How I used the Disney Encourage Visa to save lots of about $783 at Disney World

Whereas it could be often called “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” let’s face it: The out-of-pocket price to e book a household trip to Walt Disney World is not any fairy story.

So, when Chase launched the Disney® Encourage Visa® Card (see charges and charges), in February, my ears perked up.

As a Disney fan (and Florida resident), I attempt to price range a go to to see Mickey and buddies at the least twice a yr. With an annual charge of solely $149, I put this new card to the take a look at and saved $783.20 on my household weekend getaway to Disney.

This is how the brand new Disney Encourage Visa Card advantages helped me save a whole lot.

Disney Encourage Visa Card: Earn a $300 Disney present card upon approval and a $300 assertion credit score after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months.

I saved $400 on Disney theme park tickets

Whether or not you are planning a weeklong household trip or a fast in a single day or two-day journey, the Disney expertise can definitely add up.

I wished to take my household of three — me, my companion and our 15-month-old son — to Epcot for the park’s Worldwide Flower & Backyard Pageant. Since my son is beneath 3, he’s free to enter the theme parks. Due to this card’s beneficiant welcome supply, I additionally shocked my dad and mom by paying for his or her tickets, too.

One-day park tickets begin at $119, however Disney operates utilizing dynamic pricing, so for 4 adults, one-day Epcot tickets for March 9 price about $810, together with taxes and charges.

With my new Disney Encourage Visa Card, I used to be in a position to lower prices on this large expense by nearly half, saving $400.

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I used the $300 Disney present card from the approval bonus and obtained the cardboard’s $100 annual assertion credit score (accessible after you spend $200 or extra on U.S. Disney theme park tickets every cardmember anniversary yr).

And because the assertion credit score is an annual cardmember profit, I can save $100 on future theme park tickets in future years.

Saving cash on my Disney World resort keep

The Disney Encourage Visa Card additionally comes with the next cardmember profit: Earn 200 Disney Rewards {Dollars} after spending $2,000 per anniversary yr on U.S. Disney Resort stays and Disney Cruise Line bookings.

Disney Rewards {Dollars} act like money and might be redeemed at a fee of 1 Disney Rewards Greenback to $1. You possibly can decide to redeem Disney Rewards {Dollars} on resort stays, theme park tickets and as an announcement credit score on eligible purchases, amongst different choices.

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GABRIELLE BERNARDINI/THE POINTS GUY

As a result of I used to be solely staying one evening — and touring on a price range — I made a decision to order a room at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside because it’s near Disney Springs and Epcot, two places we have been planning to go to.

One other cool perk: This resort permits visitors entry to facilities at its sister property, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter. Who would not need to be inside strolling distance of Disney’s well-known Mickey-shaped beignets?

A one-night keep at this lodge price $358.19. Although I did not earn 200 Disney Rewards {Dollars} (since I did not spend $2,000 on this resort keep), this card earns 3% at most U.S. Disney places, so I racked up about $10 price of Disney Rewards {Dollars}.

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Earn and redeem Disney Rewards {Dollars}

With my Disney Encourage Visa Card, I will earn Disney Rewards {Dollars} on the following charges:

• 10% at disneyplus.com, hulu.com and plus.espn.com
• 3% at most U.S. Disney places and gasoline stations
• 2% at grocery shops and eating places
• 1% on all different card purchases

Incomes 3% on all of my Disney purchases, which embody meals, park tickets, merchandise and just about all of my trip bills, is a reasonably whole lot.

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GABRIELLE BERNARDINI/THE POINTS GUY

Although I used to be solely taking my household on a two-day journey, Epcot’s Worldwide Flower & Backyard Pageant options over 20 outside kitchens serving quite a lot of small plates. Subsequently, attempting a bunch of cuisines from all over the world is at all times a spotlight when visiting Epcot, particularly throughout pageant season.

Throughout our journey, I spent about $275 on meals and $102 on merchandise. For the reason that card earns 3% again at most Disney places, these purchases generated about $11 in Disney Rewards {Dollars}. Between groceries, eating out, gasoline and people random weekend Goal runs, I’ve collected nearly $61 in Disney Rewards {Dollars} since opening the cardboard.

So, when my invoice is due, I’ll redeem my Disney Rewards {Dollars} towards my trip bills.

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I’ll use my $300 welcome supply assertion towards my trip invoice

As I discussed, I started utilizing my card as quickly because it arrived in my mailbox, as I wished to rack up Disney Rewards {Dollars} and was keen to satisfy the $1,000 spending requirement to obtain a $300 assertion credit score. Fortunately, all went in keeping with plan, and I did simply that.

Not together with the opposite purchases I made with my Disney Encourage Visa, right here is the breakdown of how I saved on my Disney trip.

Complete: $1,555.20 ($772 out of pocket plus $782.20 in financial savings)

After utilizing the credit, approval bonus and my Disney Rewards {Dollars}, my invoice will are available round $1,072. Nonetheless, since I hit the welcome supply’s spending requirement of $1,000, I’ll obtain a $300 assertion credit score.

Subsequently, with the Encourage Visa, I managed to maneuver a few of my on a regular basis spending to this card, hit the welcome bonus and take a weekend journey to Disney with 4 adults and one toddler, all for about $772.

Bear in mind, simply 4 one-day grownup park tickets would have price me over $800. Plus, in case you add within the further journey bills, I’d have paid about $1,555 for a weekend journey to Disney, if not for this card.

Further cardholder ideas and financial savings

As a Disney Encourage Visa Card holder, you will take pleasure in 10% off choose merchandise and choose eating places at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. These small financial savings can definitely add up over the course of an extended trip.

One underrated perk of being a Disney cardholder is getting access to unique character photograph alternatives at choose parks.

At Epcot, we waited about 25 minutes on the non-public cardmember location and obtained to satisfy Minnie and Pluto. This non-public one-on-one expertise was not rushed and felt tremendous private. For my son, it undoubtedly was a spotlight of his journey.

Plus, I instantly obtained the 13 digital images within the My Disney Expertise cell app.

Particular person downloads usually vary from about $17 to $20 per photograph, and a one-day photograph move prices between $75 and $85. With this card, I paid $0 for 13 images of my son assembly Minnie and Pluto.

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How you should utilize the Encourage Visa credit on Disney trip packages

Being reasonable, most non-Florida residents do not take a brief journey to Walt Disney World — however that does not imply this card cannot provide help to save large in your trip.

Reserving a Disney resort bundle and assembly sure spending necessities to unlock further rewards might very a lot work in your favor.

In response to the Disney Encourage Visa Card‘s supply phrases, qualifying purchases embody resort lodge charges, related taxes and charges, room costs (aka folio bills) and resort trip packages (together with theme park tickets bought as a part of a trip).

Subsequently, even in case you’re planning to remain at a Worth resort, you possibly can simply hit the $2,000 spending threshold if you buy a bundle.

For instance, an ordinary room at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort usually prices $202 per evening in Could. If a household, which incorporates two adults, one baby over 10 years outdated and one baby beneath 3, books a four-night keep and a four-day park ticket, the bundle subtotal is about $3,055.

Simply from this one bank card, I estimate that households can save nearly $1,000 on the instance bundle. This is how I am breaking down the mathematics if this Worth resort and park tickets price $3,055:

The estimated ultimate price after rewards is $2,175, not together with the redeemable Disney Rewards {Dollars} you’d earn from these purchases.

Backside line

For a lot of households, Disney World is a spot to “expertise the magic,” however rising prices can shortly dampen that happily-ever-after feeling.

With the brand new Disney Encourage Visa, I saved over $700 on my trip utilizing a mix of the as much as $600 welcome supply, assertion credit and reductions.

With an annual charge of $149, this card might be price a spot in your pockets, particularly in case you plan on visiting Disney properties at the least annually..

To study extra about the advantages and card perks, try our evaluation of the Disney Encourage Visa.