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Using Your Credit Card At Disney World Just Got More Expensive

Florida hiking credit card fees at Disney
Credit: Disney

Do you use your credit card to pay for things at Walt Disney World? Of course, you do. Everyone does. Outside of paying with Disney gift cards, credit cards are the only way to book Disney vacations online. And once you get to the parks, you simply scan your magic band and pay for everything with your credit card when you leave. It is both simple and scary, especially when you get the bill and forget just how much you spent. 

Disney World is pricing families out

Credit: Disney; Canva

Related: Disney World Pricing Is Going to Start to Keep Some Families Away

But, according to Jason Garcia of Seeking Rents, using your credit card at Walt Disney World is about to get more expensive. The Florida Legislature is considering allowing credit card companies to continue charging higher fees to vendors every time a charge occurs. Those vendors, in turn, pass those fees along to guests. In this case, Disney World will charge you more every time you use your credit card.

First, some background. When you use your credit card, companies like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express charge the merchants between two and three percent for every transaction. So, say your Disney vacation costs $5,000, Visa receives $150 of that. It may not seem like a lot, but think about how many times people use their credit cards on a day-to-day basis. It adds up.

But that cost is just the base price of your package. It doesn’t include the six percent state tax. That adds another $300 to your purchase. So, the total cost is $5,300. In Florida, credit card companies are allowed to charge not just the cost of the package but also the sales tax. That adds $18 in fees to the credit card companies. This also doesn’t include the “other” fees that Disney adds to your trip. Again, it doesn’t seem like a lot, but it adds up.

disney-world-ticket-price-increases

Credit: Disney

Related: Hey Iger, It’s the Price That’s Keep Disney World Attendance Down. 

Vendors end up having to pay that fee, or more likely, they pass that fee onto you, and your vacation package gets more expensive. Retailers have been lobbying the Florida Legislature to get rid of those extra fees, but now, credit card companies are spreading money around to make sure they can keep those credit card transaction fees as high as possible. Garcia estimates that in Florida, retailers have paid $288 million in swipe fees just on sales tax.

Just before Christmas, Visa and Mastercard gave three Florida lawmakers $20,000 in campaign donations, including a $10,000 gift for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples).

Garcia said:

You could almost think of these donations as early Christmas presents from the companies that rule the American credit card market to the politicians that rule Tallahassee. But these gifts come with strings: Because Visa and Mastercard are simultaneously lobbying the Florida Legislature for the right to continue charging inflated credit card processing fees.

Adam Laxalt Disney District payday leave DeSantis PAC

Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr

But this battle pits the credit card companies against influential Florida retailers and businesses like Disney. These Florida merchants are also lobbying the Florida Legislature. But what’s missing is someone advocating for the consumer who will eventually have to pay these higher fees.

So, while Disney World continues to raise its prices, consumers will have to pay a little more for their trip. The consumer will lose this competition between credit card companies and Florida retailers.

We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.

About Rick

Rick is an avid Disney fan. He first went to Disney World in 1986 with his parents and has been hooked ever since. Rick is married to another Disney fan and is in the process of turning his two children into fans as well. When he is not creating new Disney adventures, he loves to watch the New York Yankees and hang out with his dog, Buster. In the fall, you will catch him cheering for his beloved NY Giants.

One comment

  1. BS political rant. The governor’s photo was childish. Those credit card fees fund offsets for rewards programs, deadbeats and fraud. Do away with them and all the banks will do is raise (or institute) fees for the cards themselves. I enjoy my no annual fee card with 2.25% rebates and the occasional “offer” (saved over $1,000 last year on offers).

    The next time you try doing a story on a complex issue, get more than one source and make sure the sources come at the issue from different angles.

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