Chase Disney CC regular vs. $49/ annual fee.

[cruisehopeful]

Whenever I have looked at the Disney Chase card, I have decided that my other cards were better for me. I received a targeted offer and am thinking about it now as a possibility for direct points and/or annual dues.

For those of you who have either card, can you share which card and exactly how it benefits you. I already have a bunch of Chase cards, so I'll probably need to move credit for another, which is NBD to me. I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth it. There's a sign up bonus and I am conflicted on the 6 months no interest Disney vacation vacations. My Chase Sapphire preferred has the trip insurance and I normally book my trips that way.

 

[leebee]

It definitely doesn't have the highest reward ratio, for sure, but I like my Disney VISA cards. We currently have 3 cards and I like them because everything is "ear"marked for Disney. I also have different hotel cards and airfare cards, all for the points/miles. I prefer to purchase directly from the merchant than thru a 3rd party (like Chase... and I love Chase...) in case there are issues or problems.

I have the original, no-annual-fee "Day One" card which pays 1%. I have all my recurring monthly charges on that (not that it's a lot... sling, MPBN, my EZpass, etc) and the points sort of dribble in. We use the 2% (gas, groceries, restaurants) card (with the $49 annual fee) for EVERYTHING, and pay it off monthly. I have enough points on that card to pay for two rooms at the AllStars for 5 nights (which is where we'll be in a week, taking the Little Guy for his first Disney trip)! Also... I just opened another 2% card as it came with a $400 statement credit for $1000 or more in purchases in the first 3 months. This brought the price for 3 adult, 3 day base tickets down to $970. Yes, I have to pay the $49 fee, but still worth it to save $351 on Disney tickets.

It's really a matter of preference. As I said, I'd rather book/deal directly with the merchant instead of having to go through the point-issuing bank. I know I could save more, but this works for me.

 

[Brian Noble]

The $0 fee card doesn't have much of a downside. I almost never use it, for the same reason you mention---the rewards are not great. I have other cards that meet or exceed 2% on the included cateogories for the $49/year version, so there has never been a reason to get it.

I do keep the free one. There is the very infrequent perk that is only offered through the visa---the one I've used most often is the character greeting in the Star Wars Launch Pad. I am also getting 5% this quarter at gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores for the first $1K spend, which is---fine, I guess?

If I didn't already have one, I probably would not bother.

 

[PolyRob]

I opened the Disney Rewards Visa before I really got into credit cards for benefits and bonuses. If you really want one for the cute card designs, trip/DVC financing, and in park perks I suggest you get the Premier with the highest bonus available. The Premier offers a $400 bonus right now with a $49 fee and 2% on select categories. The fee free offers a $200 bonus and 1%. After holding it for a year call Chase and request a product change to the fee free card. Best of both worlds. You may also get targeted promotions from time to time to upgrade again with a spend bonus. I can't justify the $49 fee unless the bonus or upgrade negates the fee.

If you want "free financing" there are better 0% APR options for longer durations than 6 months on all purchases. If you want in park perks you can request a Disney Visa debit card from Chase if you already have a checking account there OR open a Chase checking account with a bonus and get a Disney Visa debit without a new line of credit or hard pull.

You'd be better off referring your husband from your CSP with the 10,000 Ultimate Reward bonus to a new CSP with the 100,000 Ultimate Reward bonus if he isn't already an authorized user on your card.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Whenever I have looked at the Disney Chase card, I have decided that my other cards were better for me. I received a targeted offer and am thinking about it now as a possibility for direct points and/or annual dues.

For those of you who have either card, can you share which card and exactly how it benefits you. I already have a bunch of Chase cards, so I'll probably need to move credit for another, which is NBD to me. I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth it. There's a sign up bonus and I am conflicted on the 6 months no interest Disney vacation vacations. My Chase Sapphire preferred has the trip insurance and I normally book my trips that way.

I just downgraded my card to the no fee card. TBH I have so many great credit cards that the Disney Visa value isnt there vs other cards. Even for DVC dues if you are paying by credit card a Chase Ink or Reserve will yield you more points 3x. You could use a CapOne Venture or Amex Blue Biz and get 2x the same as the Disney Visa. The 0% is very tricky. Before DVC I had a $5500 stay that didnt qualify for 0% because the phone agent didnt book it properly. DVC dues dont qualify for the 6 months 0% that I am aware of. DVC purchases do, but again Chase offers 3x points. If you check your Amex offers you could do an Amex Blue Biz Plus or Cash. That is 2x/2% and has 0% interest for 12 months.

 

[cruisehopeful]

A follow up question. If I put a $10K DVC purchase deposit on the card, would I have 6 months interest free financing on the $10K? I realize it could be coded wrong, but if it works the way it's supposed to, is that what I could expect?
And, yes, I saw the post about the cruise being coded wrong. How frustrating.

 

[VGCgroupie]

A follow up question. If I put a $10K DVC purchase deposit on the card, would I have 6 months interest free financing on the $10K? I realize it could be coded wrong, but if it works the way it's supposed to, is that what I could expect?
And, yes, I saw the post about the cruise being coded wrong. How frustrating.

Yes you should. My DVC deposit got 0% for 6 months. I don’t think DVC would get coded wrong there’s really no variables to it like a cruise.

 

[sethschroeder]

A follow up question. If I put a $10K DVC purchase deposit on the card, would I have 6 months interest free financing on the $10K? I realize it could be coded wrong, but if it works the way it's supposed to, is that what I could expect?
And, yes, I saw the post about the cruise being coded wrong. How frustrating.

The Disney Visa has taken a nose dive in recent years (IMO) but that is one of the big perks.

As a heads up you can also ask DVC to spread out your payment as well. So lets say you have $30k for your DVC purchase. You can ask them to do $10k per month so you get extra time but end up with $10k at 9 months interest free essentially.

 

[RuntheMouse]

We had the no annual fee card to use for discounts before we had AP/DVC. When we bought direct, we upgraded to the $49 fee card to get the extra 1% on our contract. I also had an upgrade offer. We split up our purchase into three transactions, used the 0% offer, and then used the Disney Dollars for our dues. Downgrade before renewal date.

 

[Brian Noble]

Just a side note that DVD has tightened the ability to spread payments out down to 60 days from 90, and even that can be a bit of an argument.

That might change again in the future, but last I heard, 60 days was the vibe.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Just a side note that DVD has tightened the ability to spread payments out down to 60 days from 90, and even that can be a bit of an argument.

That might change again in the future, but last I heard, 60 days was the vibe.

Yes it is 60 days now. I do think they are going to start tightening down on that based off the fact that they called me 3x reminding me I hadn't fully paid yet on my 12k purchase, my first almost 60k purchase where I did 90 days no calls.

 

[ilovebassets]

We have at the $49 fee card. The 2% back on restaurants is what does it for us. None of our other cards have that, and as a busy family of 5. 2% back on all our Disney travel and DVC fees isn't bad either. Together, the make up the fee and more easily.

The other major benefit of Disney Visa that we like but could be gotten with the no fee card is the 10% discount at many restaurants and shops in the park (and cruise ships!)

I get that in theory you can save 5% with gift cards, and we do that for some spending money, but no way am I buying thousands of dollars of gift cards to pay for an entire vacation. I've seen way too many horror stories of canceled trips and messed up refunds or lost/stolen cards or cards never having the funds in the first place. Credit cards give you a lot of protection. That's worth more than 3% savings to me.

 

[sethschroeder]

Just a side note that DVD has tightened the ability to spread payments out down to 60 days from 90, and even that can be a bit of an argument.

That might change again in the future, but last I heard, 60 days was the vibe.

Good to know for when I suggest it to people.

I suspect if you say you are using a CC to pay it and need it split so it can fit on it in chunks that might help? Not sure though been a few years since we bought direct.

 

[sethschroeder]

We have at the $49 fee card. The 2% back on restaurants is what does it for us. None of our other cards have that, and as a busy family of 5. 2% back on all our Disney travel and DVC fees isn't bad either. Together, the make up the fee and more easily.

The other major benefit of Disney Visa that we like but could be gotten with the no fee card is the 10% discount at many restaurants and shops in the park (and cruise ships!)

I get that in theory you can save 5% with gift cards, and we do that for some spending money, but no way am I buying thousands of dollars of gift cards to pay for an entire vacation. I've seen way too many horror stories of canceled trips and messed up refunds or lost/stolen cards or cards never having the funds in the first place. Credit cards give you a lot of protection. That's worth more than 3% savings to me.

Ya my credit union gives 2% on all purchases and there are some others as well. All of those options are without fees as well.

Not saying to switch or look. I am just calling it out if anyone is trying to figure out what to do with credit cards.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Ya my credit union gives 2% on all purchases and there are some others as well. All of those options are without fees as well.

Not saying to switch or look. I am just calling it out if anyone is trying to figure out what to do with credit cards.

Yeah many cards give a flat 2% back "whats in your wallet"

My Business Gold Amex has a high annual fee but has benefits to offset the fee. It gives me 4% back in dining.

 

[PrincessGidget]

We had the fee free card for a really really really long time. The problem was, it kept getting hacked. The last time to the tune of about $50K. We canceled it but not after our credit score took a major hit while Chase sorted everything out.
I have a Chase Disney debit now which I only use to flash, if I need to, at Disney. There are better travel cards out there.

 

[cruisehopeful]

We had the fee free card for a really really really long time. The problem was, it kept getting hacked. The last time to the tune of about $50K. We canceled it but not after our credit score took a major hit while Chase sorted everything out.
I have a Chase Disney debit now which I only use to flash, if I need to, at Disney. There are better travel cards out there.

I always think it's an inside job when it keeps happening to the same card. I ended up cancelling all my American express cards after one kept getting added to a random person's Amazon account. Neither Amazon or American Express where able to stop it, even after blocking the merchant. It was ridiculous.

 

[ilovebassets]

Yeah many cards give a flat 2% back "whats in your wallet"

My Business Gold Amex has a high annual fee but has benefits to offset the fee. It gives me 4% back in dining.

That $375 fee is not insignificant!

 

[VGCgroupie]

That $375 fee is not insignificant!

$20 per month in free disney gift cards is $240 of the fee paid for. Free Walmart+ $12.95 per month is $155 value (could only be valued at $99 if you go annual vs monthly) The card also came with 0% for 6 months on my DVC purchase like the Disney Visa did.

 

[PolyRob]

$20 per month in free disney gift cards is $240 of the fee paid for. Free Walmart+ $12.95 per month is $155 value (could only be valued at $99 if you go annual vs monthly) The card also came with 0% for 6 months on my DVC purchase like the Disney Visa did.

I use my flexible business credits on the same thing

My Walmart+ charges to my Personal Platinum. Amex gets a lot of fees from me