Hey there, hi there, Nicole! You're as welcome as can be here at planDisney! I'm so glad you've stopped by with such a great question.
It sounds as if your planning is off to a practically perfect start! Stocking up on discounted Disney Gift Cards from my local retail stores is my favorite way to save money on my
Walt Disney World Resort vacations. And since I'm saving money, I never feel guilty about purchasing that extra snack, cocktail or Loungefly backpack. Now, let's make sure you know how to use your most magical money on your summer adventure at The Most Magical Place on Earth!
I think you will be happy to hear that it is super easy to use Disney Gift Cards to make My Disney Experience app-based purchases, such as
Disney Genie+,
Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering,
Mobile Merchandise Checkout and more. Now, unfortunately, only credit and debit cards can be saved to your My Disney Experience app for even faster checkouts, but Hakuna Matata! It means "no worries." I use my Disney Gift Cards for app-based purchases all the time, and I have some tips for you!
After you have made your selections and are ready to check out on the My Disney Experience app, once you get to the Order Summary screen, scroll down to the bottom and tap "Use a Different Payment Method." Under Payment Methods, tap "Add a Card" and select "Disney Gift Card or Disney Dining Card." Here, you can either scan the Gift Card or enter the 16-digit card number to complete your purchase.
To prevent having to pull out my Gift Card and enter all 16 digits for every purchase, I like to save time by typing the Gift Card numbers into the notes section of my smartphone. Then, I can just copy and paste the number for quick purchases. Saving time on my purchases means more time enjoying the magic!
I hope this was helpful, Nicole, and I hope you have the most magical and memorable time on your summer vacation! Please feel free to stop by any time with any questions you may have along the way. You've got a friend in me!
Chase the wind and touch the sky,
Mandy