New Disney Visa rewards credit card...

[IslandHap]

Found this info on the Bank One website. This is what you get if you apply for and receive the "Six Flags Platinum MasterCard". Hopefully the Disney card will have a few more rewards/perks.

Full Benefits
Enjoy all the privileges of membership, including these incredible benefits. Take advantage of them anytime, anywhere.

Six Flags Platinum MasterCard®

Low Introductory 2.9% Fixed APR*
Enjoy immediate savings with our low introductory 2.9% fixed annual percentage rate (APR). This special rate is yours for six (6) months. After that, you will continue to save with an 11.74% variable APR. These rates are for all purchases and balance transfers.*

Use your Six Flags Platinum MasterCard® to earn Six Flags Rewards Points with each purchase -- one point for each dollar you spend anywhere MasterCard is accepted, and six points for each dollar you spend at Six Flags Theme Parks! It is that easy!
You will receive a 10% discount off food and merchandise at participating Six Flags Theme Parks locations. Plus, you can choose from so many exciting reward options, including:


Free Six Flags Theme Parks Admission Tickets, Season Passes and Family Season Passes
Free Six Flags Theme Parks Merchandise and Food Vouchers
Free Parking Passes Valid at participating Six Flags Theme Parks Locations

No Annual Fee
You pay no annual fee. It's a benefit you can count on.

Generous Credit Line
Gain the financial flexibility to make that large purchase, take a cash advance, or transfer balances from other higher-APR credit cards.

Transfer Balances and You Could Save Hundreds of Dollars
Simply transfer outstanding balances from higher-APR credit card accounts to your new card. You'll have fewer bills to pay, and you'll save on interest as you begin paying the balance back at your new low APR.

Assistance or Information About Your Account -- Anytime
We give you the attention you deserve. Our Financial Service Advisors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Platinum Benefits and Services
Platinum MasterCard offers an array of services designed specifically for your security and convenience at no additional charge. You will receive complete information regarding these benefits when you receive your card:

100% Protection Against All Unauthorized Purchases
Lost/Stolen Card Reporting
Emergency Card Replacement/Delivery
$1,000,000 Travel Accident Insurance
Auto Rental Insurance
Travel & Emergency Assistance

http://www.firstusa.com/cgi-bin/web...&partner_dir_name=six_flags_ad02&page=benefit

 

[MJames41]

Sounds great. Too bad everyone (like me) wont qualify.

 

[ohanafamily]

I wonder if you need to charge the purchases to get the 10%?

 

[raidermatt]

I wonder if you need to charge the purchases to get the 10%?

Don't know for sure, but probably. That was the deal with the AMEX card. You had to use it (not just show it) to get the discount.

 

[d-r]

I don't like it at all. BUT, here is is November. When are they going to introduce the freaking thing. Again, I don't like it at all it just seems curious to me that they would announce closing the DC and they still haven't promoted/described this dang card.

DR

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Well the Disney Club is good through 2003 so that would seem the transition would take place during 2003.

The Professor

 

[d-r]

Mine runs out in Feb.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

When I renewed mine about 6 weeks ago was told that all memberships expiring in 2002 could be renewed for a full year. Anything expiring through Sept. could be renewed through the end of 2003 at a pro-rated amount.

The Professor

 

[raidermatt]

Yes you can renew through the end of 2003. New memberships will be cut off on 12/12/02 I believe.

Professor, I think there are several things that have people "apprehensive":

1- The Disney Club has been around since Walt's day (formerly the Magic Kingdom Club). Yes, they started charging for it, and yes all good things come to an end, but anytime you discontinue a program that's been around for so long, there will be a backlash. Which leads to point #2....

2- Even if the Visa rewards card carries the same benefits and discounts as the DC, a certain percentage of DC members will not qualify for the Visa. It does not appear to be a low-end product. Even low-end credit cards exclude 25-50% of the population. Granted, most of those 25-50% are not typical WDW guests, but some will be, and if this is a "Platinum" type card, it will exclude far more than 50%.

3- Given that most new offerings from Disney have less value than previous offerings, there is a healthy dose of skepticism out there.

Personally, I completely understand the reasons for going with their own rewards Visa over the old AMEX program. I liked the AMEX deal because we got Starwood points, but if the Disney rewards program provides similar value for us, that's fine.

I am not quite sold on the need to do away with the DC, however.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

I completely agree with your assessment. I was simply pointing out that since the materials that have come out indicate this is future oriented and the DC is still available through 2003 it is likely we'll see a push on this after January 1. I can't imagine the current partner being too happy about losing holiday business, and it is quite likely there are requirements for severing the relationship in terms of timing, etc. in the contract the two organizations have with each other.

I'm amongst those who are unhappy about the change. I like my DC and have no desire to get another Visa card. I doubt this one will beat the interest rate I have with my credit union and I'm not going to carry a second one.

The Professor

 

[CruellaDuVille]

I have enough damn credit cards and don't use most of them. I don't want more.

Sears and a local dept. store sent me VISA's without my permission. I'm ticked. I don't want a Disney VISA. I don't want ANYMORE VISA'S!!!!!! I have one card and I pay it off every month. Is VISA in bed with EVERYONE???????????

 

[ohanafamily]

There is no official word that the Visa card is a replacement for DC; It is a bone thrown out to appease the members. I have heard from sources unnamed the the previos card that TDS was pushing had a real strong requirement to get it. (OTR, I think that may be part of the reason that they are changing banks. also, a lot of companies don't like to accept AMEX; they charge a lot more...

In other words, I will wait until Disney sends me the credit card application with a list of perks. I am quite partial to my AA miles, and when I travel I get huge benefits from My ML Visa rewards..

IOW, I am going to prorate my DC card till the end of the year, and wait to see what they offer

 

[IslandHap]

I emailed Bank One/FirstUSA to find out when the new Disney Visa card will be available, here's the response I received:

October 22, 2002

As a leader in the credit card industry, we are committed to providing innovative products and superior customer service.

We appreciate your interest.

We would like to inform you that our Disney cards will be available after the first of the year. You may look for more information on our web site then. We appreciate your interest in our card.

If you have any questions or if we can help in any other way, please call us at the toll-free number listed below. We're here 24 hours a day to serve your credit card needs.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Beesler
First USA Bank, N.A. Internet Support
1-800-955-9900

 

[ukcatfan]

Does anyone know what is going to happen to the Disney Credit Card after the Disney Visa comes out? I had heard that anyone holding a Disney Credit Card would have their balance transferred to the new Visa. I do not know how reliable that source was though. I does not make sense for them to have two credit card programs at one time though.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

At the moment they have their "partnership" with AMEX and their own card. Disney will not own the Disney VISA it will be another licensed partnership no different than the American Kennel Club or an alumni Visa or Master Card.

Deb

 

[King Triton]

I have one of those Six Flags Platinum credit cards. I have a Six Flags right near me. I simply use my card and while earning points, Six Flags sends me a FREE annual family season pass plus over $150 worth of vouchers for FREE food or merchandise at the park. COOL!

Now if Disney came out with a credit card with the same benefits, I would switch over in a heart beat!!! I love WDW a thousand times more than going to Six Flags. Disney needs to add more perks - receiving a free magazine will not be enough. Come on Disney - are you listening??

King Triton

 

[KNWVIKING]

ukcatfan...

Sears has had two cards for years,each with different perks & interest rates. I think Disney would be foolish to discontinue the DCC until it see its useage drop to the point where it is no longer profitable to continue it. By branding a Visa card,they only get a piece of the pie where as with the DCC they get the whole pie.

 

[ukcatfan]

I agree with you that they are not likely to stop something that is profitable, but the DCC is a similar arrangement. I learned this by chance. I called the customer service number once and the person answered "Monogram Bank." I was a little confused, but he then explained to me that Disney is not involved in the actual operations of the card and that I have no actual obligation to Disney at all. The debt obligation is to the issuing bank only. I would suspect that Disney has a better kickback with that small bank than they do with Bank One, but it is the same type deal. I am really interested in when the contract is up on the old card. I was wondering if Disney was going to ditch the old bank now that they have Visa and Bank One on their side. I have heard before that the DCC was not branded b/c of Disney's deal with AMEX. Now that the AMEX deal is over, I have heard that Visa is also considering attraction sponsorship at EPCOT.

 

[ukcatfan]

I just ran across something very interesting. GE Capital is the sole owner of Monogram Bank as of June 2002. Before that they were a 50/50 owner with none other than Bank One! That makes things a little more interesting. Bank One sells off its part of Monogram (that includes the DCC) and within months announces a new deal with Disney directly under the Visa logo. I wonder if the new Disney Visa was already in the works when Bank One sold out to GE. I also no not belive GE sponsors any attractions anymore. If my memory serves me correctly, they sponsored Horizons for a while.

 

[d-r]

"Because GE brings good things to life, Illuminations: Reflections of Earth will begin in only 10 minutes..."