With a $400 bonus and built-in Disney discounts, are the Disney Visa credit cards worth it?
Editor's Note
If you're looking for the most affordable way to go to Disney World, Disneyland or on a Disney Cruise, you might be asking yourself if Disney's credit card offerings — the Disney® Visa® Card (see rates and fees) and the Disney® Premier Visa® Card (see rates and fees) — are decent options.
Both cards earn Disney Rewards Dollars that you can use to pay for most things Disney, including trips to the parks or a cruise and have increased bonuses right now. And, after all, anything that makes a Disney trip more affordable is probably worth considering.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to whether the Disney Visa credit cards are worth it, but there are times they can be a wise choice.
We'll break down how the cards work and when they are — and aren't — worth getting in anticipation of an upcoming Disney vacation.
Disney Visa card welcome offers
The Disney Visa is an entry-level product with no annual fee. New cardholders can earn a $200 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's higher than the normal $150 bonus and a solid offer for a card with no annual fee.
The Disney Premier Visa has a $49 annual fee, and new cardholders can earn a $400 statement credit after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is also increased over the normal $300 amount.
Both cards are issued by Chase and thus are subject to Chase's 5/24 rule.
Getting these cards while the bonuses are elevated is a good idea if you've been thinking about adding either to your wallet. Specifically, earning a $400 statement credit with just $1,000 in spending on a card with a low $49 annual fee is pretty decent return.
Of course, there are welcome bonuses out there worth $1,000 or more, but they may come with higher annual fees or higher spending requirements.
For example, new Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. You can use that to offset $750 in travel charges put on your card, so it could essentially save you $750 (other than the $95 annual fee) on eligible travel expenses on your Disney trip.
Of course, if you're able to hit the spending requirements on more than one card, you could theoretically get multiple bonuses to help defer the cost of your Disney trip. But it's good to compare the value of each card to ensure you get one that best suits your financial and travel needs.
Related: Best travel credit cards
Disney Visa card rewards
The Disney credit cards earn rewards at different rates.
The no-annual-fee Disney Visa earns a simple 1% on all card purchases in the form of Disney Rewards Dollars you can use at Disney.
The Disney Premier Visa earns:
- 5% on card purchases made directly at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com
- 2% on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney U.S. locations
- 1% everywhere else
Like the base Disney Visa, the Disney Premier Visa earns Disney Rewards Dollars.
The Disney Rewards Dollars you earn on either Disney Visa card can be redeemed toward Disney purchases, whether that's at the U.S. Disney Parks, on Disney Cruise Line or at Disney Stores. With the Disney Premier Visa, you can also redeem your dollars for a statement credit toward airline purchases made directly with the airline.
Earning up to 5% back in Disney Rewards Dollars in some spending categories, such as on Disney+ subscriptions, isn't bad, but just for perspective, do know that there are many credit cards out there that provide a better return for everyday spending than either of the Disney cards, which both earn at just 1% back on non-bonused categories.
For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards card earns at least 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, albeit for a higher annual fee of $95. Some credit cards award between 3 and 5 points per dollar at places like grocery stores and gas stations. The rewards these cards earn are often transferable to airline and hotel partners, giving you great value.
In other words, while Disney Rewards Dollars will likely be easy to spend for Disney fans, the earning rates on these cards outside of a few bonus categories are not the most compelling on the market.
Related: The best 2% cash-back credit cards
Disney Visa card perks
In addition to the up to $400 in welcome bonus offers, the unique perks are where the Disney Visa Card and Disney Premier Visa Card get more interesting for those looking to vacation with Mickey and friends.
Save on select Disney meals, experiences and merchandise
On eligible dates at Disneyland and Disney World, you can save 10% on some Disney merchandise purchases and on select dining locations. Some eligible spots include Skipper Canteen at the Magic Kingdom, Round-Up Rodeo Cafe and Hollywood Studios, Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Village Resort, Rose and Crown Dining Room at EPCOT and Storytellers Cafe at the Grand Californian at Disneyland, to name a few.
Ten percent off the price of dining, especially character dining, over the course of a few meals for a family can likely cover the cost of the card's annual fee.
Related: These are the best restaurants at Disney World
You can also save up to 15% on select guided Disney tours, such as the Keys to the Kingdom tour at Disney World and the Starlight Safari tour at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Additional discounts include:
- 10% on horseback rides at Disney's Fort Wilderness
- 10% on some packages at activities at Disney's Castaway Cay private island
- 20% on eligible spa treatments on Disney Cruise Line while the ship is at port.
- Disney Visa cardholder offers for things like 35% off select Disney cruise sailings with a special $250 onboard credit.
Get 0% financing for six months on eligible Disney vacations
The cards offer six months of 0% financing on eligible Disney World and Disneyland vacation packages, Disney cruises, Adventures by Disney packages and more. After your promotional APR expires, your standard purchase APR will apply.
Access to special characters and cardholder merch
The Disney Visa Card and Disney Premier Visa Card give you access to things like exclusive character photo opportunities in the Disney Parks without the normal lines and access to special merchandise, such as a cardholder-exclusive Disneyland 70th anniversary Tinkerbell pin.
Related: Is Disney Cruise Line concierge level worth it? We tested it to find out
Why the Disney debit card could be a great solution
At TPG, we aren't huge fans of using debit cards for everyday purchases, as you typically don't earn rewards or have the same level of built-in protections as with credit cards. That said, the Disney® Visa® Debit Card may make sense if you're mainly interested in the Disney perks that come with having the Disney cards.
Having the debit card won't count against your Chase 5/24 status and carries no annual fee. You also won't get the welcome bonuses you get with the Disney credit cards. However, you will need a Chase checking account to access this debit card option.
The Disney debit card doesn't earn rewards, but it gets you access to many of the same photo ops and discounts as the Disney Visa credit cards. This is a way to get the perks but avoid fees or using a 5/24 slot on a Disney credit card.
The information for the Disney Visa Debit Card has been collected independently 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 cards aren't always the best choice
I'm a bit of a Disney fanatic, so I absolutely get the appeal of having one of these Disney cards — they're cute, too, with the different available Disney design options.
If the built-in perks sound intriguing, a Disney Visa might be right for you since those perks are not replicated on other cards.
If you spend a lot on Disney dining and some out-of-park experiences, saving 10% or more can add up for frequent Disney visitors.
However, where these cards just aren't great is in earning rewards on everyday expenses, so I think you should really consider other options in maximizing those expenses.
Related: How to use points to buy Disney tickets
Bottom line
The Disney Visa Card and Disney Premier Visa Card are fun rewards card options for fans of all things Disney. Especially with the current increased bonuses, these cards can make sense for those who want to maximize the unique Disney perks and discounts.
But in terms of earning everyday rewards, while Disney cards are better than paying for things with cash or debit cards, they often aren't the best credit cards on the market if your goal is to earn points to use for your next Disney trip.
Instead, read our guide to the best credit cards for Disney vacations to save the most money and earn maximum points on your next Disney vacation.
And for a deeper dive into the Disney cards, check out our full review of the Disney Premier Visa and full review of the Disney Visa.
Apply here: Disney Visa Card
Apply here: Disney Premier Visa Card