Hiya, Jolene, and a big planDisney welcome to you! It sounds like you've got a magical trip to the Disneyland Resort coming up in just a few short months—how exciting! You've definitely come to the right place for planning tips and tricks.
How fantastic that your daughter won a gift card! That's what I call some real Disney magic! As Lumière would say, she can now "try the grey stuff, it's delicious!" and maybe a few extra Mickey pretzels and souvenirs too! What a fantastic treat!
Now, let's talk about using that wonderful gift card. How your daughter can use it really depends on what kind of treasure she's won! If it’s a
Disney Gift Card, you’re in luck! These are widely accepted at most locations across Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, and throughout the Downtown Disney District, particularly at shops and dining spots owned and operated by Disney. If this Disney Gift Card was delivered via email, she should be able to conveniently use it for her purchases by simply presenting the barcode from the email to a friendly Cast Member at participating shops and restaurants.
However, if it's a different type of gift card, such as a general gift card issued by a credit card company, then unfortunately, presenting the email directly at shops and restaurants won't quite do the trick for in-person redemption. But don't you worry, Jolene! I've got a couple of clever ideas up my sleeve that should help.
First, if the gift card functions similarly to a debit card, you might be able to add it as a payment method directly in the
Disneyland mobile app. To do this, just open the app, tap the menu button (three-lined icon) at the bottom right, then scroll down and tap "My Profile". From there, select "Payment Method," and at the bottom of that page, tap "Add a Payment Method." Here, you may be able to add your gift card as a credit or debit card. With this successfully set up in the app, your daughter can then use the card to pay for
mobile food and beverage orders—think easy access to
Dole Whip!—and also utilize the convenient
merchandise mobile checkout feature at select stores. Another magical option could be to add the gift card to your phone's mobile wallet and use Apple Pay or Google Pay for purchases. The Disneyland Resort readily accepts these forms of payment at most shopping and dining locations, so this could be a super smooth way for your daughter to enjoy her gift card.
And Jolene, one thing I can say for certain is that with her gift card ready, your daughter will have plenty of amazing new things to discover! There are so many brand new food, beverage, and merchandise options that were just introduced for the
Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration. Imagine sparkling new Minnie Mouse ear headbands, anniversary-themed Spirit Jerseys, and even collectible popcorn buckets! And the treats—oh,
the treats! There are so many tasty options dreamed up just for this momentous occasion. It's the perfect time to explore all the festive offerings and make some truly special purchases!
I hope this helps you and your daughter plan for a truly unforgettable and shopping-filled adventure, Jolene! If you have any more questions as you count down the days, you know where to find us!
Have a magical day!
Cody