Disney/Chase Visa Questions

[ttfn2u2pooh]

A friend of mine told me that about a month ago she received notice from Chase Visa that her Disney Visa Rewards program would be ending in October and that all Disney Reward Points earned would need to be used by then or they would go away.

I was a little upset about but while thinking about it I realized that I have not received notification that my Rewards program was ending in October. I wrote her and asked to double check what she received to make sure that points she had earned were not simply expiring in October. She said she had since tossed the notice but was she also said that they have not had their Visa that long.

Are there any card holders here that have received the notice that she told me about? My trip is in September so I'll be using my Rewards points for that trip. However, I might think twice about using the card if I know the points system is being canceled.

As is it, I read on another site that the stroller rental is no longer free and that even the discount given to card members is in jeopardy of being taken away as well.

 

[jrsy_mom]

It's the debit rewards card that's ending .. Allvdebit rewards cards are being discontinuedcby all banks due to some new regulatory act. The credit card is still continuing.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I haven't heard about the stroller discount (50%) being taken away.

Like PP stated the rewards are going away on the debit card. My Dsis and her DH are at WDW right now. He got his DV a few months ago with the $200 offer. They used it to pay for part of their tickets.

One other added benefit is the DV Meet 'n Greet in DCA every a.m. You can get a free 5 x7 picture each day you go, for each account.

 

[Sherry E]

I got the same notice for my debit card. I think that different people may have gotten slightly different deadlines, but in my notice it said that my card will stop earning points on July 12 (or any transaction that posts on or by July 15, as long as it is initiated by July 12), and that beyond that point I have until October 31 to redeem my Dream Reward Dollars and transfer them to a redemption card. So for me, any purchases made beyond July 12 are no longer eligible to earn any reward dollars, but I have until 10/31 to claim what I earned.

Also, after October 31 (for my card) there will be no more discounts at the Disney theme parks on food or merchandise, no more discounts on things like tickets (for the Halloween party) or any other perks of the card. Basically, they are cancelling the whole points/perks program for the debit cards only - and Chase is cancelling its rewards/points programs for all of its debit cards, not just the Disney Visa ones.

But as the PP's stated, it's only the debit that is affected. The Disney Chase Visa credit card will stay the same.

I'm a little ticked because I just got this debit card a year ago to start earning points, and now I've only got until July 12 to earn anything!

 

[ToodlesRN]

It's the debit card.
Ending on July 15th then you have until October to transfer your rewards over to the rewards card and then whatever the expiration date is on the rewards card it will expire.

 

[pixiewings71]

PP's are all correct, it's the DEBIT card that is ending, not the VISA card.

 

[starry_solo]

Really? For the credit card you get a free 5 x 7 every time at the DCA Meet & Greet? I thought it was only one time.

 

[ttfn2u2pooh]

Thank you all for responding. I feel so much better. I guess I didn't realize there was a debit type card that could be had. We have the regular Visa version so I guess I assumed that is what my friend has. I am so relieved.

One more question, how long does it normally take to get the rewards card once you turn in your rewards? Our trip is in the mid of September. Do I need to plan a month in advance or so to turn in the points and get the card or maybe even longer. I planning on just using the card at various places to eat and shop as a nice little perk. I'm just afraid of getting the timing wrong and we end up leaving on our trip before we get the card or I get the card way before I need to and miss on even more Rewards money to spend.

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you all for responding. I feel so much better. I guess I didn't realize there was a debit type card that could be had. We have the regular Visa version so I guess I assumed that is what my friend has. I am so relieved.

One more question, how long does it normally take to get the rewards card once you turn in your rewards? Our trip is in the mid of September. Do I need to plan a month in advance or so to turn in the points and get the card or maybe even longer. I planning on just using the card at various places to eat and shop as a nice little perk. I'm just afraid of getting the timing wrong and we end up leaving on our trip before we get the card or I get the card way before I need to and miss on even more Rewards money to spend.

You can actually order your Redemption card (without any rewards on it) right now if you want to, just to have it ready. Waiting for it in the mail could take a few days or a couple of weeks.

When you are ready to transfer your earned points to the Redemption card to use them as dollars (right before your trip in September), you can just call the special phone number for that - or I think you can do it online as well - and the agent will transfer everything to your card right away. It takes just a few seconds!

You can either use the Redemption/Rewards card itself in Disneyland, or if you have time to do so before your trip you can use the Redemption/Rewards card to order a Disney gift card online, then use the gift card for purchases around the Resort.

 

[nemofans]

Get the card now. I think you only need to put $20 reward dollars on it to get it. it usually takes a couple weeks for me to get it in the mail. Then add more reward dollars to it right b4 your trip.

I also started to panic when I heard about the news, but then soon discovered it was just the debit card thankfully.

 

[TinkFlies]

I just got the credit card recently since I knew I had an upcoming trip.

I will strongly caution you to be sure you get your 10% discounts while in the park. Only for purchases over $50 and there were many times I had to ask them to hit the discount button. A staff member told me it SHOULD be automatic but it definitely is not. I was also told it doesn't necessarily work everywhere. It didn't seem to work at DCW Wine Trattoria but I didn't notice until after I left. Not sure if they didn't honor it or didn't hit the discount button.

 

[ttfn2u2pooh]

You can actually order your Redemption card (without any rewards on it) right now if you want to, just to have it ready. Waiting for it in the mail could take a few days or a couple of weeks.

When you are ready to transfer your earned points to the Redemption card to use them as dollars (right before your trip in September), you can just call the special phone number for that - or I think you can do it online as well - and the agent will transfer everything to your card right away. It takes just a few seconds!

You can either use the Redemption/Rewards card itself in Disneyland, or if you have time to do so before your trip you can use the Redemption/Rewards card to order a Disney gift card online, then use the gift card for purchases around the Resort.

See, I'm such an idiot. I thought what I would be getting once I turned in my Rewards was an actual gift card to be used in the park. Glad I asked this question. I think I'm going to go ahead and order the card now and then wait until the end of July to then order a gift card to use in the parks. Thank you so much for this info. I would have felt like an fool handing over my Rewards card thinking I could pay that way.

 

[ttfn2u2pooh]

I haven't heard about the stroller discount (50%) being taken away.

Like PP stated the rewards are going away on the debit card. My Dsis and her DH are at WDW right now. He got his DV a few months ago with the $200 offer. They used it to pay for part of their tickets.

One other added benefit is the DV Meet 'n Greet in DCA every a.m. You can get a free 5 x7 picture each day you go, for each account.

What is the current stroller rental? I'm still on the fence about bringing my own. Do the DLR stroller have storage or cup holders?

Also, my mom signed up for the Disney Visa with the same $200 gift card. Major score. We're going to enjoy the meal and reserved seating for WOC with part of it. From what I understand, Fantasmic will not be showing while we are there (weekdays in mid Sept) with is kinda of a bummer because I really wanted to do their little dessert sampler.

 

[smitch425]

See, I'm such an idiot. I thought what I would be getting once I turned in my Rewards was an actual gift card to be used in the park. Glad I asked this question. I think I'm going to go ahead and order the card now and then wait until the end of July to then order a gift card to use in the parks. Thank you so much for this info. I would have felt like an fool handing over my Rewards card thinking I could pay that way.

The redemption card IS usable at the parks. It is basically a gift card with a credit card type number on the front. When you get it, you can continue to add points to it as your billing cycles end. There is no need to buy a gift card with the redemption card.

 

[Sherry E]

See, I'm such an idiot. I thought what I would be getting once I turned in my Rewards was an actual gift card to be used in the park. Glad I asked this question. I think I'm going to go ahead and order the card now and then wait until the end of July to then order a gift card to use in the parks. Thank you so much for this info. I would have felt like an fool handing over my Rewards card thinking I could pay that way.

You can use the Rewards card itself (once you order it and have the points loaded on it to turn into dollars!) itself as payment - or you could use the Rewards/Redemption card to buy a gift card. The only reason a gift card might be a good idea is because I think it is a bit more versatile - I think an actual Disney gift card can be used at more Disney businesses in and out of the Disney parks (even on the PhotoPass website) than the Rewards/Redemption card can. I could be wrong on that, but it seems like I recall reading the list of places where the Rewards/Redemption card could be used and it was more limited than the actual Disney gift card. I used the Rewards card to get a gift card.

But you definitely can use the Rewards/Redemption card itself as payment without having to get a gift card if you don't want the gift card. Your rewards/Redemption card will have its own number and expiration date (probably expiring next year sometimes), and you can keep reloading it when you earn more points.

I have the debit and not the credit card, and when I asked for my Rewards/Redemption card to be sent to me last year, I was told they could send the actual card out to me before it was loaded with anything. That may have been misinformation or it may have only applied to debit cards and not the credit card.

In any case, when I did have points loaded/transferred I only had to have a minimum of $5.00 in earned points for them to do the transfer to the Rewards/Redemption card, but from what nemofans said above it sounds as if there is a $20 minimum for the credit card??

 

[nemofans]

You have the Disney Visa reward dollars put on a redemption card & then you use that redemption card to pay for stuff like it was a gift card. You don't need to actually get a disney gift card. When I check into a disney resort at WDW, I give them the rewards redemption card to use to pay for all my room charges during the trip. We usually have enough reward dollars to pay for all our food & souvenirs.

Yes, with getting the 10% off, I usually have to remind them at the parks & at the Disney Store here in town.

 

[nemofans]

Sherry, I don't know for sure what the minimum is b/c I have always just filled it w/how much I want for the trip. I do recall reading that there is a minimum, I thought it was $20, though I could be wrong. Also, a gift card is unnecessary b/c I put the redemption card on my KTTW card, I don't have to worry about who will take the card or not. I just charge everything to my room & the redemption card is used to pay for it.

 

[brenda1966]

It's a bit confusing the first time. You have your disney Visa, which you can use to make charges in the park and get discounts, so ask each time you use it to purchase food (at counter service or restaurants) and souvineers.

The reward points that you earn by using your visa must be transferred to the reward card that you have to order. So, order your card so that you have it on hand. Then transfer all your "points" to it. Take that card with you and use for food/junk in the parks. When you use it, it will show on your receipt how many points/dollars you have left on it.

The Disney Visa stroller discount used to be free strollers in DL! I guess that has changed. Overall I'm disappointed in the Disney Visa. I was hoping for more discounts, special offers, but they are pretty lacking. I mostly keep it because it's cute.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, I don't know for sure what the minimum is b/c I have always just filled it w/how much I want for the trip. I do recall reading that there is a minimum, I thought it was $20, though I could be wrong. Also, a gift card is unnecessary b/c I put the redemption card on my KTTW card, I don't have to worry about who will take the card or not. I just charge everything to my room & the redemption card is used to pay for it.

I think you're right - it probably is a higher limit for the credit card than for the debit card, I would imagine. There seem to be slightly different rules for the debit and for the credit cards. I remember reading that for my debit the minimum had to be $5.00, and I kept thinking that I had to make sure I had at least $5 saved in earned points before I transferred. If I had to wait until I reached $20, I would still be waiting!!

A gift card is, of course, not necessary, but I chose to get one using my Rewards/Redemption card points because the actual Disney gift cards are slightly more versatile and flexible in the whole Disney realm than the Redemption Cards are. I stayed onsite last year, but I don't like to use my Key to the Magic for charging things just in case I lose the Key or someone else in my group loses their key with my charging info on it. So I only use my Key as an actual room key!

 

[Sherry E]

Oh, I remembered another reason why I opted to take my Redemption/Rewards card and get a Disney gift card with it instead - no expiration date on the gift card! There is an expiration date on the Redemption Card. So if I take my final debit card earnings/points after July 12 of this year and put them on the Redemption Card (which expires later this year), let's say that I put the Redemption Card aside and forget about it for whatever reason or things happen and I end up not using the Redemption Card right away...

All of a sudden I might remember, after the expiration date - "I forgot to use the Redemption Card!" At that point I would either have to try to get a new Redemption Card or lose the earnings (because my Rewards program is being discontinued). If I just transfer all of my Redemption Card earnings over to a gift card right away, I never have to worry about it. If I forget about the card and don't need to use it until next year or the year after, it will still be good because there is no expiration date. Removing the expiration date from the equation is one less thing to think about for me!

It's just kind of giving myself an extra safety net, or back-up, I suppose.