Chase Sapphire Preferred for direct purchase?

[jenhelgren]

I usually try to avoid cards with fees but the Chase Sapphire Preferred offer of 100,000 points sign on is calling me. I was planning on waiting for the next round of incentives at the end of the month but you do get 3 months from sign up to complete your $5,000 purchase so this would still work. Has anyone used the Sapphire Preferred recently that can share how to get the best incentives? Would DVC code as travel for 2X points? I am open to any ways to get the best savings even taking extra steps like balance transfers, etc. Thans for any input!

 

[supercarrie]

As of last year, Chase Sapphire coded as travel for points. 2x on the Preferred and 3x on the Reserve.

With that sign up bonus, I would go for it.

ETA I used to be afraid of cards with fees, too, but after getting into the points world, the value of the travel I earn FAR outweighs any annual fees I pay. The Preferred is a great starter card (or keeper if you don’t go further into the points world!)

 

[radiodome21]

When I bought my original VGF in August 2023 and I split it between 3 cards, including my Chase Sapphire Reserve. I did in fact receive 3 x the points in my account.

However when I bought my Sorcerers Pass last month I only received the standard 1 x points. Same with other merchandise I bought from Disney this year. When I added on earlier in the year I didn’t use this card, which was a mistake on my part so maybe double check with Chase.

 

[WeIcomeHome]

I went with the Sapphire Reserve for my direct purchase for the extra 1% back but will need to decide this summer if I'll keep the reserve or downgrade it to the preferred. Chase codes timeshare purchases as travel.

 

[davidhr]

I usually try to avoid cards with fees but the Chase Sapphire Preferred offer of 100,000 points sign on is calling me. I was planning on waiting for the next round of incentives at the end of the month but you do get 3 months from sign up to complete your $5,000 purchase so this would still work. Has anyone used the Sapphire Preferred recently that can share how to get the best incentives? Would DVC code as travel for 2X points? I am open to any ways to get the best savings even taking extra steps like balance transfers, etc. Thans for any input!

It’s codes as travel with Chase.

The best approach if you’re ok opening multiple cards, is to open a few different cards with good bonuses and split the payments between those.

For my last direct purchase I opened a couple cards and got a ridiculous amount of points.

 

[supercarrie]

When I bought my original VGF in August 2023 and I split it between 3 cards, including my Chase Sapphire Reserve. I did in fact receive 3 x the points in my account.

However when I bought my Sorcerers Pass last month I only received the standard 1 x points. Same with other merchandise I bought from Disney this year. When I added on earlier in the year I didn’t use this card, which was a mistake on my part so maybe double check with Chase.

DVC point purchases code as travel. Tickets, merch do not. Dining codes as dining. They are all different categories within credit card systems depending on exactly what you are purchasing.

ETA the multipliers matter if you are using a credit card at time of purchase. See the incredible tip from @CarolynFH regarding room charges, too.

 

[CarolynFH]

One reason that we like to charge our WDW dining, merchandise, etc. to the resort account and pay it with our CC is that the total codes as Travel. It isn’t broken down into other categories.

 

[J-Dog]

As of last year, Chase Sapphire coded as travel for points. 2x on the Preferred and 3x on the Reserve.

With that sign up bonus, I would go for it.

ETA I used to be afraid of cards with fees, too, but after getting into the points world, the value of the travel I earn FAR outweighs any annual fees I pay. The Preferred is a great starter card (or keeper if you don’t go further into the points world!)

This. I can't with the OP's exact question, but I have a Capital One Venture X card that I've had for 3 years. At $395 annual fee, I've paid roughly $1200 in annual fees. I just added up my rewards value, and it's just over $6000.

So, to the OP - if you plan to use the card for travel rewards in the future, I would absolutely do it.

 

[Sandisw]

This. I can't with the OP's exact question, but I have a Capital One Venture X card that I've had for 3 years. At $395 annual fee, I've paid roughly $1200 in annual fees. I just added up my rewards value, and it's just over $6000.

So, to the OP - if you plan to use the card for travel rewards in the future, I would absolutely do it.

I have this one and I always use the $300 travel credit we get each year to cover one of my flights so I look at it as paying only $95!

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

One reason that we like to charge our WDW dining, merchandise, etc. to the resort account and pay it with our CC is that the total codes as Travel. It isn’t broken down into other categories.

Feeling dense… you do that via MB?

 

[jenhelgren]

The best approach if you’re ok opening multiple cards, is to open a few different cards with good bonuses and split the payments between those.

Any other cards you would recommend looking into to split with the Chase Preferred?

 

[CarolynFH]

Feeling dense… you do that via MB?

Via MB or Key to the World card if we don’t have a MB. Basically, whatever means you use to charge to your room account.

 

[supercarrie]

One reason that we like to charge our WDW dining, merchandise, etc. to the resort account and pay it with our CC is that the total codes as Travel. It isn’t broken down into other categories.

Ooh this is a fantastic tip. For Chase specifically?

I am a DL local and so always use a card with a multiplier, but very good to know for WDW trips.

 

[CarolynFH]

Ooh this is a fantastic tip. For Chase specifically?

I am a DL local and so always use a card with a multiplier, but very good to know for WDW trips.

AFAIK, it works for any card that has a Travel category. The point is that when Disney sends the resort charges to the CC company, they’re sent as a single category. For the Chase cards we have (we’ve used Disney Visa as well as Chase Sapphire in the past), it has all coded as Travel, so we’ve gotten the Travel multiplier even for dining and merchandise.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I opened multiple cards for my direct purchase. I netted over 1 million points

Yes Chase codes DVC as travel.

Check out this thread for some other ideas. https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...ard-rewards-etc.3946321/page-11#post-65896330

 

[DanCali]

When I bought my original VGF in August 2023 and I split it between 3 cards, including my Chase Sapphire Reserve. I did in fact receive 3 x the points in my account.

However when I bought my Sorcerers Pass last month I only received the standard 1 x points. Same with other merchandise I bought from Disney this year. When I added on earlier in the year I didn’t use this card, which was a mistake on my part so maybe double check with Chase.

Timeshare purchases and maintenance fee payments count as "travel". So do DCL payments towards a cruise.

Tickets and passes count as "entertainment" (with subcategory amusement parks).

Merchandise is just in the "shopping" category.

The Reserve card has a 1.5x multiplier on travel redemptions, so the 3x points is more like 4.5x.

The believe Preferred has a 1.25 multiplier so the 2x points is more like 2.5x.