Hiya Kyle,
Welcome to planDisney! Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Collection Hotel is ideal for extending the magic past the Theme Parks. I always say that my dreams are more magical when I’m sleeping in a Disney bed.
Speaking of magic,
Disney Gift Cards are my preferred currency for Walt Disney World Resort vacations. I love using them to purchase food, merchandise, and my resort hotel stays. A Cast Member can add funds from your Disney Gift Card to your resort hotel account, which can be used to pre-pay any charges. In my experience, you are still asked to provide a credit card on file as well. Your charges would be deducted from your gift cards first, and any remaining charges would come from your credit card. One thing to note, Kyle, is that Cast Members cannot refund your gift cards for any unused funds. So if you put $200 of a gift card balance towards your resort hotel account and only use $150, you would essentially lose the remaining $50. For this reason, I recommend only putting down an amount you know you will spend and then going back to the front desk periodically to apply more funds as needed.
I hope this was helpful, Kyle. While you are visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth, get a refillable mug at your Walt Disney World Resort Collection Hotel. While it can only be used at a resort hotel, it is great for spending time at the pool or relaxing in your room (especially for a multi-day trip).
Please come back and see us if you need anything else.
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.