Best credit cards for Disney visits, stays, purchases

Disneyland and Disney World may be the most magical places on earth, but they can feel even more magical when you can get there for cheap or even for free multiple times.

Whether you’re a Disney fan who never quite left the magic behind when you grew up or you just want to be a superhero at home, here are the cards that will have you meeting Mickey faster than you can say, “Bipity, bopity boo!”

Chase Disney Premier Visa: Best for Disney theme park expenses

Why we picked it: Though there are better rewards cards with big sign-up bonuses to get you into Disneyland or Disney World for free, not many can compete with the rewards the Chase Disney® Premier Visa® provides on park purchases.

It gives you 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on purchases at grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and most Disney locations. Disney fans who can’t get enough of Disney even at home and subscribe to Disney+, Hulu or ESPN+, receive 5% Disney Rewards Dollars on those subscriptions.

Particularly attractive for families is the card’s 0% intro APR for six months on select Disney vacation packages (14.24% to 23.24% thereafter).

Pros

• $300 statement credit if you spend $1,000 in three months
• Multiple redemption options (theme park tickets, statement credit for airline travel, etc.)
• 10% savings on select purchases at shopDisney.com and merchandise over $50 at certain parks
• 10% savings on select dining on most days at Disneyland and Disney World

Cons

• $49 annual fee
• Disney Rewards Dollars mostly redeemable for more Disney purchases

Who should apply: Parents with kids who are especially enthralled with Disney characters and need every doll or plushie imaginable will reap so much with this card. Families and Disney annual pass holders should also consider it since you’re already visiting the parks and making in-park purchases.

Who should skip: If you like Disney but don’t visit the parks more than once a year or so or don’t buy Disney merchandise frequently, we’d say skip this one.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card: Best for Disney stays

Why we picked it: The Marriott Bonvoy hotel network has more than 7,000 properties in more than 130 countries. When it comes to Anaheim, California, and Orlando, Florida, the hotel chain has many properties within walking distance of Disneyland and Disney World, so the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a strong choice if you’re looking to cover your nights at these parks.

Along with a generous sign-up, you get the fifth night free on any rewards stay, plus an annual free night in a hotel worth up to 35,000 points. On nights you do pay for your stay at a Marriott Bonvoy hotel, you’ll earn 6X points. You’ll also earn 3X points on grocery stores, gas stations and dining (up to $6,000 per year).

Pros

• Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) if you spend $3,000 in the first three months
• Automatic silver elite status
• 20% bonus on Marriott base points
• Points transferable to more than 40 airline partners at 3:1 ratio

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Can only use free night certificate if standard room is available
• Marriott Bonvoy points worth around 0.8 cents

Who should apply: Cardholders who live a bit far from the theme parks and like to make a trip out of your visits should seriously consider the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless. It’s also great for Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in general and anyone who stays at hotels frequently.

Who should skip: If you’re a local to either Disneyland or Disney World and rarely stay the night near the parks, you don’t need to this card. You should also skip if you’re a loyalist to a different hotel chain, like Hilton or Hyatt.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Best for getting to Disney

Why we picked it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card excels in a lot of ways, but it really earns its stripes by giving you 25% more value on travel purchases made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal and allowing you to transfer points to its 14 hotel and airline partners including Southwest, United, Marriott, IHG or JetBlue.

The good news for your upcoming trip to Disneyland – the card’s generous sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in three months – is worth $750 if you redeem for travel on the Ultimate Rewards portal. Travel on the portal encompasses flights, car rentals, hotels and more. Depending on what your next vacation to a Disney theme park entails, those 60,000 points will certainly go a long way.

Pros

• 5X points on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel
• $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit
• 10% anniversary points bonus
• 3X points on restaurants, select streaming services (including Disney+) and online grocery purchases

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Low redemption for merchandise

Who should apply: Flying or driving to a Disney park? Staying one night or a whole week while you explore every inch of Disney World? No matter how often or rarely you visit the Disney parks, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great all-around card. In fact, even for the more casual Disney enthusiast who watches Disney+ and Hulu after work and only sometimes visits a theme park, this card is a good fit.

Who should skip: If it’s difficult to manage that annual fee right now, you should revisit this card later on. And if you don’t plan on traveling anywhere at least once a year, you could also skip.

Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card: Best no-annual-fee option

Why we picked it: An annual fee should not be an obstacle to earn some rewards, which makes the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card a good choice. In your first year alone, you could earn 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 in the first six months. With Delta SkyMiles worth 1.61 cents, you gain around $161 that you can use toward flights, with only a $1,000 spend (relatively low in the travel card market).

Other than rewards, the card gives you 20% discount on in-flight Delta purchases in case you want to purchase any snacks, drinks or Wi-Fi. You also have access to some helpful benefits like car rental insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.

Pros

• 2X miles on Delta purchases and at restaurants worldwide
• 1 mile per dollar spent on other purchases
• 20% statement credit on in-flight purchases
• No annual fee

Cons

• Few bonus categories outside Delta purchases

Who should apply: People who have no loyalty to a particular airline and don’t mind flying with Delta should apply. Of course, existing Delta enthusiasts will like the card’s rewards. For anyone mostly struggling with the travel aspect of going to Disney (perhaps housing is covered by a relative), this card will serve you well.

Who should skip: If you want a more versatile card with which you can earn rewards even when not traveling, you should keep shopping around.

How to choose a credit card for Disney

To be frank, there are many credit cards out there that will help cover some of your Disney expenses at the theme parks, traveling to a park or online.

Nevertheless, the above are some of our top recommendations for Disney purchases, so let’s see how they compare in this table:

How to choose a credit card for Disney visits

After reading through the choices, now you actually have to make a decision. We know, it’s a tough one. Each card offers its own set of perks and rewards that benefit a specific type of cardholder. To choose the best one for you, ask yourself the following questions.

• How many people will benefit from this card? Parents with one or multiple little tots who simply can’t get enough of Disney will find it easier to justify the annual fees of the Chase Disney Premier Visa or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless cards. Adult Disney fans who visit the park with friends occasionally will appreciate the versatility of the Chase Sapphire Preferred or free flights with the Delta SkyMiles Blue card.
• Are you a local to Disneyland or Disney World? California residents are often Disney annual pass holders. These cardholders tend to make a lot of in-park purchases and would enjoy the perks of the Chase Disney Premier Visa. If Disneyland or Disney World requires more travel for you, one of the travel cards is probably a better choice.
• Do you want a card only for Disney purchases? Unless you’re spending mostly on Disney merchandise – apparel, plushies and Disney princess dolls – and park food, the Chase Disney Premier Visa is unnecessary. Disney fans who want to earn rewards on everyday categories like restaurants or gas stations may prefer the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Bottom line

Disney theme parks are magical places, but they do take some saving up before you’re able to enjoy them. To save more quickly you should apply for a credit card that will give you rewards in the areas you need them most – Disney goods, travel, hotels or airfare – and also use it regularly on purchases you would already make.

*All information about the Disney Visa card from Chase has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.