TMSM Explains: Disney Gift Cards New Ways To Buy Them, Where You Can Use Them And More

“Can I use my Disney Gift Card in the park?” We get asked this question a lot here at TMSM.  So today I wanted to take a moment to address this topic. The answer is as clear as swamp mud as there are now two types of Disney Gift cards available for purchase at various retailers.

Let’s start with the newest card to the Disney Gift card family, the Disney Gift Card eGift, it replaced the Online Disney Gift Card” sold only online by the Disney Store. The Disney Gift Card eGift is bought online and delivered quickly to any valid email address and can be purchased in $25 increments up to $150 plus denominations of $200, $250, $300 and $500. It can be redeemed anywhere Disney Gift Cards are accepted. This card cannot be added to the Disney Vacation Account. eGift card balances cannot be transferred and it has no fees or expiration date.

Disney Store gift cards are “available in $25 increments up to $150 plus denominations of $200, $250, $300 and $500″ giving you the freedom to spend as much, or as little as you want on a gift card. Many locations that sell the plastic Disney Card offer two options, a set amount card usually available in $25, $50 or $100 options, or in a “Create Your Own amount” with most requiring a minimum of $15 being put on the card. When purchased online Disney’s character and park design gift cards are mailed with “Free standard shipping” and you have the option to send your gift card in a personalized card of your choice ($6.95 includes standard shipping and handling)

For those of you who want a bit more personal touch in your gift card giving, The Disney Store now also offers a “Personalized Gift Card” option that lets you upload an image to a Disney Gift Card.  Personalized Gift Cards are sent inside a Personalized Card Carrier with a personal special message of your choice. (Minimal personalization fee includes free shipping to any U.S. address).

Irrespective of where you purchase them, plastic gift cards with the Parks and Cruise Line logos on the back can be used at various Disney locations. Be sure to check the back of the card for these logos, or read the fine print to see where it’s accepted, in case they aren’t present. The Disney gift card site lists several locations where their gift cards are redeemable, including DisneyStore.com, Disney Store locations in the U.S., participating locations at Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida, Disneyland® Resort in California, Disney Cruise Line, ClubPenguin.com, and DisneyPhotoPass.com. On a side note, if you’re looking for a unique gift for your loved one, consider getting them a name necklace. These personalized pieces of jewelry can make a thoughtful and meaningful gift for any occasion.

Yes, that’s right! Disney Gift Cards can be used to pay for Disney Vacations! The trick to this though is you MUST save your gift cards because if you have to cancel your trip, or Disney needs to refund money to you the money will be returned to the Gift Cards that were used on the reservation. If you still have questions feel free to visit www.disneygiftcard.com/where-to-use/  for a complete list explaining how you can use your Disney Gift card.

Plastic Disney Gift cards can also be reloaded “for any amount between $5-$1,000.00 at any Disney location that sells Disney Gift Cards. Online reloads are not available at this time.” and because your Disney Gift card never expires this makes it all the more valuable when you are traveling. So keep those older card designs that you love because you can continue to use them!

Where at Disney can I use my Disney Gift Card?
Officially Disney has stated Disney Gift Cards can be used “At the Walt Disney World Resort, the Disney Gift Card can be redeemed at select merchandise, food, ticketing and Guest Service locations, select third party lessees and Downtown Disney District Operating Participant locations.  The Disney Gift Card can be redeemed towards payment of a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel room night or reservation.”
The easiest thing to remember is this. When you go to pay all register areas should have a “payment accepted” sticker that shows what forms of payment they take. Usually this ALWAYS includes stickers with Visa, Mastercard, American Express symbols. Locations that take Disney Gift Cards will also state that by showing the “TaDa Mickey” Disney Gift Card Symbol. Please note the “TaDa Mickey” image has recently changed. The original version had a blue background, the new one has a red background. Watch for both logos just to be safe!

Remember that third party locations are not required to accept Disney Gift cards so it is always best to check when shopping and dining at Downtown Disney.

Can I transfer the balance of one Disney Gift Card to another?
Until recently the answer to that question was no. Fortunately Disney seems to have figured out just how many people use multiple gift cards for travel, and they finally added this feature to their gift cards.
To transfer a balance you need a DisneyGiftCard.com account. Once you are logged in just go to the new “Transfer Balance” section. This page lets you consolidate your cards by transferring the complete balance of one card to another. You can transfer any amount up to $1,000, but don’t forget that each card can only hold a maximum value of $1,000.

Is there an app or website I can use to keep track of my Disney Gift cards?
Yes Orlando there is! Disney has finally officially stopped supporting the old Disney Gift Card app that hadn’t been updated since 2013 and has released “My Cards.”

What is My Cards?

Can I add my Disney Gift Card to my MagicBand?
No. For two reasons. The first reason being because “things are not added to Magicbands.” MagicBands are merely an ID number that tells a scanner who you are, then the computer checks with My Disney Experience to see what permissions you have because MDE is actually where all your data is store. The second reason is because My Disney Experience is not currently set up to allow guests to add Disney Gift Cards to their accounts. You can though put a credit card on file for your Disney resort stay and use room charge through your trip, and the day before you check out go to your resort’s front desk and pay off your room’s balance with gift cards. The key to this is you will want to pay it off your room charge balance the morning before check out, and then not use room charge from that point on to avoid your credit card being charged any on file balance.

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Michele

Michele Atwood is the Owner/Editor of The Main Street Mouse and its subsidiaries. Co owner of the House of Mouse Expo & Lost Princess Apparel. Author of the books “Moving to Main Street U.S.A.” “How Many Sleeps Till Disney?” and “How Many Sleeps Till Disneyland?”
Michele also contributes theme park news for Fox 35 Orlando 11pm news and on the radio on WDBO.

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