How do you use your giftcards?

[saffymom]

For those of you who use your Disney gift cards on your trips, how do you use them? Do you carry them with you and use them at the shops and restaurants? Or do you charge everything to the room and pay off the charge with the cards later? I'm trying to figure out which will be easier for our upcoming trip. TIA!:)

[jnorth1007]

I charge to my room and then pay it off with the cards. It is easier just to carry the KTOK card and not have to worry about losing gift cards. It also keeps me from having cards with a dollar and cents left on each.

[m 'n c]

I just carried 2 around with us this last trip. I made sure to use up my $25 cards by applying them to my trip balance before we left and then I had 2 $100 cards closer to my trip to carry around. We went through one $100 card at different food kiosks and then the other we have left over for another trip. It wasn't too bad carrying around 2 cards but I could see how using a KTTK card would be easier.

[kimntrent]

I use them in the park itself. I don't charge back to my room because I risk overspending. We take 100 with us every day and we spend that.

[Alice28]

Gosh, I've done it a few different ways.

First trip- just used them for various meals.
Second trip- bought a couple meals, and also a lot of souvenirs. I had them labeled and only brought 1 at a time with me to the parks.
Third trip- can't remember ;)
Fourth trip- Handed over $650 in gift cards to Boardwalk front desk and asked CM to apply to dining plan. Which he graciously did.
Fifth trip- same thing, except just had $150 this time (but a much smaller amt to pay for)
Next trip- probably the same thing. I think we're doing the dining plan, so I need $200. So far I am at $113. :D Hoping to get another $87 by early Feb. :banana:

[aknight373]

all of mine that i have cashed out for the last few months and the ones i will cash out for will be going toward my room. My sister and I are going to stay club level at the wilderness lodge thanks to sunshines!!!

[rumrunnergirl]

We use ours for souveniers and tips, that way I'm not out of pocket any money on the trips. Our next trip is in May for our wedding/honeymoon, so all gift cards will go to food since we won't be on the DDP. I have a DDE card (now called Tables of Wonderland) and we'll use that for our TS meals and pay for everything with gift cards.

[saffymom]

Thanks everyone for the replies! I think I'll probably just charge back to the room. I worry about carrying the gift cards around with me and I also hate having lots of cards with pennies left on each one. Thanks again everyone!

[wilsonfamily4]

This trip I have about 500 and they will go straight to the Dining Plan along with my visa rewards card adn cash. They are going to LOVE me. :)

[iluvamystery89]

evidently i lose mine :( i mailed one to pam (missymouse) last monday priority mail to trade for smaller ones and it hasn't arrived. *sigh*

[missymouse]

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that it arrives intact tomorrow. Hopefully the mail is just slow between here and there this time of year. I will let you know the moment it arrives.

[iluvamystery89]

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that it arrives intact tomorrow. Hopefully the mail is just slow between here and there this time of year. I will let you know the moment it arrives.

thanks pam :) i've called the post office to trace it, but the woman who took my information didn't sound very optimistic. i should hear something within 24 hours. sorry for hijacking, OP.

[Debbie Jean]

If we are doing a mother/daughter trip, I give one to DD (22) to spend on anything she wants :) We're going in January so I think she'll probably have a gift card in her Christmas stocking :D

I usually take one into the park each day and that seems to work fairly well... covers meals, souvies, etc. I may actually invest one in getting a Tables in Wonderland dining card this year... then it will be like the gift card just keeps on giving! :banana:

[missymouse]

thanks pam :) i've called the post office to trace it, but the woman who took my information didn't sound very optimistic. i should hear something within 24 hours. sorry for hijacking, OP.

Since Tricia ordered this card and had it sent to Donya would there be any way for her track the number and to report it lost? I know Donya didn't write down the number of the card before mailing it? Just curious since I have heard Disney will replace lost or stolen cards.

[iluvamystery89]

Since Tricia ordered this card and had it sent to Donya would there be any way for her track the number and to report it lost? I know Donya didn't write down the number of the card before mailing it? Just curious since I have heard Disney will replace lost or stolen cards.

i can only hope :( i'm so sad it hasn't arrived, and of course, the post office has NOT called me back within 24 hours like they were supposed to. lot of help they are. i'm NEVER mailing another package through the postal service.

[jnorth1007]

If this came straight from Disney like the new ones do then Tricia woudn't have ever seen this card. When I order cards from Disney they don't give me the number on it. Perhaps Tricia has some ideas but I would be all over the post office. Did you send it in a way that can be tracked? have delivery confirmation? Insurance?

[SunshineGirl]

I don't have the gift card number since it was sent directly from Disney. :( You can call Disney and see what they say though.

[sweetiee]

I'm glad you asked that too. We are going in January and wondered how to use it. I have one I'm about to cash out for. We also got in on the 4 days, 3 nights free with a $200 gift card with it special. I'm hoping we can just charge to the room and use the gift cards to pay out when we leave.