Disney VISA???

[miste76]

I'm sure there's been threads on this before... unfortunatly, I couldn't find them. Can someone tell me about the Disney VISA. I remember reading some DISers posting about which purchases earned various amounts. At the time, I wasn't even considering getting a credit card. Please tell me anything and everything you know about the card and it's rewards. Is this a good way to save some money for an upcoming trip?

 

[Tinkim]

There are varying opinions on the Disney Visa as I'm sure you will soon see. The regular rewards are $1 for every $100 spent (similar to most reward programs). The accumulated rewards can be requested before your trip and you receive a rewards card (similar to a gift card) that is good at the parks at restaurants and gift shops or you can apply it to your room reservation. Some people have received double rewards offers but they are tailored to individuals it seems to get them to use their cards more. Some people had to spend only over $300 to get double rewards while others reported having to spend $2400+ to earn double rewards or using the card for certain things like groceries, gas, etc. I have never had an offer at all for double rewards since I got the card in March but I put everything I can think of on it and pay it off every month. So far I have about $220 and hope to have $300 by the time we leave in February. I figure I was going to write a check or use a debit card for the stuff anyway and now I am getting $300 to spend. Not too bad. I know people were disappointed when it was said to replace the Magic Kingdom Club card and they thought it would be comparable and they don't feel it is. I never had one so I can't compare.

 

[swilphil]

If you go to 50disneyrewards.com, you can sign up for the Disney Visa card online and get $50 in rewards after you make just one purchase. I did that in Aug., and now I have over $150 on my card. I have not been offered any of the double rewards, but I was happy with the free $50.

Hurry, I just looked at the site, and you need to get and use your card by Dec. 31, 2004. It should only take about 5 days to get the card.

 

[got2lovedisney]

In addition...you can sign up for movie pre-screenings when offered. They are for yourself and 3 guests. So far, I've gotten them for Princess Diaries 2, The Incredibles and National Treasure. DisneyVisa also sometimes gives codes for discounts at disneydirect.com. Also, Alamo although I've never needed that one.

 

[fenwah]

Do you get any other perks besides the 1% return that you can use at Disney resorts? Do you get any discounts at any of the hotels or discounts on hopper tickets? 1% just doesn't seem like much when other cards are giving you 2% cash back, or GM card gives you 5% off towards a car, etc.

Please advise. TIA

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

There are other offers that they make like exclusive pins and sculptures for cardholders and discounted vacation packages. In the 1½ years that I've had the card, I've never taken advantage of any of the cardholder offers. There were always better offers out there for room discounts and I don't collect too much in the way of Disneyana.

The "value" of a rewards credit card is in what you expect to get from it. 5% back from GM means nothing to someone who has no intention of ever purchasing a GM vehicle. AmEx offers 5% cashback but you have to carry a balance to get it. That sort of negates the savings. There are cards that offer airline frquent flier miles and others that offer yearly cashback at a rate of 1-2%, depending on the item purchased (2% for gasoline and groceries, 1% for all others).

The advantages of the Disney VISA are the Disney Rewards (at 1-2% back), no annual fee, you get your rewards when you request them (not on a annual or semi-annual basis) and you don't need to carry a balance from one month to the next in order to get that reward. Are there other cards out there that can do the same or better? Yes. You only have to do a little shopping around to find them.

 

[Julia M]

I have crried the VISA card siunce it began.

I know there are better cards out there for other people, but Disney VISA works for me.

I have saved my rewards since I got the card (managing not to use them on our most recent trip in August), and now I have about $520 waiting for me.

We have a big trip planned next Xmas, so now that is my target.

Julia

 

[Buttercup26]

I think I am in the minority but I like the Disney Visa. The rewards work great for me. Unlike some other cards, you can pay it off in full each month and still get your rewards (I pay weekly so I don't carry a balance). There is no annual fee and there are other good offers, as an above poster mentioned - I like the free movie screenings.

The biggest disadvantage to the Disney card is the interest rate, they don't seem to be quite as competive as some of other cards. Since I pay it off and don't carry a balance this didn't deter me, but if you think you will be carrying a balance you may want to look for a very low interest card.

 

[girlsma]

I am also pleased with my Disney Visa so far... I had a credit card that did not give me anything, so earning $$ for things I always buy (gas, groceries, etc) is great. I even have my phone and cable bill charged to my cc.

I am one of those people who is lucky enough to be earning double points on anything over $350.. It started in October and ends at the end of this year. So, I have been charging everything and have even offered to buy things for people (who will pay me back !!!) just so I can earn extra points. My parents decided to buy a 50" flat screen tv and a entertainment center and they let me charge it!! Major Points!! So, I am happy to report that I am close to $300 saved for our surprise trip for our DD 5th b-day to WDW in January!

 

[sanibelover]

The Disney VISA is OK as long as you aren't looking for much in the way of offers other than the 1% in Disney Reward Dollars. I was under the impression that there would be many ways to earn double points and there would be discounts etc. (they kind of billed it as a replacement for the Magic Kingdom Club) There just aren't too many offers. (I was one of the ones who had to spend over $2300 a month on gas, drycleaning, etc. to earn any bonus)

That said, we do charge a lot on it and pay it off each month and we just had $600 toward our November vacation so I guess I shouldn't complain.

If you normally carry a balance, there are better cards for you (with lower interest rates...), if not - maybe the Disney VISA is a good deal. Just depends on how you use it.

 

[poohj80]

Another perk I didn't see mentioned is 6 months no interest on Disney travel packages booked through Disney.

 

[ceecee]

I was offered double rewards starting in July of 04. We spend an average of $2000.00 a month (we charge everything and pay it off). Several months we charged $4000.00 (DH's business expenses) So far we have only earned $250.00 reward $. I have called several times and they say it's not 2% (double would be 2 in my opinion). Then in December we charged $3500.00 for a business trip and DH got reimbursed by his company and 1500.00 in repairs for cars. We went over our $5000.00 limit and got charged $27.00 in fees!!! Our USAir card has a 10,000 limit and I didn't even think of overcharging on this one. I have never overcharged before so I don't know if that is normal or not (seems like they would tell you when you go over!). When I called, she said they could raise my limit, I was asking about the over charge fee not to get an increase. All in all, there are much better reward programs than this. Other than a few coupons and a pin (when we first joined, then you have to pay for them) not too many rewards. I have yet to see a movie screening anywhere near where I live.

 

[poohj80]

We went over our $5000.00 limit and got charged $27.00 in fees!!! I have never overcharged before so I don't know if that is normal or not (seems like they would tell you when you go over!).

It is normal to be charged a fee if you go over your limit. The other option by the credit card company would be for your card to be denied at the time of the transaction, but your transaction was probably allowed since you have a good credit record with this card.

 

[leebee]

We always pay for everything on credit card, making sure to pay off the balance every month. That way, the rewards really are rewards, as we are not paying interest charges. A few posts back mentioned that the Disney VISA seems to have a better interest rate than others, but BEWARE! Disney VISA charges interest on a two-cycle average, which means if you don't pay the balance in full, they charge interest on the past month's average daily balance AND the daily balance on the month before that one also, effectively doubling the "great" interest rate. Always check credit card disclosures for method of determining interest...the "two-cycle" method can be a killer.

Having said that, since we pay the full balance monthly, we had almost $300 in free rewards money for last month's trip (didn't start using DisVISA until 3 months before the trip). Very nice not to have to come home to big charges from Boma, souveniers, etc.!!