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Disney Credit Card Review: Cards Best Left to the Disney Super Fans

Review Updated
Brittney Myers
Author: Brittney Myers
Brittney Myers
Brittney Myers
Writer

Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.

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Nathan Alderman
Fact Checked: Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
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Nathan Alderman has been a full-time Motley Fool employee since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As Motley Fool Money's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

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Disney has two cobranded credit cards: the Disney® Visa® Card and the Disney® Premier Visa® Card, both issued by Chase.

The Disney® Visa® Card is good for Disney discounts with no annual card fee, while the Disney® Premier Visa® Card is good for folks who also want to earn bonus rewards on Disney purchases and don't mind paying an annual fee. Whether you need either card will depend entirely on how much you spend on Disney-related purchases each year.

See all of the perks and rewards, as well as the things to watch out for, in our full review.

Ratings Methodology

Disney® Visa® Card

Disney® Visa® Card
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good (670-850)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

18.49% - 27.49% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars on all card purchases. There are no limits to the number of Rewards Dollars you can earn.

N/A

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $150 Statement Credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

N/A

  • This no annual fee card has a selection of Disney discounts that could be valuable, as well as a solid welcome offer. However, the rewards rate is very low and the rewards themselves can be hard to use.

    • Competitive welcome bonus
    • No annual fee
    • Discounts on Disney purchases
    • In-park photo ops
    • Disney vacation financing
    • Lackluster purchase rewards
    • Rewards are hard to use
    • Foreign transaction fees
    • Earn a $150 Statement Credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
    • Earn 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars on all card purchases. There are no limits to the number of Rewards Dollars you can earn.
    • 0% promo APR for 6 months on select Disney vacation packages from the date of purchase, after that a variable APR of 18.49% to 27.49%
    • 10% off select merchandise purchases at select locations and 10% off select dining locations most days at the Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort.
    • Save 10% on select purchases at DisneyStore.com
    • Member FDIC

Disney® Premier Visa® Card

Disney® Premier Visa® Card
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good (670-850)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

18.49% - 27.49% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases made directly at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com. Earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney U.S. locations. Earn 1% on all your other card purchases. There are no limits to the number of Rewards Dollars you can earn.

N/A

Annual Fee

$49

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $300 Statement Credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

N/A

  • Bottom line: The rewards on this card are better than its no annual fee cousin, but they're not the best (not even the best for Disney purchases). The Disney-related discounts have a lot of value potential, but they're the same discounts you get with the cheaper Disney credit card.

    • Very competitive welcome bonus
    • Bonus rewards on Disney-related purchases
    • Discounts on Disney purchases
    • In-park photo ops
    • Disney vacation financing
    • Annual card fee
    • Rewards are hard to use
    • Foreign transaction fee on purchases
    • Earn a $300 Statement Credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
    • Earn 5% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases made directly at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com. Earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney U.S. locations. Earn 1% on all your other card purchases. There are no limits to the number of Rewards Dollars you can earn.
    • Redeem Rewards Dollars for a statement credit toward airline purchases.
    • 0% promo APR for 6 months on select Disney vacation packages from the date of purchase, after that a variable APR of 18.49% to 27.49%
    • 10% off select merchandise purchases at select locations and 10% off select dining locations most days at the Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort.
    • Save 10% on select purchases at DisneyStore.com
    • Member FDIC

Compare Disney Cards

While the Disney cards offer unique perks, Chase cards provide broader rewards on everyday purchases, like travel and dining, offering more flexibility for maximizing value across categories.

As of Dec. 26, 2024
Image for
Image for
Image for
Image for
Disney® Visa® Card Disney® Premier Visa® Card Chase Freedom Unlimited® Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's Secure Website.

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good (670-850)

Good (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good (670-850)

Good (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $150 Statement Credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

N/A

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $300 Statement Credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

N/A

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Up to $300 cash back

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars on all card purchases. There are no limits to the number of Rewards Dollars you can earn.

N/A

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases made directly at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com. Earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney U.S. locations. Earn 1% on all your other card purchases. There are no limits to the number of Rewards Dollars you can earn.

N/A

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases

1.5% - 5% cash back

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases

Intro APR:

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Intro APR:

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR:

18.49% - 27.49% Variable

Regular APR:

18.49% - 27.49% Variable

Regular APR:

19.74% - 28.49% Variable

Regular APR:

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Annual Fee:

$0

Annual Fee:

$49

Annual Fee:

$0

Annual Fee:

$95

Highlights:

  • Earn a $150 Statement Credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Earn 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars on all card purchases. There are no limits to the number of Rewards Dollars you can earn.
  • 0% promo APR for 6 months on select Disney vacation packages from the date of purchase, after that a variable APR of 18.49% to 27.49%
  • 10% off select merchandise purchases at select locations and 10% off select dining locations most days at the Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort.
  • Save 10% on select purchases at DisneyStore.com
  • Member FDIC

Highlights:

  • Earn a $300 Statement Credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Earn 5% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases made directly at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com. Earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney U.S. locations. Earn 1% on all your other card purchases. There are no limits to the number of Rewards Dollars you can earn.
  • Redeem Rewards Dollars for a statement credit toward airline purchases.
  • 0% promo APR for 6 months on select Disney vacation packages from the date of purchase, after that a variable APR of 18.49% to 27.49%
  • 10% off select merchandise purchases at select locations and 10% off select dining locations most days at the Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort.
  • Save 10% on select purchases at DisneyStore.com
  • Member FDIC

Highlights:

  • INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
  • Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
  • After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.49%.
  • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
  • Member FDIC

Highlights:

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
  • Member FDIC
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's Secure Website.

Show More Arrow graphic to expand and collapse content Show Less Arrow graphic to expand and collapse content

Disney credit card review

Is the Disney credit card worth it?

Arguably, the most valuable perk of either Disney travel rewards card is the array of Disney discounts. Whether those are worthwhile for you will depend entirely on how much money you spend on eligible purchases.

We have a full breakdown of the discounts below, but they range from 10% to 20% off things like select dining at Disney parks and onboard spa treatments for Disney cruises. This could add up to quite a bit of money if you're paying four figures for a Disney vacation for the whole family.

Which Disney credit card is better?

Both Disney credit cards earn the same discounts, so the choice is about the welcome bonus and the purchase rewards. The Disney® Premier Visa® Card's welcome bonus more than makes up for its annual fee for at least the first year, plus it earns better purchase rewards.

Once that first year is over, whether you keep the more expensive card will depend on whether the extra rewards are worth more than the fee. This depends on how much you spend on eligible Disney purchases each year.

Author's note

The welcome bonus alone on these cards make them intriguing to me, and I'm not even much of a Disney fan. If I were planning an expensive Disney vacation, this card would be even more interesting -- for the first year, then I'd probably cancel, or at least downgrade to the no annual fee version.

I do have to add that, while I like Chase as an issuer (the mobile app is especially great), the Chase 5/24 rule -- you're denied if you have five or more new card accounts in the last 24 months -- means this isn't an easy card to churn.

What everyone else is saying

Different cards appeal to different people, so it can help to see more perspectives. Here's a look at what other folks are saying about the Disney credit cards.

What other review sites say

Average review site rating:

Disney® Visa® Card: 2.8 / 5.0 stars

Disney® Premier Visa® Card: 2.6 / 5.0 stars

We took a look at reviews of both cards from four of our top competitors and found that these cards are almost universally unpopular with experts. Like us, they weren't fans of the limitations of the Disney Rewards Dollars, and were unimpressed by the purchase rewards on both cards. We also all agreed that the Disney® Premier Visa® Card isn't worth its annual fee. (One competitor went so far as to give it a 0 out of 5!)

Online consensus

The folks on social media are a bit friendlier about the Disney credit cards than many of the experts were, but even the Disney diehards in the forums recognize this isn't a great rewards card.

A few people like churning the welcome bonuses, but general opinion seems to be that you use the no annual fee version for the discounts and photo ops -- these are surprisingly popular in the posts I read! -- and skip the annual fee entirely.

Disney credit card features and benefits

The star of the show: Disney discounts and cardholder offers

I'd argue the primary selling point of either card is that you get access to a range of discounts for Disney-related purchases. Here's a rundown:

  • 10% off purchases at shopDisney.com
  • 10% off select merchandise purchases made with your card at Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort
  • 10% off select dining locations at Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort (blackout dates apply)
  • 15% off the non-discounted price of select guided tours at Disneyland® Resort
  • 10% Off Non-discounted Disney Cruise Line Digital Photo Packages
  • 10% Off Castaway Cay Getaway Packages in the Bahamas
  • 20% Off Select Onboard Spa Treatments for Disney Cruise Lines
Young family gathered for photo together near the water.

Cardholders can get discounts for a variety of Disney purchases, including Disney Cruise Line photo and spa packages. Image source: Getty Images.

There are also cardmember-exclusive "limited-time offers." These can include deals on everything from resort tickets to merchandise. If you have a big trip planned, these discounts could certainly add up.

Keep in mind that you need to make pay for the entire purchase with your eligible Disney credit card (or Disney Rewards Redemption Card). If you're shopping in a park, you'll also need to mention the discount at the time of payment. For cruise perks, your Disney credit card must be your designated form of payment.

A unique perk: Exclusive photo ops

While there's an argument that discounts can improve your trip, they don't directly make for a more magical experience. However, this perk may: exclusive cardmember photo opportunities.

Young child enjoying an attraction outdoors.

Enjoy exclusive photo ops at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts. Image source: Getty Images.

Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts have private cardmember locations where you can meet and pose with popular characters. (Yes, this also includes Star Wars character experiences!)

In fact, these locations are so exclusive, you'll need to show your physical Disney credit card at the door for entry. In addition to access and photos ops, you'll get free digital downloads of your pictures.

An unexpected but welcome bonus: New cardholders can earn up to $400

If you've seen the prices at Disney lately (or within the last 20 years, really), you know it's Expensive (with a capital E). So it's huge that both the Disney® Visa® Card and the Disney® Premier Visa® Card offer unexpectedly awesome welcome bonuses.

  • Disney® Visa® Card: Earn $200 in statement credit when you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months
  • Disney® Premier Visa® Card: Earn $400 in statement credit when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months

These welcome bonuses aren't just good for cobranded cards -- they're simply good. In fact, given the very low spending requirements, these welcome bonuses are downright impressive. They're right up there with some of our top picks. (I'd even argue they're better than some of our top picks thanks to those low requirements.)

Additionally, I really want to emphasize that these welcome bonuses aren't in Disney Rewards Dollars, which would make them much harder to use. Instead, you get a proper credit card statement credit. That means you can use your welcome bonus for pretty much anything you can put on your card. (More on the drawbacks of Disney Rewards Dollars later.)

Potentially useful, but not the selling point: Disney vacation financing

Now, I want to preface this bit: I don't condone financing a vacation if you can't pay it off right away. I just can't encourage it as a smart move.

That being said, if you're going to do it anyway, definitely do it at 0% APR if you can. Both Disney cards have access to special financing on qualifying Disney vacation packages. This unlocks a 0% APR for six months from the date of purchase. Once the six months are over, the go-to rate will apply.

Note that it specifies packages; you can't simply finance a pair of park tickets. Additionally, your eligible vacation package will need to be:

  • Paid for entirely on your Disney credit card, and;
  • Booked through the Walt Disney Travel Company (online or through an eligible travel agent)

If your trip doesn't qualify (or six months isn't enough time to pay it off) you could also consider a regular 0% intro APR card. The best ones give you 15 months or more of zero interest on new purchases.

What could be improved

Dumbo in the room: Not the best cards for earning rewards on Disney purchases

Sure, this card can save you some money on certain Disney purchases thanks to the discounts listed above. But for earning rewards on your Disney purchases, they're generally subpar.

The regular Disney® Visa® Card is downright sad, earning just 1% Disney Rewards Dollars on purchases. The Disney® Premier Visa® Card is a bit more interesting, earning some bonus rewards:

  • 5% in Disney Rewards Dollars on purchases made at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or ESPNPlus.com
  • 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on purchases at gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, and eligible U.S. Disney locations
  • 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars on other purchases

So, overall, this card's best rewards are for…streaming? Yes, streaming. (Sadly, though this isn't even the best card for streaming rewards, either.)

Woman streaming a TV show with popcorn from her couch.

Unfortunately, the Disney® Premier Visa® Card earns more rewards on streaming than on Disney purchases! Image source: Getty Images.

But when you use your Disney-branded credit card to buy Disney park tickets? You get just 2% cash back. You could do just as well with an ordinary 2% flat-rate rewards card. And you could do way better with an entertainment rewards card.

Adding insult to injury: Rewards are restrictive and overly complicated

Besides being hard to earn, Disney Rewards Dollars are also hard to use. The first problem is that Disney Rewards Dollars are not the same as cash back rewards.

Cash back can be used for statement credit to cover pretty much any card purchase. Disney Rewards Dollars -- can't. Instead, you'll only be able to use them for Disney-related purchases. Each Disney Rewards Dollar can be redeemed for $1 in value toward:

  • Eligible purchases at Disney parks and resorts (includes tickets/stays)
  • Movie tickets for eligible Disney films at AMC theaters
  • Eligible items at DisneyStore.com
  • Disney Cruise Line packages, souvenirs, and onboard activities

The only non-Disney redemption option is more of a Chase perk, and it's only available on the Disney® Premier Visa® Card. Cardmembers can use Pay Yourself Back to redeem Rewards Dollars toward airline purchases made with their Disney® Premier Visa® Card.

You also need to load a physical card to redeem

Even if you're perfectly happy to redeem for Disney purchases, it's not quite that easy. That's because you can't just do so digitally: You need to carry around a physical Disney Rewards Redemption Card to actually use your rewards.

You're responsible for loading the Redemption Card -- it's not automatic -- which you can only do if you have a minimum of 10 Disney Rewards Dollars saved up from your purchases (it's 20 for your first transfer, however). Forget your card at home? No redemption for you.

Sorry, souris: Foreign transaction fees make this bad for travel

If you've a yen to visit the big mouse abroad, make sure to leave your Disney credit cards behind. You won't want to use these cards at the Paris Disneyland -- or any other international Disney properties.

Couple standing behind red umbrella looking out at Eiffel Tower.

Disney credit cards have foreign transaction fees that make them a bad choice for Disney Paris -- or anywhere else outside the U.S. Image source: Getty Images.

For one thing, the bonus purchase rewards you earn with the Disney® Premier Visa® Card at Disney locations only applies to U.S. properties. But what's even worse are the foreign transaction fees.

Both cards charge a foreign transaction fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars., which applies to any purchases in a foreign currency or that route through a foreign bank. Folks who plan to travel abroad for a different Disney experience should pick up a proper travel rewards credit card. The best have no foreign transaction fees.

A very questionable annual fee: $49 a year for what?

I have no issue with the base-level Disney® Visa® Card on this point, as it has no annual fee. The Disney® Premier Visa® Card, on the other hand, has charges $49 a year. I'm just not sure this card offers enough extra to justify that fee.

As we noted above, the no-fee version has all of the same Disney discounts as the Disney® Premier Visa® Card. The main differences are the rewards -- which, meh? -- and the airfare redemption option (better, but still not worth $49).

In my opinion, the only thing that makes the annual fee worth paying is the larger welcome bonus. You can easily make up the annual fee (and then some) with the larger bonus. I'd probably suggest downgrading the card to the no annual fee version before the second year's fee hits, however.

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What to know before applying

Disney credit card credit score

We recommend a FICO® Score of 670 or higher if you want to apply for the Disney® Premier Visa® Card. The Disney® Visa® Card may be easier to qualify for, but we still recommend a credit score of at least 600. That said, there's a lot that goes into approval for a credit card, so having this score doesn't mean you'll automatically be approved, and vice versa.

Pre-approval process

Chase's pre-approval tool doesn't work for cobranded cards. You may receive a pre-approval or pre-qualification offer from Chase in the mail, through your existing Chase account, or when visiting a Chase bank branch. This isn't a guaranteed acceptance, but it could be a good indicator that you'll be approved if you apply.

Intro APR

Neither Disney credit card has a standard intro APR offer, so most purchases will receive the go-to 18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR. However, cardholders may choose to use 6-month promotional 0% APR financing on eligible Disney vacation purchases as an ongoing card benefit.

Fees

  • Annual fee:
    • Disney® Visa® Card: $0
    • Disney® Premier Visa® Card: $49
  • Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • Foreign transaction fee: 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars.

Credit limit

According to Chase, applicants will be approved for either a Visa Signature account or a regular Visa Platinum account. If you get the Signature version, your credit limit will be at least $5,000. If you get the Platinum version, your minimum credit limit will be $500.

Our credit card methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • You can use a Disney credit card anywhere Visa is accepted.

  • Yes, a Disney credit card can build credit. Chase, the card issuer, reports card activity to the three consumer credit bureaus. By using a Disney credit card and following good credit habits, such as paying on time, you can increase your credit score.

  • The Disney® Visa® Card and Disney® Premier Visa® Card are both issued by Chase (JP Morgan Chase).