Hey there, Christine!
Welcome to planDisney, friend! I am so very glad that you found us. Your question is a great one. I am a huge fan of purchasing
Disney gift cards. I find that picking one up at random when I am out running errands quickly builds a nice savings for Mickey Bars and DOLE Whips! So, how can you use these cards once you arrive?
Christine, a Disney Gift card cannot be added to a
My Disney Experience account for vacation expenses the way a debit or credit card can. But this doesn't mean you cannot use the card throughout your stay without carrying it around. There are a few options I recommend when using a Disney gift card for your vacation purchases. The first tip I recommend applies if you are a Guest of a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel have the option of charging their purchases to their accommodations. You can use your
MagicBand or card to buy food and merchandise throughout Walt Disney World. These charges will be added to your final bill before you check out. You can apply your gift card to this statement by stopping by the front desk before you leave. I like to do this the evening before I head home, so I don't run out of time while trying to enjoy my last day in the magic. This is particularly helpful if the card has a large balance, and you are worried about taking it all over Walt Disney World with you. And if your goal is to only spend the amount on your card, you can check your room charges anytime in the
My Disney Experience Mobile app.
And speaking of the My Disney Experience app, you can use a Disney gift card with some of the great features offered through this tool. Gift cards can be used when placing a
Mobile Food & Beverage order during checkout. If you do not want to keep your physical card on you, keep a photo on your smart device. You can access the photo to add the card information in the app during checkout.
If you don't mind taking your gift card along on your magical adventure, you will be able to use the card in most locations in Walt Disney World.
One last note, Christine. If you are trying to add a Disney gift card to your account for a Disney vacation package balance, you can do this in My Disney Experience. You can make a payment by gift card in the My Plans section on the My Disney Experience website. Under your vacation plans, you will see a confirmation number and a blue link labeled "Make a payment". Select this option to proceed with your payment by a gift card.
I hope these tips help you make the most out of your Disney Gift Card!
We'll see ya real soon!
Tammy