Cash or Credit/Debit Card?

[muse1983]

We have budgeted $1,200.00 towards souvenirs and food for our 7 Day WDW vacation (in 37 days btw!!:sohappy. Last time we were in the World I just brought cash with me and found it to be a good way to organize spending. Each morning before heading to the parks we would figure up how much cash we would need to bring for food and spending that day and just store it in the zipper part of my lanyard. I was wondering though, how do you guys usually carry money in WDW and which method do you find easier to manage and budget how much you have?

I figured that 750 would be more than enough for food. We have 5 reservations and the rest are just going to be quick service meals (just my wife and I). But back to my original curiosity, do you guys prefer to bring Cash, Credit or Debit in the parks?

 

[jim1051]

We do cash and debit, and charge some stuff to the room, paying for that with debit at checkout. I get a few gift checks as awards for work, and I try to save some of them to use on our trip.

 

[stitch8834]

As I'm from the UK and my bank charges a lot to convert currancy I use all cash. I only take about $100 per day into the parks and lock the rest in the room safe.

 

[disneygirl1]

I do cash and Disney Gift cards. Much easier for me to keep track of spending.

 

[mickey2008.1]

We put cash on our room key every other day, this way we dont get to crazy with just buying things, not that we do any way, but it keeps us in check. I love the key to the world! This way we have no credit card bills to come back to! all paid off clear and free!

 

[KaliSplash]

I use room key for just about everything. As has been pointed out, it is important to know about where you are, so you can restock the card and don't get refused when you try to buy something. (though the one time this happened, I was able to call my resort and get it recharged immediately). I do take about $100 with me to cover mousekeeping, etc. But we put everything on the room, then use cc for the room at the end. (and yes, pay off the bill when we get home!!)

 

[tizzo]

While I always carry a few bucks in case of emergency, it's strictly credit cards for me. Cash or debit cards, if lost or stolen, are gone. Lose a credit card and in the very worst case you're out $50 (limited by federal law), and most card issuers waive that.

It depends on the individual though - most importantly depends on how much self-discipline you have.

 

[dreamfinder]

We bring maybe $100 or so in cash. Enough to grab stuff while running through the airport, or the few locations where cash is needed. Pretty much everything else gets charged. As long as you have some card that earns you points, there is no reason not to. If you have already saved/set aside the cash, simply pay it off the second you get home.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I usually have $500.00 cash for basically emergencies our vacation which I lock most of it in the safe. I always carry about $20 - $30 in my pocket each day and almost never spend any of it. All of our expenses are charged to the KttK card. This way we do not have any credit or debit cards with us to loose. Our daughter does not have charging rights and we monitor our spending very carefully. We always match receipts on our last day when the statement is put on our door. Vacation spending can easily get out of control. I don't like some of the ideas of using a gift card or cash. I just do not want to take a chance and loose either of them. If you loose them they are as good as gone.

 

[meekoman]

It's interesting that no one has mentioned traveler's checks. On my trips, I would get $100 denomination checks and would have no problem cashing them in the parks. If we went out of the parks, I would just cash a couple in at guest services. This way, I could keep an eye on what we were spending and budget accordingly.

 

[Roger321]

Little Bit of Both

Good question. Keeping in mind that we have only gone on the free or pre-paid dining plan, my answer is cash and credit. Some items like tips at sit downs, drinks pool side and gifts are easier to pay for using key to the world. I like to pay for other items like stroller rental using credit card. I also bring cash for each day, but end up not using a lot of it since it is meant for those smaller items I usually end up charging to the room. I do a lot of research so no matter what we spend, I have enough funds in my checking account to pay everything off as soon as we return.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

The only cash I ever carry is about $20 in singles, to use for tips (but not at the restaurants- that goes on my card). Everything else is all debit.

The $20 in singles I carry in WDW is $20 more cash than I carry around at home. I'm completely cashless, and I absolutely love it.

 

[Susan Savia]

Cash. I figure up the amount of days were there and allow $50 a day for food. We eat our light breakfast in our room in the morning and then decide between a counter service lunch or wait and have dinner offsite. Even then there are many family restaurants that are reasonably priced. We carry a few snacks with us to tide us over to dinner. We carry a credit card, BUT it is for emergency use only...car problems, etc.

 

[Gepettotrevor]

I normally always use credit/debit. Sometimes I do have minimal cash. I always wonder what would happen if my wallet fell out of my pocket on one of the rides, and the Cast Members are unable to retrieve it. What if someone steals my wallet in a huge crowd? There are way too many "what ifs". I feel so much safer with a credit card because I can always cancel it and not be out of several hundred dollars cash.

 

[dizzney]

We save up thru the year and then put all the cash into my checking account. We use either the debit card or take the cash from the ATM prior to dinner. We carry around about $30 every day,

Everything has been calculated in advance (but we do have a credit card if theres an emergency)

Already saving for February....

 

[cpsman]

If my family had a Disney Visa card, we'd be always charging to that. But, the best way I do it for our family is to plan out, and purchase Disney gift cards from your local grocery store, department store, etc. Every visit, if you can handle it, pick up a $25 gift card, which doesn't expire. Continue to do it over and over and over again. We've got $700 saved up right now, and don't have another trip planned anytime soon. Probably in April, which we hope to have at least $1000 saved up. We can use this on park tickets and/or dining plan; anything we charge is minimal after that.