On the April 14 episode of the DISUnplugged, the possibility of using the Disney Visa card to save money on your vacation was touched upon. I figured The Disney Rewards Visa is the official card of Walt Disney World. I am a card holder (my card is 
identical to the one on the left, with the 50th anniversary logo), and have been one for nearly five years. Membership has its privileges, as well as some downsides, but I think it’s worth it.
The most obvious plus of having a Disney Rewards Visa is that you earn 1% of your purchases back as Disney Dream Dollars. You can use these dollars at Walt Disney World (done it!), Disneyland, the Disney Store, Disney Cruise Line, DisneyStore.com (done it!), and over the phone to order tickets for hard ticket events (done it). Supposedly, cardholders may also use their rewards on Disney movies, music and toys, but I have never used mine for this purpose. At Walt Disney World, you can save 20% on tours (which is more than AP holders or DVC members save), have a character meet at Epcot with a free 5×7 photo, and save 10% on a purchase of $50 or more at the World of Disney.
Being a Disney Visa card holder also entitles you to hear about some discounts before the general public-the current Kids Eat free offer was available to cardholders before the general public. Additionally, I’m getting an extra $50 in onboard credit on my cruise in December just for paying with my Disney Visa. At present tome, your card also entitles you to 10% off at the Disney Store.
In my book, the main con of the Disney Rewards Visa is that at Disney you only earn 1% back on purchases. I earn 3% with my Amazon.com visa at Amazon.com, I earn 3% with my LL Bean Visa at LLBean, but only 1% with my Disney Visa at Disney. There are Disney people out there who have had issues with Chase, the bank whose card it is. I’ve never had a problem with either them or their predecessor, Bank One, and I’ve been a customer of theirs for seven years.
Edit: As of November 2011, you can get your rewards as dollars and cents as well as dollars. :)
Do you have a Disney visa? What are your thoughts on it?
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6 responses so far ↓
1 Peggy // Apr 24, 2010 at 9:50 am
I have had a Disney Visa since I was in college, I am a “Day One” cardmember. (I got one the first day they were released.) I have used the rewards bucks at WDW, Disney World Paris, Disneyland, and on Disney Store.com. My only issue is with Chase. My card was stolen and had about $275 bucks charged to it before I caught it. I went round and round with Chase for months trying to get the charges removed. I would get transferred to a manager, receive a letter about how they were checking into things, and then I’d never hear back. My next bill would have a late charge on it, and I’d have to call and go through the whole hassle again. After about seven months of getting the runaround, I finally gave in and paid for the charges I never made. (Probably what they were hoping for…)
But I guess in the longrun, being able to pay for my Disney trips with no financing for six months, then earning reward bucks on top of that, still gives me benefits I like. I also love the character meet and greet in Epcot–and you get a free 5×7 with the characters. 10% off in some of the World of Disney, too, with minimum purchase. Their tour discounts are really great, too. Recently, I was mailed a pin number that got me free adult dining on our upcoming WDW trip package.
One issue in seven years…it could have been worse. =) I guess the discounts and benefits outweigh the one bad time with Chase.
2 Hedy // Apr 24, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Peggy-you reminded me. I did have my credit card number stolen last year, but working with Chase was a dream.
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5 Danielle // Sep 1, 2010 at 11:34 am
How did you use your rewards in Paris? I was told you cannot redeem them there. I am also “Day 1″ and I keep hoping that they do a promo just for Day 1 people. :)
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