Hi there, Claudia. I'm delighted to welcome you to planDisney. Building a budget for
Walt Disney World is a great idea. You may already know that the Disney gift cards that can be used in the Parks in Florida can only be purchased on Disney property or with a U.S. billing address. The gift cards available in Ireland may only be spent at the Dublin Disney Store or on the Irish shopdisney website; I just wanted to rule that out.
I now budget and pay for everything at Walt Disney World through a mobile bank. It's not quite as magical sounding as a Walt Disney World gift card, but the various options available are worth examining. A quick online search can help you find out more and see if this option might work for you. It's revolutionised how we pay for things as we travel as they offer borderless banking. Exchange rates available are usually favourable, and there are low or no ATM withdrawal fees worldwide, making it easier and cheaper for us to make purchases overseas as those international fees can add up.
You can add savings into this account over time. We like to keep an eye on the exchange rate before our trip, and when we see a good point, we use our savings to buy dollars - our mobile bank allows us to hold and send money fee-free across many different currencies using just one account.
Most mobile banks have accompanying apps, which means you can use your mobile app to freeze a card instantly should it get mislaid (helpful when abroad) or set spending limits.
We have successfully added our mobile bank card to My Disney Experience, so you can use these cards to make international-fee-free
Mobile Food and Beverage Orders, for example. You could use the card linked to your borderless bank to purchase a Disney Gift Card at Walt Disney World - if you want to spend only a certain amount sampling delicacies from around the World at
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, for example.
Claudia, I do hope this answer is helpful to you and wish you the best time at the Most Magical Place on Earth. I will be right here if you need anything else, Louise.