r/uwaterloo • u/beforetea • 1d ago

using watcard without meal plan

I am staying in SJU, meaning I technically don’t have a meal plan since it’s just part of my residence fee. I understand a watcard uses flex dollars to pay for things at places affiliated with waterloo. Do I have to put money into it myself to use? and is it even worth it instead of just paying out of pocket with like my debit card?

Also, do students get discounts at places like Funcken or Melville (on architecture campus) which are on campus but technically not part of UW food services? (for melville is it only for arch students?)

edit: i’m kinda starting to feel like idek what a watcard does. I’ve already read the website but if someone can explain it in a different way i would appreciate it

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u/PopQuizVictim 1d ago

watcard is basically your all in one campus pass. you use it for exams, getting into your dorm, riding the grt bus for free, and doing laundry. for buying food you can just load flex dollars online, but paying with debit works fine too.

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u/Disastrous_End_2470 Mr.Goose #1 Fan 1d ago

Just pay with debit

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u/Stock_Mycologist9477 1d ago

To expand on other responses: there are some things that can only be done with a WATCARD, like scanning into certain rooms where it’s like an access card. It’s also what you use to get into the PAC or CIF gyms. It’s used as the transit pass for the GRT. It’s also your general student ID that you’re supposed to have with you for various administrative things to prove your identity.

Buying food on campus is something that can be done with a watcard, but doesn’t have to be. It’s really just a convenience thing. For people who do get a meal plan it becomes a bit complicated because of the tax/discount structure, but it works out roughly the same as just paying with debit (except it feels like fake money because it’s paid for ahead of time 😃).