The Chase Sapphire Reserve Is Something Disney Fans Should Love!
I think sometimes I assume that readers get their credit card advice from all the other travel blogs that are out there and rely on me for other areas of expertise. That being said, I spend a lot of time thinking about optimal credit card strategy, as I’m lucky enough to have some credit card spend from my day job that helps me earn miles and points.
In case you’ve been under a rock or don’t read a bunch of other travel blogs, here’s the nickel version on this new card:
- Earns Ultimate Rewards points, same currency as the Chase Sapphire Preferred the Chase Ink cards.
- Current sign-up bonus of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months after you receive the card.
- $450 annual fee not waived for the first year.
- $300 travel credit (we’ll be talking about this more later).
- Lounge access with Priority Pass Select membership.
- 3X points on travel and dining (versus 2X for Chase Sapphire Preferred).
- More cash value if you redeem your points for travel purchases through Chase (something I usually don’t recommend).
There’s more, but those are the highlights for me. I’m not sure how long the 100,000 point sign-up bonus is going to be around, and that’s an excellent sign-up bonus. No referral links or upside otherwise for me whether you apply, but if you’re thinking about it you really should do it soon.
Some new information came my way in regards to the travel credit. A $300 travel credit is a nice plus when you look at that $450 annual fee. And, this credit is more useful than the American Express Platinum credit, in that it’s generally speaking for any travel charge (like an airline ticket) instead of just fees (like a checked bag fee).
My friend Perry Platypus pinged me on Twitter yesterday to say that there’s an interesting new category where you can score that $300 travel credit:
Translation: Folks who are Disney Vacation Club members should be able to charge their dues on the Chase Sapphire Reserve and have it count towards the $300 travel credit. And, for folks who aren’t DVC members, a Disney World annual pass may qualify as well.
ETA: After some reader comments (below) it seems you likely won’t get the $300 travel credit if you just purchase the annual pass outright. If you purchase it through DVC or by funds you put into a Disney Vacation Account, those methods seem to work. Thanks to everyone who weighed in!
Don’t Forget To Double-Dip
My understanding is that the $300 travel credit is an annual benefit tied to a calendar year, where the annual fee is on a rolling 12 month schedule from when you are approved for the card. This means you should be able to apply for the card now and receive a $300 travel credit in 2016, then get another $300 travel credit in early 2017 (or anytime in 2017). That means you can earn $600 in travel credits before you have to incur the $450 annual fee again.
No matter how you earn that $300 travel credit, it’s a great deal.
Are You Applying For The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card?
If So, How Are You Earning The $300 Travel Credit?
The post The Chase Sapphire Reserve Is Something Disney Fans Should Love! was published first on Pizza in Motion
I should clarify, that since DVC members can buy AP direct from member services it should code as a travel timeshare transaction. Not sure how regular tickets would be categorize but both would be a YMMV.
Ah, good point, Perryplatypus. I was thinking that AP wasn’t treated as a ticket but I don’t recall what my charge looks like when I’ve bought it in the past.
I should clarify, that since DVC members can buy AP direct from member services it should code as a travel timeshare transaction. Not sure how regular tickets would be categorize but both would be a YMMV.
Ah, good point, Perryplatypus. I was thinking that AP wasn’t treated as a ticket but I don’t recall what my charge looks like when I’ve bought it in the past.
I can confirm that DVC dues are reimbursed from the $300 travel credit. I charged the balance of my 2016 dues to try and help get to the $4k spend for the 100k points and it triggered the $300 credit.
Shaun, thanks for confirming! Where do you own at DVC?
I own a bulk of my points at Bay Lake Tower and a small 50pt contract at Boardwalk….so i can stumble home from Epcot during Food & Wine 🙂
Shaun, we own at Bay Lake Tower as well. Really like the property, though given the rates we’ve been renting the points out more and staying at Swan/Dolphin.
I can confirm that DVC dues are reimbursed from the $300 travel credit. I charged the balance of my 2016 dues to try and help get to the $4k spend for the 100k points and it triggered the $300 credit.
Shaun, thanks for confirming! Where do you own at DVC?
I own a bulk of my points at Bay Lake Tower and a small 50pt contract at Boardwalk….so i can stumble home from Epcot during Food & Wine 🙂
Shaun, we own at Bay Lake Tower as well. Really like the property, though given the rates we’ve been renting the points out more and staying at Swan/Dolphin.
I recently renewed my AP pass and it did not get coded as travel so no credit for me. I am not a DVC owner so this was just a regular ticket purchase.
Drew, thanks for clarifying!
I recently renewed my AP pass and it did not get coded as travel so no credit for me. I am not a DVC owner so this was just a regular ticket purchase.
Drew, thanks for clarifying!
On Flyertalk an individual put money into the Disney Vacation Account and it was coded as travel. You could put 300 in this year, 300 in January and use the funds from there to purchase tickets. Buy Disney gift cards at wholesale warehouse stores like Sam’s club at a discount with your chase Freedom card to hit the category spend, deposit those gift cards into the vacation account and then. Boom. UR’s everywhere.
Chris, that’s a nice plus I hadn’t considered. I haven’t toyed around with the DVA. Do you find it easy to use? I did buy discounted Disney gift cards at Sam’s Club for our last visit.
On Flyertalk an individual put money into the Disney Vacation Account and it was coded as travel. You could put 300 in this year, 300 in January and use the funds from there to purchase tickets. Buy Disney gift cards at wholesale warehouse stores like Sam’s club at a discount with your chase Freedom card to hit the category spend, deposit those gift cards into the vacation account and then. Boom. UR’s everywhere.
Chris, that’s a nice plus I hadn’t considered. I haven’t toyed around with the DVA. Do you find it easy to use? I did buy discounted Disney gift cards at Sam’s Club for our last visit.
LOL – I’m sure Disney fans will love the card but I also doubt many DVC members are going to have a difficult time spending their $300 credit annually! Just waiting for February when a few apps drop off to get me blow 5/24.
David, surely most won’t have an issue. 🙂
But, considering that we’re coming to the end of the year, not everyone may have an easy $300 travel expense in the next 60 days. Always good to have more options!
LOL – I’m sure Disney fans will love the card but I also doubt many DVC members are going to have a difficult time spending their $300 credit annually! Just waiting for February when a few apps drop off to get me blow 5/24.
David, surely most won’t have an issue. 🙂
But, considering that we’re coming to the end of the year, not everyone may have an easy $300 travel expense in the next 60 days. Always good to have more options!