If you're a Disney fan, you're probably aware Chase has two Disney Visa credit cards. You may have considered if the benefits of these cards are worth signing up for. Don't fill out that application until you hear about the third option - a sweet spot few consider. I don't recommend using high-interest credit cards for debit, but there are ways to make your credit cards work for you, like cash back and travel points. They only benefit you if you can leverage your spending unchanged and pay the cards in full each month. If you leverage credit cards for personal gains, the Disney Visa credit cards should not be on your list. The short reason is that Disney Rewards are only valued at $0.01 per point redemptions on Disney products or statement credits. You can get a better return on your spending with another rewards credit card. The best travel cards offer rewards that can be redeemed for travel with multiple partners. So, why am I talking about the Disney Visa?
The Disney Visa Cards have some great perks. I've included a list of all the details in the table below. One incentive for both credit cards is 0% financing for 6 months on purchasing a Disney vacation with the card. If you're unable to afford to pay now and sure you can pay the vacation off in 6 months, it is a great perk. However, the main reason I'm discussing Disney Visa cards is for the discounts on purchases at Disney locations and shopDisney.com. The lowest discount is 10% on merchandise purchases over $50, Disney dining, and experiences or services at Disney. Even if you leverage your spending for credit card travel points, you will not likely beat a 10% discount. You would need an 11% return to beat this discount, which is unlikely. For example, if you maximize your travel rewards earnings for dining using your American Express Gold Card with 4X on dining, you must redeem those points for flights and hotels at more than 2.5 cents per point to beat the 10% discount. Those who redeemed those points for travel know how hard it can be to find the flights or hotels you want for a redemption of greater than $0.025 per point or more. Furthermore, for shopping, you'd need to leverage you're highest general spend credit card. The best general spend credit cards give 2X on all spending. If you use the 2X card to shop at Disney, you'd need to redeem your points for greater than 5 cents per point on travel to beat the 10% discount. 5 cents per point would be an amazing redemption, which is not easy to come by. In addition, most rewards cards give only 1 to 1.5X on all spending. If you used a 1.5X card, you'd need to redeem your rewards for more than 6.7 cents per point to beat the 10% discount. In addition, you never know what redemption value you will find for your desired flights and hotels. The 10% discount is a sure thing.
The best part is you don't have to get a new credit card to get the discounts! You can get the same discount with a Chase Disney Debit Card. You'll save a valuable 5/24 slot for a better travel rewards card. Selecting the Disney Debit Card with your Chase checking account is free. There is no downside to electing the Disney version of the debit card as none of the other debit cards have any extra perks. If you already have a basic Chase debit card, don't fret. You can call Chase and ask to switch to the Disney debit card or stop at your local branch. When making purchases at Disney, I use my Chase Disney Debit Card for any purchases with a discount. If there is no discount, I use the travel reward credit card with the highest earning potential in that spend category.
Chase Disney Debit Card | Chase Disney Visa Card | Chase Disney Premier Visa Card | |
Sign on bonus | None | $150 credit for spending $500 in 3 months | $300 credit for spending $1000 in 3 months |
Annual fee | Free with a checking account | $0 | $49 |
Foreign transaction fee | 3% | 3% | 3% |
APR | NA | 19.24 - 28.24% | 19.24 - 28.24% |
Disney Rewards | None | 5% on Disney+, Hulu & ESPN+ 2% on gas, groceries & Disney 1% on all spending | 1% on Disney+, Hulu & ESPN+ 1% on gas, groceries & Disney 1% on all spending |
Up to $13.99 credit per month for up to 3 consecutive months on qualifying Disney subscriptions or add-ons with Disney+, Hulu, or ESPN+ that total $12.99 or more, | No | No | YES |
0% for 6 months on select Disney vacations | No | YES | YES |
10% off select purchases on shopDisney | YES | YES | YES |
10% off select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at Disney locations | YES | YES | YES |
15% off the non-discounted select guided tours | YES | YES | YES |
10% off select experiences and services at Disney locations | YES | YES | YES |
10% off select dining locations most days at the Disneyland® and Walt Disney World® Resorts | YES | YES | YES |
Access to private card member character photo locations at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort—free digital image downloads included. | YES | YES | YES |
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