Welcome to planDisney, James and thanks for stopping by!
James, I too fondly remember using my Disney Vacation Account to pay for our vacations and while I was sad to see it retired, I'm happy to share how my family pays for our Walt Disney World Resort trips in the hopes that you'll find an idea that brings you
Joy from the Inside Out!
First, James, if you are
booking a vacation package with a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel and tickets bundled together, you are able to put down a deposit at booking and then pay over time. As a guest who likes to book early to make sure my trip is "on the calendar," I appreciate this option and prior to becoming
a Disney Vacation Club Member, we always paid over time.
Now, if you are purchasing tickets only or are hoping to have things like dining and merchandise budgeted out and prepaid, I recommend
Disney Gift Cards. In the months (and sometimes years) leading up to our vacation, we purchase Disney Gift Cards anytime we are at our local grocery store. Disney Gift Cards can be consolidated to hold up to $1,000 per card by creating an account and managing the cards online.
These can be used to pay for your theme park tickets and even at your Disney Resorts Collection hotel to
pay your balance for any charges from your MagicBand. James, I don't mind sharing that we also encourage friends and family to consider Disney Gift Cards for my young Mouseketeers when their birthdays roll around!
James, I hope this helps as you're thinking ahead to your next trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth. Please come on back to planDisney with any other questions you might have.
Lauren