When you were a child, receiving a gift card as a present felt like hitting the jackpot. However, having enough gift cards to subscribe to Disney+ for 104 years is a bit excessive.
Spending $10,000 on gift cards is a unique choice on its own. But if you intended to use them at Disneyland, the decision becomes much clearer, given the attractions, food, and entertainment on offer. Imagine the fun one could have with such a budget. Unfortunately, one family’s plan nearly went awry, though they could have watched Moana indefinitely.
Andie Coston’s mother made a significant mistake. She shared on TikTok that her mom spent a substantial sum on gift cards, thinking they would cover a family vacation to Disneyland, allowing her children to use them throughout the park.
The family initially planned their trip for 2020 but postponed it due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, Andie’s mom purchased $10,000 worth of vouchers, letting them choose when to visit.
On TikTok, Andie recounted, “We finally planned it for this Christmas. All 16 of my family members were going. To save some money, my parents bought 10k of Disney gift cards to purchase our tickets and restaurant reservations.”
However, Andie added, “I went home this weekend, and they were having problems loading the gift cards correctly and purchasing the tickets.”
We all know what went wrong.
Instead of securing a trip to Disneyland, Andie’s mom accidentally prepared her family for 104 years of streaming—assuming they used the basic $7.99 monthly subscription.
The family posted a video seeking advice to convert their $10,000 in Disney streaming gift cards into Disney Parks gift cards.
They explained, “We leave in six days and the parks are selling out of tickets because it’s Christmas. My mom is distraught, Dad frustrated, and the kids worried we won’t get into Disney.”
Unfortunately, since the card numbers had been scratched off, they couldn’t be returned.
Thankfully, after contacting Disney, the company resolved the issue by converting the gift cards for use in the parks rather than for $10,000 worth of Disney+.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Andie said, “I am so glad we were able to get it resolved, especially for my parent’s sake. It was also good to hear that my parents are not the only ones who have experienced this.”
“I received many messages and comments from people telling me that they or someone they know have had similar experiences.”
“I hope that this story makes more people aware of the card difference so no one else experiences this.”
This serves as a reminder to double-check your Disneyland vouchers, which offer more than just access to Monsters at Work.