Okay, after 2 years, what's your opinion of the Disney Visa ?

[raidermatt]

Its only been two years?

Less than that, actually. The first cards were issued in March '03.

 

[KNWVIKING]

***"Less than that, actually. The first cards were issued in March '03."***

I thought the cards were being issued at the end of Nov when many DC memberships expired. Don't recall there being a four month gap. Oh well, like they say..... a mind is a terrible thing.

 

[raidermatt]

Oh well, like they say..... a mind is a terrible thing.

Yes, which is why I decided to go back and double check! (I have those moments myself)

They started taking apps near the end of February '03.

 

[cristen]

I hate to tell you Matt, but I just got my card for this last trip, and it says Charter Member on it. I wonder how long they will be putting that on the cards?

I never had the MKC membership thingy, so I can't compare. But I will tell you that I saved something like 800.00 on my room this last trip because I got the card. So that was nice.

But we have not used it since. There is nothing special about it, unfortunately. And I agree that they need to give higher rewards for Disney purchases. If they did, I would be more inclined to use it, since I spend quite a bit of money of Disney cra..er, um, stuff.

 

[Hieatt]

How many points/dollars do you need to earn to get the free ticket ? How much is the annual fee ? Will you rack up enough points in one year to earn a ticket ? or will you pay two annual fees to get one ?

I've looked at several airline programs and haven't found one yet that returned better then 1%.

I think the Delta Platinum SkyMiles Card, and most other reward cards, blow the Disney Visa out of the water. At least 1 SkyMile per dollar, and 2 Skymiles per dollar on everyday spend stuff (gas stations, supermarkets, cell phones, etc., etc.) and on Delta purchases, not to mention all kinds of periodic bonus opportunities. And if you spend $25000 on it in a year (which we do), you get 10,000 bonus miles that count toward medallion qualification.

$25,000 in spending on Disney Visa nets you 250 Disney Reward Dollars.

$25,000 in spending on the Delta Platinum Amex could easily net you 50,000 SkyMiles, enough for two roundtrip tickets anywhere in the US or a ticket to Europe - easily worth at least $600 if not more.

It does have an annual fee, but its more than offset by the free companion ticket they give you every year.

I grant that if you are not interested in flying, or don't fly on Delta much, this is less attractive.

However, take the Starwood Preferred Guest Amex as another example. $25,000 in spending on that card nets you at least 25,000 Starpoints, enough for two nights at the Walt Disney World Dolphin with no black out dates, and 5,000 Starpoints to spare. The absolute rock bottom discounted rates at the Dolphin are around $175/night with tax (so $350 for 2 nights), and could easily be over $300/night (or $600 to $700 for 2 nights), so again the Disney Visa is beat easily, and this does not include bonus points through regular promotions that are offered.

Disney has one of the worst reward cards when it comes to ratio of rewards to dollars spent. And, it is nothing short of ridiculous that bonus points are not earned on Disney purchases. Nevertheless, I have one and use it at places that don't take Amex, because I too am a Disney "brand monkey".

 

[tiggersmom2]

Let me tell you about my go-round with Disney Visa. After two years, I decided to pay my Visa off and not use it anymore. I paid the WHOLE balance off as soon as the bill came in. Well, the next month I get a finance charge for 35.00!!!!! I called and asked about it. I got a real snotty girl that says "yep, that is how it works - if you don't pay it off *2* months in advance you get a finance charge". I figure this girl must have lost here mind....WTH does she mean TWO months in advance - how the heck do you pay a card off TWO months in advance??!!! I explain to her that when I got my bill there was ALREADY a 35.00 finance charge added in to the total that I paid....she then proceeds to tell me that I will just have to pay the finance charge......I tell her to get me a manager PRONTO!!! To make a long story short....they waived the finance charge (and I cancelled the card) but they told me to remember that I must pay the balance off TWO months before!!! Someone tell me WTH they are talking about b/c I sure don't understand. I HATE the Disney VISA and will never use it again...obviously.

 

[whizGoofy]

I like it. Had a nice chunk of change in Reward Dollars for our last cruise. Only disappointment is losing the $50 onboard credit for booking with the Disney Visa.

Why did you lose $50.00 buy booking with the Disney Visa?? I am taking my Honeymoon and the Disney Cruise line and I was told that I would get an on board credit of $50.oo per person.

 

[Kapp]

as the Disney Club but it is getting a little better with the offers, ways to earn bonus points, etc. I still wish they would give card holders bigger and special discounts. I know that around a year ago there was some talk of another form of the Disney Club or even a "special" level of the Disney card.

 

[freediverdude]

Well, I think it's a big loss for Disney and for Disney fans. Many people who had the Disney Club were not approved for the new credit card because of Bank One's proprietary formula that even mortgage brokers can't figure out. Plus like some other posters have said, the rewards aren't as nice as some other cards. I've just been offered the new Citibank Premierpass card, which sounds better, so I'm going to take that, and I already have the Citi platinum select and Citi dividend cards, even though Bank One wouldn't give me the Disney visa, since evidently they don't take into account my spending thousands at Disney every year and being a passholder, as well as having the good credit score. I get 5000 points just for signing up with this new card, and the rewards start at 1000 points. 25000 points will get me a flight on any airline with no blackout dates, similar to some of these other cards like the starwood and amex. I think Disney is really losing out going with Bank One- another bank could make this program a much better replacement for the Disney Club. A) they're too selective, or however they choose cardholders, profiling or something, and B) i've heard too many horror stories about them. Knowing what I know now, I don't think I would take one if offered.

 

[crusader]

I see very little benefit to the cardholder. This Visa favors corporate Disney - not the consumer. It doesn't measure up to what it presumably replaced. Most of the old savings are gone - but discounts for accomodations can be obtained directly so that's a draw to me. As far as the other discounts for dining and purchases, that is a loss - but the MKC was limited in these as well.

Consumers are now being offered only very specific direct promotions with the Visa card and can obtain further discounts through other outlets - such as DVC.

Any DVC owner like myself, wouldn't need the old MKC anymore. But if this was the only discount card for someone, they definitely lost some on-site dining discounts they paid an annual fee for - and a 10% discount at the Disney Stores.

I don't know if the FL residents had other options already at their disposal.

 

[wdw4us2]

The Disney Visa doesn't hold a candle to the old MK Club Card.

The special offers do us no good because we are Florida residents with AP's and have no need to book a package trip to WDW. The reward points calculations are also rather stingy. You should get double points if you're using the card for Disney purchases or resort stays.