Use Visa rewards now or save for future trip? - The DIS Discussion Forums

WaDiWo · 02-11-2013, 07:39 PM

Hi all!

We have a Disney Cruise coming up, and we have accrued some Disney visa rewards!

We also have a Walt Disney World trip some 4 months later. Would you use the rewards now or save them and build up more rewards to use for the future trip?

I know mathematically it might not make a difference, OR it might tip in favor of using the rewards now, as the cash you're saving is earning interest in the bank. However, psychologically would saving them and building up more points make the future trip seem less expensive?

I know this is splitting hairs, just something fun to think about.

beansmom · 02-11-2013, 08:04 PM

i think i would save them up.

i have a savings jar. we have a trip planned for may to ireland/scotland/paris and we have resigned ourselves to paying for that. I don't think i'd really have enough to make a dent in that trip by may so I'm earmarking the jar for the trip I want to take to Maui next january. By May I will only have a few hundred $$ in the jar but by next year I should have well over $1000. It is more exciting to be able to say 'look! this will pay for a week in the condo and groceries'. Better than 'we saved $300 off a $7k vacation'. KWIM?

I guess i like big gestures.

ICF · 02-11-2013, 08:07 PM

I'd use them....there is no guarantee of a future trip, and I think they expire 7 years after earning them.

Marionnette · 02-11-2013, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaDiWo

Hi all!

We have a Disney Cruise coming up, and we have accrued some Disney visa rewards!

We also have a Walt Disney World trip some 4 months later. Would you use the rewards now or save them and build up more rewards to use for the future trip?

I know mathematically it might not make a difference, OR it might tip in favor of using the rewards now, as the cash you're saving is earning interest in the bank. However, psychologically would saving them and building up more points make the future trip seem less expensive?

I know this is splitting hairs, just something fun to think about.

I think that I would put all but $10 onto a Rewards Card and use it to pay my stateroom charges on the cruise. Leaving $10 un-transferred will make it possible to transfer every last cent of your future earnings to the card when you take your trip to Disney World later. You have to have a minimum of $10 each time to be able to redeem your rewards.

gjl · 02-13-2013, 11:33 AM

Wouldn't you get 2% on all your cruise expenditures if you have the Premiere Rewards Visa? (Like Disney store, travel, park purchases, etc that earn 2%?) I'd say wait and use your card for your cruise expenses and have more "free" money to use on your trip!

WaDiWo · 02-13-2013, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gjl

Wouldn't you get 2% on all your cruise expenditures if you have the Premiere Rewards Visa? (Like Disney store, travel, park purchases, etc that earn 2%?) I'd say wait and use your card for your cruise expenses and have more "free" money to use on your trip!

You're absolutely correct! I do have the premiere rewards visa, and earning 2% rewards on money that I will be spending anyway is not bad. So i guess I'll save the rewards, but then i'll be faced with the same question for the next trip ... especially if we plan yet another trip!

lost*in*cyberspace · 02-13-2013, 07:25 PM

My husband and I don't hold on to things like this too long. CC rewards, FF miles, etc., all expire or the rules change for redemption so you lose value.

mickeymaker2003 · 02-13-2013, 10:17 PM

They do expire. I would use them. If you really want to "save" them, you could put the same amount on a regular Disney gift card which will not expire and spend the rewards points. Either way, I wouldn't hold onto them if you have an opportunity to use them.

Suz D · 02-14-2013, 03:42 PM

This doesn't answer your original question, it's more of a tip about DCL and Disney Visa. About 2 weeks before you sail contact Disney Cruise line if you booked directly with them, or your travel agent if you used one. Have them put $X.XX on your onboard account using your Disney Visa. Whatever you don't use will be refunded to your Visa card so there isn't any risk. But here's the good part...

If you charge things onboard it just goes on your Visa as a regular Disney charge. If you put it on your Visa in advance of your trip it is charged as a "vacation package" and is eligible for the 6 months same as cash. It's a fun way to spread out those extra fun things that you want to do when you're cruising.

02-11-2013, 07:39 PM	#1
WaDiWo WDWFan! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 637	Use Visa rewards now or save for future trip? Hi all! We have a Disney Cruise coming up, and we have accrued some Disney visa rewards! We also have a Walt Disney World trip some 4 months later. Would you use the rewards now or save them and build up more rewards to use for the future trip? I know mathematically it might not make a difference, OR it might tip in favor of using the rewards now, as the cash you're saving is earning interest in the bank. However, psychologically would saving them and building up more points make the future trip seem less expensive? I know this is splitting hairs, just something fun to think about. __________________ Cheers! WaDiWo My blog: Come follow my journey towards my goal: Couch to Goofy Marathon Challenge! My Castaway Cay 5k trip report HERE My NYC 2 night cruise getaway trip report Part I, Part II, Part III

02-11-2013, 08:04 PM	#2
beansmom Your dream eludes you? Don't you know that a dream is a wish your heart makes?? Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: I've Moved to the Red Sox Nation!! Posts: 3,033	i think i would save them up. i have a savings jar. we have a trip planned for may to ireland/scotland/paris and we have resigned ourselves to paying for that. I don't think i'd really have enough to make a dent in that trip by may so I'm earmarking the jar for the trip I want to take to Maui next january. By May I will only have a few hundred $$ in the jar but by next year I should have well over $1000. It is more exciting to be able to say 'look! this will pay for a week in the condo and groceries'. Better than 'we saved $300 off a $7k vacation'. KWIM? I guess i like big gestures. __________________

02-11-2013, 08:07 PM	#3
ICF DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,613	I'd use them....there is no guarantee of a future trip, and I think they expire 7 years after earning them. __________________

02-13-2013, 11:33 AM	#5
gjl Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 201	Wouldn't you get 2% on all your cruise expenditures if you have the Premiere Rewards Visa? (Like Disney store, travel, park purchases, etc that earn 2%?) I'd say wait and use your card for your cruise expenses and have more "free" money to use on your trip! __________________

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02-13-2013, 07:25 PM	#7
lostincyberspace DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington, DC area Posts: 6,149	My husband and I don't hold on to things like this too long. CC rewards, FF miles, etc., all expire or the rules change for redemption so you lose value.

02-13-2013, 10:17 PM	#8
mickeymaker2003 DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central MN Posts: 1,703	They do expire. I would use them. If you really want to "save" them, you could put the same amount on a regular Disney gift card which will not expire and spend the rewards points. Either way, I wouldn't hold onto them if you have an opportunity to use them.

02-14-2013, 03:42 PM	#9
Suz D DIS Veteran Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Morgantown, WV Posts: 1,685	This doesn't answer your original question, it's more of a tip about DCL and Disney Visa. About 2 weeks before you sail contact Disney Cruise line if you booked directly with them, or your travel agent if you used one. Have them put $X.XX on your onboard account using your Disney Visa. Whatever you don't use will be refunded to your Visa card so there isn't any risk. But here's the good part... If you charge things onboard it just goes on your Visa as a regular Disney charge. If you put it on your Visa in advance of your trip it is charged as a "vacation package" and is eligible for the 6 months same as cash. It's a fun way to spread out those extra fun things that you want to do when you're cruising.