Do you carry cash????

[Bookwood]

Do you carry cash when you go to the world?? Or does everything get put on plastic of some form? I will be taking most of my spending money in Disney Dollars (I just can't resist) but will need to have some cash for the time before we get to the world. We just got to the point where we can pay off each month and not have bills with intrest- I am nervous about charging too much. How do you keep from over spending with plastic??? (I don't have alot of practic restraining myself when I don't use cash)

[BillJ]

We usually use cash.

Naturally, if we purchase a big ticket item, the plastic might come out, but we don't use it for most things.

[James]

We put all we can on our Disney Visa so we can get points, but we have the money up aside to pay the bill!!

[Lady]

We use all cash - by the time we end our trip - it's all paid for
hotel - travel paid first with cash and then we pay as we go : ) It's wonderful coming home with no debt : )

[Belle]

We use cash for just about everything. Usually character meals or big ticket items go on plastic, only because I don't like to take more than $75 with us to the parks. The rest stays in the safe.

[pinoch]

We usually use cash. Sometimes I get Disney Dollars to use for small things like Mickey Bars, quick lunches, etc. Rarely use the credit card unless it's a big purchase. We usually carry the cash we'll need for the day and leave the rest in the safe. For longer trips we also pick up some travellers checks.

Barb

[roodad]

Almost everything goes on plastic - either an amex rebate card or a disney visa. I like the convenience of just carrying a small card case. Other than watches and antenna toppers, there isn't that much at wdw that I want to buy (except some of the original art work, which I know I can't afford). My wife is also pretty good about avoiding impulse buying. It helps, of course, that we don't have small children. When my kids were little, they were given an amount they could spend in the parks and when it was gone, it was gone. While we used credit cards for those purchases, each child had a check register that showed their balance, so they could see what they had available and what they had spent their money on.

[BaciBecky]

Cash here too. Usually carry a certain amount each day ~ will take along one card if it's a yr when I'm looking for a new watch.

Last MF I used Disney Dollars and it was too much fun ~ problem for me was that it felt like I was paying with play money, so I spent freely! :)

On the hand, I purchased a certain amount to spend and did not go over. Had some cash on hand for the airport, but if I'd been using cash all along would have spent less than I did using Disney Dollars.

Often come home with money because I try to over estimate just a little, so I'm convered if an extra meal comes up etc.
:minnie:

[Timon]

We rarely use cash for anything. It's unusual for me to ever have more than $20.00 in cash on me. If I ever need more cash than that there's always an ATM around somewhere. If I lose cash it's gone forever. If I lose a card it's replaced the next day. When I make a purchase with my card I've got some recourse if something goes wrong. I don't have that option with cash.

We are very disciplined with regards to paying off our credit card(s) every month. I put the "s" there because we have more than one, but only use one primary card unless the vendor doesn't take that particular brand. We live off of our card (MasterCard). We pay most of our bills, groceries, gas and most living expenses with it to earn the reward points. Why write 20 checks a month when you can write one? The airfare for our upcoming trip is free for all three of us thanks to this policy. As I said we're very disciplined.

We really don't get too extravagant with our WDW purchases. Although paying $50.00 for a sweatshirt, IMHO, is starting to get in the extravagant range. We have a budget per day of what we expect to spend and try to stick with it, but we also don't let it rule us either. Some days we're under it and some day's we're over it, but for the most part we're pretty good about sticking right to it. If there's something that we really want and it's over the budget we'll probably get it. That's why we have a savings account. The savings account isn't just for the rainy day things that happen (unemployment, car or appliance repair, etc. etc. etc...), but for the fun things in life that we want.

[Kaycee]

I put everything I can on my Disney Visa to get the rewards points, but I do carry some cash for the snack carts that don't take Visa and things like that.

I've had the Disney Visa since it was introduced, and I use it every month to pay for everything - gas, groceries, clothing, household items, you name it. I've never carried a balance on the card in the entire time I've had it. I guess that's why I don't have any problem staying within budget when I use the card at WDW.

[SueV]

We carry abut $100 each per day in the parks, but will put food and big ticket items(princess dresses x 3) on our Disney Visa. We've had our Disey Visa less than a year and when we go to WDW in August we'll be taking at least a $100 rewards card with us....gotta love those points:peri:

[Linda S]

I never have much cash on me. Ever. But we do try to have all the cash "ready" to pay off when we get home.

Here's a related question, but a little off topic.... What should I send my son with to Japan? Cash? Travelers Checks? How easy is will it be for him to cash the travelers checks? He'll have to go to a bank to convert from dollars anyway right?
Or is it better to get him a pre-loaded "credit card?"

Thoughts? He's 13 and tends to be a bit forgetful.

Thanks

[ddoll]

I don't like to put anything on credit if at all possible. I don't carry much cash either. I prefer to use my check card for most purchases.

[Sheryl]

We always use cash on vacation. Terry absolutely hates and refuses to charge a vacation. I am the weak one, I can wear out a charge card faster than you can imagine.:( Our trip is always paid for before we go, so we just take cash for spend and any spending while we are there. I budget so much for each day.

[Belle]

I guess I better clarify my post... we use our Debit card "plastic" for bigger things at the parks since I don't like carrying too much cash - technically I suppose it is still "cash" since it comes right out of our account.

Our credit cards are for paying for big lump sums, like the Disney Cruise balance -- but with 6 months at 0% for Disney vacations, we pay it off in plenty of time. Or for plane tickets/car rentals to get the additional insurances...

[Stinkerbelle]

I rarely use cash in my regualar non-Disney life so it would seem wierd to carry cash when I am at Disney. About 99% of what I spend at WDW is on my debit card. My family knows when it comes to Bdays and Christmas that Disney Dollars make the best presents for me, but since I go so frequently I don't have them for every trip. Ken and I have a large water bottle for collecting change for our Disney fund. Again, since we go so frequently, it only pays to empty it once a year. Whatever money is in there gets converted to Disney dollars for one of the trips. As far as real US dollars cash, I generally only bring enough to tip the towncar drivers, bell services, housekeeping and a bit for bottled water in the park. I always bring one credit card in the event of an emergency but so far the only emergencies have been for goodies at the World Of Disney so now I don't bring it to WoD anymore. :D

[Ursulinda]

room key, for all but the tiniest cart locations simply for the itemized bill. If I carry cash, pretty soon my pockets are bulging with crumpled bills, loose change and receipts.

[SusanP]

Ditto, Urlulinda.
We use the room key for everything, how nice that most snack carts can take them as well. Only one we have found that doesn't is the little cart in Italy that sells the ices-so when we go to Epcot we make sure we have some cash on us! I love having the itemized list, so I can have a very accurate budget for the next trip. The kids have charging priviledges so we can easily keep track of what they may spend (or send them to the food court to pick up dinner...)
To save exchange rate dollars we usually get travellers cheques and put them on the room like credit, since we know we will be charging to it. Check the balance when we think we are getting low and add some more. Visa charges a bit more for exchange so that saves us a bit. We will cash some TC at the desk to keep some cash in our pockets just in case. We wouldn't take the vacation if we didn't have the money saved so we are never in debt when we get home.

[Bookwood]

Thanks for the input, I have all the money saved for all the "known" bills (hotel,food ect), so I will plan on my Disney Visa for that (I'm getting to be a points junkie- I'm trying to save it all to have a free resort night or 4 for the marathon).

Susan P when my nephew went to Germany a couple of years ago they got him prepaid credit cards that were re-loadable from this end it worked out well. Be sure too to get international phone cards (we found some at Sams- unless you have an international wireless phone- DH uses T-mobile for that reason- we still call each other free that way no matter where he is in the world.)

[Brer]

We use the money from the Disney rewards and Discover card rewards( usually around 800-1000) plus we have a change jar( over 120.00 at present). I'll carry about 50.00 in cash each day and for big ticket items, I'll put them on the room key and settle up before leaving at the front desk with the remaining? cash. Another rewards card that I have usually pays for the gas rather easily, hope that pans out this year

[Mickey4Us]

We use to use cash for meals and other small things but on our last trip it was either reward points or charge to room (Disney Visa). By the time we got home, I had replenished all of my reward points!! Using those two options seemed to make paying for things quicker! and alot easier to spend. but we are very good about not spending much. Talking almost no sourveniors here! :popcorn:

[Robin]

I would always take a few hundred dollars in cash, though I leave most of it in the room safe, only taking out some 'mad money' for the day.

When I'd travel, normall tip in cash for housekeeping, shuttles/limo drivers and meals. For most small items (under $5 or $10) I'd rather just pay cash. It's faster then having to wait for them to run my card, for a bag of chips. It really depends on where and when. I do find myself using my Disney Rewards card more and more for these small items.

Another place I find I need cash, is when meeting friends for dinner. Some times you can rotate who puts the charge on the card (basically handing the same cash back and forth).

[cshore]

I like the room key that gets charged to the Disney Visa. Pay it off monthly use the rewards for the purchases that I would feel guilty about and for our meals. I charge everthing I can, including Ali's college tuition to the Visa, pay it off immediately and enjoy the rewards. Sometimes the Airtran Visa is better option to get the free flights. Only works of course if it is payed off before interst accrues.

Chris

[kathleena]

I've tried it different way and prefer to bring all my cash down with me and then stay away from using the card. I would prefer to get the points on the visa card racked up, but find that I can budget much better if I am keeping track of what I'm spending by monitoring the cash in pocket. When I have travelled strictly on visa, or a combo of the two - I invariably overspend.

I almost never put the visa on the room key. I just feel unsafe having it on the key as opposed to using the card itself, although I have liked the single bill!

[Kellie19891992]

Cash here

[PixiePrincess]

100% of our trip is done in cash~ ahead of time. We do collect some disney dollars for our spending cash while there.

:minnie:

[BetsyAnn]

I like to have as much as I can pre-paid so will sometimes keep a credit on the room when I pay it off before the trip. I tend to use that $$ for sit down meals.

Then I have x amount of cash per day. Anything left over from one day goes to the next day. The cash is for counter service, snacks and souvenirs. Money in safe, I only carry that day' allotement or if near the end of trip might take the extra for a special must have!

[Cinderella]

We always used American Express to pay for room etc. ahead of time but need cash for the drive down. Put hotel and gas on credit card and meals cash.

When at DW we put money in the safe and take a certain amount each day. Try to pay cash for meals and any souvenirs we get. We used Disney Visa last time and I have a huge balance left to pay.

This trip will be mostly paid for. Timeshare money was paid to neighbors. One ten-day park hopper paid for - one more to buy next month. We just have the hotels/gas going down and back and food while there. Should be a great relief to our credit cards.

cinderella

[3princesses]

I use the room key charge feature which is applied to my debit card. For smaller items we have disney dollars.

[Linda S]

I use the room key charge feature which is applied to my debit card. For smaller items we have disney dollars.
We don't put a debit card on our room. When you do that, they put a hold on your money - the amount is based on how long you are staying and varies from hotel to hotel, but it can be hundreds of dollars. For a credit card it's not a big deal, because it's not actual cash and is just that a "hold." But for a debit card, they do the same and it's on your actual cash and is not really a hold but is more like it is withdrawn and stays on for usually up to a week after you check out. I'm not sure of all the details, but it is mush harder to "remove" - you have to get a credit or something. Not sure but, you could end up bouncing checks even if you didn't spend the money and have the cash in your account because of the hold. I've been told by several banking friends to never use the debit card for your room. Wish I could remember the details more.

[3princesses]

In the past I've never had a problem, but I wonder if it's because my debit card also has a Mastercard symbol on it and they hold it the same as a credit card?

[PixiePrincess]

We don't put a debit card on our room. When you do that, they put a hold on your money - the amount is based on how long you are staying and varies from hotel to hotel, but it can be hundreds of dollars. For a credit card it's not a big deal, because it's not actual cash and is just that a "hold." But for a debit card, they do the same and it's on your actual cash and is not really a hold but is more like it is withdrawn and stays on for usually up to a week after you check out. I'm not sure of all the details, but it is mush harder to "remove" - you have to get a credit or something. Not sure but, you could end up bouncing checks even if you didn't spend the money and have the cash in your account because of the hold. I've been told by several banking friends to never use the debit card for your room. Wish I could remember the details more.

Really? We used the business debit card 'just in case' on the last trip. So we could use our room key~ and we had a $1,500 limit. But it didn't mess up the business checking account. It didn't hold any money out? We also used that card for the extra night. Sometimes when I've used my debit card to pay for the room, it holds the money out 2 or 3 times. That hurts sometimes. I hate when Disney does that. One is a hold, then the next one is the actually amount... and it takes a few days to get the hold to drop off.
Is that what you mean?
I've been charged twice for my charges once. That hurt. I had to call and get it taken care of and then it took a couple days for the refund to get back into my account. Disney ran the charges through twice. Geez, like the first time didn't hurt enough. :woot: The 2nd time was a killer! :lol:
I hate running into those issues so we try NOT to use the room key OR the debit card too much. Small amounts... like 1 nights stay or a few hundred dollars is OK ... like our last trip but not when they hold out $1,500 a couple times. Kinda drains the account. :blink:

[MJTinNH]

I do a combination of cash and charge card. Enough cash for tips and small items. Charge the rest to the room key and pay off when I get back from the trip. I don't usually go wild with my spending while at Disney, so I don't worry much about the charges.

[Linda S]

Sometimes when I've used my debit card to pay for the room, it holds the money out 2 or 3 times. That hurts sometimes. I hate when Disney does that. One is a hold, then the next one is the actually amount... and it takes a few days to get the hold to drop off.
Is that what you mean?

Yes. But when it is your debit card (with a Mastercard or Visa symbol - it's the same thing), it holds your cash vs just holding your credit. And you are right - you get the actual charges on and then a certain amount based on the length of your stay. They'll do that too with regular credit cards.
I tried to find the info on the Clark Howard web site and couldn't, but that is where I likely heard it.

It's like the couple who had a $3,500 meal at Burger King. The cashier meant to punch in 3.50 and put in 3500 instead (or somthing like that - it was over $3,000). Anyway, the money immediately came out of their checking account even though they all noticed it right away. Their mortgage was due and all kinds of stuff and it was several days before the money could be credited.

I'll keep looking for where I read/heard it and post when I can. In any case, credit cards are always better than the debit/credit kinds as there is also greater protection against fraud - even the debit cards with the credit logo are not protected like a "real" credit card.

[ILoveMickey]

what a great thread!

What we do (and most of the time it works lol) is plan exactly what restaurants will be dining at and put that money aside. Then I generally put away $50 per day for the unplanned (t-shirts, stationary, asst souvenears) hmmm I guess you could say that was planned, but anyway then I take all of that money and pre pay my Disney visa the night before we go. I keep track of everything we spend by charging it all to the room key and periodically check the balance. As long as my room key balance and my pre payment of the visa card agrees I am happy and I have earned those very special points.

Since we fly from Boston and need to take a taxi to and from the airport I do take $200 in cash but we use the cash only for taxi and tips.

I hope this helps.......although it is a lot of work lol

[tiggerguy]

Everything goes on the room key.I lost cash ($40.00) the one time I took cash with me.Why have the hassle of carrying cash when one card is all you need.If your going to carry a credit card then you should allow them to put it on the room key.I like it with the older kids also.it's just my opinion and not for everyone but im comfortable with it and we go two or three times a year with no problems.

tiggerguy:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[bjresmom]

:bounce: We always take a small amount of cash in pre-decorated envelopes for mousekeeping, but we now also buy a Disney gift card when we arrive at our resort. It is accepted EVERYWHERE on property, we budget exactly how much we want to put on it, and as it is a "debit" type card, we don't run the risk of unexpected charges. You can use it even at all the snack carts in all the parks. Have a wonderful trip!!:D

[Belle]

I like the idea of the Disney Gift Card :) What a perfect gift that would be for me! :lol: Maybe I can ask Santa for one this year :evilSmile:

[jacobandlukesmom]

:bounce: We always take a small amount of cash in pre-decorated envelopes for mousekeeping, but we now also buy a Disney gift card when we arrive at our resort. It is accepted EVERYWHERE on property, we budget exactly how much we want to put on it, and as it is a "debit" type card, we don't run the risk of unexpected charges. You can use it even at all the snack carts in all the parks. Have a wonderful trip!!:D

That's a great idea!:mickeyHalloween: Especially since I don't do credit cards. I am sooo dangerous with them:-o . DH & I had actually talked about getting a pre-paid Mastercard and using while we were there. But the gift card sounds even better. :)

Just one question. What if you put more $$ on it than you actually use? Can you cash the gift card in?:confused:

[bjresmom]

:girlears: Yes, we simply cashed in our balance ( it was only about $2!), and I promptly bought some little thing before we actually left the world! I bought them for our entire marching band last april, so they did not have to carry cash...another great security thing. Write down that number on the back of the card, as well as the one on your ticket! We lost several of these during the band trip, and literally, within minutes, everything was replaced with a smile at Guest Services!

[JJ]

We charge as much as possible on our Disney Visa but always take cash too.....very un-original

[Princess Madelyn's Daddy]

This time down it will be Disney Dollars!:D For my birthday this month I asked everyone only for DD. I came out pretty good and hopefully it will pay for everything that we need.:mickeyHalloween:

[Carrie]

Many people tell me I shouldn't carry cash because you can't replace it if its lost. But I carry cash anyway, and I've never lost it. I'm a notorious impulse buyer. If I only have so much cash on me, I'll spend less. If I have my bank card or a credit card with me, it will be too easy just to put it on the card. I figure if I got into some sort of emergency I'd just call home and someone could wire me cash or give me my credit card number over the phone.

[JustJan]

We do a combination of things. First we prepay as much as possible so that the only things we should need to buy are meals and souvenirs / incidentals.

I carry cash - usually about $300 so that we can just grab the bottles of water or snacks and not have to fool with charging all that small stuff.

John also has his cash that he has earned to bring along and I carry that - separately - so that he knows what he has. He knows that I will buy him 2 pins and another small something souvenir - and that the rest is on him. When his money is gone - that is it (he has come home with money every trip - LOL)

Other than that it is the debit card - but I should really start charging to the Disney Visa and just paying it when we get home - how silly to keep using the debit card - (thanks for the advice guys)!

I am not an impulse buyer so I don't really worry about that stuff - about all I buy is something special for my mom, grandma, sister, niece - usually ornaments of some kind, and some kind of remembrance.

Jan