Booking with Disney Visa Points?

[ArielDreams]

I'm not sure if this is a good place to post this question but here goes!

I have a Disney Rewards Visa, got it in December so it's still fairly new to me and I'm just now starting to get up to a good level of points. I'm probably going to be planning a Disney trip next year and I was just curious if I can book my trip through Disney and use my rewards points as a discount off the package price? Would I call them up and say "yes I want to book but can you take my 100 Disney rewards points and apply it?" or would I have to convert my points to the gift card type thing (still don't really get that concept) first and then use it like a gift card when booking? Or can I not even use them at all? I would love to knock a hundred or so dollars off the package price if possible. If not, I was thinking of using the points to buy Cirque de Soleil or Blizzard Beach tickets...

Can anyone clear up my confusion? I'm sure there are people on this board very familiar with the points system Thanks!

 

[perdidobay]

Before you can use reward points, they have to be transferred to a rewards card, and it's free and easy. At that point it is like using a credit or debit card - so I don't know why you couldn't use it as payment toward your trip. I have never done this myself, but I don't see a reason why it would not be possible.

 

[singnring]

As previous poster stated, you must first transfer the points to a rewards card.
Then the rewards card number is used to apply your points to the res.

I didn't use my points as a deposit (is that what you're asking?) to actually book the res.
I payed the $200 deposit w/ my Visa. Then when it was time to pay off the balance, I applied my points to the final payment of my res.
Then I put the balance on my Visa to earn more points!

 

[MALE*RN*777]

We paid the majority of our vacation on the Visa Card because you still earn points on the use. Once the bill comes I will then call to get the points converted to pay the remaining balance. Also, if you book on the visa card you have 6 months without interest. If you pay part now the 6 months for that part starts when you book the vacation. The remaining balance when charged will start the 6 months interest free at that time.

 

[MALE*RN*777]

Deleted double posting

 

[Karenj2]

As others have mentioned, once your rewards dollars are on the rewards card, you can use it like a credit card. We paid for our trip in installments using our Disney visa, and paid the final balance with the rewards $$. (now we're earning more for souveniers.

 

[Green Tea]

They expire ( or used to ) once transferred to the rewards card, at the end of the following year. Do if you transferred everything, you would need to apply them all. I have used some for booking and did just as you said-gave them the reward card number and said charge $500 or whatever it was to that card.

 

[CruisanSusan]

OK, I've applied for the Disney Chase Visa card and was approved. So now, as I understand it, do I also need to get a Disney rewards card??!!??? And if so, how do I get one? Or is there only one card?
I'm planning a September 2010 trip and thought I'd get a head start. Also, do the rewards expire?
Thanks for any help.

Susan

 

[ArielDreams]

Thanks everybody!

So I'm thinking I'll book (in January or whenever I decide), put the deposit on my disney visa, put in to get all my points on a rewards card, then use them to pay the balance at the end. How long of a wait is there between requesting the rewards card and then actually getting it?


To the above poster: My understanding is that once you get up to 20 points, you can get those put onto a "rewards card" and you can use them just like a $20 gift card on Disney purchases. But you can definitely wait and let your points accummulate and convert them to a rewards card when you're ready to use them. It's my understanding from another poster that they expire faster when put on a rewards card rather than sitting in your account? The ones in my account right now don't expire till 2014ish but you have to use them within a year if they're on a rewards card?

 

[CruisanSusan]

Thanks, Ariel Dreams, but how do I get that rewards card to put the 20 points on? Does Chase send it to me? Sorry, I'm such a doofus about this.

Susan

 

[perdidobay]

OP, you are correct, once you have the reward points transferred to the rewards card, you have till the end of the next year to use the points or lose them. You cannot transfer the points back into your account once they are put on a rewards card.
Example: If you order a rewards card this month, the points on the card are good until the end of 2010.

If I recall correctly it takes about 7-10 days to recieve the rewards card. If you add more points onto the card you already have, as you earn them, you can do it online or over the phone instantly.

 

[perdidobay]

Thanks, Ariel Dreams, but how do I get that rewards card to put the 20 points on? Does Chase send it to me? Sorry, I'm such a doofus about this.

Susan

Susan,

You're no doofus, just new to all this.

You call the number provided and request a rewards card be sent to you.
I think there is a phone number on your credit card statement.
The statement will show your rewards points you have earned each month.

 

[kristenrice]

Basically, the way the system works is you use your Disney VISA to accumulate rewards points. They show up on your statement every month. Those points do expire, but I believe you have 7 years to use them.

In order to use the REWARDS DOLLARS, they must be on a REWARDS card. When you have a minimum of 20 rewards dollars, you can request a Disney REWARDS card. This will be pre-loaded with at least 20 rewards dollars, or however many you've requested. Then, the REWARDS card functions like a gift card for everything Disney (WDW, DL, DCL and Disney shopping).

Now, in regards to using rewards dollars to book a hotel room...

First step....order the rewards card
Second...make your reservation and tell them that you are using Disney Visa Rewards Dollars for part (or all, if your lucky!) of your payment.

HERE'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER>>>>>>>>

As PP's have said, when you request a rewards card, the points on it will expire by December of the next year. Current requests for card will expire December 2010. You can only have a maximum of 2 rewards cards per account that are valid at any given time. Here's the "warning"...

If you are booking a room with Rewards points and have to cancel, you can get your points put back ON THE SAME CARD....as long as it hasn't expired! This is also applicable if you book a room and then are eligible for a discount. You can recoup the points, but only if the card has not expired. So, for those who want to book a vacation late in the year, request a new Rewards card so that it will not expire until AFTER your vacation.

Also, once you have the card, you can call the 800# on the back at any time and get points transferred from your account to the card. It is instantaneous. I have done it while in line at the counter and the points were there by the time I checked out. This is a great feature because it is sometimes better to keep the points in your account rather than risk losing them to an expiration date.

Oh, and FWIW, you can use those points for just about anything...even your DVC annual dues.

HTH....