Hi there, Melanie! Thank you for bringing this great question to us at planDisney.
When it comes to planning for my
Walt Disney World Resort vacations, I typically have one thing on my mind – the food! My trips to The Most Magical Place on Earth usually revolve around what new snacks I want to try or favorite restaurants I want to make sure I visit. Personally, I love purchasing
Disney Gift Cards to use for my meals throughout my trip to make it feel like an all-inclusive vacation. Like you, this is my preferred way to stay on budget. The best part is that I can spend any leftover funds on souvenirs to bring back home!
Melanie, I would suggest that you use your Disney Gift Cards for food (both table-service and counter-service restaurants) throughout your trip, if that's how you'd prefer to pay for your meals. You can hand your server your Disney Gift Card instead of tapping your MagicBand when it's time to pay. My best tip is to create a note on your phone that has your Disney Gift Card and EAN number to make ordering through the
My Disney Experience app even easier! When you place a
mobile order using the My Disney Experience app, you can select to pay with your Disney Gift Card. On the "Order Summary" page, you'll scroll down to the very bottom and tap "Use a Different Payment Method." Then, tap "Add a Card" under "Disney Gift Card or Disney Rewards Redemption Card." Copy and paste your Disney Gift Card number (from your note on your phone) to make paying a breeze!
If you have any other questions about using your Disney Gift Card, you can either check out the
Frequently Asked Questions page or write to us again. After all – you've got a friend in me!
See ya real soon!
Michelle