Disney Rewards Visa... Is it worth it?

[Grumpy~N~Dopey]

Actually I'm not even sure what the interest rate is because I have NEVER paid interest on the card. As soon as I make a purchase i go home and send a payment, just as if I had used my debit card. That way I don't have a big payment at the end of the month.

this is what we do as well and we always have enough reward dollars, which can be transferred to a gift card that is accepted at DLR, to pay for many, many meals... like our own personal free meal plan! Worth it if you do pay it off monthly or carry a very small balance!

 

[mariezp]

What everyone has said has been right on the mark. We put almost everything on ours but make sure to pay ours off each month. Since I started putting our groceries on I have been really racking up the points. I should have enough reward points this trip for all my souvenir shopping plus a trip to the Blue Bayou.

They run incentives every so often. I liked the 5X rewards from a while back. The latest was some bonus on gas purchases.

 

[2ndStar]

Northshoremamma asked:

i've seen a couple different offers...where you can get a $50 gift card if you sign up...the other offer was for a $40 gift card

I actually found out about the $50 card from someone on the board - there was a link that was shared, but I don't remember where

Maybe someone else can remember. It would have been in May sometime.

 

[cedarparkgirl]

I thought I read somewhere that you can get up to 2 single strollers with Disney Visa.. is this correct?

 

[kirstie101]

I think its worth it IF you pay it off each month. WE got ours last March I believe and by our trip we had well over $100 in rewards dollars to spend which was really nice! We saved a little money on a few meals in the park and DD had a blast at the visa card members meet and greet with Chip and Dale. The free 5x7 was a nice treat also! And when I got back home I found out I get to buy my Lion King tickets (its coming to Sacramento next May) a month before the general public! Personally, I'm glad we have it.

 

[wdhinn89]

I have a Disney Visa, but it's up to you if it's worth it.

You'll get 1% back in "rewards" ($1 for every $100 charged) and the standard 10% discount on rooms (same as an Annual Pass or AAA.) There are a couple other perks, like free stroller rental and a character meet & greet + picture in DCA.

I have yet to see other great discounts, particularly for rooms, offered only to Disney Visa card holders. This is sort of what I expected when I signed up and have been disappointed by it. Having an Annual Pass unlocks more rewards and discounts in my opinion.

I did not realize that you could get a room discount in DL with your Disney Visa. Thanks Plan on going in July/August 2009.

Disney World offers a lot of discounts when you use your visa to book a room or package. They actually offered free dining not that long ago with it.

I love my DV because we go to WDW alot so the disney rewards are great along with the many discounts that are offered BUT at another point in my life it may be more beneficial to have a card that gives back cash or airline rewards or car purchase rewards. Every few years my decision will be different. BUT it is important that if you don't have the money to pay off your balance each month, you pick the card with the lowest interest rate. Not the card with the best perks.

 

[HydroGuy]

IMO not worth it. We use two credit cards. The other is a Mastercard and we use that most of the time and the Disney one rarely. We pay both off every month. The MC gives 1% rewards in cash. The Disney card gives it in Disney dollars. Since we can use the MC cash anywhere, including Disney, it is much more flexible. We do not need strollers and already have AAA to get 10% hotel discounts. So there is no added value for the Disney card.

 

[GHII]

Well the 6 mo no interest really helps when you're paying for the whole trip, it can get pricey!

 

[DahliaRW]

I thought I read somewhere that you can get up to 2 single strollers with Disney Visa.. is this correct?

Yes.

 

[misscampbells]

Hear, hear to all that lisah said: ALWAYS pay it off each month. Having said that, I must confess that I LOVE my Disney Visa. I just started using it in mid-June and I will have over $100 of Disney Rewards by my next statement. I get free strollers, the DCA Meet N Greet, and discounts at many Disney restaurants with it as well. I also got a $50 gift card when I first signed up, so I've made a GREAT amount of Disney savings with it so far. I always pay it off (I check it every day or so and then immediately issue a payment from my online banking account for any new transactions), so have never paid a penney in interest. A GREAT tool for Disney perks. But NEVER keep a balance on it - the card has a 20.49% interest rate!!!

Keep in mind that many other cards also offer a 1% rewards program where you can get cash back rather than the 1% Disney Rewards. If you like the idea of cash rather than Disney credits, do a bit of research. I used to use my Citi credit card for 1% rewards (used to be 3%!!) and would do the same thing - charge everything to it, pay it off regularly, and then get a check BACK from them every so often. So look around if you want the $$.

I just get a little thrill with each purchase I make with my Disney visa knowing it makes our next DL trip that much sweeter (and cheaper!).

WOW! That interest rate is crazy! I have had mine for 2 years and have a FIXED rate of 6.99% (it's never been more than 10.9%). I have never paid interest on my balance, so I am wondering if they keep lowering mine to entice me to leave a balance. The average rate I have seen with other friends has been under 14%, so it's not always that high. I'm wondering if you should call Chase and request a lower interest rate, it's worked for me in the past with other companies, it might be worth a try.

Kathy

 

[Davids-Coco]

Wow! That's a whole lotta "free" money!

...So how much do you actually have to pay if you don't pay on time?

Typically with any card, you will pay a late fee and then compounded daily interest. (It won't show on your card daily, but will show up at the closure of the statement - the day it all bills again) So for every day your payment is late, they charge you a % of the total balance due. A lot has to do with your interest rate... but to put it simply, if your monthly interest rate is 30% and it is a 30 day billing cycle, you will get 1% of your total in "finance charge" every day it is late.

Also, depending on the company, your interest rate may vary based on your credit history. If you have no credit, it will be higher since you are a "risk". Better credit will equal a lower interest rate. They may offer an introductory rate, but then raise it after a certain point too.

Honestly, it is pointless IMO to get a card if you can't pay it off every month. You are putting yourself and your credit at risk in a time that is scary economically and when it may become hard for people with good credit to get loans. You want to be in the best credit position when it comes time to buy that first home or car.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I agree. Always always pay off CCs each month. We charge everything on ours because we have two that give money back. I wouldn't even bother with one that didn't give anything. As someone just starting out though, you may not have that choice. My first card had a $300 limit. But you have to be the kind of person who knows how much they have to spend each month and not go splurge on something big without working it out first.

We won't be getting the Disney card for the same reasons others have said. Our cards give us cash back. But a Disney card would be better than one that gave nothing.

On a side note, we never use our debit card. When you pay with credit, you haven't lost money yet. If someone stole your number from a transaction, you have time to dispute the charges. With a debit, that comes directly out of your account. It would be bad to suddenly discover you had no money left, even if they did get it straightened out in a few days.

 

[bballmickey]

Really just saw the topic and haven't read many posts, but yes... the Disney Rewards Visa is totally worth it. My parents have been doing it for years and always talk about how great it is. Probably not much help...

 

[Dizneydaz]

I haven't read all the posts either, but yes, to me, the card is worth it. I pay it off every month, on time.

I use it to book our trips to WDW which gives me 6 months to pay the deposit and then 6 months to pay the balance. Also, it allows me to book the free DDP earlier than the general public.

Since I have an AP to Disneyland, I use the perks there as well. Free stroller (2 per card). Now that DD is getting older, sometimes we just get one to carry our stuff, especially when traveling with a group. Also, I use it to get the free 5 x 7 picutre from the Meet 'n Greet at DCA.

Also while the rewards may not be the best in the business, they Disney Dollars do come in handy.

To me, no question, totally worth it.