Disney Visa Card - Do I Need it?

[CarolynFH]

I’ve had my Disney Visa for over a decade. I use it mostly for shopping at the Disney Store and discounts when I’m at the parks. I usually apply my rewards balance towards an upcoming trip.

But I’m not familiar with the 0% interest financing for 6 months on vacations. How does this work? Can I book a package and just pay the deposit? Does that mean I have 6 months to pay it back? What about the final payment? Will I have 6 months to pay that back as well with no interest? Or do you have to pay the entire balance upfront when booking with your Visa, to get the 6 months interest free? And is all of this automatic when booking online, or do you have to make a phone call?

We've only used it on a DCL cruise, but each payment you make with the Disney Visa (deposit and each subsequent payment) gets 6 months no interest from the date you make the payment (not from the end of the billing period in which you made it). Your statement will tell you how many $ you need to pay that month to avoid interest.

We booked our cruise online, and the Disney Visa recognized the deposit as qualifying and automatically set it up as 6 months no interest. We ended up paying the rest via Disney gift cards we bought with discounts, so we didn't have any further charges to the Visa (I can't remember whether the onboard charges that we billed to our Disney Visa qualified or not - they weren't much, so we paid them off right away anyway).

 

[Castlequeen5]

Thank you for the information. I had no idea this was even an option!

 

[Mommb]

But I’m not familiar with the 0% interest financing for 6 months on vacations. How does this work? Can I book a package and just pay the deposit? Does that mean I have 6 months to pay it back? What about the final payment? Will I have 6 months to pay that back as well with no interest? Or do you have to pay the entire balance upfront when booking with your Visa, to get the 6 months interest free? And is all of this automatic when booking online, or do you have to make a phone call?

If you book a Disney vacation package (not just a room or tickets, but a package from Disney that includes both. or a cruise or Adventures by Disney) you charge the amount as usual. If the charge is eligible for the 6 months interest-free, that should trigger automatically. Charges accrued at the parks or during a cruise are not eligible.

I usually do this for cruises, so I put the deposit on my Disney Visa, then make the final payment with my Disney Visa. For each charge, you can take up to 6 months to pay off the amount before you are charged any interest. Your statement will indicate the amount eligible for the interest-free period, the amount not yet paid, and when that period ends. So I might see that I had a $1000 charge for my deposit with $300 remaining (because I've paid $700) interest-free until 8/1/24, and a $4000 charge for the rest of my cruise, interest-free until 12/1/24.

 

[Castlequeen5]

If you book a Disney vacation package (not just a room or tickets, but a package from Disney that includes both. or a cruise or Adventures by Disney) you charge the amount as usual. If the charge is eligible for the 6 months interest-free, that should trigger automatically. Charges accrued at the parks or during a cruise are not eligible.

I usually do this for cruises, so I put the deposit on my Disney Visa, then make the final payment with my Disney Visa. For each charge, you can take up to 6 months to pay off the amount before you are charged any interest. Your statement will indicate the amount eligible for the interest-free period, the amount not yet paid, and when that period ends. So I might see that I had a $1000 charge for my deposit with $300 remaining (because I've paid $700) interest-free until 8/1/24, and a $4000 charge for the rest of my cruise, interest-free until 12/1/24.

Thank you! This information is so helpful. I’ve been considering a cruise for a while now, so I may do something like this. I’m glad to know I have this option.

 

[JoshF]

I don't think it is possible to pay DVC loan payments on a credit card, it has to be a bank draft correct?

You can make loan payments with a credit card. Just not with a gift card.

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

I use mine only for Disney things. Points not particularly valuable in the grand scheme of things. I keep it for character meets restaurant and merch discounts, and spending whatever Disney dollars I have at WDW. I did get an offer for 5% back on select categories just before this trip so I did use it for that. Also potentially stretching out payment on direct dvc. I have booked WDW packages with the intent to use the 6 months window but I always pay the balance when the statement comes!

 

[DisTravels]

I have booked WDW packages with the intent to use the 6 months window but I always pay the balance when the statement comes!

That is the key, other than if you have 6 months interest free, is to pay in full as carrying an interest barring balance typically costs more than the value of the rewards.

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

That is the key, other than if you have 6 months interest free, is to pay in full as carrying an interest barring balance typically costs more than the value of the rewards.

Of course always this. I am lucky enough not to have carried a balance on a credit card in 20 years. I use credit cards like debit cards. I deduct the purchase at the time of sale from my tracking so I don't get too ahead of myself.

 

[hhisc16]

I have this card and like the 2% back plus the discounts.

The dvc 1k discount plus 400 back right now is a pretty good deal if you want to use the chase plan for your big purchase.

I did the chase plan when buying wdw aps and it worked well.

 

[Cfabar1]

I find the card very useful...

Any DCL purchase gets you 2% cash back immediately and you get 6 months from the purchase date to make the payments... We have had odd things like a change in itinerary that required us to pay an extra $2.00 or so... that qualified for the 6 months 0% interest!

It is kind of a double dip - most other rewards cards make you pick the interest free or the rewards, Disney gives you both...

It is important to know that not all cash hotel stays count, it has to be a vacation package when on land...

We loved the 9 month no interest program with DVC when we did our direct contract... If we purchase direct again we would definitely do that...

Plus, the 2% is perfectly fine, and then the rewards are there to pay for spa treatments on DCL or your annual DVC dues, or whatever...

Also gets you 10% off at DisneyStore.com

 

[bobbiwoz]

We book many DCL cruises, and we do use the 6 months to pay the balances without interest.

 

[achinforsomebacon]

At a minimum, the no annual fee card is worth having for the reasons others have stated (discounts, meet and greets, 0% interest, occasional 5% bonus cashback). I probably wouldn't pay for the card unless the sign-up bonus made it worth it or I was putting a large purchase that qualified for 2% vs 1% back. Even then I would downgrade to the free version after the first year.

 

[Spivey378]

Folks in this thread have PhDs in credit cards.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...-first-page-for-addl-details.3905155/page-804

 

[J-Dog]

IMO, the only useful perk is 6month no-interest on large purchases such as DVC. The other perks are much worse than using a good travel card, such as a Venture X, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or even a Delta AmEx card.

 

[DisTravels]

IMO, the only useful perk is 6month no-interest on large purchases such as DVC. The other perks are much worse than using a good travel card, such as a Venture X, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or even a Delta AmEx card.

Those cards have fees - which can be made up depending on your spend type and volume. Most US consumer's best option is a flat 2% cash back credit card.

 

[fumanchu2488]

Do you get 2% back for AP purchases/renewals with the Disney Visa?

 

[J-Dog]

Those cards have fees - which can be made up depending on your spend type and volume. Most US consumer's best option is a flat 2% cash back credit card.

Do DVC owners/Dis Board posters/frequent travelers to WDW count as "most US consumers"? Seems to me most of the posters on this thread are the perfect fit for a travel card with an annual fee but with big perks.

 

[fumanchu2488]

Do DVC owners/Dis Board posters/frequent travelers to WDW count as "most US consumers"? Seems to me most of the posters on this thread are the perfect fit for a travel card with an annual fee but with big perks.

I would say as a DVC member, most of the card perks are already included in a full membership. The card is good for the 6 month 0% financing for add on purchases. I have found a lot more value as a DVC member in other travel rewards cards, like ones you may use for flights.

Without the DVC membership, an annual trip would cover the cost of the card just with the dining and/or room discounts in my opinion.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Do you get 2% back for AP purchases/renewals with the Disney Visa?

Any Disney purchase.

 

[DisTravels]

Do DVC owners/Dis Board posters/frequent travelers to WDW count as "most US consumers"? Seems to me most of the posters on this thread are the perfect fit for a travel card with an annual fee but with big perks.

All kinds. Some have high spend (their own or through work or both) and are frequent travelers, some are more moderate credit card spenders and Disney is their big travel/vacation.

Then there is also familiarity of the points game. For people who find the points game a fun hobby - there's good deals (high points redemption value), for those that don't have time or interest in the points game the average redemption is around $0.01/point.