While it may be known as “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” let’s face it: The out-of-pocket cost to book a family vacation to Walt Disney World is no fairy tale.
So, when Chase launched the Disney® Inspire Visa® Card (see rates and fees), in February, my ears perked up.
As a Disney fan (and Florida resident), I try to budget a visit to see Mickey and friends at least twice a year. With an annual fee of only $149, I put this new card to the test and saved $783.20 on my family weekend getaway to Disney.
Here’s how the new Disney Inspire Visa Card benefits helped me save hundreds.
Disney Inspire Visa Card: Earn a $300 Disney gift card upon approval and a $300 statement credit after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months.
I saved $400 on Disney theme park tickets
Whether you’re planning a weeklong family vacation or a quick overnight or two-day trip, the Disney experience can certainly add up.
I wanted to take my family of three — me, my partner and our 15-month-old son — to Epcot for the park’s International Flower & Garden Festival. Since my son is under 3, he is free to enter the theme parks. Because of this card’s generous welcome offer, I also surprised my parents by paying for their tickets, too.
One-day park tickets start at $119, but Disney operates using dynamic pricing, so for four adults, one-day Epcot tickets for March 9 cost about $810, including taxes and fees.
With my new Disney Inspire Visa Card, I was able to cut costs on this big expense by almost half, saving $400.
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I used the $300 Disney gift card from the approval bonus and received the card’s $100 annual statement credit (available after you spend $200 or more on U.S. Disney theme park tickets each cardmember anniversary year).
And since the statement credit is an annual cardmember benefit, I can save $100 on future theme park tickets in future years.
Saving money on my Disney World resort stay
The Disney Inspire Visa Card also comes with the following cardmember benefit: Earn 200 Disney Rewards Dollars after spending $2,000 per anniversary year on U.S. Disney Resort stays and Disney Cruise Line bookings.
Disney Rewards Dollars act like cash and can be redeemed at a rate of 1 Disney Rewards Dollar to $1. You can opt to redeem Disney Rewards Dollars on resort stays, theme park tickets and as a statement credit on eligible purchases, among other options.
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GABRIELLE BERNARDINI/THE POINTS GUY
Because I was only staying one night — and traveling on a budget — I decided to reserve a room at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside since it’s close to Disney Springs and Epcot, two locations we were planning to visit.
Another cool perk: This resort permits guests access to amenities at its sister property, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter. Who doesn’t want to be within walking distance of Disney’s famous Mickey-shaped beignets?
A one-night stay at this hotel cost $358.19. Though I didn’t earn 200 Disney Rewards Dollars (since I didn’t spend $2,000 on this resort stay), this card earns 3% at most U.S. Disney locations, so I racked up about $10 worth of Disney Rewards Dollars.
Related: An emphasis on nostalgia and functionality: Why I prefer to stay at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Earn and redeem Disney Rewards Dollars
With my Disney Inspire Visa Card, I’ll earn Disney Rewards Dollars at the following rates:
- 10% at disneyplus.com, hulu.com and plus.espn.com
- 3% at most U.S. Disney locations and gas stations
- 2% at grocery stores and restaurants
- 1% on all other card purchases
Earning 3% on all of my Disney purchases, which include food, park tickets, merchandise and pretty much all of my vacation expenses, is a pretty good deal.
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GABRIELLE BERNARDINI/THE POINTS GUY
Though I was only taking my family on a two-day trip, Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival features over 20 outdoor kitchens serving a variety of small plates. Therefore, trying a bunch of cuisines from around the world is always a highlight when visiting Epcot, especially during festival season.
During our trip, I spent about $275 on food and $102 on merchandise. Since the card earns 3% back at most Disney locations, those purchases generated about $11 in Disney Rewards Dollars. Between groceries, dining out, gas and those random weekend Target runs, I’ve collected almost $61 in Disney Rewards Dollars since opening the card.
So, when my bill is due, I will redeem my Disney Rewards Dollars toward my vacation expenses.
Related: How to save money at Disney World so you don’t go bibbidi-bobbidi-broke
I will use my $300 welcome offer statement toward my vacation bill
As I mentioned, I began using my card as soon as it arrived in my mailbox, as I wanted to rack up Disney Rewards Dollars and was eager to meet the $1,000 spending requirement to receive a $300 statement credit. Luckily, all went according to plan, and I did just that.
Not including the other purchases I made with my Disney Inspire Visa, here is the breakdown of how I saved on my Disney vacation.
| Â Trip expense | Out-of-pocket cost | Savings method | Savings | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$810 |
Statement credit on park tickets after meeting the spending requirement; Disney gift card from approval bonus |
 $400 ($100 plus $300) |
$410 |
|
|
$358 |
Redemption of $10 in Disney Rewards Dollars (total earned from hotel stay) |
$10 |
$758 |
|
|
$275 |
Redemption of $61 in Disney Rewards Dollars (total earned from additional card bills) |
$61 |
$972 |
|
|
$112.20 |
Savings of 10% on select merchandise |
$12.20 |
$1,072 |
|
|
N/A |
Welcome offer statement credit after meeting the spending requirement |
$300 |
$772 |
Total: $1,555.20 ($772 out of pocket plus $782.20 in savings)
After using the credits, approval bonus and my Disney Rewards Dollars, my bill will come in around $1,072. However, since I hit the welcome offer’s spending requirement of $1,000, I will receive a $300 statement credit.
Therefore, with the Inspire Visa, I managed to move some of my everyday spending to this card, hit the welcome bonus and take a weekend trip to Disney with four adults and one toddler, all for about $772.
Remember, just four one-day adult park tickets would have cost me over $800. Plus, if you add in the additional trip expenses, I would have paid about $1,555 for a weekend trip to Disney, if not for this card.
Additional cardholder tips and savings
As a Disney Inspire Visa Card holder, you’ll enjoy 10% off select merchandise and select dining locations at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Those small savings can certainly add up over the course of a longer vacation.
One underrated perk of being a Disney cardholder is having access to exclusive character photo opportunities at select parks.
At Epcot, we waited about 25 minutes at the private cardmember location and got to meet Minnie and Pluto. This private one-on-one experience was not rushed and felt super personal. For my son, it definitely was a highlight of his trip.
Plus, I immediately received the 13 digital photos in the My Disney Experience mobile app.
Individual downloads typically range from about $17 to $20 per photo, and a one-day photo pass costs between $75 and $85. With this card, I paid $0 for 13 photos of my son meeting Minnie and Pluto.
Related: How to rent Disney Vacation Club points and save hundreds of dollars on your vacation
How you can use the Inspire Visa credits on Disney vacation packages
Being realistic, most non-Florida residents don’t take a short trip to Walt Disney World — but that doesn’t mean this card can’t help you save big on your vacation.
Booking a Disney resort package and meeting certain spending requirements to unlock additional rewards could very much work in your favor.
According to the Disney Inspire Visa Card‘s offer terms, qualifying purchases include resort hotel rates, associated taxes and fees, room charges (aka folio expenses) and resort vacation packages (including theme park tickets purchased as part of a vacation).
Therefore, even if you’re planning to stay at a Value resort, you could easily hit the $2,000 spending threshold if you purchase a package.
For example, a standard room at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort typically costs $202 per night in May. If a family, which includes two adults, one child over 10 years old and one child under 3, books a four-night stay and a four-day park ticket, the package subtotal is about $3,055.
Just from this one credit card, I estimate that families can save almost $1,000 on the example package. Here’s how I’m breaking down the math if this Value resort and park tickets cost $3,055:
| Savings method | Savings amount | Balance |
|---|---|---|
|
Disney gift card from approval bonus
|
$300 |
$2,755 |
|
Redemption of approximately $80 in Disney Rewards Dollars to your statement (factoring in earning rate of 3% per dollar spent on eligible Disney purchases)
|
$80 |
$2,675 |
|
Redemption of $200 in Disney Rewards Dollars to your statement (factoring in earning 200 Disney Rewards Dollars after meeting the $2,000 minimum spending requirement at U.S. Disney Resorts)
|
$200 |
$2,475 |
|
A $300 statement credit earned after meeting the $1,000 spending requirement as part of the welcome offer
|
$300 |
$2,175 |
The estimated final cost after rewards is $2,175, not including the redeemable Disney Rewards Dollars you’d earn from these purchases.
Bottom line
For many families, Disney World is a place to “experience the magic,” but rising costs can quickly dampen that happily-ever-after feeling.
With the new Disney Inspire Visa, I saved over $700 on my vacation using a combination of the up to $600 welcome offer, statement credits and discounts.
With an annual fee of $149, this card could be worth a place in your wallet, especially if you plan on visiting Disney properties at least once a year..
To learn more about the benefits and card perks, check out our review of the Disney Inspire Visa.
