If you’re a parent gearing up for the magical world of Disney, hold onto your mouse ears because we’re about to dive into something extra special. Picture this: you, your family, and the anticipation of a Disney adventure on the horizon. Now, imagine turning that excitement up a notch with a little extra pixie dust – enter the Disney Chase Visa. In this article, we’re unraveling why having this magical card up your sleeve can transform your Disney vacation from fantastic to downright unforgettable – WHILE saving you money. 
First off – let’s be clear – you do not have to spend a dime to own this credit card and take advantage of several of its benefits. The Disney Visa has a card option offering no annual fee that will still give you the vast majority of incredible perks. 
Starting with experiences, the Disney Visa is like a VIP pass to all things Disney. 
Exclusive Character Experiences
A trip to Disney parks is not complete without the character meet and greets. In fact, it is the main priority for some kids and their families. However, wait times can sometimes be daunting and it can feel frustrating to wait in lines to just get a hug and snap a pic. There are TWO opportunities in Disney World that are exclusive to Disney Visa holders. Simply present your Visa card to the cast member at locations in both Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and you have access to these private character encounters. From my own personal experience, I have never waited more than 15 minutes to take advantage of these locations! Game changer!
Discounts on Experiences
Just by presenting the card at certain locations on property, you can receive exclusive discounts on everything from those must-have mouse ears to chowing down on delicious Disney grub and then even grabbing a highly coveted tour. It’s a backstage pass to the magic kingdom of savings giving you 10% off!
Specifically, cardholders will receive 10% off their bill at certain restaurants on property – in the theme parks, in the hotels, and in Disney Springs. There are a few exclusions (does not apply to alcohol and certain seasonal offerings, for example) but overall my family has saved loads over the years. A pro tip here: you only have to pay part of your bill with the Disney Visa to receive the discount. We pay the rest with discounted gift cards we have purchased prior to the trip!
Next, cardholders also receive 10% off on merchandise purchases of $50 or more at most of the gift shops and souvenir locations all over property too! So if you tend to like to bring a keepsake back from the trip like we do (always an ornament…and usually a spirit jersey or tee or two), that 10% is super useful. 
Want another area of savings in the way of experiences? The Disney Visa also offers 15% off on  select guided tours. These include amazing “enchanted extras” that are bookable in advance including Keys to the Kingdom in Magic Kingdom, Behind the Seeds in Epcot, and the Wild Africa Trek in Animal Kingdom. When these tours usually cost $100 or more, that savings adds up hugely.
Last, knock another 10% off when you are a cardholder for recreational experiences on property too. A carriage ride at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort? Sure! Horseback riding at Disney’s Fort Wilderness? Yup! Fishing in Seven Seas Lagoon outside of Magic Kingdom? Why not!
Resort Savings
The most optimal area the Disney Visa comes in handy is overall savings on your Disney vacation in the form of true realized money. Disney World periodically releases promotions throughout the year for stays on property in one of their hotels, and historically the absolute best discounts and deals are available for those who hold a Disney Visa. 
Here’s an example: as I am writing this in January of 2024, a Disney Visa promotion has recently dropped which allows cardholders to save up to 35% off their resort stay for the first quarter of the year. This equates to a lot of money – let’s say you are staying in a deluxe resort for what would normally be $700 a night…knock off about $200-$250 and for a 4-night trip you are suddenly saving $1000. The second best public deal is only as high as 20% off – so you can see they really reward their cardholders. 
And even better news – this Disney Visa discount can be applied retroactively after you are booked too! All that is required is that the $200 deposit on the trip be paid for using the Disney Visa, but even if you already paid your initial deposit months ago, Disney accounting can still refund that and apply the $200 to your Disney Visa instead, unlocking the overall savings for you. Cha-ching!
Spending Money Toward your Disney Vacation
And there’s more – I love this next perk so much! There is a nice welcome bonus that the card offers, which can immediately put you in the green: Get a $150 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening OR you can opt for the Premier Visa, which has a welcome bonus of $300 in statement credit after $1,000 in spending in the first three months. 
From my experience, this minimum was incredibly easy to meet as we just put all our regular spending on the card during those first 3 months…groceries, online streaming services, phone bills, gas in our cars, etc…. And then Boom! We quickly met the minimum honestly in one month and had that nice statement credit added, which I directly contributed to the overall savings on our vacation.
Take it a step further too – you can get even more strategic and refer your partner or a friend to the same card once you have a referral link with Chase. By referring someone who signs on for the card (it does not matter if it is fee or non-fee based), not only do you double the welcome bonus earned between the two of you, now you as the original referring cardholder get a referral bonus of $100 in rewards credit too! And this rewards credit can be used to pay for your Disney hotel or tickets, or it can just be “fun money” to use during your actual visit! 
So this strategy scenario looks like the following, using the non-premier (no annual fee) card:

“Player 1” signs up for the Disney Visa for no fee. She spends $500 in the first 3 months of owning the card = $150 statement credit
“Player 1” refers “Player 2” to sign up for the same card. 
“Player 2” spends $500 in the first 3 months of owning the card = $150 statement credit
“Player 1” earns $100 in Disney Rewards Credit to use how she wishes for her vacation.

Total between both players saved or earned: $400
0% annual percentage rate (APR) for 6 months on Disney vacations
The last Disney Visa perk worth mentioning is the compelling opportunity to receive 0% annual percentage rate for six months on select Disney Resort packages. This type of financing can be especially useful if you are trying to make a trip happen where you need a bit more time to save up before the actual travel date. So attaining the Disney Visa can give you a bit of cushioning and buy you an extra six months to pay without added fees after snagging the lowest booking rate.
Bottom Line:
In the end, this card is a super easy way to get a world of benefits for your upcoming trip without having to hold a special membership or have status as an annual passholder. I consider it a must-have for moms who want to sprinkle a little extra magic onto their family adventures while also being a savvy saver. And when there is absolutely no annual fee for the non-premier card option, you can hold onto this card for years to come for any future magical vacation you may eventually take down the road! 
Application link: Disney Premier Visa to unlock Disney perks and earn a $300 statement credit after $1,000 in spending in the first three months for a $49 annual fee
Application link: Disney Visa to unlock Disney perks and earn a $150 statement credit after $500 in spending in the first three months for no annual fee