Disney vacations and Disney gear can take a toll on your budget, so it makes sense to find discounts and deals when you can. But what kind of savings can you expect from a Disney credit card, and would one be worth it?
In this Disney® Premier Visa® Card review, we break down this card’s benefits and drawbacks and how its rewards system works. This will help you understand if the Disney Premier Visa Card is the best credit card for you.
Who should get the Disney Premier Visa Card?
The Disney Premier Visa Card is designed for Disney fans. This doesn’t mean you have to be a die-hard Disney buff who visits a Disney theme park every other weekend to make use of this card. But the rewards and benefits are meant to help you save money on Disney purchases, whether you’re shopping for Disney products online, visiting theme parks, or booking a Disney vacation package.
If you aren’t interested in Disney perks and rewards, this card wouldn’t likely make sense for you. Your purchases earn Disney Rewards Dollars, which can be redeemed for certain Disney purchases or for statement credits toward airline purchases. The airline travel redemption is a nice bonus, but you’re able to get this same type of benefit from plenty of travel credit cards.
Card basics
Card type | Cash back |
Credit card issuer | Chase |
Credit card network | Visa |
Annual fee | $49 |
Intro bonus | Earn a $300 Statement Credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
Reward rate | 5% in Disney Rewards Dollars on purchases made directly at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, and ESPNPlus.com; 2% on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and most Disney U.S. locations; and 1% on all other purchases |
Recommended credit score | Excellent, good |
Intro APR | 0% on select Disney vacation packages for 6 months from the date of purchase, then 18.49% - 27.49% Variable |
Foreign transaction fee | 3% |
Disney Premier Visa Card benefits and perks
- Generous welcome offer: Earn a $300 Statement Credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening of account opening.
- Bonus categories: This card’s bonus categories align with many everyday expenses, which include earning 2% on gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and most Disney U.S. locations.
- Low annual cost: You do have to pay a $49 annual fee, but this is low compared to many other types of rewards credit cards.
- Intro APR: Receive an introductory APR of 0% on select Disney vacation packages for 6 months from the date of purchase. After that, the interest rate increases to the card's regular APR of 18.49% - 27.49% Variable.
- Disney Rewards Dollars: Every eligible purchase you make earns Disney Rewards Dollars, which can be used on most purchases at many Disney locations. This includes theme park tickets, resort stays, shopping, and dining. You also have the option to redeem Disney Rewards Dollars for statement credits toward airline tickets.
- Disney trip perks: This card offers between 10% to 15% off on select purchases at many Disney locations. This discount may apply for select Disney merchandise, in-park dining locations, and guided tours. In addition, cardmembers receive complimentary photos at specific locations within Walt Disney World® Resort and Disneyland® Resort.
- Disney shopping perks: Cardholders receive 10% off on select card purchases at Disney stores and DisneyStore.com. You also receive access to exclusive cardmember events at the Disney store.
- DoorDash benefits: Receive a complimentary 12-month DashPass subscription if you activate by Jan. 31, 2025. DashPass benefits include $0 delivery fees for orders over $12.
- Baggage delay insurance: Get reimbursed up to $100 per day for three days for essential purchases, such as toiletries and clothing, if your baggage is delayed over six hours by a passenger carrier.
- Extended warranty: Receive an additional year of warranty coverage on eligible purchases with manufacturer’s warranties of three years or less.
- Purchase protection: Protect new purchases with up to $500 of coverage per claim and $50,000 per account against damage or theft for the first 120 days.
- Custom card designs: Choose from several different card designs. If you'd like Cinderella's castle, Mickey Mouse, or a Star Wars character on your card, you're in luck.
Drawbacks to the Disney Premier Visa Card
- Annual fee: The $49 annual fee might be low, but it’s still something you have to pay each year and takes away from the value of your rewards and benefits.
- Earning potential: Earning 2% on gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and most Disney U.S. locations is a decent earning rate on common categories. But you could find better rates by using a mix of other credit cards.
- Redemption limitations: Disney Rewards Dollars have specific redemption options that are primarily focused on Disney-related opportunities. Your only other redemption option is for statement credits toward airline tickets, which means your options are limited. For a wider range of redemption options, consider one of the best travel credit cards.
Earning & redeeming Disney Rewards
Potential earnings in years one and two
Here's a look at how your points can add up with the Disney Premier Visa Card. To calculate these values, we used a point valuation of one cent.
Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.
Year one earnings: $936
Year two earnings: $636
These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model which takes a look at points earned via spending, the welcome bonus, and the annual fee.
While the Disney Premier Visa Card doesn’t offer any special travel credits that you might see with a top travel rewards card, it can help you save up to 15% on certain Disney purchases. If you make qualifying purchases regularly, you could get even more value from this card in years one and two.
Best ways to earn
The best way to earn rewards with the Disney Premier Visa Card is to always use it on purchases that fall within its bonus categories. This includes gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and most Disney U.S. locations.
If your goal is to save up enough Disney Rewards Dollars for theme park tickets or other redemptions related to a Disney vacation, spending in this card’s bonus categories can help you get there more quickly.
For example, $2,000 spent on groceries, $2,000 spent on gas, and $2,000 spent on dining would net you $120 worth of Disney Rewards Dollars. But if you spent that same $6,000 in non-bonus categories, you’d only earn $60 worth of Disney Rewards Dollars.
Categories | Rewards rate |
Gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and most Disney U.S. locations | 2% |
All other purchases | 1% |
Maximizing your redemptions
The Disney Premier Visa Card earns Disney Rewards Dollars, which can be redeemed for Disney-related purchases and statement credits toward airline tickets. Each Disney Rewards Dollar is worth $1 in redemption value for all available redemption options, so there’s no better value to be gained from using your rewards on Disney purchases or airline tickets.
Keep in mind that you need to order a Disney Rewards Redemption Card, which works like a Disney gift card, and transfer rewards to it to use your Disney Rewards Dollars on Disney goods and services. Each cardmember can have up to two Disney Rewards Redemption Cards associated with their account. Disney Rewards Redemption Cards can be picked up at specific Disney theme park locations or ordered online or over the phone.
Your first transfer to a Disney Rewards Redemption Card must be at least 20 Rewards Dollars, and subsequent transfers must be at least 10 Rewards Dollars.
Disney Premier Visa Card FAQs
Is the Disney Premier Visa Card worth it?
The Disney Premier Visa credit card can be worth it if you specifically want a credit card that earns rewards meant to be used on Disney-related redemptions. It also offers benefits that can help you save on Disney purchases.
But other types of credit cards, including many travel cards, can also help you save money on Disney expenses, such as flights, hotel stays, dining, and rental cars. It’s worth it to compare credit cards to see what your best option might be.
What credit score do you need for the Disney Premier Visa?
You typically need a good or excellent credit score to qualify for the Disney Premier Visa Card. For the FICO Score model, a good score would be at least 670, and an excellent score would be 800 or more. For the VantageScore model, a good score starts at 661, and an excellent score is 781 and above.
Can you use your Disney Rewards for park tickets?
Yes, Disney Rewards Dollars can be used toward Disney theme park tickets, as well as certain resort stays, shopping, and dining experiences. Your Disney Rewards Dollars can also be redeemed toward Disney cruise lines packages, Disney movie tickets at participating theaters, and statement credits for airline tickets.
Can you use your Disney Rewards to book hotel stays?
Yes, Disney Rewards Dollars can be used to book certain Disney resort stays and can also be redeemed toward park tickets, shopping, and dining. Other redemption options include Disney cruises, in-theater Disney movies, and statement credits toward airline tickets.
What's the best way to use your Disney Rewards?
Disney Rewards are meant to be used on Disney-related purchases, which could include park tickets, resort stays, Disney cruise lines packages, and select merchandise purchases. Since you get the same redemption value for any redemption option, the best way to use your Disney Rewards is whichever option makes the most sense for you.
Other cards to consider
The Disney Premier Visa Card can make sense for some people and certain situations. But if it’s not the right fit for you, consider the Disney Visa Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
The Disney® Visa® Card has a $0 annual fee, which could make it more appealing if you want to avoid the $49 annual fee on the Disney Premier Visa Card. Plus, this credit card offers a $150 statement credit after spending $500 in the first 3 months. However, it has a lower rewards rate of 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars on all purchases and you can’t redeem rewards for airfare. Though, you still get many similar benefits, including Disney savings and perks, as well as credit card protections.
Learn more about this card in our Disney Visa Card review.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn’t Disney-focused, but it can still be useful for Disney vacations. It has a $95 annual fee and offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. With this generous welcome offer, you have plenty of options for redeeming your points on travel. And since travel redemptions through the Chase Travel℠ portal are worth 25% more on the Sapphire Preferred, your points go further toward flights and hotel stays.
Learn more about this card in our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.