD: Apparently, my Canadian debit card will work if Disney uses the NYCE system. Does anyone know?

I believe most places here in the US use the NYCE system. I know I use my Debit card at the World of Disney(NYC) and it works fine.

 

[CleveRocks]

One more question re the KTTW Card: How is it linked to the debit card? Do you authorize (use your PIN) for a certain up front amount? Or do you authorize up to a certain amount and then clear it upon check out?

Darn, but I love the express checkout and bypassing the front desk! Maybe a prepaid Visa to link to the KTTW Card and some cash on hand would work better (I'm only good at saving if I can't see the money in my account or available credit on my cards :hammer

I sooo can't wait to graduate and have some disposable income again!

To answer an earlier question, Disney can only handle your debit card if it has a VISA or MasterCard logo. Otherwise, you can't use it there for purchases or payments.

If you use a debit card to back up your room charge, they treat it exactly like a credit card. There is no use for a PIN. When you check in, they ask if you want to set up a room charge. Unless you specify a lower amount, they will automatically set the room charge amount based on the following figures: $500 for Value resort, $1K for Moderate resort, or $1.5K for Deluxe resort. They will "run" the card for a sale of zero dollars. They do this just to make sure it is a valid card on an active account. Disney does NOT, in any way/shape/form, place a hold on your account or charge your account in advance. They don't even check to see if you have enough balance to cover the room charge!!!

But sorry, if the card doesn't have a major credit card logo on it, then they can't take it for payment.

 

[Tinkershelly]

Darn, but I love the express checkout and bypassing the front desk! Maybe a prepaid Visa to link to the KTTW Card and some cash on hand would work better (I'm only good at saving if I can't see the money in my account or available credit on my cards :hammer

I like the idea of the prepaid Visa. You could load it with the money you would otherwise have in your debit account. This way you could use express checkout. :sohappy:

Perhaps you could leave the card number with your family so that they could add funds for you in case of an emergency. Check with your health insurance about how you would need to pay if you needed medical attention. Most require you to pay the doctor/hospital and get reimbursed when you get home. Also you are travelling from Canada in winter, you may get stuck somewhere because of weather and need an extra night in a hotel. Not trying to be a downer, but the adult in me says be prepared.

This is a great thread, thanks for starting it.

 

[H20Babie]

Hey Tinkershelley.

The only family I would be able to leave the card number with is my DS(6) who will be with his dad (my ex-DH) over spring break (I'm older than I look). I'm planning to being copies of whatever I use and tuck a set in each of bags, just in case.

The last week of March isn't usually all that bad here in the 'Peg, unless we get an unexpected Colorado low, I'm not too worried about weather.

As for health/trip insurance, I'm fully covered under both my work benefits and my university benefits (co-shared at 100%). I also have trip delay, interrupation and cancellation. Better to be overcovered than undercovered, I say.

 

[Tinkershelly]

Cool, but what I meant by my run-on sentences was that I was concerned about you being able to find unplanned money in case of an emergency. If you only took a prepaid credit card with you and on your way home you needed a few hundred dollars for a layover hotel or to rebook a flight that you wouldn't be hard pressed.

Have a great time. I wish I had a trip upcoming to plan for. I'll just have to plan vicariously through you!

 

[sring]

In all honesty, debit cards scare the <expletive deleted> out of me, for the simple thought that if someone gets a hold of the card number, the funds are out of my account, at least with a credit card, in most cases I wouldn't be out of pocket for a fraudulant use.

That said, I have used the prepaid visa cards (my local bank sells them fee free), and Amex offers a prepaid card version of their traveler's cheques, which I believe offers replacement in the event of loss or theft just like the paper cheques.

I would think any of those could be linked to your KTTW card for room charges.