Discovery Dollars

[Irishman]

Busch Gardens is debuting a new program at the Williamsburg amusement park that will allow visitors to use a bar-coded waterproof wristband to make in-park purchases.

The Discovery Dollars program is designed to take the place of cash and credit cards for most Busch Gardens purchases. Visitors can open a account for free at any of the park's ticket windows, according to a Busch Gardens statement.

More Info Here: http://behindthethrills.com/2012/05/busch-gardens-williamsburg-debuts-new-discovery-dollars-a-wristband-program-for-in-park-purchases/

 

[pandorazboxx]

They had this at water country a year or two ago. Two concerns for me at least.

1. Still need to have my ID for alcoholic purchases.
2. They charge you $50 at a time (authorization), then undo the charges later. So if you spend $51 dollars, it will show up at first as two $50 charges, then it'll get changed back to the correct charge later in the day. Doesn't affect you if you put cash on it, but you'll have to probably get a refund i guess later.

 

[BBW]

Doesn't this also make one more line to stand in, to get your wristband and account set up? No thanks as far as I'm concerned. Also don't like being charged in $50 increments -- sounds like a hassle waiting to happen if there's a mistake.

I guess it could be really good for parents giving kids a set amount to spend, so they don't have to worry about kids losing cash or something like that.

 

[pandorazboxx]

It does tie your passport discount to it as well. But the inability to tie my drinking age to the band is a deal killer. I could leave every other card locked up except for my ID.

This may work easily if they had a vending machine for it or something. You put cash in, scan your passport, and it drops you down a wristband. Then you scan the wrist band later in the day at the machine on the way out to get your refund.

 

[maryDancer]

...
I guess it could be really good for parents giving kids a set amount to spend, so they don't have to worry about kids losing cash or something like that.

Yes. Older children allowed to run loose by their parents, and anybody doing water activities.

I don't quite get the $50 increment issue, where once you spend $50, the software automatically gives you another $50. How is this not, in effect, a spending limit of infinity?

 

[Parkgoer]

There are limitations that you can set or cash can be used for kids. Disney works in the same way with your Key To The World card except their increments are in the high hundreds. They have a special method for kids. If BGW will work it is the same way, I do not know.

 

[pandorazboxx]

I don't quite get the $50 increment issue, where once you spend $50, the software automatically gives you another $50. How is this not, in effect, a spending limit of infinity?

That's a $50 authorization on your credit card, unless you tell them you want to cap the amount actually spent. So they would authorize $50, once you went over that they would authorize another $50, etc. They can only authorize whatever your CC company will allow. At least that's how it worked when they did it at WCUSA.

 

[Parkgoer]

That's a $50 authorization on your credit card, unless you tell them you want to cap the amount actually spent. So they would authorize $50, once you went over that they would authorize another $50, etc. They can only authorize whatever your CC company will allow. At least that's how it worked when they did it at WCUSA.

Exactly, it is their protection method in case you give them a maxxed out card or a debit car with nothing on it. It charges $50 to ensure it is there then it allots you that amount. Spend more than $50? It repeats the original step. After it is said and done it refunds the difference between the last $50 and the actual amount.