The Best Disney Credit Card Might Surprise You

Several other credit cards will get you better value on a Disney trip than co-branded Disney cards.

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Updated · 8 min read
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Written by Sally French
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A trip to Disney World or Disneyland can be as expensive as it is magical. While credit card perks can help lower costs, choosing the right one is critical. Surprisingly, the best way to fund your Disney vacation isn’t with a Disney-branded credit card.

Here’s a closer look at why Disney credit cards, such as the Disney® Premier Visa® Card by Chase, don’t deliver, followed by NerdWallet's guide to cards that offer better rewards and savings for your Disney vacation.

Problems with the Disney credit cards

Disney® Premier Visa® Card

The Disney® Premier Visa® Card by Chase carries a $49 annual fee, yet its perks fall short of what other credit cards offer. The welcome bonus includes a $300 statement credit after spending $1,000 in the first three months, which is decent, but the card’s ongoing rewards system is underwhelming.

While paying an annual fee for a credit card can certainly make sense if the benefits outweigh the annual fee, that’s hardly the case here. Even if you break even on the annual fee, there’s a missed opportunity cost in not using another, better card.

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  • Mediocre rewards: You'll earn 2% back in Disney Rewards Dollars on purchases at grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and Disney locations, and 1% on everything else. Even among cards with no annual fee, these rates are lackluster. While you can earn 5% on DisneyPlus.com purchases, this is still limited compared to other cards that offer higher rates across broader categories.

  • Annoying redemptions: The card earns Disney Rewards Dollars that can only be used on a limited set of Disney-related items, such as theme park tickets purchased directly from Disney, or Disney movie tickets purchased at AMC theaters. Most people would do better with a card that offers cash back, then redeem those rewards for purchases.

  • Rewards expire: Disney Rewards Dollars expire after five years. If you’re saving for a future trip, you risk losing your rewards.

  • Other perks are ho-hum. Other perks include exclusive in-park photo ops and a 0% promotional APR for 6 months on select Disney vacation packages. But even still, you can do better with other 0% APR credit cards.

The only real reason to hold the Disney® Premier Visa® Card is the perks it offers once you're actually at a Disney park. You’ll get 10% off at some restaurants in U.S. Disney parks and on the Disney Cruise Line ships, as well as on certain merchandise purchases. But even those discounts exclude popular retailers like outdoor vendors (such as balloon vendors) and niche shops (like Walt Disney World’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique).

» Learn more: Travel Diaries: How I did a 5-day, $4,000 Disney trip for just $1,600

The Disney® Visa® Card

The Disney® Visa® Card is easier to justify given its $0 annual fee. But the card is lacking perks, even for a no-annual-fee credit card.

  • Sparse rewards: You’ll earn 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars on all purchases—one of the lowest rates available compared to other no-annual-fee credit cards. And remember, those rewards are far less flexible than cash back.

  • Small discounts: You get 10% off merchandise purchases of $50 or more, but exclusions for popular stores and experiences, like Savi’s Workshop in the Star Wars-themed section, limit the usefulness of this perk.

Better travel cards for a Disney vacation

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

The Disney-branded credit cards aren’t as magical as they could be. Here are better credit cards for a Disney vacation.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Annual fee: $550

Intro offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate on Disney-relevant bonus categories:

  • 5x points on flights purchased through Chase.

  • 10x points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase.

  • 3x points on travel and dining.

  • When it’s time to redeem, your points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through Ultimate Rewards, making 50,000 points worth $750 toward travel.

  • Priority Pass Select membership.

  • $300 annual travel credit.

  • Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance.

  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit.

What makes this card great for a Disney trip? For starters, that $300 travel credit should go a long way to help justify the Chase Sapphire Reserve® annual fee. You’ll want to use this card to pay for most of your travel expenses for two reasons.

It has among the highest earning rates you’ll find in categories where you’re most likely to spend money while traveling, such as restaurants, hotels, cruises, airlines and taxis. Sure, a Dole Whip is expensive, but you can use the points you earn from your vacation snack budget to help fund a future trip to Disney or elsewhere.

Many credit cards offer travel insurance, but Chase's complimentary coverage is some of the best. As long as you pay for your trip with the card, your eligible expenses may be reimbursed if your trip is canceled or interrupted due to a covered reason.

Other benefits include Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you into more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. Orlando International Airport has two Priority Pass lounges. A TSA PreCheck fee credit can help you breeze through security faster than everyone else.

» Learn more: Chase Sapphire Reserve review: A first-class premium travel card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Annual fee: $95

Intro offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate on Disney-relevant bonus categories:

  • 5x points on travel purchased through Chase.

  • 3x points on dining.

  • 2x points on all other travel purchases.

  • When it’s time to redeem, your points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Ultimate Rewards, making 60,000 points worth $750 toward travel.

  • Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance.

This is the little sibling of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and it offers similar, albeit slightly fewer, perks. The rewards on categories where you’re likely to have especially high spending while at Disney — dining and travel — are high, though slightly less than what you’ll get on the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

This credit card also has travel insurance coverage, making it likely that you can get eligible expenses paid for with this card covered should your trip be canceled or interrupted due to a covered reason.

» Learn more: Chase Sapphire Preferred review: Nearly a must-have for travelers

The Platinum Card® from American Express
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The Platinum Card® from American Express

Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees). Terms apply.

Intro offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Rewards rate on Disney-relevant bonus categories:

  • 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 per calendar year.

  • 5x points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.

Terms apply.

  • Up to $200 in Uber Cash annually, doled out up to $15 per month (up to a total of $35 in December; must use card for Uber purchase to use credits). Enrollment required.

  • Up to $200 Airline Fee Credit annually when incidental travel fees on one selected airline are charged to your card. Enrollment required.

  • Up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your card. The Hotel Collection stays must be two nights minimum.

  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit.

  • Up to $199 back per year on Clear membership when you use your card.

  • Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges through The American Express Global Lounge Collection.

  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status. Enrollment required.

  • Trip delay and cancellation insurance.

Terms apply.

Sure, the giant annual fee can be more overwhelming than a jumbo turkey leg, but the statement credits can more than make up for it.

You’ll accrue big points for hotel and airfare spending. You’ll not only get automatic elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors programs (both of which have plenty of hotel options near both Disney World and Disneyland), but by booking through AmEx Travel you’ll unlock additional perks such as complimentary breakfast and daily credits at some properties. Enrollment is required for the elite status with Marriott and Hilton. Plus, you can knock $200 off your room bill thanks to annual statement credits when you book either Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection properties through AmEx Travel. Terms apply.

In the airport, not only will you speed through security should you get approved for TSA PreCheck, but you can breeze through even faster through Clear, which is available at both Orlando International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. Both application fees are covered through a statement credit when paid for with your card. Terms apply.

If you check bags or purchase in-flight refreshments, you’ll receive up to $200 annually in Airline Fee Credit for eligible incidental charges on one eligible airline of your choice (enrollment required). And if you don’t want to wait for Disney buses or your hotel shuttle, you can offset the cost of an Uber with the up to $15 in monthly Uber credits most months (or up to $35 in total in December). Terms apply.

» Learn more: 5 reasons to get the Platinum Card From American Express

Better airline credit cards for a Disney vacation

If you want to use your Disney trip as an opportunity to dip your toes into the world of airline credit cards, consider these smart options.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Annual fee: $149

Intro offer: Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.

Rewards rate on Disney-relevant bonus categories:

  • 3x points on Southwest Airlines purchases.

  • 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.

  • 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners.

  • 7,500 anniversary points each year.

  • $75 Southwest annual travel credit each year.

  • Four Upgraded Boardings every year when available.

  • 25% back on in-flight purchases.

If you’re flying to a U.S. Disney park on either coast, there’s a good chance you’ll fly Southwest. The budget carrier has a huge presence at Orlando International Airport in Florida, as well as the two airports nearest to Disneyland in Anaheim: John Wayne Airport in Orange County and Long Beach Airport.

Those four upgraded boardings could become useful to ensure you get a spot in the A boarding group — and that you snag the ideal seat before Family Boarding.

You’ll also earn travel credits and points to cover the cost of flights. Not to mention, you might be lucky enough to fly in the decked out, iridescent Southwest Airlines aircraft designed to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort.

Better hotel credit cards for a Disney vacation

Hotels can be one of the biggest expenses of any vacation. Here are the cards to consider if you want to book your Disney hotels like a points-savvy pro.

Citibank Strata Premier Card
NerdWallet rating 

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Annual fee: $95

Intro offer: For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.

Rewards rate on Disney-relevant bonus categories:

  • 10 ThankYou points per dollar spent on hotels booked through Citi.

  • 3 ThankYou Points per $1 spent at restaurants, gas stations, other hotels and air travel.

  • Receive $100 off a single hotel stay booked through Cititravel.com of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees), once per calendar year.

  • No foreign transaction fees.

  • Points don’t expire.

Few travel credit cards allow you to use points to book Disney’s own properties, which is why Citi is a gem. The Citi ThankYou rewards program typically has Disney resorts available for booking, which is a big win for vacationers who specifically want to stay at a Disney hotel on points.

When you book your travel through Citi funded by ThankYou points, your points are worth 1 cent apiece. Though Disney hotels are expensive, the card’s sign-up bonus generally amounts to cover a night or two.

If you’re paying cash, there’s another reason to use your Citi Strata Premier℠ Card as you’ll get $100 off one stay a year as long as the total is $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees.

The cost to book on points is usually tied to cash rates, so this is typically a good option if you’re traveling to Disney during the off-season.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

Annual fee: $95

Intro offer: Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card!

Rewards rate on Disney-relevant bonus categories:

  • Up to 17 total points per $1 spent at Marriott (6 points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy with your card, up to 10 points for being a Marriott Bonvoy member and up to 1 point with Silver Elite Status — a benefit of being a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card member).

  • Earn a Free Night Award every year after your account anniversary, valid for a one-night hotel stay worth up to 35,000 points (though you’ll owe resort fees at certain hotels).

  • Automatic Silver Elite status.

  • No foreign transaction fees.

For every five consecutive nights you stay at a Marriott property that’s paid for with Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll receive the lowest point-value night free. Especially if you’re staying at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, it’s perfectly reasonable to count on staying five nights. That free night can take a decent chunk out of your hotel budget.

At Walt Disney World: There are three hotels on Walt Disney World property that are not owned or operated by Disney: the Walt Disney World Dolphin, the Walt Disney World Swan and the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve. Good news for Bonvoy members: All three are run by Marriott.

These three hotels are all located within walking distance of both Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. If you want to save your energy for walking around the theme parks — or perhaps you just want to get to the other theme parks — there’s also complimentary bus transportation. For a different journey, hop aboard a Friendship Boat for water transport. If you want to be as close to the theme parks as possible, but you also want to be able to stay at a points-earning hotel, there’s no better pick than one of those three.

Marriott also operates other hotels near Disney World (though they’re all off-property, so plan on taking the bus or driving in), ranging from the lavish JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa to the more casual Fairfield Inn & Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista.

At Disneyland: There are about a dozen Marriott properties located within walking distance of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. There’s a hotel for every budget, whether you prefer the frills of the JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort or the no-frills of the Four Points by Sheraton Anaheim.

Better no-annual-fee credit cards for a Disney vacation

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
NerdWallet rating 

Even annual-fee-averse travelers have better options than Disney's no-annual-fee card.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Annual fee: $0.

Intro offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Rewards rate on Disney-relevant bonus categories:

  • 2% cash back on all purchases.

  • No category restrictions or sign ups and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.

  • Cell phone protection.

The $0-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, creating a straightforward way to put together a tidy vacation fund from your everyday spending. Plus, the sign-up bonus is likely more than enough to cover your family’s Disney snack budget, ensuring no one has to go without a Dole Whip or churro: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Just don’t use this card on an international trip, as you’ll get hit with up to 3% in foreign transaction fees for every purchase.

Citi Custom Cash® Card
NerdWallet rating 

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Annual fee: $0.

Intro offer: Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

Rewards rate on Disney-relevant bonus categories:

  • 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category (which includes choices such as select travel, restaurants and live entertainment) up to $500 spent each billing cycle.

🤓Nerdy Tip

There's also a special travel offer on the Citi Custom Cash® Card: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.

  • Add authorized users at no cost.

Unlike the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card that pays a flat cash-back rate on all your purchases, the Citi Custom Cash® Card is better if you’re a heavy spender in one category but not necessarily in others. With it, you’ll earn 5% back automatically in your eligible top spending category per billing cycle, on up to $500 spent per cycle. All other purchases earn 1% back.

It also has a $0 annual fee and a nice sign-up bonus: Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

What about retail cards?

For a simple and effective way to save on Disney-related purchases, the Target Circle™ Credit Card might surprise you.

Target Circle™ Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

Target Circle™ Credit Card

While it’s not a traditional travel rewards card, the Target Circle™ Credit Card offers a practical and immediate benefit Disney travelers, assuming you're willing to buy Disney gift cards.

That's because of the card's automatic 5% savings on all Target purchases, including gift cards. You can buy Disney gift cards in-store or online at Target, then use them for park tickets, hotels, dining and shopping at most spots on Disney property. With that, you're effectively saving 5% on almost all Disney-related expenses.

The downside to this method is that card really only provides benefits for shopping at Target. For travel insurance, airport lounge access, and bonus points on dining and travel, consider other cards named above.

Consider the Disney debit card instead

For those determined to carry Disney-branded plastic, the Disney Visa Debit Card by Chase offers similar perks without the drawbacks of a credit card. You get the same in-park discounts and photo ops, but without worrying about annual fees or hard credit inquiries.

You do miss out on spending rewards, but most purchases should go on a better travel credit card anyway.

How to pick the best credit card for Disney trips

Compared to what else is out there (and accounting for its $49 annual fee), the Disney® Premier Visa® Card by Chase is one of the worst credit cards for Disney trips.

The $0 annual fee Disney® Visa® Card is fine, but there’s still the lost opportunity cost of using another, better credit card.

It can certainly be tempting to apply for any of these two cards. The charming Disney design on the front plus small vacation perks might lure you in. Every time you swipe, the sight of Mickey’s face might remind you that you’re a few more rewards points closer to vacation.

But there are plenty of other non-Disney credit cards that are better for a Disney trip, and many will get you even more royal treatment than what the Disney card itself can bestow you with.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.

Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance

  • Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

  • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

  • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

  • Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Insurance Benefit: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

  • The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

  • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

  • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

  • Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024:

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