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My husband and I both have the Chase Disney Visa. We each got the no-fee card about 9 years ago when it had a $200 bonus for spending $500 in the first three months. We used our bonus money for a few nights at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort before our first Disney Cruise in 2012. (This offer on the no-fee card is still available through my referral link and is subject to 5/24).
I still hang onto my Disney Visa because I love getting 10% off at stores in the parks and on the cruise ships. Plus, I love the cardmember exclusive photo-ops. Any points we earn on the card we change into a Disney Reward Card and spend on our next Disney vacation.
But the biggie is that the Disney Visa card offers 6-month 0% financing on Disney vacation packages, which includes Disney Cruise Line. I use this feature for every DCL cruise since it give me more time to spread out my final payment. It also lets me pay for my placeholder for a future cruise for six months after my cruise. And with the high price of DCL, this extra time really helps. I’m currently still paying off the $250 placeholder I placed on our cruise last November, which I hope to use for an off-season cruise in 2021 with my daughter.
Although I’m happy with my current Disney Visa card, I get upgrade offers from Chase several times a year for the Premier version of the card. This offer comes regularly through snail mail and email.
The Upgrade Offer
The upgrade offer for the Disney Premier Visa card comes with a $50 statement credit after just one purchase. Instead of earning 1% on all purchases like my current Disney Visa, this Premier card earns 2% at grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and most Disney locations. It earns 1% everywhere else. The card has an annual fee of $49.
Besides earning the additional percent on purchases, the main benefit of the Disney Premier Visa vs. the regular no-fee card is that the Premier version lets you use your Disney Reward Dollars for airline tickets.
Why I Don’t Upgrade
The $50 statement credit for upgrading is not worth it to me. The annual fee is $49 (vs. $0 on my current card), so I’d only get $1 benefit the first year, and then still have to pay $49 each year after that.
Also, the extra earning percent on those categories don’t excite me. My Capital One Venture Rewards card earns 2% on everything. Plus, the points are more flexible since I can use them for a travel statement credit or transfer them to travel partners. My husband’s Chase Sapphire Reserve card earns 3X points on dining and travel, and the points are much more versatile than Disney Reward Dollars.
Furthermore, there are plenty of other cards out there with bigger sign-up bonuses. Fifty dollars is just not that big compared to other offers.
So, I’ll keep declining this upgrade offer. I wish Chase would stop trying so hard. This number-cruncher gal has done the math already.
Do you have the Chase Disney Visa? What card to you use to help you save on a Disney vacation?
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VARIOUS CREDIT CARDS AND AVAILABLE SIGN-UP BONUSES
Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
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