Before there were emotionless plastic Disney gift cards, Disney had a different type of currency. The Disney Dollar. They come in $1, $5 and $10 denominations and are worth their US dollar equivalent in Walt Disney World, Disneyland, some Disney Stores and aboard Disney Cruise Line ships. And unlike the dinosaurs, Disney Dollars have not gone extinct, even with the growing popularity of little fake debit cards pre-loaded with money.
Printed in much the same manner as actual US currency, Disney Dollars are printed on unique paper with a feel much like the dollar bill. However, with the relatively little amount of circulation these bills experience, they all have a wonderfully crisp feel to them. Additionally, they are printed in full color, as opposed to dollar bills (and larger denominations until quite recently).
As previously mentioned, gift cards have a rather emotionless feel to them. Much like credit or debit cards, a simple swipe takes care of the transaction. There isn't much chance for interaction between the customer and cast member. Disney dollars, on the other hand, are a conversation piece. Sure, if there is change involved, then obviously there will be coinage returned. But isn't that sometimes fun? Especially for kids, the ability to count out special money just for them, get the right amount, and then get coins given back to them makes them feel grown up, doing exactly the same things that their parents are doing. They can actually see their supply of bills get smaller with each transaction, which, unbeknownst to them, is teaching them money management skills. They can see that if they want those Mickey Mouse ears now, then they will have less bills for things later. This is lost with a gift card, where they swipe and magically their money is gone, and eventually it runs out. Disney dollars are a fun learning-experience for them, very much adhering to the original dream of Walt Disney.
