Hi all, I'm seeing/hearing a lot of talk about buy gift vouchers to spend in WDW, can I ask what the difference is between paying with money or gift vouchers and why people seem to prefer vouchers?
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Gift Vouchers - what's the deal?
- Thread starter SamandplanningUK
- Start date
If you're talking about gift cards, there are various ways to get deals. Sites like Retailmenot had 15% cash back on Disney Store purchases after Thanksgiving, and some people were successful getting that on gift card purchases. Other retailers have deals sometimes as well.
MickeyLuv'r
Well-Known Member
I'll second that. Target stores card has year round 5% off. Stores like Costco and Sam's Club also offer year-round deals (about3%) plus periodic higher discounts. Credit cards have also been offering promo deals on Disneystore.com. (Most of those I have seen are 10% off, but only up to like $5 back, so you get $5 off a $50 gift card, and they offer the deal every so often.)
A downside of buying gift cards is that you can't get a refund, though I should clarify. If you pay for merchandise with gift cards, you could still return the item, but the value will be returned to the gift card.
Other people stack assorted deals and get even higher discounts, supposedly. Some of the deals backfire.
There is also now a specific WDW package off that includes a dining voucher that can be used for WDW dining. Find it on the WDW website, on the hotels tab under deals. (right side of hotels tab.) I'm not sure if it is both US and UK offer, or just one.
A number of restaurant chains also offer deals every December, where if you buy like $50 worth of gift cards and know to ask for the deal, you get a bonus card. Usually, the bonus card is only redeemable in January, but some deals are a regular gift card. Others are deals that are only redeemable via their app. I mention this because I happened to see multiple Orlando chains in the mix, including two that are on WDW property. Blaze Pizza had a gift card deal in December, so they will probably have it next year. Cityworks' parent restaurant group has a rewards club that is free to join, and you get coupons/discounts in return. I think they also had a December bonus deal. Millers Ale house is offsite, but they had a December gift card deal.
The restaurant group that runs Yak&Yeti, Rainforest Cafe, and T-Rex, Landry's, offers a membership club with rewards that are vouchers.
I think Patina REstaurant group also has a similar program, but I don't know details. They runspace220, Morimoto Asia, Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante, Enzo’s Hideaway, Pizza Ponte and The Edison.
There's also another website, restaurant.com where you can buy specific restaurant vouchers for like $10 that are worth more than $10. Usually worth $15-25. These are mostly offsite dining, but might include places at the Swan/Dolphin, Universal, Disney Springs, and offsite hotel eateries.
There is another deal I saw pre-pandemic that was every August only called the Magical Dining from the Visit Orlando website. For that one, it is price fixe menu, but you get a deal and the restaurant makes a donation.
There are also some AAA discounts available. AAA is a program where you pay about $75/year and if your car breaks down they tow it, but it also comes with discount offers from a number of hotels. I think it is only available in Canada and USA though.
A downside of buying gift cards is that you can't get a refund, though I should clarify. If you pay for merchandise with gift cards, you could still return the item, but the value will be returned to the gift card.
Other people stack assorted deals and get even higher discounts, supposedly. Some of the deals backfire.
There is also now a specific WDW package off that includes a dining voucher that can be used for WDW dining. Find it on the WDW website, on the hotels tab under deals. (right side of hotels tab.) I'm not sure if it is both US and UK offer, or just one.
A number of restaurant chains also offer deals every December, where if you buy like $50 worth of gift cards and know to ask for the deal, you get a bonus card. Usually, the bonus card is only redeemable in January, but some deals are a regular gift card. Others are deals that are only redeemable via their app. I mention this because I happened to see multiple Orlando chains in the mix, including two that are on WDW property. Blaze Pizza had a gift card deal in December, so they will probably have it next year. Cityworks' parent restaurant group has a rewards club that is free to join, and you get coupons/discounts in return. I think they also had a December bonus deal. Millers Ale house is offsite, but they had a December gift card deal.
The restaurant group that runs Yak&Yeti, Rainforest Cafe, and T-Rex, Landry's, offers a membership club with rewards that are vouchers.
I think Patina REstaurant group also has a similar program, but I don't know details. They runspace220, Morimoto Asia, Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante, Enzo’s Hideaway, Pizza Ponte and The Edison.
There's also another website, restaurant.com where you can buy specific restaurant vouchers for like $10 that are worth more than $10. Usually worth $15-25. These are mostly offsite dining, but might include places at the Swan/Dolphin, Universal, Disney Springs, and offsite hotel eateries.
There is another deal I saw pre-pandemic that was every August only called the Magical Dining from the Visit Orlando website. For that one, it is price fixe menu, but you get a deal and the restaurant makes a donation.
There are also some AAA discounts available. AAA is a program where you pay about $75/year and if your car breaks down they tow it, but it also comes with discount offers from a number of hotels. I think it is only available in Canada and USA though.
anchorman314
Well-Known Member
In addition to the various discounts mentioned above, I find it easier to pay with a gift card over cash. And while I could just use my credit card, I prefer one transaction on my credit card to purchase the gift card over the dozens of transactions that would be there if I used the credit card for each purchase I made over the course of a week.
Wow, seems like people have found really clever ways to save money - much needed too with Disneys price hikes.
Hi, we’re from uk & usually do both cash & load money on a Disney Gift Card, we allocate a daily cash allowance for food / snacks & load money on a gift card for souvenirs/ presents, i do prefer cash as with a card throughout the day it’s hard to keep tabs on what you’ve spent ? With the cash if it isn’t in your wallet you haven’t got it ?
JoeCamel
Well-Known Member
I wonder if they thought of that.....
Probably
Yellow Shoes
Well-Known Member
As I recall, at the bottom of your receipt it will note the amount left on your card. For example, you have a $100 card and spend $47.14, it will note your balance of $52.86. And, yes, you can "zero out" your card at $52.86 and use another card for the balance on your next purchase.
My strategy is to put everything on my Magic Band, which gets charged to the room, then stop by the desk and pay it off with the gift card.