Do you use cash, credit card, or room key in Disney World?

Login to post comments
41 posts / 0 new
bali's picture
Offline
Joined: 06/20/2008
Posts: 3444
Do you use cash, credit card, or room key in Disney World?

We usually just use our room key when we're staying on site and the credit card when we're staying off site to purchase things in parks, restaurants, etc. But every once in a while you HAVE to use cash -- like to buy a balloon on Main Street.

Do you carry all different types of payment, or just one? Also, anything else you can think of that ONLY takes cash?

__________________


May 2008 CSR mickey

Offline
Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 4704

WE also use the room key for jut about everything. We only carry a small amount of cash but rarely tap into it. We bring a wad of dollar bills too for Mousekeeping tips.

Lizzy_B's picture
Offline
Joined: 10/25/2010
Posts: 3246

Usually, even if we're staying on property, I use my debit card for everything, although this last year at F&W, we did get an F&W card for use at the kiosks, just to make life easier.

I can't think of anything else that's cash only besides balloons (and I'm assuming they are.)

__________________

JoAnn C's picture
Offline
Joined: 05/20/2011
Posts: 6757

I used either cash or my debit card. I did have one charge on my room when I checked out that shouldn't have been there. I ordered a drink with dinner and I left enough cash to cover the drink and the tip. The drink was charged to my room. The CMs at Pop Century quickly took care of it for me.

__________________

Tony's picture
Offline
Joined: 12/23/2009
Posts: 1260

We normally use cash. Using a UK credit card in the US usually incurrs a fee so cash is more effective.

__________________

I can only please one person per day. Today isn't your day... tomorrow doesn't look good either.

Mase's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/02/2011
Posts: 5438

Depends for us. Since we go with my parents... the key is tied to them. So we try to use my bank card for most of the stuff unless its something we have permission for.

__________________

- 2013 Trip Report!
- My Int3ractiv3 Trip R3port '12 - CLICK HERE!
[url='http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/pick-mases-dinner-disney']- My Interactive Trip Report '11[/url]

WyckedPhoenix's picture
Offline
Joined: 02/17/2011
Posts: 459

I think our plan is to have cash.. This way we can keep track of what we are spending better, I hope anyway. I'm the type of person that will use my debt card and not really think about how much things are actually adding up to and this can be REALLY bad for me in WDW, haha.

__________________

*Jennifer Lynn* NDW #38

Check out my blog at Jennifer's Disney Adventures


J.P.'s picture
Offline
Joined: 12/08/2010
Posts: 438

JeffC wrote:
WE also use the room key for jut about everything. We only carry a small amount of cash but rarely tap into it. We bring a wad of dollar bills too for Mousekeeping tips.

I'm the same as JeffC. We use the room key for souvenir purchases but for restaurant tipping and such we use cash. I also use cash when I want an extra snack that's outside the dining plan.

My hubby and I are both budgeters so we save up our souvenir money before we go and use that to pay off the credit card bill incurred by the key card!

Jess's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/04/2011
Posts: 3280

We don't usually carry cash because we don't buy balloons cause we can't have them at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Like hubby said we typically use are debit card and we also get like the 25 dollar gift cards from our inlaws so we use those to. My father in law was informing us tonight that he saw that they have disney gift cards at krogers that you can put any amount on between 20$-1500$ so we might do that when we go....but then also you run into the problem that if you lose that card you are out alot of money...so we will see.

__________________

Offline
Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 4704

Mase wrote:
Depends for us. Since we go with my parents... the key is tied to them. So we try to use my bank card for most of the stuff unless its something we have permission for.

Note that I will offer myself up as your parents' honorary son if we are there at the same time and they wish to add me to their key card or need any help making full use of a Disney gift card. Or QC'ing cake pops.... stars

Jess's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/04/2011
Posts: 3280

JeffC wrote:
Mase wrote:
Depends for us. Since we go with my parents... the key is tied to them. So we try to use my bank card for most of the stuff unless its something we have permission for.

Note that I will offer myself up as your parents' honorary son if we are there at the same time and they wish to add me to their key card or need any help making full use of a Disney gift card. Or QC'ing cake pops.... stars

We asked them when they are going and I think they said they were going the 3rd week in april...so i think thats before you...it's a shame because I know my mother in law would love to hang out with you

__________________

Bella's picture
Offline
Joined: 06/11/2010
Posts: 3886

Cash. The key to the world card gets got me in trouble once. I didn't keep very good track of how much we were spending and spent WAY too much.

So..we use cash now. We save up for our trips in a major way..we don't like going into debt to take a trip so once we have all our "spending cash" I take it and divide it all into envelopes and label them for every day we are there. That way if we go under we can save it for the next day. We keep the extra money in our room safe--I have to admit that does make me very nervous but we haven't had a problem with it yet.

__________________

mickey Bella


Mase's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/02/2011
Posts: 5438

JeffC wrote:
Mase wrote:
Depends for us. Since we go with my parents... the key is tied to them. So we try to use my bank card for most of the stuff unless its something we have permission for.

Note that I will offer myself up as your parents' honorary son if we are there at the same time and they wish to add me to their key card or need any help making full use of a Disney gift card. Or QC'ing cake pops.... stars

Yeah... like Jess said... we found out when they were going because I thought it would be cool if ya met them, and they are going on like the 22nd till the 28th.....

__________________

- 2013 Trip Report!
- My Int3ractiv3 Trip R3port '12 - CLICK HERE!
[url='http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/pick-mases-dinner-disney']- My Interactive Trip Report '11[/url]

JoAnn C's picture
Offline
Joined: 05/20/2011
Posts: 6757

Bella wrote:
Cash. The key to the world card gets got me in trouble once. I didn't keep very good track of how much we were spending and spent WAY too much.

So..we use cash now. We save up for our trips in a major way..we don't like going into debt to take a trip so once we have all our "spending cash" I take it and divide it all into envelopes and label them for every day we are there. That way if we go under we can save it for the next day. We keep the extra money in our room safe--I have to admit that does make me very nervous but we haven't had a problem with it yet.

I didn't carry a lot with me each day and left the rest in the safe. I only to worry about not losing the key.

__________________

mitchejj's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/18/2010
Posts: 65

I've found using Disney gift cards work best for me...

Every summer a local mega store has a sale on Disney gift cards... you buy $25 worth and and save $5 on your next shopping purchase of $25 or more. So I save extra money at home which in turn buys more cards Wink It also helps me stay with in a budget. I give myself X cards for food and x cards for gifts/trinkets.

JustCar's picture
Offline
Joined: 08/24/2010
Posts: 1042

Bella wrote:
Cash. The key to the world card gets got me in trouble once. I didn't keep very good track of how much we were spending and spent WAY too much.

So..we use cash now. We save up for our trips in a major way..we don't like going into debt to take a trip so once we have all our "spending cash" I take it and divide it all into envelopes and label them for every day we are there. That way if we go under we can save it for the next day. We keep the extra money in our room safe--I have to admit that does make me very nervous but we haven't had a problem with it yet.

this is us exactly, I go take a bit extra and hide it somewhere in the bag just in case

__________________

Oct 2009 POP
Sept 2011 POP
Oct 2013 Coronado
May 2014 AKL , Magic, AoA Girlie Trip
Oct 2014 CBR Pirate Room Girlie Trip
Nov 2014 DCL Fantasy 7 Night Eastern Caribbean, Girlie Trip, POR Royal Guest Suite, GF Concierge
August 2015 DCL Magic 7 Night Mediterranean
October 2015 DL Grand Californian, DCL Wonder Panama Canal

https://www.facebook.com/MsBubbles
https://www.facebook.com/MVTRavel

Offline
Joined: 08/20/2011
Posts: 397

We use Disney Gift cards for dining and snacks plus our tables in wonderland card. We also use our room key card for merchandise purchases. Sometimes we use cash but last trip we didn't. We found that if we purchased our gift cards at Kroger we got 2x the gas points and that gave us $1.00 off per gallon of gas. Since we are driving down from Southern Ontario that is a huge bargain for us. Plus the whole idea of carrying cash makes us a bit nervous.

Pixiedust's picture
Offline
Joined: 09/05/2013
Posts: 26

The only reason I have ever had to bring cash to Disney has been to buy the Disney Dollars. I have been collecting them for about 15 years now, and you can not buy Disney Dollars with your credit card. Disney dollars can be used as cash within the Disney property or at the Disney Store where you live, and comes in $1, $5, $10 and $20. I like to collect the ones with pictures that I like (e.g., if Stitch is on one, as he was a few years back), but in general I will buy just the $1 for my collection or to give as gifts to visiting friends.

__________________

"Sometimes it's fun to do the impossible" ~Walt Disney

JanJ's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/14/2013
Posts: 1681

This trip we have used all three. We tend to charge souvenirs and the more expensive meals to our room card and then use cash for smaller items.

Kristen K.'s picture
Offline
Joined: 09/01/2011
Posts: 23803

I usually use Disney Gift Cards, because that's how I save for vacation. However in June we used our Key to the World cards and it went pretty smoothly.

Offline
Joined: 05/20/2013
Posts: 166

I usually use gift cards for for food & debit for everything else. I do bring some cash for travel days (I find using cash quicker & easier in airports) & in case I end up getting something from somewhere that doesn't take cards (although that has yet to happen in 6 trips).

mimi's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/27/2012
Posts: 234

We used our Key to the World card for everything we could! It was almost too easy! It's a wonder we were able to control ourselves biggrin

Eeyore's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/22/2012
Posts: 1120

We always use our CC for everything. To me, it is more secure than debit and the Keys to the World Card. I am always afraid I will leave/drop the room key somewhere and someone will be charging their vacation to my room! haha

I have never done the Disney GC thing, but it seems to be a great idea to save money!

coreyp's picture
Offline
Joined: 08/06/2012
Posts: 189

This post has made me wonder something...Has anyone ever had charges on their Key to the World card that they didn't make and disputed them? How did it go? Is it something they take care of right then, or do you have to pay the charges and hope that you get a refund for the charges?

__________________

Follow along on our adventure as we make the move for a great life, and move to Orlando!

https://adventuresinears.wordpress.com/

1987(sort of)-Fariway Villas (I was not born yet, but could hear all the sounds of WDW)
1991-Fairway Villas (My first official trip to WDW)
2000-Fort Wilderness Campsites (last family trip before siblings got married and had kids)
2004-Caribbean Beach
2008-Pop Century
2012-Contemporary Resort (Honeymoon)
2015- Caribbean Beach (daughter's first trip)
2017- Cabins at Fort Wilderness

JanJ's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/14/2013
Posts: 1681

coreyp wrote:
This post has made me wonder something...Has anyone ever had charges on their Key to the World card that they didn't make and disputed them? How did it go? Is it something they take care of right then, or do you have to pay the charges and hope that you get a refund for the charges?

We have never had anything charged to us that wasn't ours and now you also use your 4-digit PIN that you set up, so I believe it would be more difficult for that to occur.

Offline
Joined: 06/17/2012
Posts: 373

We use the Room key for all our tips ..and we use our Gift cards from our Chase Disney card for shopping (love it free $$$ ) Smile

__________________

JoAnn C's picture
Offline
Joined: 05/20/2011
Posts: 6757

coreyp wrote:
This post has made me wonder something...Has anyone ever had charges on their Key to the World card that they didn't make and disputed them? How did it go? Is it something they take care of right then, or do you have to pay the charges and hope that you get a refund for the charges?

This happened to me two years in a row.

In 2010, my friend and I were having dinner at the Brown Derby. We were on separate dining plans. We each ordered a salad with our dinner. The waiter told my friend he charged her salad to her Key to the World card. He failed to mention it to me. I left cash for both my salad and tip. I wasn't aware of the charge until the last day of my trip. I went to the front desk and told them the situation. The charge was immediately credited.

In 2011, my friends and I were having breakfast at the Kona Cafe. They were on one plan and I was on a separate plan. We ordered mimosas with breakfast. We left cash for the drinks and tips. I got my statement on the last day of the trip and all three drinks were charged to my room. The charges were credited. They had to move the charge for two of the drinks to my friends' room. I told them about the charge and we went to the front desk and the charge was removed from their room.

In that same trip a drink that I had intended on paying for was charged to my room at Via Napolli. The waiter told me up front that he charged it to my room. I left the charge and kept the cash I had for the drink.

Last year, I didn't have a CC attached to my room so I didn't have to worry about unwanted charges.

__________________

Mandy's picture
Offline
Joined: 06/18/2013
Posts: 2485

My boyfriend and I use cash or debit cards for charges. Never use the Key card for charges.

JMUDukz's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/28/2012
Posts: 822

I use the KTTW b/c it's so convenient. With the magic band, I foresee it getting worse, as I won't even have to dig out my wallet. However, I do try to keep a running tally of what I've spent. I learned the hard way from cruising that it's a little too easy to just swipe and go, and then suddenly that envelope with the bill in it is so thick it won't even fit under the door on the last day!!

__________________

magicalkingdoms.com Ticker

magicalkingdoms.com Ticker

Mandy's picture
Offline
Joined: 06/18/2013
Posts: 2485

JMUDukz wrote:
I use the KTTW b/c it's so convenient. With the magic band, I foresee it getting worse, as I won't even have to dig out my wallet. However, I do try to keep a running tally of what I've spent. I learned the hard way from cruising that it's a little too easy to just swipe and go, and then suddenly that envelope with the bill in it is so thick it won't even fit under the door on the last day!!

I really hope you had the finances to cover that bill.

JMUDukz's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/28/2012
Posts: 822

Mandy wrote:
JMUDukz wrote:
I use the KTTW b/c it's so convenient. With the magic band, I foresee it getting worse, as I won't even have to dig out my wallet. However, I do try to keep a running tally of what I've spent. I learned the hard way from cruising that it's a little too easy to just swipe and go, and then suddenly that envelope with the bill in it is so thick it won't even fit under the door on the last day!!

I really hope you had the finances to cover that bill.

Oh, Mandy, never underestimate the power of Visa!! laugh

__________________

magicalkingdoms.com Ticker

magicalkingdoms.com Ticker