NOTE Policy Change - Chase Disney VISA Rewards Cards

[Dean Marino]

Sandy and I experienced this, on the CUSP of it's implementation, in April....

Previously, one could check in, and transfer the BALANCE of a Chase VISA Disney Reward Card to ones Room/Trip balance as a POSITIVE balance.

This has changed.

Now, one must ACRUE a balance, come back later, and pay this with the Chase VISA Disney Reward Card.

Stated Reason for Policy Change: WDW has no way to refund a positive balance on your room account. Not judging this - it's just what we were told. I was surprised, as I thought CHASE and WDW were, in some way, working with each other, and that WDW accounting was a bit more capable.

Suggestion: As many CC's offer 1% cash back? Ditch Chase VISA Disney Reward Card in favor of a general 1% Cash Back Card. Collect cash just by using the card, and forgo internal WDW issues.

 

[wilkeliza]

It may have been at Chase's request not Disney's. When you transfer money to your Rewards card it is still all done through Chase. If you switch it to your DVC account then Chase no longer has control and has to pay Disney money if you use it or not since the refunds don't process back to the rewards card.

 

[supersnoop]

This policy applies to gift cards, too. They can still do it, but they aren't supposed to. I had 16¢ left on a gift card, and the CM went ahead and applied it to my account. But I never spent that 16¢ and found a credit back to the credit card I had on file. So, maybe people figured out that they could essentially turn those rewards into cash, and they shut it down.

 

[wilkeliza]

This policy applies to gift cards, too. They can still do it, but they aren't supposed to. I had 16¢ left on a gift card, and the CM went ahead and applied it to my account. But I never spent that 16¢ and found a credit back to the credit card I had on file. So, maybe people figured out that they could essentially turn those rewards into cash, and they shut it down.

That's what I was thinking. Since the Disney system gives it back to the credit card on file the old way could mean people getting quite a bit back when they didn't use those follars at Disney.

If someone wants the money not to be tied to Disney than a regular cash rewards card is a much better option. We have an airline miles card, cash reward card, and Disney Rewards card. The two that are place specific (Jetblue and Disney) we like it because the money then goes towars vacations. We are almost getting our whole honeymoon to Aulani for free since we have been racking up points on both cards and paying them off in full each month.

 

[disneynutz]

I always go to the front desk the night before check out, pay our balance and get a print out of our account. I let SSR email our statement last week and have yet to receive it, live and learn.

 

[dcfromva]

This policy applies to gift cards, too. They can still do it, but they aren't supposed to. I had 16¢ left on a gift card, and the CM went ahead and applied it to my account. But I never spent that 16¢ and found a credit back to the credit card I had on file. So, maybe people figured out that they could essentially turn those rewards into cash, and they shut it down.

Like you, I have had a hard time getting the gift cards/cash applied at check-in. I preferred to apply the gift cards on our account at check-in so I didn't have to stand in line a second time in order to get them applied and also so I didn't forget. As you noted, any positive balance would be put back on the credit card on file--which they don't like to do. In the past if I insisted they would do it for me.
The last couple of times I waited to apply the gift cards. It worked out pretty well at BLT on our visit at Thanksgiving as I was able to walk right up--no line. It didn't work out as well at BWV as I had waited until check out day and found that Disney had already charged our credit card at midnight the previous night. (I don't know if that is new). So, the CM had to reverse the charge in order to apply the gift cards.

 

[CarolMN]

.....(snip).........at BWV as I had waited until check out day and found that Disney had already charged our credit card at midnight the previous night. (I don't know if that is new). So, the CM had to reverse the charge in order to apply the gift cards.

That is normal practice - at least that is our experience at the BWV (where we stay nearly every trip).

 

[dcfromva]

That is normal practice - at least that is our experience at the BWV (where we stay nearly every trip).

Ah- good to know. In the past, I think I have always done it at check-in. We were at VGC this past Nov and they don't run the charges through until 11am on check out day and that might be why I was thinking it was a new policy. (But, they do a lot of things differently at VGC )

 

[bumbershoot]

That is normal practice - at least that is our experience at the BWV (where we stay nearly every trip).

Yep.

2010, first trip, staying at AK Jambo (villa room), they charged at midnight as it turned into checkout day.

We had more purchases to make, so we just used the GC on that. We'd had such an iffy stay there already we didn't quite trust the front desk person to refund the CC and charge the GC.

 

[KingRichard]

Why not just use Gift card for meals, snacks or what ever in the parks?

 

[disneynutz]

Why not just use Gift card for meals, snacks or what ever in the parks?

Because room charges show a detailed accounting of what was purchased, when, and by who, without having to add up individual receipts.

 

[KingRichard]

Because room charges show a detailed accounting of what was purchased, when, and by who, without having to add up individual receipts.

Ok, but just the 3 of us dropped $150 on one meal. Wasn't hard to keep track of that.