Disney Visa and discounts/perks

[Dis703]

I'm debating getting a Disney Visa card, but had a couple questions.

1. Do they always release the resort discounts/packages to Visa cardholders first? I recall last year when we booked it went to cardholders a couple days early and then the day it opened to the public people were waiting for hours on the phone to book. This convenience alone may be worthwhile for me to have it.

2. For those who have the regular card not premier what if any perks have you found useful? I've read about the meet and greet at Epcot which seems cool. The points themselves are no better than my cash back or hotel points cards, so not a big draw. I think I saw there is a discount at Disneystores? Is that in park or just Disney stores online or locally?

TIA! Trying to make a decision expecially since I expect discounts to be release soon for our timeframe.

 

[dmband]

Honestly the Disney visa is no where near a great reward card but I still have one
The Epcot photo op is def cool and much shorter waits then typical places
You can get 10% off $50 or more purchases at the Disney store
Interest free Disney vacation for six months I believe
Not exactly sure on discounts for rooms and such because I have never used it for one reason or another

 

[avic77]

I use my Chase Rewards more than Chase Disney Visa.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

I don't know if it always but typically visa holders get a bit of an advance on new offers (can't think of one recently that they haven't)
The rewards aren't great but it isn't bad
The picture is nice but it can take a hunk of time out of your day and is only available for a limited time each day

 

[aaarcher86]

Whatever the last one Black was predicting didn't get a Visa early release. It was semi recent.

If the perks themselves aren't really that big of a deal and it's just the early release - Chase offers a Disney debit card if you have an account with them. You get all the same stuff as the credit card except for the earned points and it works just like a regular debit.

 

[soniam]

I did it for a special deal where I got $200 gift card for charging so much. It doesn't seem bad. My plane miles haven't been horribly useful lately, and we don't fly with that airline to WDW. We've been flying Jet Blue to WDW, but they aren't very useful for anywhere else. I'll see how the park merchandise discount works out in March.

 

[dmunsil]

In the past couple of years roughly half of the WDW resort discounts have been released for Disney Visa cardholders first.

Don

 

[GGTF1214]

Are the offers emailed to cardholders or is there a place to look for them?

 

[metz72]

We travel to Disney every 3 years and with the points earned on my Disney Visa we pay for our entire meal costs for a week stay and we do character meals and table service at least once a day. We pay off our balance each month so it's really free money for us. To me it's worth it.

 

[winterman]

In the past couple of years roughly half of the WDW resort discounts have been released for Disney Visa cardholders first.

Don

There was a Spring resort discount released today. There was no early release to Disney Visa holders.

 

[Dis703]

There was a Spring resort discount released today. There was no early release to Disney Visa holders.

And sadly this is the one I needed. I did end up applying for the card, but it didn't help with that part. Maybe next time.

And they had no discount to apply to my room by the time I got through to them.

 

[jperrot1]

Are the offers emailed to cardholders or is there a place to look for them?

I get e-mails when there are deals. But, mousesavers.com does a great job posting when disney visa (and all other deals for that matter) become available.

 

[Feberin]

We got it after our trip last May. We took advantage of the deal where we got a $200 gift card for spending X amount of money. They also gave us a high credit limit so we put all sorts of things on it then pay it off earning lots of points. Our previous primary credit card also has recently changed their points program making the Disney card points program the better deal so it's now our main credit card. We also get a lot of compliments since we have the Toy Story one.

 

[georgina]

We also got one for the $200 bonus and used it for a few discounts at resort restaurants. (10% excluding alcohol at many resort dining locations.) I don't plan to keep it as we get much better rewards with other cards.

My new favorite is the Chase Sapphire which gives 2% back on all dining and travel, and they are much more generous with what they call travel than some other companies we have cards with. They gave me points back on parking garages and Disney world as travel and the beer distributor as dining. I can convert the points to SW rapid rewards points which is a good deal for me. The sign up bonus was 45,000 points. There is an annual fee but I am paying one with my SW card and I think I will cancel it in favor of this one.

 

[Sunnyday3]

Whatever the last one Black was predicting didn't get a Visa early release. It was semi recent.

If the perks themselves aren't really that big of a deal and it's just the early release - Chase offers a Disney debit card if you have an account with them. You get all the same stuff as the credit card except for the earned points and it works just like a regular debit.

Thanks for posting this! I've been searching for the answer to the debit question. I would like the early release benefit, but didn't want the credit card.

 

[aaarcher86]

Thanks for posting this! I've been searching for the answer to the debit question. I would like the early release benefit, but didn't want the credit card.

Yeah, we've got the debit and it works the same just no points obviously.

 

[ElsaColon]

I'm reading that offers are released to Disney Visa cards first. But where do I find this information? Will they email it to me? Do I just go on the Disney website? Where do I find information on upcoming discounts and how I, as a Disney Visa member can redeem it early? I'm sorry if this sounds like a very "noob question but I really am not sure. By the time I see the discounts it's when they are listed on their website, occasionally I get an email but I'm not sure where to go to seek the info or redeem early as a Disney Visa holder. Thank you!

 

[aaarcher86]

I'm reading that offers are released to Disney Visa cards first. But where do I find this information? Will they email it to me? Do I just go on the Disney website? Where do I find information on upcoming discounts and how I, as a Disney Visa member can redeem it early? I'm sorry if this sounds like a very "noob question but I really am not sure. By the time I see the discounts it's when they are listed on their website, occasionally I get an email but I'm not sure where to go to seek the info or redeem early as a Disney Visa holder. Thank you!

You won't be able to know in advance. And it's not guaranteed to come to DV members early. One of the discounts last year skipped DV early booking and just went public.

What's supposed to happen if DV members get an email a day or so before letting you know a discount will be available and what the booking and travel dates are, etc.

In reality, a bunch of DV members don't get an email (I never have) and typically find out here first. It does go up on the website, but just like regular discounts it's not right away and by the time you see it the rooms could be gone.

 

[ElsaColon]

You won't be able to know in advance. And it's not guaranteed to come to DV members early. One of the discounts last year skipped DV early booking and just went public.

What's supposed to happen if DV members get an email a day or so before letting you know a discount will be available and what the booking and travel dates are, etc.

In reality, a bunch of DV members don't get an email (I never have) and typically find out here first. It does go up on the website, but just like regular discounts it's not right away and by the time you see it the rooms could be gone.

I guess in this case the early bird gets the worm. Is there a specific forum or thread I should watch to stay informed on the discounts?

 

[aaarcher86]

Around here - the resorts discount board.

Or in the DDP forum.