Disappointment with Disney Visa

[vacationman]

Just got my "Disney Visa" yesterday and boy am I disappointed.

The big hype about "Day One" and "Disney Vacation Club" designations on the card were a big joke. Both "Day 1" and "Disney Vacayion Club" are merely embossed on the card just like the cardholder's name is. That took a lot of imagination!

As for the rest of the card, there is so much crap on it that it is just a mis-mosh of logos and has absolutely no character. The Disney name is on it but so is "BANK1ONE", the huge VISA logo, The hologram, and a big white box that goes behind the name of the cardholder.

I guess I expected Disney and BankOne to spend some time to come up with a more presentable card - something special. This card is no better (and, in fact worse) looking than the myriad of other co-brand cards BankOne offers.

As for the benefits, they are very plain. You get a 1% return that can be used to get something similar to gift checks/gift certificates. I have yet to check out the website which is supposed to have other "enhancements" to the card's reward opportunities.

Whomever thought up this card program was NOT a Disneyholic. If they would have asked the folks on this board what would make the card appealing, they would have come up with a decent product.

I guess I just expected something special and all I got was another credit card. What do the rest of you think of it?

 

[bkool2323]

I am bummed out.. I expected more than what you described. If the card is as you state, I will call up the card company and cancel the card before I activate it. I will also have them note my disappointment in the card design. I do not need an additional credit card, I only signed up because it was a Disney Visa and it had the DVC indicator. Maybe if we all do the same, they will design a card specifically with the DVC member in mind.

 

[Zimbubba]

Is this for real? Choosing a credit card based on anticipated design? And then the desire to boycott due to poor design? Wow!

 

[zurgswife]

I hoped it would be an interesting design...some of the sports teams have interesting ones....but I wouldn't boycott it.....

 

[DebbieB]

I wouldn't boycott it either, it's not a big deal what it looks like. I'm handing it to store clerks or restaurant waiters, I don't care if they think it's cute or not (they probably don't care either .)
I only use cards that give me some type of rewards back. 1% is the same as my AOL Visa or Sears Master Card. Hopefully some of the extra perks will make it worth it for my Disney trips.

Design a special card for DVC Members? I'd rather they spend money getting us a better pass discount.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Originally posted by DebbieB
Design a special card for DVC Members? I'd rather they spend money getting us a better pass discount.

I'm with you!!

 

[zulaya]

Has anyone who has gotten their card yet checked the benefits on the website?

One reason I haven't signed up for the card yet is that I can't see where 1% is going to make it worth my while to make me go through hoops and try and pay all bills with this card to get Disney Reward Dollars.

If you can share any details that would be great.

 

[bkool2323]

The bank issuing the card would pay for the design. Disney is paid a fee for the license. The 1% on all purchases is not much of an incentive. The annual percentage rate is rather high for those who don't pay the full balance each month.

 

[msdis]

Since we lost our DC card I am willing to give it a try in hopes there are discounts/perks that will be offered as a result. We have a GM card that we usually max out every year and then have no rewards cards after that. So even though the rewards are a lot less, it will still give us some benefit. If I try this and no other perks come of it then I too will cancel, but for now it is fun and exciting to get ANY little Disney tidbits to beat these winter blues.

 

[DaveH]

I have no intentions on getting the card unless there are discounts for park tickets and such, otherwise I don't need a very high interest rate card.

 

[JudithM]

Originally posted by DaveH
I have no intentions on getting the card unless there are discounts for park tickets and such, otherwise I don't need a very high interest rate card.

I agree. I have not bothered to apply for this card. If there are no or very little discounts for park tickets, hotel rooms, etc., then I don't need another credit card. I have yet to hear about any discounts worth my applying.

 

[Chuck S]

I was hoping for a 10% AP discount with the Visa, since DC is being dissolved. Big deal on the 1% , I get a check for 1% cash back on my low-interest MC from my credit union, and I can spend the cash back any way I like. If there are any better incentives, keep us posted...then I might apply.

 

[vacationman]

I never meant that the card should be boycotted or loved, just that it should have that Disney magic and be geared toward those of us who place a premium on the Disny way of doing things.

As for the card design, yes, BankOne is the one that pays for it but Disney could have (and should have) approval rights over the design in their co-brand agreement with BankOne. Making up different plastics for DVC members, day one cardholders, or any other sub-group is not an expensive undertaking and would have been a good first step toward producing something special.

As for the benefits, thoughtful additions to the benefits would have been appreciated by DVC members and other Disney lovers. Like earning a 2% reward on DVC dues placed on the card. Maybe a same as cash promotion for the purchase of add-on points. Some incentive for using the card while on site at WDW. Having periodic front of the line days (or times of the day) for cardholders would have made the card a great attraction for folks. Disney should have been concerned with attracting more business to themselves with the card and there is very little about the card that accomplishes this.

Similar unique benefits could have been made up for other Disney lovers who are not (yet) DVC members.

Instead of incentives that are like a gift certificate, they could have made a list of benefits that were only available to cardholders. That would have set the card apart from others we may carry. Whomever created this program at BankOne did not know Disney - they just made the program to look like the myriad others - blah. It is sad that Disney's business leaders did not care enough about what they were slapping their name on to make this card into something that would really generate business for them. This could have been a much better deal for them (and us) and, IMHO, that is a shame.

 

[Pinnie]

All the more reason to keep my SWA card...I can rack up miles to fly to WDW!!!!

pin
remember the magic
DVC/BCVs 2002

 

[DebbieB]

I'm reserving judgement until I see how it works. I picked up an application in the Disney Store yesterday to read (I already applied on line). It reads:

"1% or more in Disney Dream Reward Dollars on card purchases. Reward dollars good at Disney Store, Disneystore.com, Disney catalog, Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts - including theme parks and Disney Cruise Line.

Special bonus offers help you earn double, triple or more reward dollars or get more with your reward dollars when you redeem them. As a Cardmember, you'll receive bonus offers, such as special deals on Vacation Packages or merchandise when you use your Disney's Visa Card."

For me, the key will be in the bonus offers. I don't use vacation packages, but if they give discounts on merchandise, passes or meals that would be a big plus for me. We'll see.

 

[Chuck S]

Like earning a 2% reward on DVC dues placed on the card. Maybe a same as cash promotion for the purchase of add-on points.

Sorry, the costs of those particular benefits would be picked up by US, that is why we can't have dues charged MONTHLY to a credit card - transaction fees are too high. Disney doesn't care HOW you pay your dues, as long as you pay them. How could they give you 2% back on dues without charging everyone else more? And don't you think ALL members should receive the same promotions for add-on point purchases, if any are available, whether they use a VISA or not? Again, if Disney doesn't need to discount the interest it charges on point purchases, who do you think would make up the difference?

 

[WolfpackFan]

Originally posted by Zimbubba
Is this for real? Choosing a credit card based on anticipated design? And then the desire to boycott due to poor design? Wow!

I have to say the same thing. I can't imagine getting upset over how a piece of plastic looks that does nothing but cause you to go into debt. Sheesh. How many times a day will you spend looking at it? What were folks planning on doing - framing it in their den? Personally I am much more upset over the real lack of benefits - my AmEx SPG card has much better benefits for booking at Swan and Dolphin.

 

[Scrufsmom]

Everyone can get upset over the look of the card, but keep in mind that the card will expire every couple of years and we will receive a new one. So maybe then they will update the logo, the picture etc and we will have something else to chat about on these boards.

People will talk about the look of the card and be impressed...believe me. I am in sales and I always look at the card and make comments. I love the status that I will have and to be able to hold in my hands a card that says DISNEY and DAY 1!!!!

 

[zulaya]

Yeah, I know what the application website says about "bonus offers". I am not applying for a high interest card with no further detail than that...not a big enough carrot.

These bonus offers could be as little as "Free Mickey Antenna Topper with your next Disney purchase" or something lame along those lines. ( no offense to anyone who loves those)

Now, if these bonus offers have significant discounts on park tickets, something REALLY worth my trouble applying for it, then I'd consider it.

So those ofyou with the card, make sure and post what nifty "bonus offers" you get on your statements each month.

 

[PamOKW]

As for the rest of the card, there is so much crap on it that it is just a mis-mosh of logos and has absolutely no character. The Disney name is on it but so is "BANK1ONE", the huge VISA logo, The hologram, and a big white box that goes behind the name of the cardholder.

The article in the NYT commented on how they were jamming 3 logos on to one card. I guess they were right that it's not visually appealing.

It's a credit card, no more no less. We can keep hoping Disney will provide true "rewards" for loyalty but I don't see it happening in the near term. Heck, they just keep cutting back what did pass for loyalty programs, like the MKC and DC.