Using DVA account before 120 days?

[memelit0]

I recently opened a DVA account to save for our cruise in September. I have some savings in the account and wanted to start paying on the cruise. If I use some of the funds before the required 120 days, once the 120 days are up would I still get the $20 bonus gift card?

 

[Turk February]

No. The account must be active for 120 days at the time of spending.

You'll be eligible for a $20 Disney Gift Card for every $1000 you spend on qualified vacation purchases with your Disney Vacation Account prior to December 31, 2017 (date subject to extension), up to a total maximum of $500 in Disney Gift Card(s) per household. Your Disney Vacation Account must be active for a minimum of 120 days at the time of spending in order to receive this bonus. All accounts registered to the same address are considered part of the same household.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I recently opened a DVA account to save for our cruise in September. I have some savings in the account and wanted to start paying on the cruise. If I use some of the funds before the required 120 days, once the 120 days are up would I still get the $20 bonus gift card?

My understanding is no, any funds you use before the 120 day mark would not be eligible for the bonus. Depending on when you opened the account and when your cruise is in September, your account may not be open the required 120 days before you cruise is paid in full. If it does work out that your account will be open 120 days before your PIF date, then why start paying now? Just leave the money in the DVA account.

 

[memelit0]

Thanks. I looked into it and it looks like I wont make the 120 days before my PIF date. Either way I decided to leave the funds in the account until that date.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I'll say YMMW but don't hold me to that I have two accounts and one I use as my main account and when I opened my second account thinking it would be easier for me to manage with two, I deposited and used my funds to pay for a cruise before my 120 days were up. I still earned the $20. I know this because I had two accounts I was using and I know the open date, when I paid, etc. I can tell you the "request bonus" did not appear until exactly the 120 day mark so that was my experience but again, still received it. I have read the same for others and then some have said no they didn't get it. Unfortunately the wording is not 100% clear in my opinion and the website has periodic issues so not sure it works as designed or not designed.

Just wanted to offer the flip side to it but again, YMMW

Heather

Ps. To add, if it doesn't hurt you to just leave the funds there until your 120 day mark then that's what I'd do to be safe which is what I believe you said you could/would do.

 

[jtba]

you're lucky, heather. i paid off my alaskan cruise last year 13 days before the 120-day mark, and the DVA rep said i was not eligible for the $20 bonus. doh!

 

[BlondeAlligator]

What is this DVA account you guys are talking about? This is the second thread to night mentioning it and I don't have a clue. Thanks!

 

[jtba]

it's the disney vacation account. it's like a bank account run by disney, except the money you put in there doesn't accrue any interest. however, for every $1000 you deposit in there and subsequently spend on a disney vacation (DCL, WDW, disneyland, aulani, etc.) you will receive a $20 disney gift card in the mail. the only catch is your account will need to have been open for 120 days before you get that $20 bonus. if you spent $1,000 on day 119, chances are you may not get the bonus (but YMMV, as @IBelieveInTheMagic pointed out above).

it's a really good deal. i mean, $20 for $1,000. that's 2%. and very very few banks give you that interest date these days.

https://disneyvacationaccount.disney.go.com/

 

[TrySomethingNew]

And will add that many use the DVA as one step in maximizing your dollar. Some buy gift cards at Target for that 5% then deposit into DVA. Some use a credit card that gives benefit for "travel expenses" and a deposit into DVA is considered a travel expense. Some use Costco to book (or transfer to Costco) to get the Costco cash card after cruise, and pay with DVA. Some use DVA funds to pre-load your onboard account so you get benefit for that spending.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

you're lucky, heather. i paid off my alaskan cruise last year 13 days before the 120-day mark, and the DVA rep said i was not eligible for the $20 bonus. doh!

Man you lost on that and OBB?? Boo!

Heather

 

[jtba]

Man you lost on that and OBB?? Boo!

Heather

yeah... oh well, live and learn.