Is The Disney Credit Card Worth It?

Hey Disney Moms!

I wanted to take a moment to share an extra article with you about Disney’s credit cards, as I was recently asked to write a feature “review” article over on BankProfessor.com specifically about the Disney line of credit cards.

As a seasoned traveler to all places Disney, I’m often asked by my friends and family if I think signing up for a Disney credit card is actually worth it and how the rewards system works. So with that in mind, The Bank Professor (and I) thought a collaboration might be a good way to get a review out there from an actual cardholder.

So, is the Disney card worth it?

I’ll start with the basics and move in to answering that question below….

First….What Is A Disney Credit Card?

Disney currently has two credit card options offered by Chase Bank, which both offer the ability earn “rewards” points based on everyday purchases for any future Disney-related purchases that you’d like to make. The credit cards can both be used anywhere major credit cards are accepted (not just at Disney).

As of January 2021, there are two different tiers of Disney Credit Cards available:

• Disney Rewards Visa
• Disney Premier Visa

Furthermore, while there are a few differences between the Disney Rewards Visa and the Disney Premier Visa, the most noticeable difference is that the Rewards card has no annual fee and offers 1% rewards.

The Premier card has a $49 annual fee and offers 2% rewards at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and most Disney locations – and then 1% everywhere else.

Here’s a further breakdown of differences between the cards:

Card	Disney Rewards VISA	Disney Premier VISA
Annual Fee	$0.00	$49.00
Introductory Statement      Credit	$50 after your 1st purchase.	$200 after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account.
Earn Disney Reward  Dollars	Earns 1% Disney Reward Dollars on all card purchases. There is no limit to the number of reward dollars you can earn.	Earns 2% in Disney Reward Dollars for purchases at grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and most Disney locations.  Then earns 1% on all other card purchases. There is no limit to the number of reward dollars you can earn.
Redeem Rewards  on   Airfare?	No.	Yes. Redeem Rewards Dollars for a statement credit toward airline travel. Just purchase airline tickets with your Disney Premier Visa Card on any airline to any destination, and then pay yourself back by redeeming your Rewards Dollars for a statement credit.
Disney-Exclusive Rewards	Redeem towards most anything Disney and Star Wars – at the Disney Store or on ShopDisney.com – as well as Disney Theme Park Tickets, Disney Cruise Line packages (including souvenirs and on-board activities), Disney Resort stays, Disney shopping and dining. You can also redeem at participating movie theaters to save on Disney movie tickets.
Additional Card Member Perks	Special vacation financing options. 10% off select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at select locations and 10% off select dining locations most days at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. Disney Visa Card member-exclusive photo opportunities with Disney or Star Wars Characters, held in private locations at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts.
Disney Store Exclusives	Save 10% on select purchases at Disney store and shopDisney.com. Get access to exclusive Disney Visa Card member events at Disney store.

 

What Are The Disney Credit Card Fees?

Here is a breakdown of the pricing and terms for the Disney credit cards:

Card	Disney Rewards VISA	Disney Premier VISA
Annual Membership Fee	$0	$49
Balance Transfers	$5 or 3% of the amount of transfer, whichever is greater.	$5 or 3% of the amount of transfer, whichever is greater.
Cash Advances	$10 or 3% of the amount of the transaction, whichever is greater.	$10 or 3% of the amount of the transaction, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transactions	3% of each transaction (U.S. Dollars)	3% of each transaction (U.S. Dollars)
Late Payment	$15 if less than $100.Up to $27 if balance is $100 – $249. $37 if balance is $250 or more.	$15 if less than $100.Up to $27 if balance is $100 – $249. $37 if balance is $250 or more.
Over-Credit Limit	$0	$0
Return Payment	Up to $37	Up to $37
Return Check	$0	$0

What Is The APR For The Disney Credit Cards?

Card	Disney Rewards VISA	Disney Premier VISA
Purchase Annual Percentage Rate (APR)	17.49%,0% Promo APR for the first six months following the purchase date on select Disney vacation packages or purchase of a real estate interest, including a Member Add On, in a Disney Vacation Club Resort, provided your account is not past due on the purchase date. After that, 18.24%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.	17.49%,0% Promo APR for the first six months following the purchase date on select Disney vacation packages or purchase of a real estate interest, including a Member Add On, in a Disney Vacation Club Resort, provided your account is not past due on the purchase date. After that, 18.24%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Balance Transfer APR	17.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.	17.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Cash Advance APR	26.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.	26.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.

The Variable APRs are based on the 4.75% Prime Rate as of 11/05/2019.

You can avoid paying interest on purchases by paying your entire balance by the due date of each month. Your due date will be a minimum of 21 days after the close of each billing cycle. They begin charging interest on balance transfers and cash advances on the transaction date.

What Are The Benefits Of The Disney Credit Cards?

Card members can enjoy these exclusive rewards/ benefits of the Disney Credit Cards:

 

Additional Perks: 

• Six-month 0% APR financing on certain Disney Vacation packages.
• 10% off merchandise purchases of $50 or more at certain Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, and Aulani gift shops, as well as 10% off $50 purchases online at DisneyStore.com.
• 15% off tours at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
• 10% off certain recreation at Walt Disney World.
• 10% off certain restaurants at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
• 20% off select spa services aboard Disney Cruise Line.
• 10% off Castaway Cay recreation packages for Disney Cruise Line.
• Exclusive character meet & greet locations at Epcot and Disney California Adventure.
• Exclusive Star Wars meet & greet locations in Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
• A free PhotoPass photo download when you visit the characters at the exclusive meet & greets.
• Discounts to Disney Broadway musicals.
• You can also earn Disney Rewards Redemption Cards… Think of them as gift cards. Once you collect enough Disney Rewards Dollars, you can request your card and the Disney Rewards Dollars will automatically add up on the card, which you can use at places like Disney Store.

 

How Does The Disney Credit Card Reward System Work?

The rewards system for the Disney Credit Cards is a fairly easy concept to grasp once you know how and what will get you the most “points” back.

With the Disney Premier Visa you have the ability to:

• Earn $200 after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
•  Earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney locations.
•  1% in Rewards Dollars on all your other card purchases.
• 10% off select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at select locations and 10% off select dining locations most days at the Disneyland® and Walt Disney World® Resorts

With the standard version of the Disney credit card you have the ability to:

• Earn a $50 Disney gift card after first purchase with the credit card. Restrictions apply.
• Earn 1% on everyday card purchases – That’s 1 reward dollar for every $100 spent on purchases. Earn unlimited reward dollars on purchases and redeem them toward most everything Disney.
• 10% off select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at select locations and 10% off select dining locations most days at the Disneyland® and Walt Disney World® Resorts

As you can see, both cards let you rack up Disney “Rewards Dollars” good for on-park purchases. The Premier version of the card even lets you redeem points for airfare with any airline, so that’s good.

I also wanted to note that the general rules related to rewards are that:

• Every Rewards Dollar earned is equal to $1 when redeeming toward eligible Disney goods and services.

• Rewards Dollars and Redemption Cards do not have cash or monetary value. They can’t be redeemed for cash or its equivalent, and any unused portion is not returnable as cash.

• Rewards Dollars are not purchasable by cash or any other form of monetary or other payment. Redemption Cards (or any remaining Rewards Dollars balance) may not be exchanged or substituted with cash, other rewards certificates, or other financial compensation regardless of the number of Rewards Dollars remaining on the Redemption Card.

• Rewards Dollars can’t be transferred by operation of law, such as by inheritance, in bankruptcy or in connection with a divorce.

The bottom line – Are they worth it?:

What I always tell my friends when ask me is that it really depends on your individual situation and how your family plans to travel….

…so are they worth it? Yes and no.

If you or one of your family members has a Disney affinity and you plan to go to the parks or purchase Disney merchandise all the time – then Yes. But, do so with caution because the points really only work for Disney-related purchases.

Because I go to the parks all the time, this is a great way for me to get some extra perks like special character meet ups or discounts that really help me save when I’m traveling with my husband and 2 kids… because let’s face it, those “Disney prices” just keep getting higher and higher. And I’m one of those people that says that Disney is usually always worth the cost.

If traveling to Disneyland or Walt Disney World is only a “one-in-a-lifetime” trip for you and your family…. or you’d rather have a card that gets you travel points and has wider-reaching perks than just at Disney, I’d say no and suggest you pick a different way to pay. Because, while the Disney Card perks and rewards may appease the biggest Disney fans, this rewards card is exclusively for Disney-related rewards – so you can’t redeem your Disney Dollars for anything besides that.

All that said — Do you have a Disney Credit Card? Do you think it’s worth it?

Let us know in the comments below.

 

Traveling to Walt Disney World soon & want to stay on-property? Read my quick WDW Resorts article to review your options.