Laura,
Yes, you can still use cash at the Walt Disney World parks and resorts. On our trip this past Spring my daughters each spent some of their Christmas and birthday gift money on souvenirs, and the occasional Dole Whip! Believe me when I say that our vacation spending changed abruptly when they found out they could get a Dole Whip not just in the Magic Kingdom, but also at the
Pineapple Lanai at
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort!
While cash is still accepted, if it is more convenient for you, and if you are staying at a Disney Resort Hotel, you can apply some of that cash to your account balance. This would free you from having to carry the currency around with you. It is totally your decision. However, if you do choose to do so, only apply what you know you will spend, as they cannot return any unspent balance to you. What I do on our vacation, if we have some cash on hand, is apply some to the account every other day or so, and only when I know I have an upcoming meal that will eat up all or most of that positive balance.
The only other downside to spending cash that I can think of is that you cannot use cash with the
Mobile Online Order feature of the
My Disney Experience App. That does not mean you cannot purchase food from those restaurants. You can still go up an order like you normally would, you just can't use the advance order tool. So, you are still fine to go the cash route.
Please feel free to
write me back directly if you have any follow-up questions.
Have a Magical Vacation!
Doug