Hi Adam,
Using
Disney Gift Cards for a vacation is a great way to budget and also avoid transaction fees when traveling from other countries. I have friends who hail from Canada and have done exactly what you are proposing to do.
If a Disney Gift Card is purchased in Canadian Dollars, when it is used at Disney World either in person or on the website, the transaction will take place at the current exchange rate and be converted to United States dollars. There will not be any sort of financial benefit to utilizing gift cards versus your credit card for online purchases except for the avoidance of an international transaction fee if your credit card charges them.
When you are booking your tickets online, make sure to check out the special offers for
Canadian residents. Since you are traveling during the Christmas season at Disney World, I highly recommend attending
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. It is such a fun event that ends with snow on Main Street which is so beautiful. I am sure snow is not a novelty to you since you will be visiting from Canada but down in Florida seeing snow feels like a miracle! There are special characters to see, seasonal snacks, the best Christmas parade ever, and decorations that will bring our the spirit in Ebenezer Scrooge.
Happy Planning
Jenna