Disney VISA...Is it worth it.

[patiruss]

We just received another offer to apply for the Disney VISA card. We are wondering if it is worth it. Can someone explain how the "Reward Dollars" work and if they ever add up to a substanial amount. We are considering using it to renew our AP's, get a DDE cards and put expenses pertaining to our next trip to WDW on it. We usually use a debit card, but are trying to decide if the recieving the "Reward Dollars" would make a difference. Your opinions will be appreciated.

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

You get a $1 for each purchase you make. You can redeem for 25 or more points. They can used towards anything disney. So the more you charge, the more you can use them for. My mom had almost $70 & used it for a nice dinner in Epcot in June. Put it towards cash ressies, tickets, t-shirts etc. Hope this helps.

Ms. Sparrow

[bobbiwoz]

The Disney Visa is not our main credit card. We prefer to use a card that give air tickets. However, for our limited use, mainly on-line purchases, we've just received a $90 card which we'll redeem for our AP's. It's taken us since the cards have come out to accumulate that amount, but it's something!

Bobbi :flower:

PS. Oh yes, I recently booked the Sea Aqua tour, (snorkeling at the Living Seas) and the discount was 20% vs. 15% DVC if we used the Disney card to book. So there have been things like that as well that are good deals.

[RayJay]

We just received another offer to apply for the Disney VISA card. We are wondering if it is worth it. Can someone explain how the "Reward Dollars" work and if they ever add up to a substanial amount. We are considering using it to renew our AP's, get a DDE cards and put expenses pertaining to our next trip to WDW on it. We usually use a debit card, but are trying to decide if the recieving the "Reward Dollars" would make a difference. Your opinions will be appreciated.

Sorry but I don't do "credit cards" so my answer is no it's not worth it. Pay hundred of dollars in interest to earn 1% back, no thanks.

We use "debit cards" or cash only, or we don't buy it.

RayJay

[patiruss]

RayJay .....We also use debit cards. Our plan would be to NOT pay interest. We would charge..then pay off the balance right away. You are right that it doesn't make sense any other way for us.

Thankss to everyone for your info..it is helpful. We'll probably think about it some more before making a decision.

[utahkennedys]

I finally signed up when there was a $50 Free Rewards offer. So, I am up to $70 and only put on things like car repairs, larger medical bills, etc. that I pay right off. I always put my day-to-day on the debit. I figure if I get something it is worth it! Always had Discover but they ripped me off when I never rec'd my Land's End gift certificate in the mail for my rewards and they wouldn't replace it, so I decided this is better!

[RayJay]

RayJay .....We also use debit cards. Our plan would be to NOT pay interest. We would charge..then pay off the balance right away. You are right that it doesn't make sense any other way for us.

Thankss to everyone for your info..it is helpful. We'll probably think about it some more before making a decision.

Patiruss,

I am jealous, I could never do it, hence it got me in alot of trouble, so I went thru alot of pain to get where I'm at now without having CC's. It's the best feeling in the world for me. I envy those who can pay them off, that's the way to go.

Then the rewards would be worth it, heck you could rake up alot of dollars from what I've read in the past about this topic.

Have a great week
RayJay

[byoung]

I have Disney Visa card plus other credit cards. I get the rewards but I have never paid any interest. Pay off on the first invoice. I also do not pay annual fee. Will drop card first. :banana: :banana: :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc :banana: :banana:

[iankh]

I use my Disney Visa for my business trips. Nice arrangement as I get reimbursed and send off a payment.

For my upcoming trip I've got $282 mad money to play with as a result.

[chimera]

We love it! We use it and pay off the balance each month. You get 1% of every dollar you spend. Of course, our best deal was putting the DVC on the card, then moving it over to our equity line! Lots of reward dollars that way.

The reward dollars get put on a reward card that you can use in the parks. You have to be careful not to move your reward dollars too early. The cards do expire, so it's best not to move the reward dollars from your account to the card until you're about ready to go on your trip. We've never had a problem with it, but you can find dozens of posts on these boards from people who've lost all their reward dollars to an expired card.

[tamu91]

There are numerous incentative ccards out there that you can take advantage so why not give it a try, especially if you are deligent about paying off your bills at month end.
I don't know if Disney is running the $50 bonus offer but why say NO to basically FREE money just for signing up making a minimum purchase.
You do get 1% of every purchase back in Disney reward dollar and that's 1% more than what you are getting now using debit card.
Disney Visa is not the best reward card out there but we've had it since day 1 and have earned several hundred dollars that we've used during our visits to WDW.
On our last trip alone, we used $140 paying for meals at MK and Epcot with Disney reward dollars :teeth:

[JohnNJ]

I don't get the question. Is it worth it? The card is free and they give you money for using it. :confused3

[AJKMOM]

We used it to charge our DVC purchase, then used our home equity account to pay balance in full. When we know we are going to Disney, we start using it for everything, but have always paid off in full so we don't pay interest, except the forementioned DVC purchase. We have accumulated hundreds of dollars of Reward money to get souveniers and meals in the parks.

[AmyBeth68]

Yes, it's been great for our family...being that we visit WDW at least once a year...we do use the Visa card to pay for things like gas, groceries, large purchases etc and the reward dollars add up quickly. The reward program isn't as good as some other cards...but having it especially for Disney makes it work for us. We do pay it off monthly and NEVER pay interest on any of our credit cards. So it's free money...I'd be buying gas or groceries anyway so why not earn the dollars to spend?!

For our last trip we had $150 saved up on the card and we used it for all our in park counter service meals. We came home with money to spare on the card and have since added some more to it for our upcoming trip. It should cover all of our counter service and then some. It helps to just hand them the card....you don't mind paying so much for those fast food lunches LOL!

[Caskbill]

Our primary CC is the GM MasterCard because it pays 5%. However the reward is limited to a max of $500/year, so once you've charged $10,000 in the year, there's no more rewards applied until the next year. That's when we switch all our charges to the Disney Visa and get the 1%.

The secret is of course that you MUST pay off the entire balance each and every month. We do this without fail. If you wind up paying interest on a credit card just once, you've probably negated any rewards you've earned.

We charge absolutely everything to the card, including groceries, gas, satellite (TV), internet (annual), cell phone, house insurance, car insurance, merchandise, etc, but we don't charge anything which adds a handling fee (such as home property taxes where they will accept the cards but the card holder charges about 3% fee)

If we make a major purchase on the card (perhaps $2000-$3000) one month, then we will write a home equity loan check to still pay the credit card in full, and pay off the home equity loan (about 4.5% APR) over the next few months.

[CarolMN]

I treat our Disney Visa as though it were a debit card or a check. After each purchase, I enter it into the check book register and subtract it from the balance. When the bill comes, I immediately write a check and mail it in (don't trust online payments yet, LOL). We don't buy anything with it that we wouldn't write a check for anyway. I've noticed that I spend a lot less cash this way, too - an unexpected benefit for me.

So far after about a year, I have about $150 in rewards to spend on our next trip.

I agree with everyone who says that if you don't pay the bill completely every month, the rewards are just not worth it!

Best wishes -

[Tagrel]

I've had some of the other CC's and find I really like using the Disney Rewards like cash on whatever we want. We also feed EVERYTHING through the card. If they take a CC, we use the Disney card - gas, bills, groceries, anything! And we also ALWAYS pay it off monthly.

It actually nice having everything listed on one monthly bill! Oh, and we have been using the online payment options since it started. Works great, and you can make sure its paid ON TIME, and automatically on the day you choose. So much better than dealing with checks and mail (which I've been known to forget to send out!)

We have been saving the last year and have over $400 :earseek: on the rewards card ready to use next month. I've decided to use it for paying our meals. With the DDE card's 20% off and then using the Rewards dollars - it just feels like double savings! I call it our own 'Free Dining' plan! :teeth:

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Disney VISA "worthiness"

2) Worthy
. . . periodic savings on mail order merchandise
. . . periodic savings on Disney vacations
. . . savings of 10% at World of Disney in Downtown Disney
. . . return of 1% of charged purchases for Disney credits
. . . six-months no interest for Disney vacations that are charged

3) Not Worthy
. . . high interest rate

4) Overall, it is a good deal
. . . if you pay cash or debit card, this is a good deal
. . . if you don't use an "air miles" card, this is a good deal
. . . if you like to carry a balance on purchases, this is a TERRIBLE deal


NOTE-1: Air-miles can be a better savings than cash-back. $70,000 charges is $700 in cash, but can be worth a $7500 first-class international plane ticket.

NOTE-2: For those who say they do debit cards so won't do the VISA, this is a poor perception and not based upon facts. This would be a good deal for them. They wouldn't be paying interest rates, and they get 1% back.

[fun2bmomof3]

To add to your list I seen on the disney vacation site that you buy additional dvc points or make a down paymenton dvc of at least $2500 using the disney visa with a 0% interest for six monthes.

[mom23boys]

I have the Disney Visa, and have about 100 rewards dollars to use. I pay it off every month. I got 50 Rewards for signing up. I just signed DH up for one, he usually uses his Corporate AMEX, but someplaces still do not take it. So maybe he can get some rewards dollars too.

[calypso*a*go-go]

I use my Disney Visa for anything and everything for the sole purpose of using the reward dollars to pay my yearly DVC maintenance fees. It's so easy, just transfer the dollars to a rewards card and call Member Services...they handle everything from that point on. It makes me feel like my DVC membership is an even better investment. :goodvibes

[lllovell]

I don't get the question. Is it worth it? The card is free and they give you money for using it. :confused3

Some cards like this start charging interest from the instant you purchase or have annual fees, which make the "pay out" much much less overall.

With the Disney Visa, if you pay it off on time (monthly), there is no interest. There is also no annual fee to deal with. The rates are pretty good if you ever got in a pinch and HAD to let a balance float for a month or two (I think mine is around 9%) and its easy as pie to get the your reward dollars to spend. Anywhere at WDW that takes VISA will take the rewards cards. You can also pay for things like annual passes and I THINK your annual maintenance fees.

We charge EVERYTHING on this card, several bills are even directly paid (like sat. tv and cell phones) and I pay it off every month. So far, we have spent over $400 in reward dollars and it is always fun to have a meal or two on VISA when we go to the world. You can also get multiple cards if you wish and once you have the cards in your possession, its easy to transfer points to them online at any time. So, each of our children gets one to "spend" on what they wish when we are at WDW as well and it keeps me from having to keep up with their money. Every time you use it, it prints out on the bottom how much is left, so they are learning about handling money as well!

I think its a GREAT program if you use it correctly. As RAyjay pointed out, it can be dangerous and a bad financial decision if you don't pay it off, but I have gotten in the habit of transfering $$$$ to it as soon as I make a purchase - i.e. I go and buy new tires. Instead of using my debit card, I put it on my Disney VISA and then when I get to work, I use the online billpay to go ahead and transfer the money to Chase. Sounds time consumming I am sure, but it keeps me from forgetting about a big purchase and not having enough money to pay the balance off competely at the end of the month.

Also - I got an UBER COOL Mickey watch for Mother's Day for $30 (including tax and shipping) and they have more Mickey watches available right now....which I love ...again for $30 total - special deal for Disney Visa holders. Little things like that! :banana: Works for me!

[SuzanneSLO]

With all the freebies that are being offered, it may be a good card even if you just carry it with you to WDW and DL.

At DL, you get a free stroller rental and free character meet 'n greet with photo. I understand that if you have 2 cards, that means 2 free photos. Also if you can pay it off each month, there is 10% off purchases of $50 or more in the park or at World of Disney, 20% off of tours, and 10% off at some restaurants (some of which are not available just for being a DVC or AAA member).

At WDW, there is a free character meet 'n greet and photo. Also, there are some discounts that can make sense if you pay it off when your receve the bill.

In less than 2 months, we have already saved $22 (on a discounted tour) and that is before we get our bonus $50 reward and the additional $1 reward earned with our charges.

Of course, applying for and receiving another credit card --even if you never use it -- may impact your credit rating.

Good luck -- Suzanne

[Disneyfreak92]

I just got my card about a month, maybe month and a half ago. We have used it for and will continue to use it for major purchases (We put the down payment for my new vehicle on it.), and we already have about $50 in rewards. We also pay ours off. It makes sense for us because we will be going to Disney twice a year now that we have joined DVC...and while not being a deciding factor, I love that it has the castle on it. :earsboy:

[colleen costello]

I love my Disney Visa. Once and a while there is a resort offer for cardmembers so I think it is valuable just for that. I actually use it daily. I charge everything and pay my bill in full every month. They haven't gotten a dime out of me in interest, and this year I had over $300 in rewards! I used it to pay for 3 nights at Port-Orleans French Quarter. That "freebie" stay is saving me a lot of points, so I am thrilled.

I have to be careful not to overspend each month. It is so easy to just pull out that card... Everything regarding your account is available online. I check my balance a few times a month to make sure my spending is within my budget, and I have done fine.

[Disney Fanatic]

I wish this card was available for Canadians!!!

[bbowers]

DH and I do like Caskbill - well, at least DH does. I refuse to give up my Disney card, plus I have a lot of things auto-charge to it, like our Dish, Starband, propane gas, electric, Sunday paper (!), etc. Since I am paying for those things anyway, I may as well get something back. But DH has his GM card and charges it until it maxes out.

I also charge all groceries, all restaurant (but leave the tip in cash) trips, ... geez, I can leave for a business trip with $20 in my purse and feel safe because I just don't use cash at all! (As long as I know I'm not going to have to take a taxi...) I also love the on-line payment - I don't pay each time I charge (that would wear me out), but I do make incremental payments and then make sure I have the final full payment setup for at least 2 days before it's due (so I can check it got there OK).

Right now we have $353 for our Sept cruise, and that's after I wiped it out in January paying towards our DVC annual dues (that's the part I REALLY LOVE - FREE DUES!!!!). Put that with a gas card from MyPoints and about $70 from NFO Survey and we shouldn't have to come up with much at all to pay for our trip! (OK, OK, the $10 gas card will only give us 3 gallons :earseek: , but how many gallons does it take to drive around WDW, anyway?)

[travelbug]

I do the same as Caskbill and bbowers. I use the GM card as my primary credit card, and my Disney Visa as a secondary one. I always pay in full every month.

I've had the Disney Visa for less than a year. About $75 earned so far, not counting the signup dollars. Not bad for FREE MONEY! :banana:

[Mike]

I recommend getting the card if, for nothing else, the offers that you get from time to time. However, there are MUCH better rewards cards out there. Citibank has a card that gives you 5% cash reward for all grocery, gas, and pharmacy purchases. I have a Fidelity card through MBNA that direct deposits 2% of all purchases into my kids' 529b college savings account. Those are the cards that I use the most.

Disney Visa gave me 2% rewards for all of my purchases from 6/1/04 - 6/30/05 so I did take advantage of this and we have racked up about $600 for our trip which begins ...... let's see ..... uhmmm...... TOMORROW :earseek:

But overall I'd say it's nice to have but you can find a better rewards card very easily. I also agree with the previous posters that these cards are only good deals if you pay off the card each and every month.

[NJmouse]

We have had our card from "DAY ONE" and so far we have been able to buy souvieners the first year and this year we were able to have Dinner for 4 at Alfredo's and we also renewed one of our Annual Passes with it. Now we are saving up for Dec's trip. We get our points buy using it for groceries, gas, dinners, everyday shopping. We the bill comes we pay off the due balance and we have not paid any finance charges. It is the only charge card that we have so it gets used for anything and everything that we can. Mind you we keep an eye on our budget so we know how much we owe at all times so that we do not go "OVER" budget.
Anytime we think should we use the card we think, hum, rewards dollars.
Oh we even used it to purchase my mom's car. She was going to purchase it cash and we said give us the cash and we will put it on our card. She agreed and when the bill came it we paid it off. MORE POINTS!!! Mind you it was only an AVEO (small inexpensive car) but more points!!

[mom2alix]

We've also had ours from "Day One". Use it for everything, pay it off each month. We're using the reward dollars to buy APs for DH and me so we can take 2 trips next year since we had banked points last year (had a baby instead of going on vacation). The best part is even the hospital took the Visa so we got points for DS! ;)

I think the interest rate is rather high, so this probably wouldn't be a good card if you carry a balance, but use it instead of a debit card and pay every month and it's a good deal.

[PrincessJasmine53]

I've had the card since day 1. I used it once in awhile, until we booked a Disney Cruise for next year. I've been using it quite a bit, since I want to use our dollars for onboard credit. We booked our cruise with it, and if you pay it off with the DCC you get $50 onboard credit. We always pay the card off in full each month, so there's no extra charges. We were just in DL & DCA. From now til the end of the year you get a 10% discount on any purchases of $50 or more throughout both parks & the World of Disney in Downtown disney. We also got a 10% discount at one of the FF restaurants. So we saved a bit on our trip. We just got an e-mail on some of the deals they are offering with the card in WDW. To me - a free card - and some free stuff too. Can't beat it!

[NCRedding]

I love our Disney Visa. We've had it since Day one, and have never paid interest. We use it for everything, including some of our regular bills, and always pay it in full. Last June when we went to WDW, I think I had about $250 spend. Then when I went in January, the first five days of my trip, I didnt have to pay for any WDW meals because the card covered it all.

My upcoming January trip, I expect to have enough that all of my meals are taken care of. I also like the discounts they give.

I had one other card that paid rewards and made it sound wonderful-1 point for every dollar spent. But when it came time to cash in the "points" I realized it took 100 points to equal $1, so same %%.

[Tootsietoo]

I put everything on my card and pay it off each month. I just transferred 433 reward points for our trip next month. Reading all of these posts got me thinking. Can I put the monthly dues on the card? :confused: Right now it is taken directly out of my checking account each month. Hmmmm... I'm also wondering if I can put my mortgage payment on it.

[marathonmommy]

I am a "charter member". I never used my rewards but will be going to WDW with close to $400 in reward points to use for meals/souvenirs. I too, charge a lot with it, and do my darndest to make sure I don't have a balance!