Hi Roseann,
Welcome to planDisney and thank you so much for asking us a question.
I’ve found that using
Disney Gift Cards truly is a great way to budget and plan for expenses during my family’s trips to Walt Disney World Resort. Now that you can even purchase
Disney Gift Card eGifts, setting aside a bit of money every month for our vacation budget has never been easier!
Regardless of what type of gift card (physical card or virtual -e-card) you plan to use or how they are purchased, Disney Gift Cards unfortunately can’t be “linked” directly to your
My Disney Experience account. They can, however, be linked indirectly if you’re staying in a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel, that is, “on property” at a Disney Resort.
If your
MagicBand or Key to the World Card is properly linked and shows as “active” in your My Disney Experience account, then you’ll be able to use it to charge purchases back to your hotel room. At the end of your Disney Day, or even at the beginning of your stay, you can visit your
Lobby Concierge and ask them to apply you’re the funds on your Disney Gift Card(s) towards your account. That way, you can still use your gift card to pay for any purchases charged to your hotel room to your MagicBand. Please note that, if you’re staying at a hotel outside of Walt Disney World Resort, this option unfortunately won’t be available to you.
You can also keep an eye on your spending, in real time, with your
My Disney Experience Mobile App! Just click on the “My Resort” button on the main page (you may have to scroll down a bit to find it) and then click on the “View Charges” icon. It’s a handy way to keep track of your spending and to make sure that there are no surprises on check out day.
I hope my answer helps you plan the perfect Disney Parks vacation for you and your family. Please don’t hesitate to come back and see us if you have any other questions!
Have a Magical Day,
Lynne