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[pigletsmom1]

can I check into my resort using a debit card? The resort and park tickets are all paid for already so it would just be for meals and stuff.

[duck addict]

I don't know the specific answer, but one cavaet. In many cases when you use a debit card for something like this, they put a monetary hold on that account.If that happens, the money is considered out of your account until released with the actual amount of purchase.

In CA they are now doing that on some gasoline purchases, until the final transaction clears. There were articles in the newspaper last weekend of people having checks bounce because the 'hold' made them have insufficient funds.

I would use a credit card, travelers checks or cash for your deposit. (You can always use your debit card as you purchase goods/meals).

[pigletsmom1]

Can I use travelers checks or cash. I don' like to Ise my credit cards except for real emergencies.

[duck addict]

As far as I know you can put money on your account to charge against, and check periodically to see your balance.

[MrsM]

That's correct, you can put cash or travelers checks on your account and charge up to that amount. Another option is to use your credit card on the account to have the charging privilege but just stop back at the front desk later in your trip (before midnight on your last night) and pay off the balance with your debit card or cash / traveler's check before anything is actually applied to your credit card.

[Aubree's Travel]

You could also call your resort and ask them exactly how much they will hold.

[dmpyron]

I can't speak to Disney, but most hotels put a hold on either a debit card or a credit card equal to about 125% of the bill with room, tax and those stupid fees that some hotels add on. So a $100 a night room in Austin will run about $118 a night and the hold will be for about $150/night. This will affect the funds available for a debit card and the credit limit available for a credit card. This is a "dirty little secret" of the hotel industry. The thing the credit card companies don't tell you is that it can take as much as a week for this hold to be released!!!!! So that two night weekend could wind up holding up $64 of your money for a week. Car rentals will typically put a hold of about $500 on a debit card, plus the rental amount. At least cruise lines tell you the hold. Restaurants put a hold of the bill plus 22.5% (what???). Once again, how long before it's released is a question mark. None of these numbers are particularly public (I did some consulting for Visa a few years back on security and got all of these numbers). But they have to tell you if you ask. Most people just aren't informed enough to ask.