A Disney vacation is a dream for many families but also comes with a hefty price tag. Luckily, there are credit cards that can help you earn rewards and save money on your Disney trip. Whether you want to focus on Disney perks or saving on hotels or tickets, there are plenty of options to help you save money on every aspect of your magical vacation.
Top credit cards for a Disney vacation
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The Disney Premier Visa is ideal if you want to use your everyday rewards to save money on in-park purchases and get priority access to exclusive Disney experiences. You’ll get 10 percent off or higher on select Disney dining and shopping purchases at DisneyStore.com, Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort, which can easily offset the annual fee if you’re a regular Disney guest. You’ll also earn a solid bonus in many everyday categories which you can redeem toward most Disney-related purchases.
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Pros
- The in-park savings can add up quickly for frequent Disney guests.
- This card is a good option if you want one card to use for everyday purchases to earn Disney rewards.
Cons
- You can earn better rewards with other cards in non-Disney categories with more flexible redemption options.
- With many other options available, you may not want to use a valuable spot in your Chase portfolio for this card.
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The no-annual-fee Disney co-branded card offers many of the same Disney perks as the Disney Premier. However, this card lacks bonus categories on everyday spending. You can earn a modest welcome offer and a small intro APR to help finance a trip, but in the long term, the card only makes sense if you want to avoid an annual fee while still enjoying a few Disney discounts and perks.
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Pros
- You’ll mostly get the same Disney discounts that the premium card offers.
- The welcome bonus is easy to earn and can provide a nice discount on a Disney vacation.
Cons
- There’s no value in long-term spending on this card.
- If you hold other rewards cards, this card may sit unused for long periods due to its poor earning rates.
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This card is one of the best hotel card options for Marriott loyalists and Disney lovers. You can find many Marriott properties near the Disney parks that qualify as Good Neighbor hotels, which are Disney-recommended third-party hotels within a short walk or drive of the parks. The annual free night certificate is worth up to 85,000 points, which should be more than enough for a stay within walking distance of Disney parks on either coast. You can also potentially offset its high annual fee through the monthly restaurant credits and the value of the free night certificate.
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Pros
- You’ll get automatic Platinum Elite status with the card, providing solid additional benefits.
- The free night certificate will be enough to cover almost any night at any Marriott property.
Cons
- The annual fee is costly and may be difficult to offset due to minimal bonus categories.
- Finding a top-tier property to maximize the value of the free night certificate may be challenging.
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This no-annual-fee card is one of the best options if you want to save money on your Disney trip while getting great everyday value. You’ll get a solid intro APR on purchases and balance transfers and a decent welcome offer, which can help you finance a Disney vacation. Since most Disney tickets and purchases count as entertainment or travel, you’ll get at least 3 percent cash back on all Disney-related purchases. You can also get 5 percent back on booking hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel, meaning you can save money on every aspect of your Disney vacation.
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Pros
- Numerous everyday bonus categories make this an excellent choice for a no-fee standalone card.
- Many Disney events qualify for 8 percent cash back through Capital One Entertainment.
Cons
- You’ll need at least good credit for the best chances to qualify for this card.
- Booking hotels and car rentals through Capital One Travel may have inflated pricing and won’t allow you to use any elite status benefits.
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The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers excellent benefits in exchange for its high annual fee, including one of the best trip protection packages available. When you book any portion of your travel expenses on your card, you’ll have peace of mind knowing any last-minute emergency travel expenses are covered. Other travel perks to enhance your travel experience include a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, luxury hotel perks and a solid set of transfer partners.
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Pros
- This card has one of the most generous sets of travel protection benefits available.
- It features numerous airline and hotel transfer partners to help customize your Disney vacation experience.
Cons
- You’ll need excellent credit to have the best approval odds.
- The annual fee may be difficult to justify if you don’t value the additional luxury travel benefits.
Comparing the best credit cards for a Disney vacation
Although Disney vacations can be expensive, they’re a good opportunity to earn significant credit card rewards with the right cards. Here are some of our top choices for Disney.
| Card Name | Best for | Highlights | Recommended credit score | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disney® Premier Visa® Card | Disney purchases and perks |
|
670-850 | $49 |
| Disney® Visa® Card | Disney perks with no annual fee |
|
670-850 | $0 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | Hotel stays near Disney |
|
670-850 | $650 |
| Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | Ticket purchases |
|
670-850 | $0 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Trip protection |
|
740-850 | $550 |
*Clicking on a card name in the table above will direct you to its Bankrate review to learn more.
How to choose the best credit cards for a Disney vacation
Since there are multiple steps to creating an ideal Disney vacation, you’ll need to decide the best way to allocate your spending. To choose the best credit card for a Disney vacation, consider the following:
Decide what kind of rewards you want
Whether you’re planning your trip or in the middle of it, you’ll want to determine whether you want cash back rewards or travel points in return for your Disney spending. You’ll also want to consider whether rewards you can use on future Disney trips are more valuable to you than a credit card that can help you save money on your upcoming or current Disney vacation. Frequent Disney guests may also find more value in earning Disney Reward Dollars, even though they are more limited in use.
Choose a card that rewards your highest Disney expenses
You’ll want to pick a card that rewards your highest Disney expenses. For many people, booking a Disney hotel is the most expensive part of the trip (especially if you are staying on Disney property), while the flights to and from Disney are the greatest expense for others. Park tickets might be the most expensive part of your vacation if you have a large family or group. Ask yourself which part of your Disney trip will cost you the most and then look for a credit card that best rewards those categories. You might also consider a new card with a solid welcome offer as another way to generate more returns on your spending.
Consider using multiple cards for different expenses
You don’t have to stick to just one credit card during your trip to Disney. You could use an airline credit card to book the flights, a hotel credit card to pay for the hotels and a Disney-branded credit card to cover park expenses and tickets.
You could also pick credit cards that work well together. For example, if you’re flying to Orlando, you could use the Chase Sapphire Reserve on your flight and dining expenses once you get there. You could pick a Good Neighbor Marriott Bonvoy hotel and pay with your Bonvoy Brilliant card, use the Savor Cash Rewards card to buy tickets and then use a Disney credit card for discounts on your park spending. Utilizing multiple cards together can help you effectively maximize your rewards and save significant money on your trip.
“My family loves visiting Disney parks and taking Disney cruises, so I definitely factor that into my card strategy. I use free night certificates to knock down hotel costs, points and miles for flights, and buy tickets when I can get good deals or extra bonus rewards. My arsenal of credit cards work together to save money on every aspect of my trip.”
Ryan Flanigan, Bankrate credit cards writer
How to determine if a Disney credit card is right for you
The Disney co-branded credit cards are best suited for frequent Disney guests. They offer rewards and discounts to help you save money in the parks or on Disney purchases online. However, other than the Disney perks, neither card offers outstanding rewards rates or card benefits compared to other options.
If you already have your travel needs covered by other travel rewards credit cards, a Disney card could be right for you if you have a specific goal for a Disney vacation in mind and want to supplement your existing portfolio of cards. Disney co-branded cards have limited value other than saving up money to use on your Disney trip. If you know you’ll use the Disney Reward Dollars and savings often, the co-branded cards can provide decent value. If you’d rather not take up a slot with Chase with a card you may not use often, then consider other options.
What’s next?
Check out the resources below to find a card that matches your travel needs and to help budget for your next Disney trip.
The bottom line
Choosing the right credit card (or cards) can help you save money and earn significant rewards on your Disney vacation expenses. Multiple credit cards offer unique benefits for a portion of your Disney vacation. However, it’s essential to consider your spending habits and preferences to determine which cards will make your Disney vacation as magical as possible.
*All information about the Chase Disney® Premier Visa® Card, and Chase Disney® Visa® Card has been collected independently by Bankrate and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.
Frequently asked questions
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While credit score is just one factor when applying for a card, we recommend at least a good credit score (670 to 739) for the best chances to qualify for most of the credit cards on this list. However, for the premium cards on this list, you’ll generally need an excellent credit score (740 to 850) for the best odds.
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If you want to pay for a Disney vacation over time, look for a credit card with 0 percent intro APR offers on purchases. While the Disney co-branded cards can help you pay for a Disney vacation without interest for six months on select Disney vacation packages, many cards have a longer intro period that might better suit your needs.
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Disney gift cards can be used for any Disney-related purchase online or in-person. You can pay for tickets, hotels, cruises, website purchases, dining, merchandise and more. If you can find them at a discount, like at a wholesale club, you can use them to help save money on any Disney expense.
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