Hi Jenny,
Welcome to planDisney and thank you for asking us a question, my fellow Canadian!
I love the fact that we can buy
Disney Gift Cards in Canada and then use them during a Disney Parks vacation. I’ve found that this truly is a great way to budget and plan for expenses during my family’s trips to Walt Disney World Resort.
Regardless of where they are purchased, Disney Gift Cards unfortunately can’t be “linked” directly to your
My Disney Experience account. They can, however, be linked indirectly if you’re staying in a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel, that is, “on property” at a Disney Resort. If your Disney Band is properly linked and shows as “active” in your My Disney Experience account, then you’ll be able to use it to charges purchases back to your hotel room. At the end of your Disney Day, or even at the beginning of your stay, you can visit your
Lobby Concierge and ask them to apply your Disney Gift Card’s funds towards your account. That way, you can still use your gift card to pay for your purchases. Please note that, if you’re staying at a hotel outside of Walt Disney World Resort, this option unfortunately won’t be available to you.
You can also keep an eye on your spending, in real time, with your
My Disney Experience Mobile App! Just click on the “My Resort” button on the main page (you may have to scroll down a bit to find it) and then click on the “View Charges” icon. It’s a handy way to keep track of your spending make sure that there are no surprises on check out day.
Tip: Here’s how the exchange rate is calculated for Disney Gift Cards purchased in Canadian funds: the card’s face value (in CAD) will get automatically converted into USD based on the prevailing exchange rate on the day that the card was first used and not on the date that it was purchased. This means that, if you purchase the card in Canada in March but that you only use it during your May visit to Walt Disney World Resort, the funds on your card will get converted “automagically” at the cash register when you first use it in May. After that, the amount you’ll have left in USD is set and you won’t need to worry about exchange rate issues for any subsequent transactions with that card. You’ll be able to see your gift card’s remaining balance, in USD, at the bottom of your receipt whenever you use it.
I hope my answer helps you plan and budget for your upcoming vacation. Please don’t hesitate to come back and see me if you have any other questions – I’m always happy to help!
Have a Magical Day,
Lynne