Disney Rewards card?

[disneygoof]

Is there any value to signing up for the Disney rewards card for cruising? Thinking about a 2016 cruise and wondered if it would add value, perks, onboard credit? Thanks.

 

[lorimay]

For us, we use our Disney card for everything. We save the reward points for our cruises and the 2% back gives us a great onboard credit when we sail.
If you pay the entire cruise with the Disney card you will get 6 months interest fee to pay off the cruise plus a $50 onboard beverage credit.

 

[MrPTato]

Just as above! We use this card for everything! Got it in 2012 for our sometimes-twice-a-year trips to WDW. 2% back on our major spend categories and financing available. Great card, IMO, if you visit the World or cruise DCL often. Plus other perks here and there!

 

[karmacats]

For us, we use our Disney card for everything. We save the reward points for our cruises and the 2% back gives us a great onboard credit when we sail.
If you pay the entire cruise with the Disney card you will get 6 months interest fee to pay off the cruise plus a $50 onboard beverage credit.

You also get the beverage credit if you use the disney rewards that you've earned (not just the visa) to pay for the cruise, or pay with a combo of the credit card and rewards. disney considers paying with the rewards to be paying with the visa, since you get the rewards by using the visa.

also, keep in mind that to get 2% back on disney (and grocery stores, gas, and restaurants) you need to get the card that has a $50 annual fee. the regular no-fee card gives you 1% back on everything. The $50/year card gives you 2% on the above categories and 1% back on everything else.

there are other cards with a better return (like 1.5% cash back on everything) but we like the disney card because it forces us to use our rewards on something fun. we do pay the $50 fee but put enough on the card that we make it up in a couple of months, so all the 2% returns after that are like a 1% bonus. we've been saving for a while and just put almost $1000 in rewards toward paying off our cruise this oct, which felt spectacular. we do charge everything to the card that we can and then pay it off every month, though. any rewards we earn between now and oct we will put on the rewards card before we sail, and give it to guest services on the cruise to use as an onboard credit.

Just as a heads up, Chase is notoriously stingy with their credit - people get denied for this card pretty often, and even when accepted often start with very low credit lines. you can often get the credit line raised after a few months, though.

 

[KristiMc]

We love the Premiere Disney Visa card. As others have said, we put everything on it. Another perk of the Premiere card is that you can use your rewards towards airfare.

 

[Tami0220]

I have the free card, I dont pay an annual fee. I only get 1% back but I use it for everything, even a $2 purchase, bills, etc. EVERYTHING I used my accumulated points to pay for a Panama Canal cruise. My second cruise I used it for $2000 on board purchases. The $25 drink credit isnt that much of a perk to me. But adding up those points really helps pay for the cruise or any on board purchases. I definitely recommend it. I have had mine since the beginning, it says Card Member Since Day 1

 

[perditax]

If you have very good credit and you know how to handle running purchase through rewards cards without being tempted to carry balances, I strongly recommend looking into other travel rewards cards with better actual cash value points.

Also, if you've been using just one card for years, you're probably missing valuable signup bonuses from other travel cards like chase sapphire and Barclay arrival.

 

[Patsydust]

Thanks for all the information everyone! I tried to get the card awhile back but got turned down cause I'm part time work with little credit (still young and accumulating credit) and of course I'm a student so no time to be full time! But I am almost done with school and working for the public school system now additionally with my current job so I may reapply! Been looking for ways to save money everywhere, ha ha. Disboards has shown me so many ways like redcards, raise, shopkick, and now re-inspired me to apply for the card!

 

[Patsydust]

We love the Premiere Disney Visa card. As others have said, we put everything on it. Another perk of the Premiere card is that you can use your rewards towards airfare.

Good to know! Might make the transatlantic less intimidating if you can use towards airfare!

 

[preciouspups]

I just got the free one and I use it for my business. We are putting the cruise on that card since we get the points and the interest free for six months. I have to decide if I want to use the rewards I've earned for the November cruise or save them for the future. If I have $20 in my pocket, I want to spend $30.

 

[turtle27]

I had the zero cost one, until Chase offered me a deal too good to refuse, an extra $$ amount if I spent x amount within so many months. So, my card paid for itself for 5 years with just that offer, not to mention, when you are booking cruises, that 2% adds up quick. We use it for on board purchases. Don't forget to take your card to the store so you can get the 10% off! Oh and you, and this makes me sad, cannot combine the on board booking with the $50 credit for paying in full with your card. The OBB is normally much better, but just an FYI.

 

[lanejudy]

We use it for on board purchases. Don't forget to take your card to the store so you can get the 10% off!

Unless something has changed recently, there is no discount at the shops onboard. There are shopping discounts at WDW and The Disney Store, but not onboard DCL.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Trera]

Unless something has changed recently, there is no discount at the shops onboard. There are shopping discounts at WDW and The Disney Store, but not onboard DCL.

Enjoy your cruise!

only discounts in the onboard shops I know of are for Gold and Platinum CC members.

 

[AndreAggie]

Keep an eye out for promos before you sign up. I ended up signing up and got a $200 Disney gift card after I spent $500 on the card. Not hard to do when you book your cruise. This was for the free card with no annual fee.