Hello there, Rachel!
I'm very glad you stopped by the Disney Parks Moms Panel. It's a pleasure to help you prepare for your upcoming visit to The Happiest Place on Earth.
Using
Disney Gift Cards is a great way to budget for a Disney Parks vacation. My family and I use Disney Gift Cards for nearly all of our purchases at the Disneyland Resort. For purchases of everything from souvenirs to dining to activities, they are very convenient. Yes, you will find that most locations throughout the Disneyland Resort accept Disney Gift Cards. This includes all of the Disney-owned and operated locations.
Downtown Disney District:
Disney locations, such as
The Disney Dress Shop,
Marceline's Confectionery, and
World of Disney gladly accept Disney Gift Cards.
Dining locations at the Downtown Disney District do not accept Disney Gift Cards. Though I do highly recommend them! We love sharing a family-sized pizza at
Naples Ristorante e Bar. And the gourmet ice creams at
Salt & Straw are the best I've ever enjoyed.
Disneyland Resort Hotels:
Disney Gift Cards may be used for dining and shopping at the hotels of the Disneyland Resort. They are even a valid form of payment for both hotel-only stays and for
Vacation Packages. My top recommendations are the Country-Fried Beef Brisket and Waffle at
GCH Craftsman Grill and dinner with your favorite Disney characters at
Goofy's Kitchen.
Disneyland Resort Theme Parks:
Disney Gift Cards are accepted at most dining locations throughout Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. My favorites are
Carnation Cafe and
Lamplight Lounge. The Main Entrance ticket booths and the Disneyland Resort website also accept Disney Gift Cards for
theme park ticket purchases and more. There are few locations that do not accept Disney Gift Cards, including
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop, balloon vendors, and self-serve kiosks such as the locker rentals and FuelRod machines. Purchases made within the Disneyland app, including tickets,
Disney MaxPass add-on, and
Mobile Food and Beverage Orders, also do not currently allow Disney Gift Cards.
Have a magical time, Rachel!
~Tony