Conflicting onboard credit refund info

[Shinaniganz]

Hey folks, I bought a significant balance in Disney e-gift cards for an upcoming cruise. I was planning on just loading it all by buying onboard credit as "gifts". That way I don't have to deal with guest services or not being able to load the gift cards on my phone.

Can anyone confirm with recent data points whether the credit will go back to the gift cards if I don't use it all?

I'm just seeing conflicting data online.

There are multiple discussions on this forum about unused credit being refunded afterward (whether manually or automatically is fine, just not forfeited).

https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...-your-whole-purchased-onboard-credit.3902116/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/g...onboard-gifts-refunded-automatically.3937596/

Also from plan Disney: https://plandisney.disney.go.com/qu...ard-disney-cruise-purchase-stuff-ship-544633/

But then I see other pages that say these are totally non-refundable:

https://plandisney.disney.go.com/qu...-refundable-add-cash-disney-gift-card-548541/
https://plandisney.disney.go.com/question/happens-balance-not-used-onboard-account-514776/

The second link cites https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/photos/will-i-receive-refund-for-remaining-funds though I'm confused why it's listed under "Photos".

Hoping to get some clarity.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

For our last 4 cruises, I've had refunds of gift cards. It's a bit exciting 'discovering' which one/s the $$ went on. I go to https://disneygiftcard.com/Manage/MyCards to figure out which one the cash has been refunded to. It's supposed to be last in first out, but it's not always been that way for me. Either way, refunds back to the gift card is 'yes'.

 

[happycamper47]

Either way, refunds back to the gift card is 'yes'.

And the CM will/should tell you to hold on to them for that reason.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

And the CM will/should tell you to hold on to them for that reason.

I purchase the digital gift cards online at Target; my spreadsheet for each cruise includes the numbers/EAN for each gift card and the amount. Much easier to manage than physical cards

 

[auntlynne]

I take the extra time to consolidate cards into the 1K limit per card before I use them. And also buy the largest denominations for the amount I need.

I don’t have more credit on my account than I expect to spend. Any return of money would be due to a cancelled excursion or an unforeseen credit by (when we missed CCay due to engine problems).

 

[Shinaniganz]

And the CM will/should tell you to hold on to them for that reason.

When you say CM, does that mean you’re doing this in person then?

I’m trying to buy the onboard credit online with my gift cards. The onboard credit “purchase” page doesn’t mention anything specific about refunds.

 

[OpieDoodle]

Refunds go back to the giftcards if that's how you paid. Now for us we pay for the whole cruise and everything on board with giftcards. So its a bit of a bear trying to figure out exactly which giftcard has money been refunded to.

 

[happycamper47]

When you say CM, does that mean you’re doing this in person then?

I’m trying to buy the onboard credit online with my gift cards. The onboard credit “purchase” page doesn’t mention anything specific about refunds.

Yes, but I just mentioned it so you don't throw out the cards.

As I understand it the only "non refundable" OBC is one that you get from the Cruise Line. Every one I've gotten from a TA has been listed as refundable.

 

[Calantha]

I purchase the digital gift cards online at Target; my spreadsheet for each cruise includes the numbers/EAN for each gift card and the amount. Much easier to manage than physical cards

I started doing the spreadsheet thing back in the Fall - it makes life so much easier. I had a mess earlier last year when I sent the wrong numbers to my TA.

 

[tlovesdis]

Yes the unused credit will go back to the gift card you used. I buy gift cards every so often then combine them all onto one at the disney gift card website. Then I buy one large amount of OBC so I only have the one card to worry about.

 

[anricat]

Hey folks, I bought a significant balance in Disney e-gift cards for an upcoming cruise. I was planning on just loading it all by buying onboard credit as "gifts". That way I don't have to deal with guest services or not being able to load the gift cards on my phone.

Can anyone confirm with recent data points whether the credit will go back to the gift cards if I don't use it all?

I'm just seeing conflicting data online.

There are multiple discussions on this forum about unused credit being refunded afterward (whether manually or automatically is fine, just not forfeited).

https://www.disboards.com/threads/what-happens-if-you-don’t-use-your-whole-purchased-onboard-credit.3902116/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/g...onboard-gifts-refunded-automatically.3937596/

Also from plan Disney: https://plandisney.disney.go.com/qu...ard-disney-cruise-purchase-stuff-ship-544633/

But then I see other pages that say these are totally non-refundable:

https://plandisney.disney.go.com/qu...-refundable-add-cash-disney-gift-card-548541/
https://plandisney.disney.go.com/question/happens-balance-not-used-onboard-account-514776/

The second link cites https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/photos/will-i-receive-refund-for-remaining-funds though I'm confused why it's listed under "Photos".

Hoping to get some clarity.

One of those threads you referenced was mine (the second one) and I provided my data points and how things worked out on page 2. This was a cruise in January of this year so definitely recent experience. It was eventually refunded. If you need the money back right away, I don't recommend preloading. If you don't care about DCL having your money for a lengthy period, go for it. They will eventually give it back. Eventually.