Diseny Rewards Points Questions

[RweTHEREyet]

Do you let the balance on your Disney Visa Rewards pile up or do you redeem often? I am saving mine for a trip to DL next year that we hope to take, but am wondering if tehre is any reason I shouldn't let this just keep adding up. I have about 400 points sitting there right now.

Curious to know the highest balance that anyone has let their points get to before getting a card.

 

[maggiew]

There is an expiration date to the points ONCE YOU TRANSFER IT TO THE CARD. So, I would transfer the points when you get close to your trip.

From my experience, I think the points expire in Dec. of the year following when you transfer the points. Maybe someone else can verify. For example, if I transfer points today, they would expire in Dec. 2006.

Also, make sure if you transfer points online that you call and "activate" them. I transferred points online prior to our Disney trip. We went to our first dinner at Ohanas and the reward card didn't work. Even though we had way more points on the card than what the meal cost. I called the 1-800 number on the back of the card when the waiter came and told us our card was "no good". Apparently you need to call and activate the points. It worked instantly after that.

Maggie

 

[cobbler]

The points do expire if you just let them pile up. They expire 5 years after they are earned as long as they aren't transferred to a rewards card.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I used my reward dollars to pay our DVC maintenance fees. I let them accumulate for a year and then transfer whatever I have when I get the bill from DVC. I know I could use the rewards for other things...but this helps me justify the cost of owning our vacation membership.

 

[senecabeach]

IMHO....the Chase Disney reward is not worth the effort!!!

100:1...stinks! Oh..yea I have one just because it looks cute

I get 1:1 on my Continental card for frequent flyer miles and also 1:1 for my Marriott card (3:1 if used @ a Marriott).

So....think I'd rather have "free" (NO, nothings totally free) air fares and upgrades and Marriott stays during these wonderful retirement years of travel.

 

[maggiew]

IMHO....the Chase Disney reward is not worth the effort!!!

100:1...stinks! Oh..yea I have one just because it looks cute

I get 1:1 on my Continental card for frequent flyer miles and also 1:1 for my Marriott card (3:1 if used @ a Marriott).

So....think I'd rather have "free" (NO, nothings totally free) air fares and upgrades and Marriott stays during these wonderful retirement years of travel.

I know the Disney reward card isn't the greatest. But it works for us.

Are your Continental card and Marriott card really 1:1. I mean, I spend probably $18,000 per year on my card (paid off each month). So do you get $18,000 worth of Marriott stays?? Or do you get 18,000 points, which is good for one free night or something??

Maybe its time for me to change cards??? Is there an annual fee?

Maggie

 

[poohj80]

Also, make sure if you transfer points online that you call and "activate" them.

I understand you had an issue with your rewards card, but typically the points do not need to be "activated" once they have been transferred. We save up our points too and have used them to buy annual passes. We just transfer points online and used the card with no problem.

 

[senecabeach]

First... you need to know that I extensively business travelled for 7 yrs. before I retired last year.
I have approx. 700K Continental points and 1 mil Marriott points that I have acrued.

Marriott resorts are categorized from level 1-7.

M Hotels & Resorts, JW M, Renaissance Hotels, MVC earn 10 Pts. : 1(US $).
M Courtyard, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn earn 10 Pts. : 1(US $).
R.I., TownePlace Suites, Horizons earn 5 Pts. : 1(US $).
+ car rentals, f.f. miles(if you choose) and normal use of the cc is 1:1.

Last year I stayed 12 nights in DL, @ Marriott Residence Inn, Garden Grove on 115,000 "M" points (cat 5).
It was wonderful to know that the only expense I had for this trip was the rental car + my spending $$!!

"M" @ St. Thomas, USVI, 10 nights, 165,000 pts. (cat 7)

"M", Cancun, 7 nights, 145,000, (cat 6)

Lets take a high end example: say M Res.Inn or Courtyard @ Lake B, Orlando is (cat 4) and costs 20,000 pts. for 1 night..82,000 for 7 nights.

Not to mention Continental points for airfare. Like 65,000 pts. Phila, Pa.to DL, round trip, 1st class on last years special (normally 80K points).
Phil-Orlando, usually 40,000 pts. (round trip)..but I sometimes hit a special.

It just works for me and saves me lots of $$!!

 

[NY Disney fan]

IMHO....the Chase Disney reward is not worth the effort!!!

100:1...stinks! Oh..yea I have one just because it looks cute

The Disney card works for us. If it doesn't work for you maybe you shouldn't have one. Mixing emotion and finance is a bad idea.

 

[senecabeach]

NY Disney fan..... You are absolutely...right!!

Especially when there is ZERO value in this card.

How spending $100 to get $1 "works for anyone"
...... is beyond me!!

 

[NY Disney fan]

Especially when there is ZERO value in this card.

How spending $100 to get $1 "works for anyone"
...... is beyond me!!

Well, that just proves you are smarter than the rest of us!

 

[senecabeach]

maggiew..
Feel free to PM me with any other questions you might have.

Im not stooping to confrontation on these boards..life's too short

 

[NY Disney fan]

It just seems like everytime someone asks a Disney Visa question on this board, someone always has to come in with the snarky comments. Its like why can't someone ask a sincere question about the Disney Visa in a non-judgemental environment? The OP wasn't asking for an opinion they were looking for a specific answer.

Am not interested in confrontation. Just wanted to know if anyone felt the same way I do.

 

[hercamore]

I don't let points accumlate on my card. Every month, I transfer the award points to the card and go buy disney dollars with them. I save the DDs for our vacations.

The dollars are then doled out to my family for use on vacation for food, shopping, whatever.

hrec.

 

[mom23boys]

It just seems like everytime someone asks a Disney Visa question on this board, someone always has to come in with the snarky comments. Its like why can't someone ask a sincere question about the Disney Visa in a non-judgemental environment? The OP wasn't asking for an opinion they were looking for a specific answer.

Am not interested in confrontation. Just wanted to know if anyone felt the same way I do.

I totally agree with you. The OP was not looking for advice just asking a question. Please leave your opinions to yourself unless you are asked.

Thank you.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

To clear up the "activation" issue...you need to activate the card when you first get it (just like a credit card). After that, when you transfer points to the card they don't need to be activated.

I personally wouldn't let the points sit there for years. If you live near a Disney Store, I would use the reward dollars to buy Disney Dollars for your trip. I had some problems with a card that I received in March. When I went to check the balance, I was told that there was no record of my card. I finally got it all worked out, but not until I had spent hours on the phone and written a letter.

 

[BethR]

There have been numerous discussions on this board regarding the "value" of different Rewards cards.
Seems as if there are Rewards for every taste.
I think that it is up to each person to judge for them and their family which, if ANY, or NONE at all, of the Reward cards works for them.
I don't think that anyone else should judge anyone else for the Rewards card that they choose to use.
Giving people information is one thing. YELLING is another.

 

[rlduvall]

I finally went for the Disney Visa card because: 1) I love Disney; don't we all on this board; 2) 1% cashback is better than a kick in the pants; 3) Disney Visa offers are fun to watch for; 4) 0% financing for a Disney package is great; and 5) The best incentive - $50.00 cash reward just for using it one time. That is certainly more than 1% cashback, don't ya think? Oh, life is good!!

 

[jekjones1558]

Rewards earned are good for 5 years, but once transferred to a rewards card they will expire when the card expires (mine expires at the end of this year). Then I will order a new card to transfer points for our 2006 trips. I always transfer all but $10 of my dollars just before a WDW trip. I leave $10 so that, if I ever want to quit using the card or the program is discontinued, I will always have the $10 minimum transfer amount available so no dollars go to waste.
When other cards offer better rewards, I use them instead. I quit using my NWA credit card because frequent flier seats are so restricted. I do REALLY enjoy whipping out my Disney reward dollars card at WDW and spending the dollars for just plain fun.
P.S. I LOVE getting free movie screening tickets! They are a great perk!