lets talk about this Credit Card shall we. LONG

[searlproudbottom]

First
I thought I would share with you how our family saves $ on our Disney vacation.

1. We own a Delta Sky miles card By American Express. I think we pay about $50. dollars a year for it. We also have a backup Visa Card for those venders who don't accept American Express. Every thing we purchase we put on our card and I mean everything. We pay it off in full each months and never pay interest. This and a couple of other tricks we are able to accumulate about 50,000 miles a year. When airline fares are at their normal price about $ 500 round trip from Sacramento to Florida it Saves us about $1,000.

2. We also purchase Annual passes. Last year we visited the world from Oct 17 to Oct. 26
This year we will visit the world from Oct. 9th though the 17th so we are able to use our annual passes for two vacations instead of one. What this amounts to is our entry into the parks is cut in half.

So now Disney wants me to use their credit Card for 1 %, that means I now receive only $ 500. Dollars for every $50,000 spent.

MCI gives me. 5,000 miles x 2 phones to sign up for Long Distance, which I do every 6 months. Will Disney? I don't think so.

AT&T gives me $ 5,000 miles to sign up for long distance and 2,000 miles for local phone service, which I do every other 6 months will Disney? I don’t think so.

American Express is currently the official Credit Card of WDW which we save 10 % on numerous Items .Will that Change? You can bank on it.

The Disney Magazine, which we used to get with our Disney Club
Membership is now $ 15.00. Are you going to get this as a bonus for signing for the new card? Lets assume so, is this why Disney sent us the flyer 2 weeks before the Credit Cards Came out, and before the rewards program is listed. Its my Guess that Disney just Wants to sucker you sheep out their for an additional $15 bucks. Remember you herd this one first from old Searl , I hope you all don't take this the Wrong way we are avid Disney fans and I seldom involved in bashing a company in which I own Stock. But I am DAM Tired of this Company giving us less for more.
(BM) Before Michael We used to become a member of the Magic Kingdom Club for free, just for being a Stock holder. Then it was a $ 50 Dollar fee. Then it was changed to the dismay club, what 3 years ago and now its gone. Now Michael wants us to run out and signup for his new card simply because We will get a card that says MEMBER SINCE DAY ONE, I wasn't even born on day one !
Searl

 

[ragamuffin]

I think it depends on what suits you. Yes, you have a sky miles card, but can you redeem your sky miles for Disney merchandise? NO, you have to use the associated airline. But with the Disney card, you earn a small % to go towards Disney purchases and vacations, and probably earn a slightly larger % for anything you purchase from Disney.

I don't think you're going to be able to pay for an entire vacation with this card, but it gives you options. For instance, we have a Toys R Us VISA, which we put probably $30-$40 thousand on each year (paying off in full each month - we use it for everything also like SEARL said). We earn about 1% rewards and get certificates each month to use at Toys R Us. We save them all year and then at the end of the year we have about a 300-400 dollar shopping spree to buy Christmas presents for the kids.

I would think a lot of Disney fans would like this card, because you can rack up the rebates and then go on a Disney shopping spreee once a year, maybe getting clothes or toys for the kids.

It also has no annual fee, so if you don't use no big deal.

That's just my thoughts. It's not for everyone I'm sure, but I'm sure many Disney fans will find it very handy.

 

[honeymom]

I've applied - figuring no annual fee.

You're right though - on face value you don't get much.

I am waiting to see what types of promotions will tie into the card, before I go hog wild using it.

 

[mad4themouse]

Searl,
You make some very valid points and from what you say, the Disney VISA is not for you. That does not mean that it isn't a good card for someone else, however.

On the surface, a mere 1% rebate in the form of Disney Dream Rewards Dollars which have no value anywhere else on the face of this Earth with the exception of Disney Enterprises is almost laughable. So many other cards offer CASH back at a rate of 1% on all purchases. Co-branded cards (like the LLBean Visa and the ToysRUs Visa) give even bigger rebates when used at their merchants but generally offer their own GCs as a rebate.

What bothers me most is not the paultry rebate but the vague terms by which that rebate can be used. It appears that BankOne (not Disney) figured that they would slap a Disney logo on a piece of plastic and people would fall all over themselves just to get it. Other rewards credit cards put the details of their rewards programs out there for prospective applicants to examine before they apply. It smacks of arrogance that BankOne does not feel the need to do the same.

I still want to see more details about this card. For those of you who have been approved, would it be possible for you to post some of the rewards available?

 

[HM]

Searl---Tell me about the signing up for bonus points every six months.....am I reading this right? You switch your phone from MCI to ATT and back every six months....or is it something else?

-HM

 

[BrianD]

Searl,

So I take this to mean that you won't be applying?

 

[Luv2Roam]

Valid points and I agree.
But -- starting this year, I am sure AmEx/WDW dropped their agreement. AmEx is no longer the WDW official cc.

 

[Pamlur]

No, AmEx is no longer the "official card" and all those benefits ceased on 12/31. When I was planning my trip for September, I started my planning before the end of the year, and the AmEx rep I was talking to told me I was going to cry when I heard what benefits we would be losing. So, I told her not to tell me.

 

[zulaya]

I think if there wasn't all this secrecy about bonus offers that MIGHT come out month to month, I wouldn't be so skeptical about it.

1% is NOT generous at all. They pretty much have designed the program that for you to get anything even half way worthwhile, you would have to charge every single thing you buy on that card. I personally don't want to complicate my life that way to get a max of $500 in reward dollars per year.

I think if there was more detailed info on potential offers, then I'd feel a little more confident about applying for one.

But I think those of you who commented that BankOne figures people will flock ot a card with the Disney logo are right. People will come no matter what so they don't have to give you a hook.

I wonder if the only way to get discounted rooms will now be to have a Disney Visa? May explain why there are no AP rates or public codes past Easter this year? Who knows.

 

[Muushka]

searlproudbottom, your words are like music to my ears.

Well said.

 

[BobF58]

I applied simply because I am hoping that some of the discounts and offers that we used to get from DC and Amex will be carried over to the new Visa. I'm really not even thinking about the 1%. If no discounts, I won't use it. If there was an annual fee, I wouldn't even consider it, unless I knew for sure I was getting something (Disney Magazine, DTD discount, etc.).

BTW, I just checked and was approved.

 

[*Flower*]

I think what I'll miss the most is the 15% discount I used to get by presenting my resort room key and my Amex (Delta Skymiles) card.
Now all I can look forward to is the CP discount.

Walt is rolling over in his grave........

 

[Swazie]

I am also very baffled by the card. No matter how many Disney Dollars I am earning in a year, it will never add up to the discounts I had with MKD/DC card. I use it for AP, car rental room discounts and meal discounts. I am sooo bummed about this.

We are DVC members and stock holders also and for the first time in nine years we are staying off site at Universal our next trip in May. Why? Because they actually spoke to me as if they wanted me to come. We will use our points at Disney for lodging but are staying longer and needed 4 more nights. I called Universal to check on rates . . . they were very high. The CM I spoke with was very pleasant and asked what they could do to get us to stay with them, she then told me of the best deal she could give me. It cut our room at the Hard Rock in half. We booked and will pay cash. We also will show our room key and be at the front of every line we get in in the parks. I can use my AAA card for 10% discount for food and merch and this month in the AAA magazine has a coupon for and additional 10% at Universal only. It may not be much, but I FEEL like I got a deal.

We adore Disney . . . but in all the times we've been we have yet to experience one single incident of receiving something special. It is always a hassle to check in and get the room we requested. On three different trips we were over charged and one of the mistakes on their part was never taken care of. We will always stay with our DVC points, but Disney is shutting the door on the extra cash dollars we spend down there.

Give me back my DC please!

 

[searlproudbottom]

Dear All

I want to thank you all for your positive comments. I was a little concerned that I might have been blasted for being a little overbearing. I know that some of you have strong feelings about the World, as do I.
The more that I dove into this post the more Irate I became.

Dear HM

I actually found out about this by accident.
After signing up for MCI we were given 1,000 miles a month for six months. When our term of 6 months was achieved we decided to change back to AT&T. Well within two days I received a call from MCI they wanted us back and offered us another 5,000 miles. After That 6 months was up we received a check for $30 in the mail from AT&T, all we would have to do is cash the check and they would switch us back to AT&T. Again within a couple of days MCI called us and wanted us back, another 5,000 miles. This has been going on for the past five years. Well a couple a months ago we received a letter from AT&T and they were now offering Delta Sky miles 5,000 for long distance and 2,000 for Local. The only catch is that if you have two phone lines you have to have two separate accounts. I just checked the MCI website and discovered that MCI was leaving the program. But its no big deal as the AT&T program is much better by providing 2,000 miles for local service. This year we signed up for Earthlink as Our service provider 5,000 miles. I purchased a cell phone by Nextel 5,000 miles. American Express offers so many deals that I don't even try to keep up. Now this is the Card that’s worth checking into. Hope this helps.

Dear BrianD

I like your since of humor.

Searl

 

[z28wiz]

IMHO the disney visa is not worth it

 

[csmommy]

Originally posted by BobF58
I applied simply because I am hoping that some of the discounts and offers that we used to get from DC and Amex will be carried over to the new Visa. I'm really not even thinking about the 1%. If no discounts, I won't use it. If there was an annual fee, I wouldn't even consider it, unless I knew for sure I was getting something (Disney Magazine, DTD discount, etc.).

BTW, I just checked and was approved.

Congrats, how did you find out?

I have applied in hopes that they change for the better. You never know what "card member only" benefits maybe offered in the future.

 

[BobF58]

888-338-2586

 

[TreeOfLife]

I keep saying it... Disney just does not stop treating guests in derrogatory ways expecting blind loyalty.

The fact that other cards are as measly as this one does not justify acceptance of what Disney came up with. So what if others are mediocre and pathetic, does Disney have to join them? What happened to the standards of the most "unique and magical" thing on earth? Do they really think guests are so stupid to rack up charges for the miserable rewards, a pin and a little "day 1" inscription? Some seem to think so.

But I have posted it before and here I go again: Give it right back! Read their IQs the way they read their guests: Get your card, get your pin, then use your best rewards card instead as a smart consumer. Maybe they'll get the hint when they see what their card was all good for.

 

[hulagirl]

TreeofLife
Do you mind if I ask what you think the "best reward card" is? I've been piggybacking 0% interest rate cards for a couple of years but now they are all paid off and I am looking for a really good travel rewards card that does not have a high annual fee.
I'd love your opinion on this and maybe I'll post a new thread asking the same question. Where should I post the ? do you think?

 

[NotUrsula]

We like the Starwood AMEX Blue, and it is a good one if you are a WDW fan because the points can be used at S/D. You can also convert the points 1:1 on most major US airlines, and they will throw in 5K bonus pts every time you convert 20K pts to miles, which means that you get a FF ticket for 20K pts. rather than 25K.
Points are also transferrable within households, so even though DH & I have separate accounts, we can consolidate pts. for rewards. The pt. ratio for purchases at any Starwood property is 3:$1.

I find that hotel cards are a better value than airline cards, because you can put 4 ppl. in a hotel room, but only 1 in a seat.