Hi there, Andrew!
Welcome back to planDisney. We're so glad you've returned with another fantastic
Walt Disney World Resort vacation planning question! Your exciting stay at The Most Magical Place on Earth is just under a month away - are you counting down the days!? Andrew, I'd be happy to help you prepare for your Walt Disney World Resort vacation by explaining your payment options for your
Disney Resort hotel folio.
Disney Gift Cards are my favorite method of payment when it comes to visits to Disney Destinations. I often receive them as gifts and purchase them at the grocery store, combining them just before my vacations and using them to purchase food and souvenirs! Andrew, a valid credit or debit card must be provided at check-in to be used for room charges. However, you could use your Disney Gift Card to make a payment on the remaining balance owed on your Disney Resort hotel reservation before you check in. You could also provide your Disney Gift Card at the time of check-in to put a credit on your account, but please note that the Resort hotel is unable to refund you any unused gift card funds at the end of your stay. For that reason, I recommend stopping by your Resort hotel's front desk periodically throughout your stay to make smaller payments towards your folio vs. putting a major credit on your account as soon as you arrive! (My friend and fellow panelist, Doug, recently
answered a similar question from another Guest, so be sure to check out his awesome tips as well!)
Andrew, you may notice a credit card
authorization hold ("pending charge") of up to the remaining balance plus $100 on the card provided for charges made to your Resort hotel folio. If your remaining balance is covered by your Disney Gift Card, this authorization hold should drop off your credit card account within a few days after you check out of your Disney Resort hotel.
Will you be using
MagicBand+ during your upcoming visit? This is a great option for Guests hoping to charge purchases to their Resort hotel folios during their vacations and is accepted at almost all dining and
merchandise locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. MagicBand+ allows Guests to experience attractions and
nighttime spectaculars like never before. Not to mention, there are so many fun and unique design options to choose from!
I hope you've found this information helpful, Andrew. I'm wishing you a vacation filled with enchantment and wonder. If you have any additional planning questions, please stop back by
planDisney again anytime! We're here to help you make magical memories.
See ya real soon,
Lauren