Disney Rewards

[maureenann]

Thinking of getting the Disney Rewards Visa, but have a few questions for those who already have one. I know that you get reward dollars for dollars charged. My question..what can you use the rewards for at WDW? Can you use them for meals at the parks? I would have searched for info, but the search ois not working for me right now. Thanks for any help.

 

[senecabeach]

Don't forget to read the "fine print". You get $1. in rewards for every $100. spent ...

 

[dwelty]

Don't forget to read the "fine print". You get $1. in rewards for every $100. spent ...

If this is true this is nothing! I get $3 per $100.00 on my AMEX. And I can use it anywhere on Disney Property. I wonder how many people just sign up for this card because it has Disney Caracters on it?

Not a good deal in my opinion.

 

[Spark]

May I ask what type of AMEX you have? Is is 3 % on all purchases? I have a CITI card which gives me 5% on groceries and gas, but 1% on everything else...If there is an AMEX that earns 3% on everything, that seems like a great card! Any annual fee? The only AMEX card offers I have received only earn higher percentages after yearly purchases reach thousands of dollars...

 

[dwelty]

Costco Amex. Works for all purchases inside or outside of Costco.

 

[WDWfantasy]

I have the Costco AMEX too. The only 3% reward you earn is on eating out. You earn a 2% award on travel and a 1% award on everything else. The reward that you earn is a rebate check sent to you once per year, in February, and is only valid to be used at Costco. It is not a cash reward/rebate.

 

[doconeill]

Don't forget that these rewards cards are often at the expense of a higher rate. If you typically float a balance, then the difference in the finance charges can often outweigh the rewards...and finance charges don't count.

The Disney Visa also carries some discounts - but I don't think there are too many. I can at least purchase DVC points and pay my dues with it, and earn some cash back...

To redeem, you call up and get what is essentially a gift card, but it is only usable with Disney as it is not underwritten by any major CC. i think you can still use it at Disney Stores, but I'm not sure of that - the whole selling of that chain is confusing. But you CAN use it pretty much everywhere at WDW.

I saw the offers from Citi for their rewards card - X% of gas, Y% of that, blah...blah...and a reasonable interest rate. They sent me these offers in the mail, and I already had a Citi card. So I called up and said I wanted to change the existing card to a rewards card - and they told me the rate would be higher than what I got in the mail, something like 2 whole points! I asked why, and they said it was only if I opened a new account.

So I said, well, what if I opened a new account, and closed the old one - why is that any different? Their response was that I'd lose my "long standing" with them if I close the existing account. I asked if that was how they treated "long standing" customers, to which I got no answer. So I closed my account. Didn't bother opening a new one with them. Got a better offer from my own bank.

 

[LisaS]

Thinking of getting the Disney Rewards Visa, but have a few questions for those who already have one. I know that you get reward dollars for dollars charged. My question..what can you use the rewards for at WDW? Can you use them for meals at the parks? I would have searched for info, but the search ois not working for me right now. Thanks for any help.

I use my reward dollars towards my DVC dues. Prior to joining DVC, I used them to pay for meals at WDW. You can use them towards your hotel bill as well.

 

[Starr W.]

I have a Toys R US Visa(soon to be Mastercard). 1% on everything, 4% used in Toys R and Babies R stores. Rewards are in $10 increments, and they are good for a year. Great for major kid purchases(new car seats, jogging stroller, bikes and more bikes). I was a little miffed when they got rid of the clothes as they were reasonably priced and fairly well made.

I pay off my balance every month so I don't really look at the interest rates.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

If you eat out a lot, the TrueEarnings Costco card is a great deal and has no limits. According to AmEx's website, you earn 3% on eating out, 2% on airline, hotels, rental cars and 1% on all other purchases. Payouts are once a year and you can either redeem within Costco or redeem within Costco for cash.

We've had several different cards over the years for the benefits. We put everything we can on them and then pay it off monthly. IMHO, this is the best one I've seen yet.

If you're interested, AmEx has all of the info w/ FAQs on its site.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

we finally dumped the Disney Visa. Not a big fan of Chase at all, we were sorry to see the Bank One/Chase merge occur.

Once you really sit back and look beyond the Disney label on the card you realize its not really all that great of deals you are getting

 

[drakethib]

Quite frankly, I have never seen a card with a great rewards programs.

We use the Disney Visa as it does give us a little "put back money" for Disney and it is paid off at the end of each month.

If someone has a great rewards program, I would probably dump the Disney Visa.

 

[Boston5602]

I use the Disney Visa only for Disney related items. Airfare , hotels , tickets and such. I then use the rewards money to take the family out for dinner one night.

I use Amex Blue and Discover for most other things because I get between 1-5% back depending on what it is I purchase.

 

[WDWfantasy]

Payouts are once a year and you can either redeem within Costco or redeem within Costco for cash.

Where did you see that you can redeem for cash within Costco? I just read all of the cardholder info. and no where did I see that. Thanks.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Actually, with the Disney Rewards you can get about 2% each month, but only by carefully planning so that your purchases total $50 or slightly more. That is becuase you earn $1 in any month in which you charge between $50 and $149.99. Charge $49.99 or less and you get no rewards. And if you charge $149.99, you earn only 0.67%.

Of course, if you only earn $1 per month, it will take 20 months before you get any reward.

I keep the card because its my only VISA, its free, and its gives you the best discounts on tours at DL and WDW.

I will kept using my AAdvantage MC and Starwood Amex as my primary cards until I have received lifetime platinum in AA. I figure that will take me another 5 years or more, so no need to shop for another card until then!

-- Suzanne

 

[ADP]

We use our Disney Visa for everything. Bills, car payment, general purchases, etc. We pay it off each month. Kind of use it like a checking account.

We rack up quite a nice sum of reward points. We use them for our October trip each year. We usually have racked up between 400 and 500 points for the trip. I think it's really helpful.

We typically use our points for dining along with the DDE. It works out very well.

 

[larry_poppins]

I have been a fan of reward credit cards for years and years. My two favorites used to be the United Visa and Amex Hilton HHonors. However, I am tiring of the United Visa: $60 annual fee and it can be hard to redeem the points. Amex Hilton Hhonors is easier to redeem the points but you still may find black out dates. At least there are no annual fees.

Right now my favorite cards are:

Amex Sky Blue card which gives me 1.33% on everything. No cap. I can redeem multiples of 7,500 points (it represents $7,500 in spending on the card) for $100. Points never expire unless I cancel the card. Redemption is on hotel, air, and rental car. I believe I can redeem for DVC dues because it registers as a hotel lodging.

Disney Visa
Not every place accepts AMEX. I enjoy flashing a Mickey Mouse card. I am a brand monkey there is no cure! I can redeem after only spending $2000. Like the Amex card I don't have to worry about blockout dates or reward availability. It is simple and fun to use.

Larry

 

[jekjones1558]

I have a CITI card which gives me 5% on groceries and gas, but 1% on everything else...

Are you sure this is still true? Mine changed a few months ago to 2% (or maybe 3%?) instead of 5% but added utility bills at that rate. Could be that yours is different though.

 

[bluslag]

We have had the Disney Chase Visa card from the very beginning. Can't say it gives you the best rewards but it does help down at Disney. The first year we used it all over the parks and had just under $200.00 to use. The following years we have just applied it to our passes when we got to the resorts. This year we have to buy my son a pass as we are not getting him an annual pass so we have a little over $200.00 to apply to it. It all helps when your at Disney because they always seem to know what is in your wallet.

 

[CPTJAK]

Where did you see that you can redeem for cash within Costco? I just read all of the cardholder info. and no where did I see that. Thanks.

I have a Costco AMEX and have always been given cash at Costco.