If you’re looking for the most affordable way to go to Disney World, Disneyland, or take a Disney cruise, you may be asking yourself whether Disney’s credit card service Disney® Visa® Card (See Rates and Fees) and Disney® Premier Visa® Card (See Rates & Fees) – are all good options.
Both cards earn Disney Reward Dollars, which you can use to pay for most Disney expenses, including trips to the parks or cruises, and now the rewards have increased. After all, anything that makes a Disney trip more affordable is worth considering.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to whether a Disney Visa credit card is worth it, but sometimes they can be a smart choice.
We’ll break down how these cards work and when they’re worth (and when they’re not) worth getting during your upcoming Disney vacation.
Disney Visa Card Welcome Offer
this disney visa It is an entry-level product with no annual fee. New cardholders will receive a $200 statement credit when they spend $500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. That’s higher than the normal $150 bonus, and a good deal for a card with no annual fee.
this Disney Premium Visa The annual fee is $49, and new cardholders can earn $400 in statement points after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. This is also an increase from the normal amount of $300.
Both cards are issued by Chase Bank, so both comply with Chase’s 5/24 rule.
If you’ve been thinking about adding any of these cards to your wallet, it’s a good idea to get them while the bonuses increase. Specifically, spending $1,000 on a card with an annual fee as low as $49 gets you $400 in statement credit, which is a pretty good return.
Of course, there are welcome bonuses worth $1,000 or more, but they may come with a higher annual fee or higher spending requirements.
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For example, new Capital One Venture Rewards credit card holders can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. You can use it to offset $750 in travel charges on your card, essentially saving you $750 in qualifying travel expenses on your Disney trip (excluding the $95 annual fee).
Of course, if you can meet the spending requirements on multiple cards, you could theoretically receive multiple bonuses to help defer the cost of your Disney trip. But it’s a good idea to compare the value of each card to make sure you get the one that best suits your financial and travel needs.
Related: Best travel credit cards
Disney Visa Card Rewards
Disney credit cards earn rewards at varying interest rates.
No annual fee disney visa Earn a simple 1% on all card purchases in the form of Disney Rewards Dollars you can use at Disney.
this Disney Premium Visa income:
- Save 5% when purchasing directly with your card at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com
- Save 2% on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney USA locations
- 1% elsewhere
Like the Basic Disney Visa, the Disney Premier Visa also earns Disney Reward Dollars.
The Disney Reward Dollars you earn with your Disney Visa Card can be redeemed for Disney purchases, whether at U.S. Disney parks, Disney Cruise Line or Disney stores. With the Disney Premier Visa, you can also redeem your dollars for bill points towards purchasing tickets directly with the airline.
Earning up to 5% back on Disney Rewards Dollars on certain spending categories, like a Disney+ subscription, isn’t bad, but just for perspective, there are a lot of credit cards that offer better rewards on everyday purchases than either Disney card, which only offers 1% back on non-rewards categories.
For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards card earns at least 2 miles per $1 on all purchases, despite the higher annual fee of $95. Some credit cards reward 3 to 5 points per dollar at places like grocery stores and gas stations. Rewards earned with these cards are often transferable to airline and hotel partners, giving you great value.
In other words, while it may be easy for Disney fans to spend Disney Rewards Dollars, outside of a few reward categories, the yields on these cards aren’t the most compelling on the market.
Related: The Best 2% Cash Back Credit Cards
Disney Visa Card Privileges
In addition to a welcome bonus offer of up to $400, unique benefits include Disney Visa Card and Disney Premium Visa Card For those who want to spend their vacation with Mickey and friends, it just gets more fun.
Save on select Disney dining, experiences and merchandise
On eligible dates, save 10% on select Disney merchandise at Disneyland and Disney World and at select dining locations. Some eligible locations include the Skipper Canteen, Round-Up Rodeo Cafe and Hollywood Studios at the Magic Kingdom, the Kona Cafe at Polynesian Village Resort, the Rose and Crown Dining Room at EPCOT and the Storytellers Cafe at Grand Californian at Disneyland, among others.
When the family eats several meals, a ten percent discount on the price of dining (especially character dining) may cover the card’s annual fee.
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Summer Hull/Points Specialist
RELATED: These Are the Best Restaurants at Disney World
You can also save up to 15% on select Disney guided tours, such as Keys to the Kingdom Tour at Disney World and Starlight Safari Tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Additional discounts include:
- 10% off horseback riding at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
- 10% off on select Disney Castaway Cay private island activity packages
- Save 20% on qualifying Disney Cruise Line spa treatments when the ship is docked.
- Disney Visa cardholders enjoy benefits such as 35% off select Disney Cruise Line sailings, a special $250 onboard credit, and more.
Get 0% Financing for Six Months on Qualifying Disney Vacations
These cards offer 0% financing for six months on eligible Disney World and Disneyland vacation packages, Disney Cruise Lines, Disney Adventures packages and more. After the promotional APR expires, your standard purchase APR will apply.
Access special roles and cardholder merchandise
this Disney Visa Card and Disney Premium Visa Card Gives you the chance to enjoy exclusive character photo opportunities inside Disney Parks, skip the lines, and receive special merchandise such as a cardholder-exclusive Disneyland 70th Anniversary Tinker Bell pin.
RELATED: Is the Disney Cruise Line Concierge Level Worth It? We put it to the test to find out
Why a Disney debit card might be a great solution
Here at TPG, we’re not big fans of using debit cards for everyday purchases because you typically don’t earn rewards and don’t get the same level of built-in protection as a credit card. That said, if you’re primarily interested in the Disney benefits that come with owning a Disney card, the Disney® Visa® Debit Card may make sense.
Having a debit card does not affect your Chase 5/24 status, and there is no annual fee. You also won’t get the welcome bonus you get with the Disney Credit Card. However, you need a Chase checking account to access this debit card option.
The Disney Debit Card doesn’t earn rewards, but it gives you access to many of the same photo opportunities and discounts as the Disney Visa Credit Card. Here’s a way to get the perks but avoid the fees or use the Disney Credit Card 5/24 slot machine.
Disney Visa Debit Card information is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: 4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use Your Debit Card (Except at ATMs)
Why the Disney Visa Card Isn’t Always the Best Choice
I’m a big Disney fan so I absolutely love having a Disney card – they’re so cute too and come in different Disney design options.
If the built-in benefits sound interesting, the Disney Visa might be for you, as these benefits aren’t replicated on other cards.
If you spend a lot on Disney dining and some off-park experiences, you can save 10% or more for regular Disney guests.
However, where these cards fall short is in earning rewards on everyday spending, I think you should really consider other options to maximize those spends.
RELATED: How to Use Points to Buy Disney Tickets
bottom line
this Disney Visa Card and Disney Premium Visa Card A fun rewards card option for Disney fans. Especially with the current bonuses, these cards make sense for those who want to maximize their use of Disney’s unique perks and discounts.
But while Disney Cards are better than paying with cash or a debit card when it comes to earning daily rewards, they generally aren’t the best credit cards on the market if your goal is to earn points for your next Disney trip.
Instead, read our guide to the best credit cards for a Disney vacation to save the most money and earn the most points on your next Disney vacation.
For a more in-depth look at Disney cards, check out our full review of the Disney Premier Visa and our full review of the Disney Visa.
Apply here: Disney Visa Card
Apply here: Disney Premium Visa Card
