Disney Visa Perks

[bwilcox]

In response to your first question, the last time I went to DW we used the DDRDs for all our meals, souvenirs, and sacks, and they all took them. I think places listed are just to give you ideas.

 

[johnlal]

In response to your first question, the last time I went to DW we used the DDRDs for all our meals, souvenirs, and sacks, and they all took them. I think places listed are just to give you ideas.

Thank you. That's good to hear. Every once in a while I freak out out upcoming trip. Thanks again.

 

[TronkoMouse]

Maybe somebody who has used the rewards at Disney World can tell me...

1. On Chase's Disney Rewards website it lists "Popular Places" to use Disney Dream Reward Dollars. Does this mean that there are shops and restaurants in the park that don't accept DDRD's? Has anyone experienced trouble using them?
2. Can you put the DDRD's on your account at your resort for charges put on your "Key to the World" card?

Any information will be helpful.

You can use DDRDs to pay down your resort charges. What we have done in the past is just put everything on our KTTW card and go down to the desk a couple days into our stay and pay down the balance with the DDRD card. Just make sure you go down before you hit the ceiling of when they will charge your CC of record at the resort (I think it is still $1,500).

Last time I did this we had about $200 more on our DDRD card than our resort balance, so I just had them apply the entire DDRD balance to the room (leaving us with a positive balance -- which was quickly depleted). I am not sure what happens if you end up with a positive room balance as a result of using your DDRDs so just be careful.

--Kevin

 

[4kidsrme]

I wonder if this 5x the points deal is for everyone...
I don't remember getting anything about that. Was it with your statement? I sometimes forget to open them because I pay online.

I just called and asked about this because I am a charter member of the Disney card and have never had and of these extra points deals. The Chase guy told me that they keep track of your spending in each category and then offer you deals in that category. For example, if you spend $500 per month for three months in groceries then they will offer you a bonus deal. But, it is not automatic. It will be in the bottom corner of your statement and you need to call and activate it.

I guess I don't spend enough in any one category to earn the bonus.

 

[4kidsrme]

I was curious about this as well, I don't mean the perks that you get outside the parks I wonder about the perks you receive INSIDE the parks, any discounts or specials that anyone knows of? Is the 5 by 7 picture about it? TIA

You get 10% off purchases at the Disney store in DTD.

 

[disneyfan55]

I just called and asked about this because I am a charter member of the Disney card and have never had and of these extra points deals. The Chase guy told me that they keep track of your spending in each category and then offer you deals in that category. For example, if you spend $500 per month for three months in groceries then they will offer you a bonus deal. But, it is not automatic. It will be in the bottom corner of your statement and you need to call and activate it.

I guess I don't spend enough in any one category to earn the bonus.

I also am a charter member and rarely used my card and never for the 4 categories that I had the offer for all last year. I did end up using the card for groceries and dining just to get the 5 xs. My offer was for over 250 per month. There were many different thresholds some up to 1,000 per month. I found no rhyme or reason as to why the offer was made to me. My 4 categories were dining, groceries, gas and airline. I had never used my card for any of these before the offer. Basically the only thing really that I charged was WDW vacations to get the 6 months zero interest and once in a while for odds and ends. I never carried a balance either (except the zero interest and paid it off before any interest accrued)

 

[disneyfan55]

You get 10% off purchases at the Disney store in DTD.

YOu also get 20% off on some of the behind the scenes tours. You should check out Disney Visa's site to get all the offers.

 

[TronkoMouse]

The way the card company explained it to us is that any payment that you make goes to pay off the TRIP portion before anything else so you accrue interest on those items you purchased during the month. It made no sense to us either, but believe me, we questioned them extensively about this. We told them that we would have to change all our direct payment bills and that they would be losing that revenue. Even the customer service person we spoke to thought this was a really stupid policy. Maybe they think that many people just won't realize what is happening. Give the credit card company a call and see if you get a different story than we did.

Before our trip last April I read my customer agreement and interpreted it just as you had it explained to you.

So I called to get and explanation.

To my surprise, I was told that my interpretation was not correct. I was told that as long as I paid my balance minus the amount in the "QUALIFYING PROMOTIONAL FINANCING" section of my bill each month and paid off each "Qualified promo trans" (i.e. WDW charge) by their respective "expiration date" there would be no finance charges accumulated. I didn't believe them so I called back a couple days later and received the same answer. In fact the second rep that I talked to said "Well that wouldn't be much benefit."

So I decided to try and give it a try.

For our trip there was actually two transactions: one for the initial $200 down payment on the package, and a second one that that had the package balance.

I proceeded to pay off my card balance each month minus the WDW charges and did not see any finance charges accumulate. In month 3 after our trip I paid enough to cover the initial $200 down payment before its expiration date and was mildly surprised to see that it was correctly applied to it and not the package balance.

I then paid off the WDW package balance charge in month 5 (i.e. my entire monthly balance shown on my statement) and did not see any finance charges.

So that was my experience. I hope it helps in some way.

--Kevin

 

[disneyfan55]

Before our trip last April I read my customer agreement and interpreted it just as you had it explained to you.

So I called to get and explanation.

To my surprise, I was told that my interpretation was not correct. I was told that as long as I paid my balance minus the amount in the "QUALIFYING PROMOTIONAL FINANCING" section of my bill each month and paid off each "Qualified promo trans" (i.e. WDW charge) by their respective "expiration date" there would be no finance charges accumulated. I didn't believe them so I called back a couple days later and received the same answer. In fact the second rep that I talked to said "Well that wouldn't be much benefit."

So I decided to try and give it a try.

For our trip there was actually two transactions: one for the initial $200 down payment on the package, and a second one that that had the package balance.

I proceeded to pay off my card balance each month minus the WDW charges and did not see any finance charges accumulate. In month 3 after our trip I paid enough to cover the initial $200 down payment before its expiration date and was mildly surprised to see that it was correctly applied to it and not the package balance.

I then paid off the WDW package balance charge in month 5 (i.e. my entire monthly balance shown on my statement) and did not see any finance charges.

So that was my experience. I hope it helps in some way.

--Kevin

I had the same thoughts before I did it. I had used a Home Depot card with no interest for a year and interest did accrue and if you didn't pay it off you would end up with all the interest that accrued. Also, some cards will apply payments first to the Zero% balance, but not Disney Visa. If you have no other balance except the vacation and use the card for another purchase, as long as you pay the complete amount of the other purchase there will be no interest charge. Many cards apply payments first to the Zero interest balance. Disney Visa is really a good deal (at least for now!) Chase Bank is a sub of JPMorgan and UPMorgan is starting to charge a $10/month service charge to those that carry very large balances, have little or no activity with low interest rates (I guess ones that were fixed balance transfers) I was concerned when I heard about the $10/month and called to make sure my card would not be service charged. THat was what I was told by someone from the corporate headquarters. They actually called me in response to an email I sent, and then I received a follow up letter and survey.

 

[MickeyNicki]

last year they had special bonus point times...for 3 months (jan - march and July -Sept) you could earn 5x the amount of points on gas, groceries, pharmacy etc...I racked up a bundle!

 

[disneyfan55]

Does anyone know if you have to book with the card or just show it at time of tour? I already booked the tour and did not use that card (didn't realize and I hardly ever charge anything)....can I still get the discount now?

You get the discount when you book and you must pay with the card. I would call and see if you can somehow get an adjustment. I wouldn't ait until you're there. I just booked the other day and that's how the pmt. was handled.

 

[lucky978]

Does anyone know if they are still offering the photo opportunity and the free 5x7? I'm looking on the website and don't see it listed.

 

[4kidsrme]

Yes they are. It is at Innoventions at Epcot every day. I think the time is 1-4:30. You have to pick up the photo before you leave the park for the day.

 

[DaveStroem]

BTW, the Photo center stays open well past the park closing time. We often got there after Illuminations was over. This was kind of nice because we were not so much in the crush of people waiting for a bus back to the resort. The other advantage is that your not carrying around the photo all day.

 

[serene56]

subscribing so I can read it later when i have time

 

[runwad]

I'm another that always uses my Disney Visa to pay my trips and I've never paid a finance charge. I always pay my other monthly charges, minus my promotional items in full...then when the due date of the promotional items come due I pay those off. Never never never any interest ever on my card.

 

[tlenzendorf]

So I have a question... do you get the reward money if the balance isn't paid off before you go? We have a deposit down right now with travel agent on GM card, so at least we are getting money towards a new car. HOWEVER, new car is a lot further off than Disney. Going August 14. If I apply for the card now and put the vacation on it would we be able to use the reward money in August? And how exactly do you use/get it? Do they send you a debit card thingy?

 

[disneyfan55]

So I have a question... do you get the reward money if the balance isn't paid off before you go? We have a deposit down right now with travel agent on GM card, so at least we are getting money towards a new car. HOWEVER, new car is a lot further off than Disney. Going August 14. If I apply for the card now and put the vacation on it would we be able to use the reward money in August? And how exactly do you use/get it? Do they send you a debit card thingy?

Yes, if you paid off the vacation and the Disney Dollars are posted on your statement. The disney dollars are posted on the statement that the charge is made not when the balance is paid off. Once this happens and you have at least $25 Disney Dollars, you request the card to be sent out to you. (there is a way to get a card at WDW as well, I'm not sure of the procedure though ) Disney Visa sends out what looks like a gift card and you just use it at WDW like a gift card. Make sure that if you do apply for the card you get a bonus for opening it. My husband received a $100 gift card just for opening the card through a link on the AP section of WDW site. There are always bonuses for apply for when opening the card. Also, if you know someone that has the card and they give you their referral code, they will also get a bonus of $25 disney dollars. The person opening the new CC gets a gift card and the referrer gets Disney Dollars.

 

[taylor3297]

We are going to have at least 500 in DDRD when we go back Dec. 2010. I have read others post that they use their DDRD to pay tips since they have the dining plan. How does this work? Do you just hand the waiter the card and tell them to take whatever the amount you want to tip?

 

[TronkoMouse]

We are going to have at least 500 in DDRD when we go back Dec. 2010. I have read others post that they use their DDRD to pay tips since they have the dining plan. How does this work? Do you just hand the waiter the card and tell them to take whatever the amount you want to tip?

Yep, just hand them the card just like you would your VISA or your KTTW card. Not sure if you can use your DDRDs everywhere (Jellyrolls comes to mind and possibly the Landry restaurants such as Rainforest Cafe/T-Rex -- but don't quote me on those) but I would bet that every DDP restaurant would take it.

--Kevin