Disney Visa - How do you maximize...

[Jen D]

I just got one and am now using it in place of a debit card, so I buy groceries, pretty much any shopping, meals out, etc. on it. Also, phone / cell phone bill, cable bill, newspaper, internet service, YMCA membership, etc. I've had it for less than a month and already have 12 reward dollars.

I just go to the website every few days and make a payment, to make sure I'm okay within my monthly budget. If there are a bunch of pending charges I might wait a couple days until they do through so I can pay a larger amount at once. So far it is working great for me.

 

[GPALANGE]

Hey JenD great IDEA about going out to the website every few days and paying the balance down, I never thought of that. That's a great way to budget and not go over the money I've got in the checking. I love that idea, I'm going to use it. Thanks!!!

 

[mouseketeer_times_2]

Another HUGE one is tuition. ALL colleges accept credit cards for tuition payments. Again, if you (or your child) are getting a student loan, just use the student loan to pay off the credit card.

WOO HOO! I never thought of that one. At least I can get something back for all those $$$ I keep putting out. What a great idea! Thanks so much!

 

[ceecee]

Just wondering what your "other card" is and what rewards do you get?

We might not be using our Disney Visa after this upcoming trip either since we don't plan to return in the next couple of years (this will be our 4th trip in 8 years). We recently opened an AMEX Hilton Honors which seems pretty good, points toward free nights at all Hilton family hotels. But I'm always on the look out for other reward deals.

Our other card is the Citibank card for free airline tickets, over the years we have taken around 8 free flights. We used USAirways card prior to that, but it had an annual fee of $50.00 and it was hard to book multiple free tickets together.

 

[ElizaB39]

Hi all, I just wanted to say that some businesses will give you a discount if you pay cash (frame shop, landscapers) so if you are torn between paying cash and using a CC to get rewards, calculate what the cash discount would be and compare that to what value the reward from your CC amounts to. Then you at least have an option on which to choose. I always ask if I get a discount for paying cash, especially at small businesses where the interchange for using a credit card can be a bit of a thorn for them.

Just an idea.

 

[nannon16]

WOW! I am so excited about this! Thanks for all of your responses so far - I really appreciate it as I'm sure other DISers do as well! I checked and I can't pay my Gas bill (Atmos Energy), Water/Trash bill (payable to our city), Cable Internet bill (Comcast), Electric bill (Kansas City Power & Light), nor the Mortgage (Wells Fargo) with a credit card.

I don't know if Comcast varies what they accept by area, but where I live you can't pay by CC on the website, but if you call customer service you can pay by CC over the phone

 

[taximomfor4]

Another HUGE one is tuition. ALL colleges accept credit cards for tuition payments. QUOTE]


Umm, not all - you might want to check - for instance, The Ohio State University specifically does NOT accept credit or debit cards (which is too darn bad, if you ask me - why shouldn't they help me get Disney Dollars ??).


KC

Hi KC
Just HAD to say HI after seeing your reference to Buckeye country! I am East of Cleveland, so about 2.5 hrs north, but my brother (A US Marine, for the past 9 yrs or so) is attending OSU right now. He is due to graduate Spring 2006, then he is off to his next duty. He is BIG into the Buckeyes.

Beth

 

[hookedup]

I have a AMEX that I use for most things (including Costco) but I have found that there are quite a few companies that dont take AMEX so I use my Disney Visa for those (the vet and the dentist) and a few others.
We ALWAYS pay off our balances each month!!

 

[MommyTo5]

I don't know if Comcast varies what they accept by area, but where I live you can't pay by CC on the website, but if you call customer service you can pay by CC over the phone

Thanks so very much for the info!!! I will definitely call and check!

~ Angie
MommyTo5

 

[KCMiller]

Hi KC
Just HAD to say HI after seeing your reference to Buckeye country! I am East of Cleveland, so about 2.5 hrs north, but my brother (A US Marine, for the past 9 yrs or so) is attending OSU right now. He is due to graduate Spring 2006, then he is off to his next duty. He is BIG into the Buckeyes.

Beth

That's great! I actually work at the University, my DH graduated in '83, and my DS just moved into his dorm last week (coincidentally, his roommate is an ROTC Marine!) - we're big Buckeyes, as well! God bless your brother for his service, and tell him I said O H!!!

KC

 

[lc1965]

I'm about as "bad" as everyone else, although I try not to charge less than $10. It's nice getting to WDW & not having to pay a penny for meals or whatever. Cable bill is a big one for me & gas (worth even more reward points these days!) & membership fees, theatre tickets -- pretty much any place that will accept the Visa.

I know I'll sound like Mom here, but I hope no one is carrying a balance because they overcharge. In that case, the rewards are not such a bargain. I'm always surprised at how many people carry a balance on thw "bargains" they got, making a $20 pair of jeans $80! [Getting off soapbox now....]

 

[taximomfor4]

That's great! I actually work at the University, my DH graduated in '83, and my DS just moved into his dorm last week (coincidentally, his roommate is an ROTC Marine!) - we're big Buckeyes, as well! God bless your brother for his service, and tell him I said O H!!!

KC

lol. I'll tell him. Thanks!

OT, but I just went to the interment of a Vietnam vet, and just kept crying, thinking about my poor SIL and nieces and nephew, had that interment been for my brother instead. OUCH. I wish, when he did Color Guard activities at OSU, that I could come watch. Man, that would be a really emotional pre-game! In fact, he never really even tells me when he is going to do that! I just know he does it pretty often.

He works with the ROTC kids, actually. SO your sons roommate might very well know him.

Beth

 

[MommyTo5]

Does anyone know for sure...

If I pay off my balance (via making an online payment from my checking account) before my statement billing date - will still get my reward points?

I was all ready to make a payment and a friend told me she thought that I would not... Hmmm...

We have been charging everything (thanks to your ideas and inspiration) so I'd love to knock some of that off ASAP!

~ Angie
MommyTo5

 

[ncbyrne]

I charge absolutely everything possible on that card. Even tried to pay our property taxes, but alas, they don't take any cc. I always use it at the post office too...even if it's a 37 cent stamp! Our balance is always between $3500-4500 a month. To make sure we have the $ to pay it off each month, we keep a large manilla envelope in the kitchen cupboard, right by the back door. The rule is, as soon as we come in, first thing is to put all receipts and the cash into the envelope. As soon as our trip (Oct 13-24) is over, we'll start using our AMEX Sky Miles card again for everything. Then when we have enough for two free plane tickets, we'll go back to the Disney Visa...works great for us. Oh, and if I'm shopping (food, clothes, whatever) with my DDs, I will charge their purchases too, and they give me the cash. It all adds up!

 

[starwood]

ditto for me too plus I am paying DD's monthly braces fee with my Disney Visa! She gets a kick out of knowing her current misery results in $2 Dis dollars each month! Also put every possible house repair on my card, monthly bill, groceries, gas, airline tickets. Haven't been to WDW for 2 years and think I will have about 1,000 points by time we go in Feb. !! BTW, yes we do pay ours off every month! Never charge what you can't afford to pay for.

I wish I could pay for DS's braces with the card. Unfortunately the orthodontist doesn't take credit cards

 

[digiMom]

It was easy for me to use this card. I used to use my debit card all the time. Now, I use DV instead. Then put on local vacations, swim lessons, doctor bills, any monthly bills that will accept it... I hope to have enough for meals when we go in about a year.

I always pay after the billing cycle is complete. I think you recieve points based on the balance on that date. If you pay before that, you lose out.

Has anyone received the double or triple points?

 

[P-Dust]

I received double rewards for June 2004 to june 2005.I don't know why i received this offer in the mail but I did take advantage. I opened a new hair salon and had to renovate a hpuse to do it. I racked up $650.00 in rewards in about a year and a half.
That's = to my dining plan for our Dec. trip. Yahoo!

 

[cruisnfamily]

I always pay after the billing cycle is complete. I think you recieve points based on the balance on that date. If you pay before that, you lose out.

Can anyone confirm this? This will make a HUGE difference in the way I've been managing my account. Every time I use the Disney Visa, I send a payment off that day thru quicken. The theory is to end up with a $0 balance. If this negates the rewards, I am doing this for nothing. I guess I'll need to call them but I'd prefer to hear from someone who has actually experienced this on their bill and can tell us how it really works, not how they say it's gonna work.

 

[DiznEeyore]

I always pay after the billing cycle is complete. I think you recieve points based on the balance on that date. If you pay before that, you lose out.

That doesn't make sense. If that were the case, if someone carried a balance, then they'd get points based on a balance that they'd previously accrued points on. They'd essentially be paying you twice. It can't work this way.

ETA: Just got off the phone w/cust. service. According to them, it makes NO difference when you pay. It's just that the points don't SHOW on your account 'til 3 days after the statement generates. HTH!

 

[digiMom]

You're right...

This is from their pdf:

You will accrue one (1) Disney Dream Reward DollarSM for every one
hundred (100) dollars of Net Purchases. Chase will calculate the Disney Dream Reward DollarsSM you
accrue on a monthly basis by multiplying the actual dollar value of the Net Purchases made to your
Disney’s Visa Card each billing cycle by 1.0% (.01). If such calculation results in a
fractional dollar value amount, then such fractional amount will be rounded to the nearest whole
Disney Dream Reward Dollar,SM such that uneven Disney Dream Reward DollarSM amounts between
(x) 0.01 to 0.49 will be rounded down to the nearest Disney Dream Reward Dollar,SM and (y) 0.50
to 0.99 will be rounded up to the nearest Disney Dream Reward Dollar.SM

Sorry...