-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Using your Key to the World as a Credit Card
- Thread starter wdwlvr
- Start date
mousermerf
Account Suspended
I don't know of any real cons, but a few nice pros.
You can take it and maybe a small amount of cash with you into the parks. That way if you drop your wallet, you wont be losing everything. You also don't risk getting everything you own wet on water rides.
Almost everywhere takes the card in the parks/resorts, including most carts.
Your mini-wallet would essentially just be your ID, room key, and park ticket (possibly on the room key).
That leaves you real wallet with all your other credit cards and ID's and travel info safe in the room safe.
Seems easier to me. I usually atleast activate the room charge so i can do express checkout, not neccessarily ever using it for charging. It's also going to need to be activated if you're gonna do room charges like internet access and room service.
One downside might be the limit placed on spending. If you're at a value resort, they limit it to $500 for starters (you can add more, just takes some effort) while mods are higher ($750 sound right) and delux resorts do $1000.
If you lose your room key, you just goto the front desk and get a new one and the old one is shut off. If you have charges you don't reognize, let the front desk know and they'll take care of it. It's much easier than fighting the credit card company if your real card is stolen.
With kids, you can decide if they get charging privilages. This even goes for other adults in the party. This way, you can either have everyone charge to one card, or keep someone who might be a little flippant from charging.
You can take it and maybe a small amount of cash with you into the parks. That way if you drop your wallet, you wont be losing everything. You also don't risk getting everything you own wet on water rides.
Almost everywhere takes the card in the parks/resorts, including most carts.
Your mini-wallet would essentially just be your ID, room key, and park ticket (possibly on the room key).
That leaves you real wallet with all your other credit cards and ID's and travel info safe in the room safe.
Seems easier to me. I usually atleast activate the room charge so i can do express checkout, not neccessarily ever using it for charging. It's also going to need to be activated if you're gonna do room charges like internet access and room service.
One downside might be the limit placed on spending. If you're at a value resort, they limit it to $500 for starters (you can add more, just takes some effort) while mods are higher ($750 sound right) and delux resorts do $1000.
If you lose your room key, you just goto the front desk and get a new one and the old one is shut off. If you have charges you don't reognize, let the front desk know and they'll take care of it. It's much easier than fighting the credit card company if your real card is stolen.
With kids, you can decide if they get charging privilages. This even goes for other adults in the party. This way, you can either have everyone charge to one card, or keep someone who might be a little flippant from charging.
Upvote
0
We use the cards every trip, most of the pros have been listed above, but I really can't emphasize the convienance and security of having it. As much as we hate to admit it, there are people in the world (and at the World for that matter) who will take advantage of any situation. Having only one card to worry about instead of a whole wallet, puts my mind at ease a little and allows me to enjoy my vacation just that much more!
Upvote
0
cdunbar
Active Member
We always do it when we go, I find it to be very conveinent and nice like for example last year stayed at the poly, went to go get something to eat at captian cook's I forgot my purse but did have my room key so I was still able to get my meal that I was very much in need of!
Upvote
0
tigsmom
Well-Known Member
We always put charging on our room keys and a few years ago also gave our oldest that privilage. You don't have to worry about carrying cash around with you and its handy for a quick trip to the snackbar (I can send the kids by themselves). We have never had a problem, pay off the charges when we settle our bill at checkout. It just makes life a little easier. :wave:
Upvote
0
I never used to have this feature activated, but have used it almost exclusively to pay for everything the last few trips. It works really well. The only CON is that it is easier to OVERSPEND when just pulling out the room key than it is when you only bring a set amount of cash that has been budgeted with you each day.
Upvote
0
PixyDust
Member
Additionally, you can put your purchases on it all week and then go to the front desk at your hotel the day before you check out and write a check for your balance, or any part of the balance. That way it never hits your actual credit card. We do this when we can remember to, which is about every other trip. They can't go back and credit your card back after the charges have transferred, so you have to remember to do it the day before...
Upvote
0
tigsmom
Well-Known Member
alitressa said:
When you check in they will ask if you want charging privilages on any of your key cards (we do 3 out of the 4). You need to either put some money into an account to cover your charges or give your cc number (which most people use to hold the rooms anyway). Then you can charge just about anything from restaurants, snacks from the snack bars and most carts to the shops you frequent. You either pay it off before checkout or let the charges go thru to your credit card. Its very easy.
Upvote
0
colliera
Member
Charge limits connected to resort class
The value resorts have a charge limit of $500, the moderates $1000, and the deluxe resorts are $1500. You can go to the front desk anytime and get a print out of your charges to date and pay off any existing charges which would reset your room key/charge card to its original limit. You can do this as many times as you might need to during your stay.
The value resorts have a charge limit of $500, the moderates $1000, and the deluxe resorts are $1500. You can go to the front desk anytime and get a print out of your charges to date and pay off any existing charges which would reset your room key/charge card to its original limit. You can do this as many times as you might need to during your stay.
Upvote
0
Victoria
Not old, just vintage.
I always use my room card as my only form of money when i am in WDW. I just connect it to whatever credit card I want and spend away. I just deal with it at the end of the trip. The only con is when I get home I have to start using real money again it is a rude awakening. Lol. :lookaroun
Upvote
0
Nansafan
Active Member
Disney will call and inform you when you are at your limit. A few years ago my brother bought an original cell from the Art of Disney store at DTD. He usually charges purchases of this nature on his credit card and not to the room card since they can be substantial. Anyway, we had 2-3 days left on vacation when the front desk called, explained we were at the $1500 limit. He then authorized them to put the charge through to his credit card and they re-established the $1500 limit for us and away we went. Very easy and convenient. We also allow all the kids charging privileges. Our youngest is now 15 but she was a pro charging at breakfast at the ripe old age of 10. They were all responsible with the privilege. I know we were lucky the kids were responsible and not spendthrifts. They were allowed to charge food, snack, beverages etc. and 1 "last night" gift each trip. Any other souvenir etc. had to be paid for with their own money.
Upvote
0
tigsmom
Well-Known Member
Nansafan said:
My teen called from EPCOT (it was her alone day) and asked permission to charge a sliver ring in Mexico. She had the cash back in the room, but didn't think to bring it with her. Its a good source of emergency money as long as they realize the rules and stick by then. :wave:
Upvote
0
RickEff
Active Member
I usually decide to activate it but rarely use it. Being outside of the US there's always an extra percent or percent and a half you have to pay on currency conversion. I'd rather take the cash or traveler's cheques. If it wasn't for that though - I'd definitely use it.
One note - you do not have to activate the charge to have express check out, but you will need to provide a valid credit card so they can charge it if they need to.
One note - you do not have to activate the charge to have express check out, but you will need to provide a valid credit card so they can charge it if they need to.
Upvote
0
JimboJones123
Well-Known Member
Three pros for us.
We have direct deposit, and don't mind the extra check hitting the account during the trip, and essentially waiting til the end of the trip to pay.
Another is that we can monitor expenses better. We can check at any time and see what we spent.
We never carry cash anyways. We take Drivers License, Room Key and Camera to parks. That's it, many of my shorts only have one pocket anyways.
We have direct deposit, and don't mind the extra check hitting the account during the trip, and essentially waiting til the end of the trip to pay.
Another is that we can monitor expenses better. We can check at any time and see what we spent.
We never carry cash anyways. We take Drivers License, Room Key and Camera to parks. That's it, many of my shorts only have one pocket anyways.
Upvote
0
shoppingnut
Active Member
FYI, you DO NOT have to go by the $$ limit that each level of hotel has set. On numerous occasions, I have requested that the charging privilege limit be set at $100. I use this just to cover my internet access during the vacation so I can have express check-out. Just because the hotel has the arbitrary amount set, doesn't mean you can't request other amounts.
Upvote
0