Using a Prepaid Card for Food?

[DisneyPrincess5]

Hi all :wave:

So we're thinking of trying something new this time around.

We're thinking of putting money on a prepaid card like a Visa or AmEx gift card and using it for all of our meals, snacks, and waters.
This would avoid fussing with change and dividing up cash and costs.

My questions are:
-Is this generally a good idea?
-Does every food cart or stand or restaurant take these kind of cards?
-Would we be better with a Disney gift card over a Visa or AmEx gift card?

Thanks!

 

[princessmommy]

We did this on our last trip and loved it. We took three cards with the same amount on each and would use one until it ran out... It was accepted everywhere we tried to use it and I have no complaints. I plan to do it again!

 

[Figment82]

Here's my opinion - stick with a Disney Gift Card. It's accepted everywhere (including the food carts - anywhere they take a credit card). There is no way to check the balance of a Visa or AmEx gift card, unless you keep extremely accurate records or call the hotline. CM's can not check that for you, and if you don't have enough on the card, it will be declined.

For example, you have $12.50 on a card, and are trying to pay for a $25 purchase - the transaction will be declined since there are not enough funds on the card to cover the cost. You would have to know how much is left, and would need to tell the CM "put $12.50 on this card" and pay the rest with another form of payment. Otherwise, the CM will either tell you the card is declined, or have to go in increments to clear the card (say, in $5 intervals). It can get frustrating really quickly - I've seen it many times.

With a Disney Gift Card, every time you make a purchase, the receipt lets you know how much you have left or a CM can check your balance. Also, say in the example above, the $12.50 would be taken automatically off the card and the balance would be left. The card is cleared fully without the need to know how much to use.

I hope this helps, and wasn't too confusing.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

We did this on our last trip and loved it. We took three cards with the same amount on each and would use one until it ran out... It was accepted everywhere we tried to use it and I have no complaints. I plan to do it again!

Glad you liked it and glad to hear it was accepted every where!

Here's my opinion - stick with a Disney Gift Card. It's accepted everywhere (including the food carts - anywhere they take a credit card). There is no way to check the balance of a Visa or AmEx gift card, unless you keep extremely accurate records or call the hotline. CM's can not check that for you, and if you don't have enough on the card, it will be declined.

For example, you have $12.50 on a card, and are trying to pay for a $25 purchase - the transaction will be declined since there are not enough funds on the card to cover the cost. You would have to know how much is left, and would need to tell the CM "put $12.50 on this card" and pay the rest with another form of payment. Otherwise, the CM will either tell you the card is declined, or have to go in increments to clear the card (say, in $5 intervals). It can get frustrating really quickly - I've seen it many times.

With a Disney Gift Card, every time you make a purchase, the receipt lets you know how much you have left or a CM can check your balance. Also, say in the example above, the $12.50 would be taken automatically off the card and the balance would be left. The card is cleared fully without the need to know how much to use.

I hope this helps, and wasn't too confusing.

Hmm this is a good point. Sounds like the Disney Gift Card is the way to go!


Thanks guys!

 

[Shere_Khan]

Here's my opinion - stick with a Disney Gift Card. It's accepted everywhere (including the food carts - anywhere they take a credit card). There is no way to check the balance of a Visa or AmEx gift card, unless you keep extremely accurate records or call the hotline. CM's can not check that for you, and if you don't have enough on the card, it will be declined.

For example, you have $12.50 on a card, and are trying to pay for a $25 purchase - the transaction will be declined since there are not enough funds on the card to cover the cost. You would have to know how much is left, and would need to tell the CM "put $12.50 on this card" and pay the rest with another form of payment. Otherwise, the CM will either tell you the card is declined, or have to go in increments to clear the card (say, in $5 intervals). It can get frustrating really quickly - I've seen it many times.

With a Disney Gift Card, every time you make a purchase, the receipt lets you know how much you have left or a CM can check your balance. Also, say in the example above, the $12.50 would be taken automatically off the card and the balance would be left. The card is cleared fully without the need to know how much to use.

I hope this helps, and wasn't too confusing.

Yes this has happened to me before and it is very frustrating. If you do not know the balance they can not use it. You would think it would work like any other gift card where it just is used up and then you pay the remaining balance. I never understood why they can't make it work that way.

 

[toystorymaniacs]

We used a Disney Gift Card last time and it worked great.

 

[nepalostparks]

Here's my opinion - stick with a Disney Gift Card. It's accepted everywhere (including the food carts - anywhere they take a credit card). There is no way to check the balance of a Visa or AmEx gift card, unless you keep extremely accurate records or call the hotline. CM's can not check that for you, and if you don't have enough on the card, it will be declined.

As a manager in the retail field, I can attest to the frustration felt by both customer and employee on these types of prepaid cards (or sometimes they are Visa 'rebate' cards from a cell phone purchase, etc).

You have to know the exact amount on your card. If you have multiple cards, you have to make sure you know which one is which. It's a hassle, but if you are immaculate in your receipt/record keeping while on vacation, they will certainly work. But that's one hassle I wouldn't want to worry about on vacation.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Philo]

I've done it using a disney gift card and that worked fine. Just about everywhere accepted it and you were given the remaining balance at the end of each transaction.

There is a 'maximum' value allowed on the card though so you may need to top-up mid trip

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

I've done it using a disney gift card and that worked fine. Just about everywhere accepted it and you were given the remaining balance at the end of each transaction.

There is a 'maximum' value allowed on the card though so you may need to top-up mid trip

Ohh good to know...and what a coincidence because right now I'm actually trying to estimate how much food and waters will cost.

What is the maximum?

 

[Mr Toad]

Its easy for your funds on a prepaid AMEX to get frozen. Its not so easy to get them freed up again.

 

[toystorymaniacs]

Ohh good to know...and what a coincidence because right now I'm actually trying to estimate how much food and waters will cost.

What is the maximum?

I've bought several at the Disney Store for our upcoming trip and $500 was the most I could put on it. You should have seen the Cm when I told him I wanted to buy 3 $500 gift cards!

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

I've bought several at the Disney Store for our upcoming trip and $500 was the most I could put on it. You should have seen the Cm when I told him I wanted to buy 3 $500 gift cards!

:lol:
I can imagine!

Ok, so $500 is the maximum. Hmm we might be buying 3 as well!

 

[chaggy102]

Just a heads up...most outdoor food carts will take the cards...but there are times when their registers crash and they can only accept cash.

 

[kstella]

I have a prepaid Visa card which is the only card I use. I prefer it to gift cards because it has my name printed on it, just like a regular debit card.

 

[dreamfinder]

Since by your signature it looks like you are staying onsite, why not just charge to the room? Same deal as the gift cards, but you aren't stuck with any unspent funds on a Disney gift card, or paying the fees for a prepaid credit card. It serves the same end purpose.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Since by your signature it looks like you are staying onsite, why not just charge to the room? Same deal as the gift cards, but you aren't stuck with any unspent funds on a Disney gift card, or paying the fees for a prepaid credit card. It serves the same end purpose.

Hmmm this is a great idea! I never thought of that.
We'll have to think about doing this.
Then do you just pay the balance when you check out?

 

[pinkrose]

What we do is put everything on our room key. I go down to the front desk every couple of days or so and pay the balance. It's worked well for us.

 

[Victoria]

Since I don't have any credit cards I usually do the prepaid card thing. I like it better than just charging everything to the room key because it is easier for me to limit my spending. If the card is only loaded with $300 that is all I can spend. The only cash I have when I am in the parks is for leaving tips.

 

[eroyee]

Put it on your room key. then you can pay the balance at the end or in between if you want to. I know they accept them everywhere and you can get a printout anytime you want one to see how much you have charged, etc. Its very easy and the best way to go in my opinion!!

 

[dreamfinder]

Hmmm this is a great idea! I never thought of that.
We'll have to think about doing this.
Then do you just pay the balance when you check out?

As long as you link it to a credit card, they will provide you with a print out of all charges made on the key. If you do express checkout they will usually just charge the card on file, but I believe you can also pay via cash or check, just can't do express checkout that way.

As a PP said before, occasionally you will run into an ODV cart that doesn't accept them, but almost every place on property does.