Charging purchases to room key: yes or no?

[wbeci007]

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Here is the option for your room key to charge items to it or to let there be no charging available. Is this a good/helpful thing to let your room key act as your charge card during the stay? Or should I just use my normal credit card. I only have one card, so it's not like I would be using multiple ones throughout my stay. I am just wondering if it really matters to have charging available.

Thanks!!

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[englanddg]

I find it extremely useful. First, they do have a limit on what can be charged to your room, $1000 is the default. This keeps someone from killing your credit card if you did lose your key to the world.

If you want to do more then that in one day, you will need to bring your normal card. However, if you are just inching up to the balance, you can call the front desk at any time and they will "clear" your room of all charges using your card on file.

I always carry some extra cash on the parks ($100 bill this year tucked into my day pack), just in case something goes wrong, and I carry my drivers license and bring my emergency charge card (another just in case). But, for normal purchases, I use the key to the world.

One feature I really like about this is that if I lost my key to the world, I could quickly call the hotel front desk and they would shut it off. They they'll issue me a new one and tie that back to my credit card. Imagine if you lost your credit card in the middle of the trip?

You'd have to call your credit card company, get them to re-issue and pay an expedited delivery fee, etc...etc...

I love it.

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[Freshee61]

Our vote goes for yes. We always use the room charging feature for our trips.

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[Winkster]

We always charge joint purchases (mainly meals, mini golf, tours etc) to the room - things that we later clear off using our joint credit card.

We then pay for individual purchases using cash or our own credit cards.

The only real advantage is that it's easier to reconcile the joint spending by reading down the final room account - then we only have one figure that pops up on the joint credit card bill (well, usually 2 figures as we max out the room key at least once in a 17 night trip and have to clear it off mid-way).

It's convenient, but not essential. We still carry the joint credit card around with us too as we go off property often too.

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[usd2bmd]

We use the KTTW card for just about everything. We also always have the Disney reward card with any reward dollars on it. But it is easier to not have to worry Bout carrying any other cards with us.

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[Tinker Britt]

I don't think I charged mine last time I went but I think it is very useful to have everything in one place. I get nervous about losing it too though...last time I didn't so it should be fine next time

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[lionkingfanno1]

I am doing this for my holiday in November it is a lot easier plus I get paid weekly at work so have a constant cash-flow and my work gives me a holiday kitty for every hour I work I get like 17% or so of that wage put into it I am planning on converting some pounds into dollars though as an emergency sort of thing incase I want to go to Florida mall or somewhere. Any suggestions how many dollars you would have in cash??

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[Winkster]

Any suggestions how many dollars you would have in cash??

Depends how long you're going for and what you intend doing.

We stay for 17 nights(ish). I use our room key for Disney spending then take around £500-£700 in cash and carry a credit card too just in case.

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[lionkingfanno1]

Depends how long you're going for and what you intend doing.

We stay for 17 nights(ish). I use our room key for Disney spending then take around £500-£700 in cash and carry a credit card too just in case.

2 weeks and spend majority of the time in wdw but a day out to outlet malls just for a change of scenery not really a big spender but I don't want to be caught short and having to use ATMs to draw cash out as I don't want to be caned by hsbc with charges lol

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[englanddg]

2 weeks and spend majority of the time in wdw but a day out to outlet malls just for a change of scenery not really a big spender but I don't want to be caught short and having to use ATMs to draw cash out as I don't want to be caned by hsbc with charges lol

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You won't find too many places stateside that don't take Visa/Mastercard credit cards anymore (though some have stopped taking Debit cards).

I wouldn't bring much cash on hand, even with fees. Much better to charge them, and cash is just begging to be stolen (or raise eyebrows in customs I'd imagine). Nor more then 500 dollars or less should be fine, I'd expect. I brought 300 in cash this year. ~half is is emergency funds, and the other half is for vending machines, cash tipping and washing machines.

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[grumpy of ohio]

We've been using the room key charge since they started it.... Wife and I have the charging option and when our children were still with us, they didn't...we like this way since we carry no cash or personal credit cards around the whole trip (everything is locked up in the resort safe).

We use our Discover for all charges and when we receive the monthly statement pay it off and get the 2% cash back bucks . We can get nightly printouts of our spending and a itemized receipt when we check out to keep tabs on all transactions, what could be easier!

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[vicahhh]

We always use the room key for charges. It is an easy way to keep track of our vacation spending. The only cash we spent was tipping for our luggage!!!

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[Winkster]

For those planning on just carrying a room card around and no cash/credit cards, be aware that WDW have a $1,000 limit on cards that they seem not to warn you about.

No problem for shorter stays but potentially very embarrassing if you max out with no other cards on you!

We maxed out on our last trip but luckily always carry other cards as well as cash with us so paid by credit card and then paid off the room card at guest services.

I've no idea what would have happened had we had no other means of payment with us. Maybe we'd have been doing the washing up???

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[englanddg]

For those planning on just carrying a room card around and no cash/credit cards, be aware that WDW have a $1,000 limit on cards that they seem not to warn you about.

No problem for shorter stays but potentially very embarrassing if you max out with no other cards on you!

We maxed out on our last trip but luckily always carry other cards as well as cash with us so paid by credit card and then paid off the room card at guest services.

I've no idea what would have happened had we had no other means of payment with us. Maybe we'd have been doing the washing up???

Great point. Disney certainly fails to mention this.

However, you can pay this balance down using the card kept on file with the front desk whenever you wish. They'll even do it over the phone. This resets the available balance on your KTTW almost immedietly.

I discovered this the first trip (we did a lot of shopping at DTD for family gifts), and had a rather embarrassing situation when I tried to buy a watch for me and the kid. Anyhow, it was a short call to the hotel front desk, and I was back to charging away!

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[Winkster]

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However, you can pay this balance down using the card kept on file with the front desk whenever you wish. They'll even do it over the phone. This resets the available balance on your KTTW almost immedietly.

Ah! Likewise, a great point and something I was unaware of.

That definitely would prevent an embarrassing situation!

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