Hi Steve! Welcome to planDisney!
You must be thrilled to visit the Walt Disney World Resort soon! With the
Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival extending into the beginning of summer, it is a great time to visit. I hope you have plans to check out the festival. It is so much fun!
MagicBands are such an easy way to get around the Walt Disney World Resort! Between using it to enter the theme parks, capturing your
PhotoPass photos, and making purchases, they are the most convenient fashion accessory around. When it comes to using your MagicBand for purchases, it is linked to your
Disney Resorts Collection hotel account, so only Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel can access this ability.
If you are staying on Walt Disney World Resort property, good choice! You can absolutely use your MagicBand to make purchases and since those purchases will be linked to your hotel account, you will need to have a credit card on file. You can't link a
Disney Gift Card directly to your account, but you can visit the Front Desk and ask to pay down your account with your gift cards. Then, your credit card won't get charged because you will have it paid off already!
I hope you have a great vacation, Steve! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Tabitha