New Credit Card Authorization Holds

My last hold dropped off today, three days after check out. My room charges total was finally pushed through today, but is dated September 9th on my statement.
 
I can see why Disney had to impliment a hold but I think that there are other options that could be done. One that I particularlarly would love to see is a preload an amount that you can charge onto a magic band using either a credit card or gift cards then even have the option of having the front desk secure the gift card in their safe at the front desk or at least telling you to please hold onto your card as any amount you do not use will be refunded to that card.
Even better would be the option of being able to set a visit or even a daily limit for minor children in your party to be able to have access to along with alerts to when a certain amount is spent.
 


They used to allow you to charge to your room via the magic band. Value resorts were $500, moderate $1,000 and deluxe $1,500. People charged. Disney went to charge card, and available credit was not available on card to charge. So charges could not be processed. Disney either list money, or had to pay for collections.
 
They used to allow you to charge to your room via the magic band. Value resorts were $500, moderate $1,000 and deluxe $1,500. People charged. Disney went to charge card, and available credit was not available on card to charge. So charges could not be processed. Disney either list money, or had to pay for collections.

They actually increased those amounts about 5 years ago to $1500 for the values and mods and $2000 for deluxe. I think those were the amounts -- though it might have been $1500, $2000, and $2500. I know the values were $1500 because usually stay at AoA and that's what we were given. The increase in the amounts probably only made things worse for Disney as now they had bigger amounts of money that they might not be able to collect. I think most of this problem could be solved by allowing guests to set the hold amount. If we don't have a dining plan (which we usually don't), we blow through $100 just by buying refillable mugs for the family. I know we'll spend about $1500-$2000 during our stay so I'd rather they just put a $2000 hold on my card when I check in.
 
This is all so confusing and inconsistent I think when we go next week we won't even charge to the magic bands at all. Save ourselves the trouble of having to worry about it or go to the desk to pay off charges. We're taking bags into the parks anyway so it's not like we'll be able to zoom past the bag check area with just our magic bands. I understand the need for this but surely there has to be an easier and more consistent way of doing things.
 


They used to allow you to charge to your room via the magic band. Value resorts were $500, moderate $1,000 and deluxe $1,500. People charged. Disney went to charge card, and available credit was not available on card to charge. So charges could not be processed. Disney either list money, or had to pay for collections.
They still allow you to charge to your room using the magic band. That hasn't changed.
 
This is all so confusing and inconsistent I think when we go next week we won't even charge to the magic bands at all. Save ourselves the trouble of having to worry about it or go to the desk to pay off charges. We're taking bags into the parks anyway so it's not like we'll be able to zoom past the bag check area with just our magic bands. I understand the need for this but surely there has to be an easier and more consistent way of doing things.

Agreed. I had already done online check-in and there is no way (that I have found anyway) to undo that, so my plan - since I have to go to the front desk anyway to decline housekeeping - is to ask them at in person check-in to disable room charging and then I will just use my gift cards at restaurants. Yes the initial $100 hold will be there, but none of this randomness as to how much else will be held.
 
Just back from POFQ and wanted to post my experience. We used online check in with our regular debit card with MC logo. On the morning of check in we saw the $100 hold. We purposefully did not charge more than $100 to the magic bands to see what would happen. We charged $95, totally forgetting about the parking fee that would charge overnight...so the next morning we saw a charge on the account for $110, plus the original $100 hold was still there. However, no additional $100 hold was placed. This stayed this way until we checked out, and on check out day (9/28-Sat) we were charged $125 (another night of parking), with the authorization for the $110 disappearing, thus leaving only the original $100 hold and the new charge of $125. The original $100 hold fell off yesterday and the $125 charge posted. We just used our cards to pay for almost everything because we didn't want multiple holds tying up available funds. It all went smoothly but it is pretty confusing and seems inconsistent depending on the resort, how long you are staying etc. It did affect how much we spent though! If we were using the magic bands we likely would've been charging to the bands without thinking too much about it lol.
 
Wow... ok... I have a trip coming up next month. We haven't been to WDW for 2 years so I was unaware of of this change in charging policy until today when I just happened to stumble across a random post about it. Don't mind saying, based on what I'm reading, I'm a little confused. I'll be paying for 4 people so with snacks, drinks, table service etc. I will be exceeding $100 multiple times every day. I'm seeing people say that multiple $100 holds have stacked up (rather than an on-going $100 in excess of current charges) resulting in a sizable amount of accumulated holds in addition to actual charges. For those of you who have been recently, is this what you are experiencing? I just want to be prepared for what to expect. Thanks so much.
 
Wow... ok... I have a trip coming up next month. We haven't been to WDW for 2 years so I was unaware of of this change in charging policy until today when I just happened to stumble across a random post about it. Don't mind saying, based on what I'm reading, I'm a little confused. I'll be paying for 4 people so with snacks, drinks, table service etc. I will be exceeding $100 multiple times every day. I'm seeing people say that multiple $100 holds have stacked up (rather than an on-going $100 in excess of current charges) resulting in a sizable amount of accumulated holds in addition to actual charges. For those of you who have been recently, is this what you are experiencing? I just want to be prepared for what to expect. Thanks so much.

I believe that if you remove your credit / debit card from your payment methods in My Disney Experience, this will prevent holds. Maybe someone can confirm?
 
I believe that if you remove your credit / debit card from your payment methods in My Disney Experience, this will prevent holds. Maybe someone can confirm?
yes but then you won't be able to charge back with the magic bands. double edged sword as you would then end up with a bunch of individual charges rather than one big one at the end. unless you use gift cards to pay for everything.
 
Wow... ok... I have a trip coming up next month. We haven't been to WDW for 2 years so I was unaware of of this change in charging policy until today when I just happened to stumble across a random post about it. Don't mind saying, based on what I'm reading, I'm a little confused. I'll be paying for 4 people so with snacks, drinks, table service etc. I will be exceeding $100 multiple times every day. I'm seeing people say that multiple $100 holds have stacked up (rather than an on-going $100 in excess of current charges) resulting in a sizable amount of accumulated holds in addition to actual charges. For those of you who have been recently, is this what you are experiencing? I just want to be prepared for what to expect. Thanks so much.

that is pretty much how it has worked for us. one thing to remember, if you are room only, the first hold will be for that total due plus $100. they are no longer direct charging the room balance due the day you arrive but waiting til the end. could be pretty high depending on where you are staying or how long. what i started doing is calling the week before and paying off my room then i only have to deal with the room charges and all those $100 holds. makes it easier to see what you are spending each day. have a great trip, we leave Sunday
 
If you plan on using your Magic Band to charge your food, snacks, etc to your portfolio (room), there will be additional $100 holds. The problem is Disney immediately drops the $100 hold and processes the charges. Disney then places another $100 hold till that is spent by you. Your bank takes days (averages have been 3-10 days, with some being after leaving the resort) to take the hold off on their end. That is what's causing "double" your budget.

your choices would be not to use your Magic band(s) for charging purposes. Or have a large "credit available balance" to cover all holds and charges.

We have found that it is just easier to use Disney gift cards, use the credit card at time of purchase or use cash.
 
Our credit card had no holds 3 days after we got home. I checked on the 15th and just the balance from our trip was on our card and we did spend over $100 every day. We were at BC.
 
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I'm coming from the UK on Dec 9th for 3 nights. We have booked room only via MDE and paid fully by credit card. We do not want any money put on our magic bands and plan to spend as we go. Will we have to give our CC over on check-in anyway as we really don't want anything on hold.

Or will Disney automatically add the credit card we used to book the hotel room and put a hold on it without asking?

We are in Orlando for 2 weeks and am now worried that funds will be held as we are on a budget.

Can anyone advise?
 
Thanks everyone for the replies! I really need/want to utilize the charging to our Magic Bands so all 4 of us can just independently tap and go. The resort rooms will be paid before we arrive, so while it will take a bit of sorting out, at least I am aware now and won't be freaking out wondering what those hundreds of dollars on my account are.
 
I'm coming from the UK on Dec 9th for 3 nights. We have booked room only via MDE and paid fully by credit card. We do not want any money put on our magic bands and plan to spend as we go. Will we have to give our CC over on check-in anyway as we really don't want anything on hold.

Or will Disney automatically add the credit card we used to book the hotel room and put a hold on it without asking?

We are in Orlando for 2 weeks and am now worried that funds will be held as we are on a budget.

Can anyone advise?

Make sure you don't have a CC stored on MDE (you can find that info under My Profile in MDE). If there is one stored delete it. It will not affect your reservations or ADRs.

Disney will ask you if you would like to place a CC on the room for charging privileges, but you are not required to do so.

Hopefully this helps. I'm not certain if there is a difference with MDE in UK vs US.
 

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