SW Aquatica BG AI going cashless

[MommyinHonduras]

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DID YOU KNOW?​

BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY AND ADVENTURE ISLAND ARE GOING CASHLESS​

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Starting Aug. 30, 2023, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island will be accepting card and mobile payments only at all locations including restaurants, retail stores, games, ticket windows, and parking toll booths. Only have cash? You can convert your cash to a Visa prepaid debit card at one of the multiple Cash-to-Card kiosks located throughout the park at no charge. ​

DID YOU KNOW?​

SEAWORLD & AQUATICA ORLANDO ARE GOING CASHLESS​

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Starting Aug. 30, 2023, SeaWorld and Aquatica Orlando will only be accepting card and mobile payments at all locations including restaurants, retail stores, games, ticket windows, and parking toll booths. Only have cash? You can convert it to a Visa prepaid debit card at one of the multiple Cash-to-Card kiosks located throughout the park at no charge.​

 

[BorderTenny]

If they don't want my cash for a popcorn refill, they don't deserve the $50 they've been getting from my bank account every month for my passes.

 

[keishashadow]

Link to FAQs

https://seaworld.com/Orlando/Cashle...Email_NonDynamic_TP1_08252023&et_rid=24345968


Be cognizant of using the card to kiosk system that Any funds transferred to The card, stay on the card. However, can be used outside the park

 

[reddog21]

Sounds good to me!!

 

[DLgal]

This is becoming more and more common and people are going to need to adjust their attitudes about it if they want to go to fun places.

I talked about how a new local waterpark is like this a few months back on these boards and had a lot of people act like it was the craziest thing they had ever heard.

I guarantee you one day, Disney parks will jump on this bandwagon too. It is too easy to go cashless and it saves them a ton of money on cash handling.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Our local amusement park is also cashless and with the same cash to card system a PP mentioned. Looks like it went into place for the season opening in spring 2022.

 

[JLTraveling]

Why wouldn't this be a good thing? My city still has a lot of cash-only places (though fewer since Covid), and it's always a real pain to make sure I have enough cash when I want to visit one. In my day to day life I do everything by debit card. Then I have an online log of every dime I've spent, and it's super easy to claim business writeoffs for things I never would have remembered I bought if I'd used cash. Writeoffs aside, it's still really nice to know exactly where my money's going every month.

Do people really still rely on cash to the point where this would be even a slight incovenience, never mind something worth getting upset about??

 

[DLgal]

Why wouldn't this be a good thing? My city still has a lot of cash-only places (though fewer since Covid), and it's always a real pain to make sure I have enough cash when I want to visit one. In my day to day life I do everything by debit card. Then I have an online log of every dime I've spent, and it's super easy to claim business writeoffs for things I never would have remembered I bought if I'd used cash. Writeoffs aside, it's still really nice to know exactly where my money's going every month.

Do people really still rely on cash to the point where this would be even a slight incovenience, never mind something worth getting upset about??

To your last question, yes. They do. People still actually write checks at the supermarket too. I was behind one the other day.

Some people are really paranoid for no reason about using cards or digital wallets/tap to pay technology, even though these are proven to be FAR more safe and secure than using and carrying cash around. Someone steals your wallet and you have $500 cash in there, you have no way of recouping that loss. Someone takes a wallet full of credit or debit cards, good luck using any of them before the owner locks them using a theft alert on their credit card app on their phone. I can shut down my cards with 2 clicks on my phone or a simple login to my account. Any unauthorized charges will be taken care of.

 

[MommyinHonduras]

It is a negative for those who do not want financial systems tracking everything, its not about ease. That said, the free loadable prepaid Visa cards are actually great, they do not ask your name so those who want to remain untracked can, just bring cash and load them. I think its a great option to offer since they do not yet have SeaWorld gift cards like Disney for those who want to have specific boundaries around their vacation spending. Interesting is that todays discount Discovery Cove packages come with $50 gift cards that CAN be used for everything including food. Current ones you can buy at BJs are not usable on food.

 

[Capt_BJ]

People still actually write checks at the supermarket too. I was behind one the other day.

yep and at my fav' local grocery has a sign on the little table provided for writing the check which says (paraphrasing) we will scan your check and get the information we need and the transaction will be processed electronically .... aka same as a debit card. SO why do people still write checks? 1) trying to ride the 'float time'???? .... which may not exist in the situation I describe!!!! 2) My lawn person refuses to use any electronic system ... it is one of the FEW checks I 'write' monthly.

 

[MommyinHonduras]

People still actually write checks at the supermarket too. I was behind one the other day.

yep and at my fav' local grocery has a sign on the little table provided for writing the check which says (paraphrasing) we will scan your check and get the information we need and the transaction will be processed electronically .... aka same as a debit card. SO why do people still write checks? 1) trying to ride the 'float time'???? .... which may not exist in the situation I describe!!!! 2) My lawn person refuses to use any electronic system ... it is one of the FEW checks I 'write' monthly.

I write one check a month to move money between countries, as it is the one way to move the money without fees. Some patterns just take lots of time to change. My daughter just started college last week. She was sending messages about what type of account she has, needing it for making a payment. I said checking, and had to explain while she does not have checks and only a debit card that is still what the account type is called.

 

[Uncle Coaster]

The only reason I generally carry cash is for casinos and for one or two mom and pops that prefer cash.

As long as the parks or any other business have the cash kiosks, I would think the percentage of people refusing to go there would be immaterial.

 

[Joanna71985]

Well that's irritating (I only use cash in the parks)

 

[tony67]

I'm fine with using CCs for everything - I pretty much do that now anyway and carry very little cash - just enough for an emergency.

I don't like they idea of them not taking cash though - even if they allow you to put the cash on a card of some sort.
Also for the non-US folks - those prepaid cards usually cant be used outside the US (maybe in Canada I'm not sure) - so be sure to use the full amount before you go.

I think this will end up being very profitable for the CC company and I assume Sea World gets a cut - lots of small amounts will be left on the cards I am sure and they will gets get gobbled up by the card issuer.

For all those saying use debit cards - make sure you understand the risks of debit cards - much better off getting a credit card and paying it off. Better protection and you can earn rewards etc...

Yeah and no doubt its all about tracking - but in the day of cameras everywhere, phones everywhere and even watches tracking you not sure its going to be all that much more. Not going down that rabbit hole - but yeah I am not thrilled with it.