Benefit using Disney GC vs Disney Visa in parks?

[clshirk]

Which gives you the better deals? Thinking of while we're in the parks...should we plan to use our visa or buy Disney GCs at Target or through Raise to get the best deal?

 

[smitch425]

Which gives you the better deals? Thinking of while we're in the parks...should we plan to use our visa or buy Disney GCs at Target or through Raise to get the best deal?

It depends on where you are spending the money. If for food (for example), use the gift cards, but only if you got those gift cards at a discount, like Target as mentioned. For shopping, if you are spending over $50, it is better to use the credit card because you save 10%. For anyone reading who did not get any discounted gift cards, just use your credit card so you can earn rewards.

 

[greentea]

Certain restaurants have a 10% off discount with the Disney Visa (if you ask for it when you pay with the card, it's not automatic), so that would be another reason to use the Visa over gift cards. It's a small list of restaurants, but worth taking a look at to be aware: https://disneyrewards.com/vacation-perks/

 

[nsully38]

You must ask for Discount even if purchasing merchandise, it is not automatic, CM must enter it. You will not get the discount if you use your magic band since CM cannot tell what card it is linked to.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I still don't see how the VISA is better when the Disney gift cards are 10-13% off?

 

[PrincessGrandma]

I didn't know there were discounted gift cards. Is Target the best/only place to get them? Are they good at any WDW restaurant or shop? Can they be used to buy your tickets also? We just booked room only but plan to buy our 7-day tickets when we get there.

 

[smitch425]

I didn't know there were discounted gift cards. Is Target the best/only place to get them? Are they good at any WDW restaurant or shop? Can they be used to buy your tickets also? We just booked room only but plan to buy our 7-day tickets when we get there.

Target (by using their Red Card) and Sam's Club (by being a member) are two that I know of. I highly suggest getting your tickets well before arrival. You can start booking your Fastpasses 60 days from arrival if staying in a Disney resort, but ONLY if you have tickets linked to your account. I used discounted Target cards for our entire trip, including paying off our resort/ticket package, and for food/souvenirs. The only time I used my Disney Visa was when I was spending $50 or more on souvenirs, and when we ran out of gift cards.

 

[trishamo3]

So what discount is available thru Costco? i am considering using their travel or American express travel.

 

[SUSIEQ]

Target (by using their Red Card) and Costco (by being a member) are two that I know of.

I've never seen Disney gift cards in my local Costco, or online.

 

[smitch425]

So what discount is available thru Costco? i am considering using their travel or American express travel.

I've never seen Disney gift cards in my local Costco, or online.

Sorry! I meant Sam's Club. They recently opened up a new Costco in town, and I had that stuck in my head.

 

[SUSIEQ]

Sorry! I meant Sam's Club. They recently opened up a new Costco in town, and I had that stuck in my head.

Thanks. I have bought them from Sams.

 

[OZMom]

BJ's also offers Disney gift cards at a discount.

 

[tpmac68]

I used Raise (8% discount) and Target online (5%) to get a total discount of over 10% ( 12.6% to be exact) so the gift cards are the better choice. I have pondered getting the Chase Disney card for some of the other perks. Would I be able to use the Chase card in a restaurant like Biergarten to get the 10% off but use gift cards for the majority of the bill. For example, if I had a $130 bill could I use Chase to get 10% off then use $100 worth of gift cards?

 

[ValpoCory]

I used Raise (8% discount) and Target online (5%) to get a total discount of over 10% ( 12.6% to be exact) so the gift cards are the better choice. I have pondered getting the Chase Disney card for some of the other perks. Would I be able to use the Chase card in a restaurant like Biergarten to get the 10% off but use gift cards for the majority of the bill. For example, if I had a $130 bill could I use Chase to get 10% off then use $100 worth of gift cards?

You might be able to get away with it, like we do with the glitch that lets us get 5% off Disney cards at Target when we use Target Gift Cards, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[smitch425]

I used Raise (8% discount) and Target online (5%) to get a total discount of over 10% ( 12.6% to be exact) so the gift cards are the better choice. I have pondered getting the Chase Disney card for some of the other perks. Would I be able to use the Chase card in a restaurant like Biergarten to get the 10% off but use gift cards for the majority of the bill. For example, if I had a $130 bill could I use Chase to get 10% off then use $100 worth of gift cards?

If that restaurant is on the list of DV discounts, you should have to use the actual Visa card or the DV reward redemption card to get the discount. That is the way it works in the stores anyway. I was even told at WOD that I couldn't use the rewards redemption card to get the discount, but found out when I got home that it's in the fine print that you can.

 

[clshirk]

Sounds like consensus is GC. After giftcards, the rest of my trip was placed on my Disney Visa... which I will say benefited me with a $200 GC on opening promotion, but now its only giving 1% cash back on most all purchases, leaving me to think its not worth my energy to use it unless I happen to eat at one of the short list restaurants. Don't you get a decent % off of merchandise in the park with it though? I think I'm thinking of how it worked 5 years ago.

 

[jmmess]

Don't you get a decent % off of merchandise in the park with it though? I think I'm thinking of how it worked 5 years ago.

10% off $50+. Best part of the card for me is really the free photo op at Epcot.

 

[smitch425]

Agree about the photo. We get two each day we are in EPCOT since we have the credit and the debit.