Payment Options

[arich35]

Back in December 2019 when we visited we received a gift card for turning down room service and we were able to load them onto Google Wallet and use that in stores. Is Disney still giving this option? We have a lot of money in gift cards and just trying to figure out the best way to use them while at Disney in May.
I have read about people charging everything to the magic band and then paying off the balance with a gift card at the end of the day at the resort. Is that also still an option?

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

The change was pushed back to Feb 3rd. This is the latest announcement on the website:

Thanks for letting me know. I will be on the lookout! I still have all my physical gift cards so I should be okay! I've been waiting for it so long, at this point, I just want it done!

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

I keep a spreadsheet with a picture of them on it. I found out the hard way about this after the shutdown and Disney wanted to credit my annual passes and after hours tickets back to the original gift cards I used. I didn't have them anymore because those were non-refundable items. Now, even if the gift cards get refunded, I have the numbers and can always transfer the balance onto a different card.

That's a good idea. I tell clients to keep them no matter what until after they travel. You just never know

Pam

 

[dmw]

Back in December 2019 when we visited we received a gift card for turning down room service and we were able to load them onto Google Wallet and use that in stores. Is Disney still giving this option? We have a lot of money in gift cards and just trying to figure out the best way to use them while at Disney in May.
I have read about people charging everything to the magic band and then paying off the balance with a gift card at the end of the day at the resort. Is that also still an option?

Another thing to note, in addition to the great advice already given in this thread: ask the front desk what is the charge limit before Disney will post charges to your card. We had a week-long stay in 2019 and I specifically asked how to pay with gift cards. I was informed that once the accumulated charges reached a certain amount (sorry, I forget what that amount was), then the card on file would be charged. For us, that meant having to go to the front desk in the middle of our vacation to pay down the balance with gift cards.

Also note that you cannot use gift cards to guarantee any future charges, as you can with debit/credit cards. You can only use the gift cards once there are charges against your room, and only up to the amount of those charges.

 

[MotherofaPrincessLover]

Another thing to note, in addition to the great advice already given in this thread: ask the front desk what is the charge limit before Disney will post charges to your card. We had a week-long stay in 2019 and I specifically asked how to pay with gift cards. I was informed that once the accumulated charges reached a certain amount (sorry, I forget what that amount was), then the card on file would be charged. For us, that meant having to go to the front desk in the middle of our vacation to pay down the balance with gift cards.

Also note that you cannot use gift cards to guarantee any future charges, as you can with debit/credit cards. You can only use the gift cards once there are charges against your room, and only up to the amount of those charges.

I believe they did change it to this and the amount is quite low now. I used to just charge everything to the room and then pay it at the end. I figured if I was going to have to go to the front desk to pay down my balance everyday that it would just be easier to bring the gift cards with me and use those to pay instead of my band. I do like that you can use gift cards on mobile order now. I never used it very often before because you had to use a credit card to pay.