Opinions on using cash or credit card at Disney.

[maryj11]

I'm not sure if we should use cash, a credit card or both.
With credit card information being stolen with the skimmers now I'm half afraid to use it.
This past June our card information was stolen at our local zoo gift shop while we were checking out. It had around 500.00 charged on it before I found out. The card had been in my possession and never lost.
I do have a credit card linked to MDE already.
What is your opinion? What do you do for purchases and dining?

 

[rwdavis2]

Magic band. IMHO, carrying around enough cash for a trip to WDW is less safe than a credit card. With a CC linked via MDE to the magic band it won't get much safer than that. I doubt WDW makes it easy for thieves to attach skimmers to their machines and they probably check them periodically.

 

[allsaintsatx]

I try to spend cash on vacations, unless it will earn decent points on a credit card. I get 3-4% back on my credit card with travel purchases so I always buy my flights and rooms using it. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about identity theft at Disney. I would worry more about using a credit card and spending money I don't actually have! When I use cash it makes me more conscious of my spending.

 

[MommaBerd]

We buy and use Disney gift cards. You can register up to five cards on disneygiftcard.com. If you lose one or leave it somewhere, you can immediately log on and transfer the balance to another card (up to $1000). But, I'll add that we always take a credit card as backup.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I'm not overly concerned.
I use both cash and credit card at Disney World.
I use cash for tips/small purchases and my Disney Visa card for purchases of $50+ as I get 10% off.
I also use GC's if I happen to have them which usually happens if someone gifts them to me for xmas or my b-day or I have rewards points on my Disney Visa Redemption card.

 

[Roxyfire]

Magic band with my credit card tied to it, is the go-to. I also have a small pouch that I carry my AP, DVC Card, Credit Card, and a nominal amount of cash with me in case the whole system goes down. If you lose that cash, it's likely all gone. I would use a particular card, maybe a travel designated card vs your daily use card. If you lose the travel designated card, then you can have the bank overnight you a new one while not missing too much of a beat. Never a debit card. That's basically giving someone access to your whole bank account.

If you don't have multiple credit cards, one for travel and one for daily use, I highly suggest you consider it. Nerdwallet.com is a great resource to help you. Even using a flat cash back (1.5%-2% on all purchases) and using a travel rewards card for all vacation/travel spending, you can keep your daily business separate from your vacation business.

 

[MommaBerd]

PS - There are ways to buy Disney GCs either at a discount, earning credit card cash back/rewards, or both. The little bits of savings can really add up!

 

[arminnie]

Disney billing is so screwed up. I've had multiple instances where my MB charges were not put on my credit card. No notification to me that these charges were not paid until a collection agency contacted me. It made me FURIOUS that my credit was affected by their stupid accounting.

 

[gillep]

Credit card linked to MB. I also carry my credit card, any gift cards we may have, and a little cash just in case, but I would not feel comfortable walking around with that much cash, nor would I find it convenient in the slightest.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Next trip we are linking 1-2 c/cs to the magic band.
During our first DW trip we were OOP . Someone got hold of the man's c/c information and began charging items on it. As a consequence his bank closed off ALL access to his acct for the duration of our vacation. Fortunately I still had my cards (none of which would take such drastic measures thank goodness) so there was no vacation disruption.
Lesson learned.
I've pretty much joined the cashless society and don't carry bills or coins. I give gift cards but rarely receive them, LOL.

 

[JacknSally]

Just keep in mind it's not unheard of for the system to go down at Disney and they aren't able to process MBs/gift cards/credit cards. Even if you don't use cash for every purchase, it's always smart to have some on you just in case. There are also a very few places (mostly the carts with the light up toys, things like that) that are cash-only.

 

[maryj11]

We buy and use Disney gift cards. You can register up to five cards on disneygiftcard.com. If you lose one or leave it somewhere, you can immediately log on and transfer the balance to another card (up to $1000). But, I'll add that we always take a credit card as backup.

That is a good idea!

 

[maryj11]

Magic band with my credit card tied to it, is the go-to. I also have a small pouch that I carry my AP, DVC Card, Credit Card, and a nominal amount of cash with me in case the whole system goes down. If you lose that cash, it's likely all gone. I would use a particular card, maybe a travel designated card vs your daily use card. If you lose the travel designated card, then you can have the bank overnight you a new one while not missing too much of a beat. Never a debit card. That's basically giving someone access to your whole bank account.

If you don't have multiple credit cards, one for travel and one for daily use, I highly suggest you consider it. Nerdwallet.com is a great resource to help you. Even using a flat cash back (1.5%-2% on all purchases) and using a travel rewards card for all vacation/travel spending, you can keep your daily business separate from your vacation business.

I do have a Disney visa from chase.

 

[maryj11]

Disney billing is so screwed up. I've had multiple instances where my MB charges were not put on my credit card. No notification to me that these charges were not paid until a collection agency contacted me. It made me FURIOUS that my credit was affected by their stupid accounting.

That's terrible.

 

[maryj11]

Credit card linked to MB. I also carry my credit card, any gift cards we may have, and a little cash just in case, but I would not feel comfortable walking around with that much cash, nor would I find it convenient in the slightest.

I think you are right, at least with a credit card you can call the company and have it cancelled if stolen. With cash it is gone!

 

[maryj11]

Next trip we are linking 1-2 c/cs to the magic band.
During our first DW trip someone got hold of the man's c/c information and began charging items on it. As a consequence his bank closed off ALL access to his acct for the duration of our vacation. Fortunately I still had my cards (none of which would take such drastic measures thank goodness) so there was no vacation disruption.
Lesson learned.
I've pretty much joined the cashless society and don't carry bills or coins. I give gift cards but rarely receive them, LOL.

I never thought about that. Maybe we should take two cards.

 

[maryj11]

Just keep in mind it's not unheard of for the system to go down at Disney and they aren't able to process MBs/gift cards/credit cards. Even if you don't use cash for every purchase, it's always smart to have some on you just in case. There are also a very few places (mostly the carts with the light up toys, things like that) that are cash-only.

Ok never thought of the system going down, that would be a pain without any cash on hand.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Some of these post are just more reasons for me not to add my debit credit card to my MB

 

[maryj11]

I think I will take both but now to decide how much cash to take .

 

[mousehockey37]

I learned my lesson this past trip. In the future, I'll be using the card on file and my magic band.

Cash isn't replaceable if lost.
Credit cards can be replaced but if you're on vacation, you're kinda screwed.
Having a card linked to your band ensures that you don't have to get it out to use it. (I had a card either not returned by a server, or it got left in the billfold or something, either way, I lost a card this year). Just make sure to keep track of your expenses so that you know everything is being tallied correctly.