I’m a little confused- does it mean if you hit the charging limit to your resort ($500, $1000, $1500 depending on value, moderate etc.) then as usual it will take that payment (say if it’s a value, they’ll charge that $100 they have already held along with the remaining balance of $400) then do another $100 “hold”?
In experience of other hotels where it takes a few days (to two weeks!) to return a “hold” and a seperate charge being made for room charges in addition to this hold (with the original hold being returned later) I foresee multiple holds being made and held at the same time (if you reach your charging limit).
Not that I disagree with this- it seemed crazy to me that Disney trusted people to charge to the room with no security- but I don’t really like the idea of additional holds? I hope it’s not what I’m picturing.
Disney has nothing to do with "releasing" the holds. Banks have a set amount of time authorization holds will stay on the account if there is no charge. Wells Fargo, for example, only holds lodging charges one day, while SunTrust holds them four days, while AmEx holds all authorizations a week. It's entirely based on your specific bank. However, the authorization will drop off immediately when the charge settles.
Depending on the length of your stay, you may actually see the pre-authorizations drop off your bank before you even check out of the hotel. In which case you'll see the final charge post after check-out without showing pending first.
This also has nothing to do with a charging limit, they don't exist in the same manner anymore. They will automatically authorize $100 on your room, the minute you put your card on file. If you then charge $200 on your room for dinner, they will authorize this amount (meaning now $300 is approved). If you charge $3000 on jewelry, expect this amount to now be authorized. They will keep a running tab of all your charges and ensure they have approval, as needed, only up to $100 above your current bill.
I loathe hotels that do this. My guy was in a small band for years and stayed in a different hotel in a different city every night- those fees, which frequently stay on the card for several days, really add up. Plus you have to watch your card to be sure it comes off - we've had to call about these 'accidentally' staying on the card more than once.
Disney was literally the only land-based resort I've ever stayed at, from hundreds of different stays, that did not take some kind of initial authorization on your credit/debit card. The new Disney policy is actually far more liberal than most other hotels, which require a pre-authorization from anywhere between $50-200/night upon check-in. $100 pre-auth, regardless of the number of nights, is nearly unheard of for anything above a roadside motel where incidentals are not an option.
Without this assurance, guests could very easily leave at the end of their stay, either not knowing their card was frozen by their bank or deliberately skipping out on the bill.
