Updated Disney Gift Card Deals and More

[SouthFayetteFan]

Hi @SouthFayetteFan

Welcome to the Updated Disney Gift Card thread!

Before we start, I see you’ve been a member of the DISBoards since 2014.
How long have you been the King of the I love credit cards so much! thread?

Well Fox - I should start by saying that I love what you've done with the place over here! I may not frequent this thread daily, but it's amazing how organized the information is! And you have a great group of Gift Card "informants" who know how to work the system!!

King you say?? Well I don't think I'm worthy of such a title. Honestly, I'm just a guy who enjoys helping others make free and discounted travel a reality via Credit Card rewards programs! I am hardly the most prolific when it comes to earning and using points. On our own thread and in other internet circles there are actually people who blow me away!

That said, I felt there was a need (much like you did here) to organize the information and have a nice landing spot for folks on the DIS who are looking to talk CCs! So I started creating a new "I Love Credit Cards" thread each year to document our journey. I wasn't the original creator of the first thread, but now I'm sort of the "steward" of it. I always say that a love of Disney brings us together but a passion for credit cards is what keeps us together as a group! We have so many fantastic folks over there!

Personally, I've been in the Credit Card churning game since 2014 and been playing hardcore since 2015. Between my wife (we call her my player 2 or P2) and I, we have gotten 95 cards in our churning career! These cards have provided us with free travel, discounted travel, tons of cash, gift cards, other random products, and even a dishwasher over the years!

 

[FoxC63]

Wow, which leads me to my own philosophy and why this thread is not dedicated specifically to Disney Gift Cards.

Saving money in all areas provide us with the ability to travel more often and not just within US.

Let’s dig in,

Q. What are some of the best credit cards to have for Disney vacations?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Wow, which leads me to my own philosophy and why this thread is not dedicated specifically to Disney Gift Cards.

Saving money in all areas provide us with the ability to travel more often and not just within US.

Let’s dig in,

Q. What are some of the best credit cards to have for Disney vacations?

So this is sort of a loaded question. First a quick warning - I do have a conference call I have to run at 3:00pm so I might go quiet for a little bit. But after that I'll be back and engaged. Gotta keep up with my day job as a banker!

So hmmmm... best credit cards...

The first cards a lot of people think about when they see "Disney vacation" are the two Chase Disney Visa cards. And honestly, they are not the best cards AT ALL for a Disney trip.

There is one MAJOR factor I look at when considering applying for a new credit card.

It is ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! Or said better - the "Sign Up Bonus" (SUB for short). Credit Card issuers (Chase, American Express, Citi, etc.) are all willing to pay large sums or money/miles/points to attract your business! They assume that once you begin using their card, that you'll continue to use that card for months and years to come. Of course being a savvy credit card churner, I realize that once I earn that sweet SUB, I can put that card aside and go find another new card that will pay me another SUB. Most people hope to earn 1-5% back on their purchases through their CC rewards programs. Savvy Churners are pulling in more like 15-25% back because they go from SUB to SUB.

SUBs come in all shapes and sizes too. Some offer straight up cash... $250 statement credit for example. Others may offer 100,000 points or miles. The important part is to determine what those points or miles are truly worth. I'd much rather earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points (URs) vs. 150,000 Hilton points for example. AND that value proposition might be different for different people.

So it's best to jump into our thread and ask questions because our "experts" (and we have many) will help steer you to the best card for your situation. It's important to note that Disney trips aren't created equal - all of these factors will affect which cards make the most sense:

• Flying vs. Driving
• What airlines are available to you?
• Renting a car
• On-site vs. Offsite
• Number of Days
• Number of people
• Do you need tickets or do you have AP
• Are you visiting only Disney or other parks (UOR, Seaworld?)

And maybe other factors I haven't even thought of. So I guess I didn't really answer your question directly. BUT if you have $1,000 a month or more in expense you can put on a credit card it can be VERY easy to earn $3k or more towards trips each year with a good credit card strategy!

 

[FoxC63]

@SouthFayetteFan had to leave but will be back. This thread is to remain open. If you plan on asking questions I'd create a list. You'll have time after the Session.
Please remember to tag " @SouthFayetteFan " so he can answer them.

 

[FoxC63]

So this is sort of a loaded question. First a quick warning - I do have a conference call I have to run at 3:00pm so I might go quiet for a little bit. But after that I'll be back and engaged. Gotta keep up with my day job as a banker!

So hmmmm... best credit cards...

The first cards a lot of people think about when they see "Disney vacation" are the two Chase Disney Visa cards. And honestly, they are not the best cards AT ALL for a Disney trip.

There is one MAJOR factor I look at when considering applying for a new credit card.

It is ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! Or said better - the "Sign Up Bonus" (SUB for short). Credit Card issuers (Chase, American Express, Citi, etc.) are all willing to pay large sums or money/miles/points to attract your business! They assume that once you begin using their card, that you'll continue to use that card for months and years to come. Of course being a savvy credit card churner, I realize that once I earn that sweet SUB, I can put that card aside and go find another new card that will pay me another SUB. Most people hope to earn 1-5% back on their purchases through their CC rewards programs. Savvy Churners are pulling in more like 15-25% back because they go from SUB to SUB.

SUBs come in all shapes and sizes too. Some offer straight up cash... $250 statement credit for example. Others may offer 100,000 points or miles. The important part is to determine what those points or miles are truly worth. I'd much rather earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points (URs) vs. 150,000 Hilton points for example. AND that value proposition might be different for different people.

So it's best to jump into our thread and ask questions because our "experts" (and we have many) will help steer you to the best card for your situation. It's important to note that Disney trips aren't created equal - all of these factors will affect which cards make the most sense:

• Flying vs. Driving
• What airlines are available to you?
• Renting a car
• On-site vs. Offsite
• Number of Days
• Number of people
• Do you need tickets or do you have AP
• Are you visiting only Disney or other parks (UOR, Seaworld?)

And maybe other factors I haven't even thought of. So I guess I didn't really answer your question directly. BUT if you have $1,000 a month or more in expense you can put on a credit card it can be VERY easy to earn $3k or more towards trips each year with a good credit card strategy!

This is a lot to consume, so let's take a step back.

Currently Discover It is offering Double Cash Back for the first year, for those that do not have this card, should it be considered?
Also, can I get money for referring aka supporting my spouse, friend or neighbor (off the DIS)?

 

[afan]

This is a lot to consume, so let's take a step back.

Currently Discover It is offering Double Cash Back for the first year, for those that do not have this card, should it be considered?
Also, can I get money for supporting my spouse, friend or neighbor?

We don't use that word and I've changed it in the quote. Referrals aren't allowed on the disboards

Eta freakin autocorrect.

 

[FoxC63]

We don't use that word and I've changed it in the quote. Referrals aren't allowed on the disboards

Eta freakin autocorrect.

Thank you. Yes, referrals are not allowed on the DIS. EVER.

Please note, these are only general questions to help those make the best decision for their budget. What DISer's do off the board is their own affair.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

This is a lot to consume, so let's take a step back.

Currently Discover It is offering Double Cash Back for the first year, for those that do not have this card, should it be considered?
Also, can I get money for referring aka supporting my spouse, friend or neighbor (off the DIS)?

Hey guys - I'm back! Sorry about that, hate when work gets in the way of my true passion!

So the Discover It card is an interesting one. This could be a nice fit for somebody who is starting out, or isn't sure about getting a ton of cards. I obviously shared that I have gotten 95 cards in this game... And many people probably did the math to realize that's over 15 PER YEAR! And yes, that is a real number! BUT you don't have to get 15 cards a year to play the game. So that's where I continue to emphasize that jumping into our thread and asking for some advice is the best way to determine your strategy.

Discover It might earn you $500+ in that first year. But what if I told you there was a card with Chase that could earn you $900+ in the next 3 months? Now this may or may not be a fit for that person... but when we talk about lucrative SUBs - we are talking about that kind of money! Big Money! The kind of money that can help you save $3,000+ in a year towards a Disney trip.

Referrals, as mentioned, are not allowed on the DISboards. BUT they are a huge part of the credit card strategy. There are other forums available where you can find and share referrals. And sometimes the best offers are only available through one so you will have to seek them out! Our group on the thread can help point you in the right direction on this.

We honestly avoid the word altogether on our thread. BUT you won't be banned from the DIS for sharing that you had your spouse sign-up for a card using your referral link. But NEVER share a referral link on a DISboards thread or in a PM as that will draw unwanted moderator attention to you and that thread.

 

[FoxC63]

You mentioned on Post #2643 “Show me the Money” because it speaks volumes and spends flawlessly for us too but for those who don’t know or just starting out…


Q. There are credit card offers such as;

Get $500 When You Spend $3,000 in Three Months

Get 6,000 Points When You Spend $4,000 in Three Months, are they legit?

And can I buy Disney gc in bulk to qualify for the $500 or 6,000 Points?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

You mentioned on Post #2643 “Show me the Money” because it speaks volumes and spends flawlessly for us too but for those who don’t know or just starting out…


Q. There are credit card offers such as;

Get $500 When You Spend $3,000 in Three Months

Get 6,000 Points When You Spend $4,000 in Three Months, are they legit?

And can I buy Disney gc in bulk to qualify for the $500 or 6,000 Points?

So there are two components to the offer - the "bonus" and the "minimum spend requirement" (MSR).

I mainly focused on the bonus in that last post - but the MSR is a huge factor too!! First off, it's important to not get yourself in too deep with MSR. How much can you reliably spend on a credit card in a month?

Keep in mind, that almost everything you pay can be put on a credit card with relative ease. I pay groceries, kids activities, gas, cable, insurance, etc. all with a credit card each month. I also will even pay a small fee to use a credit card to pay things like my property taxes & utilities. Sometimes I will time my CC applications around large "lumpy" spend. Homeowners and Auto both hit in May, and property taxes follows shortly thereafter so you bet I'm getting a new card (or 2, lol) with a large MSR before these bills come due!

So when you see an offer that says earn 100,000 points when you spend $4,000 in 3 months that is absolutely legit! Apply for the card, get approved, hit the MSR and spend $4,000 in the required time frame and you will receive 100,000 shiny new points (or whatever else that bonus is).

It's important to be ORGANIZED and keep good track of your spend to make sure you hit it in time. AND I never cut it too close, I try to hit my MSRs with weeks to spare! The good news is that if you're good at the gift card game you're probably already organized. A spreadsheet can be key in playing the CC game.

As far as how to meet that MSR, there are definitely ways to combine Disney GC strategies (or any gift card for that matter) to help meet the requirement. Perhaps you spend $1,000 a month and so a $4,000 MSR sounds a bit steep in 3 months. Maybe you do your normal monthly spending to hit $3k of that and you buy $1k in Disney Gift Cards to store away for a future trip use. BOOM! You just hit your MSR without spending any money you didn't otherwise plan to spend.

You even might find that your card has bonus points in certain categories. Perhaps you get 5x points for shopping at office supply stores... well you could buy Disney Gift Cards at Staples and earn even more points that way all while hitting your MSR!

 

[FoxC63]

Last year BJ’s Wholesale offered a bulk sale on Disney Gift Cards, should they offer this again,

Q. When is the best time to apply for a new credit card?

And how long does it take to arrive at your front door after it's processed?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Last year BJ’s Wholesale offered a bulk sale on Disney Gift Cards, should they offer this again,

Q. When is the best time to apply for a new credit card?

And how long does it take to arrive at your front door after it's processed?

So if you're attempting to take advantage of a limited time promotion you want to be thinking at least 2-3 weeks out. The first step is you have to get approved! Most cards are auto-approved but on rare occasion a decision can take a few days. Then you need to wait 7-10 days for the card to arrive.

Some of the super Premier cards (Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express Platinum, etc.) will be sent to you in 1-2 days. But the vast majority take over a week AND getting them expedited is never a guaranty. We often have stories on the thread of somebody who is leaving for a trip on Friday and hoping their new card arrives by then. Plan ahead - it's a big part of the game!!

 

[FoxC63]

I think we all understand the difference between cash back and earned points.

Q. Which is better?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I think we all understand the difference between cash back and earned points.

Q. Which is better?

In a COVID world... let's be honest, CASH right now is king! I've never seen cashing out points discussed so widely than right now.

But in a normal world - it's all about your goals. If you want to fly your family of 4 to Disney World and Southwest is your airline of choice, you'd be a fool to not grab a SW card (or 2) and get a Companion Pass and fly 4 for the price of 3 and cover the remainder with points.

And yes... if you're new to this, what I just described is absolutely possible. I haven't paid a cent for a flight for my family of 4 since 2014 and we have flown dozens and dozens of times since then. At least 3 round-trip flights each year over that time.

To reiterate something I said earlier, it's also important to know what those points are worth. These are some of the criteria:

• What is the SUB worth in real $$ (convert the points to what they're worth to you)
• How much is the MSR - can I hit that reasonably
• What other benefits come with this card
• Does getting this card lock me out of any other cards in the future

Now is probably also a good time to point out that married couples can unlock "secret levels" in the churning game since it doubles your earning potential! Credit card companies look at each spouse as a distinctly different person. So me getting cards has no bearing on my wife and vice versa. And we always avoid adding each other as authorized users to keep our credit reports cleaner! (There's other reasons for this too but this thread isn't the place to go too far down that wormhole).

 

[FoxC63]

Q. When I receive my cash back should I deposit the check, apply it to my credit card bill or cash it out and spend it?

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

Just would like to pay annual dues with them. I have been offered 6% off plus my credit card rewards. Is the Hyvee deal only in store or online as well?

Which credit cards have the best for warehouses like BJs ?

If you have the Chase Freedom card, wholesale clubs will be a category earning 5% back for the first quarter of 2021.

 

[poofyo101]

If you have the Chase Freedom card, wholesale clubs will be a category earning 5% back for the first quarter of 2021.

its capped at 1500 dollars though correct? My girlfriend has all the chase cards.

 

[FoxC63]

If everyone could please refrain from posting, I'm in session with @SouthFayetteFan

Thank you.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Q. When I receive my cash back should I deposit the check, apply it to my credit card bill or cash it out and spend it?

It's really important to evaluate ALL of your redemption options before pulling the trigger on anything. Once you redeem you often can't undo it. If a cash out is the best option, the best way to pull that off is to deposit the funds into the bank. Because that then lets me use that money to spend elsewhere and hit another MSR.

The options for redemption are vastly varied so this is a loaded question. I will say this, make redeeming for gift cards or merchandise a LAST resort. That is usually the worst option from a value perspective.

An important thing many of our DISers on the thread do is to evaluate how they plan to use the points/miles/etc BEFORE getting the card. That will prevent you from having a slew of Delta miles when American is the only airline that flies your route (as an example).

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

If everyone could please refrain from posting, I'm in session with @SouthFayetteFan

Thank you.

Wow - now I do really feel like a king...