Best credit cards for Disney vacations of April 2024

The Bonus: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening. That's worth up to $750 in travel statement credit, which can go a long way toward helping pay for your Disney getaway. Furthermore, you could transfer those miles to one of several airline partners, which might even increase their value.

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

The Rewards: Earn 2X miles per $1 spent on every purchases.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• Flexibility is a huge factor with this card. Any qualifying travel purchase, from RV rentals to resort fees and more, can be qualifying purchases for which you can redeem rewards.
• It's rare to find a Global Entry application reimbursement perk through a card with this low of an annual fee, so this is an especially nice feature.
• The ability to erase your travel purchases or transfer your miles to travel loyalty partners makes this card's rewards very easy to use.

CONS:

• This card's rewards program is certainly simple – 2X miles on every purchase – but there are more lucrative ones out there. Weigh whether the simplicity is worth possibly fewer rewards overall or whether you're willing to invest a bit more time (and possibly a larger annual fee) to earn more rewards.
• The introduction of hotel and airline travel partners gives cardholders options, which is great. But the partners aren't necessarily the biggest or most popular brands. Make sure those transfer partners fit your needs.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's worth $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel.

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

The Rewards: Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• As a Sapphire Preferred® cardholder, ALL of your bonus points can be worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Travel. Just transfer points earned with your other Ultimate Rewards cards to the Sapphire Preferred® bucket.
• An extra 25% value on your rewards is a nice perk, but there are also several hotel and airline loyalty program transfer partners, so you might be able to make your rewards go even further.
• This card offers included trip cancellation insurance when you book your travel on the card (conditions apply). This perk could save you a LOT of money. Learn more about credit card travel insurance.

CONS:

• The welcome offer for new cardholders is quite impressive, but the spend threshold required to earn it may be difficult for some users.
• This card charges an annual fee; ensure it's actually meeting your earning and redemption needs so you can fully offset that fee and take full advantage of the perks and features.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back! Additionally, take advantage of 15 months introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers (then, RegAPR)

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards:Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining; and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• Earning 4.5% cash back on your dining purchases, including takeout and delivery, is a stellar earn rate on a no-annual-fee card. Remember that dining in the park and paying with your Magic Band is likely to code as a "theme park" or "entertainment" purchase; however, any restaurants off the property, or likely those at Disney Springs that you pay for directly with your card, will likely code as "restaurants."
• No matter what code your purchase ultimately has, you'll earn at LEAST 1.5% cash back, which is quite nice if you're just wanting a simple approach to paying for your purchases will visiting the Mouse.

CONS:

• If you're hoping to say bonjour to Mickey Mouse at Disneyland Paris, leave this card at home; it does charge foreign transaction fees.
• While earning 6.5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel is awesome, you don't earn much on your other travel purchases. To maximize your earning on your vacation, book your vacation with a true travel rewards card that will offer you a better return.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: New cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

The Rewards: Earn three points per $1 on Southwest purchases as well as two points per $1 on local transit and commuting (including rideshares) and on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming and one point per $1 on other eligible purchases.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• Enjoy 6,000 bonus points after your cardmember anniversary.
• Don't know what Companion Pass is? Take a look at our Guide to the Southwest Companion Pass.Remember, you have to earn the points in a single calendar year to earn the pass.
• One of the big perks with many airline cards (and a way to quickly offset an annual fee) is a free checked bag. With Southwest, there's no charge for your first two bags anyway (we aren't complaining!) so you're going to need to find other ways to offset that fee.

CONS:

• If Disneyland Paris is on your agenda, Southwest will not be the airline to get you there. While it's list of destinations is expanding and does now include some international stops, they're limited.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Welcome Bonus: For a limited time, earn 100,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

The Rewards: Earn three Bonvoy points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year at grocery stores, gas stations and on dining. Earn up to 17 total points for every $1 spent at participating in Marriott Bonvoy properties and two points per $1 on all other purchases.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• The Marriott footprint is massive – the biggest in the world thanks to its merger with Starwood several years ago. That means that whether you're headed to a Disney park or pretty much anywhere else, there's likely to be a Marriott home away from home nearby.
• Receive a free night (up to 35,000-point value) every year after your account anniversary – a perk that more than offsets the annual fee.
• This is a fine card to take along if one of the international Disney parks is on your agenda as it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

CONS:

• The Swan and Dolphin hotels at Disney World were Category 6 properties under Marriott's old reward system (it's been updated to dynamic pricing), but you should still expect the redemption to be quite pricy. So, yes, they are Marriott properties and you can use rewards to stay there, but it will seriously deplete your points bank to do it.
• At a glance, the rewards earning on stays appears astronomical at up to 17 points per $1 spent at participating properties, but the valuation of the points isn't great. It's a good reminder that big, flashy numbers don't always tell the full story.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn a one-time $200 cash-back bonus after you spend $500 in the first three months

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

The Rewards: Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cards booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment and on popular streaming services as well as at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target); and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases. Plus, earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases as well as 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• You can take this card to Tokyo Disney or any of Disney's other international parks and rest assured you won't pay foreign transaction fees while you're there.
• If buying groceries and cooking in your room is your way to save money on a Disney trip, that's ok. This card rewards you with 3% back at grocery stores
• Need a little more time to pay off your vacation? This card offers an intro 15 months 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers (then, RegAPR; balance transfer fee applies.)

CONS:

• This is a cash-back rewards card. That may be perfect for you, but it isn't going to rake in travel points that you can put toward your next vacation (though you can certainly put your cash back into a vacations piggy bank if you want)
• Earning 3% cash back at grocery stores is nice, but it doesn't include "superstores like Walmart and Target," so be sure your regular spending works here.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months. Plus, for a limited time, earn 10 points per $1 on hotels, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) booked via the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

The Rewards: Earn three points per $1 at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, hotels and on air travel. Earn one point per $1 on all other purchases.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• Once again, there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about (are you noticing a trend with these cards?)
• There are a lot of opportunities to earn 3x the points with this card – many of which will come in handy for your Disney vacation (as well as many of the purchases that are part of your everyday life).
• You can save with a $100 annual hotel savings benefit, that provides $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more each year. That's one to help offset your hotel stay at a Disney park.

CONS:

• While there are a lot of opportunities to earn 3x the points, this card is still geared toward being out and about. If you mostly stay home (as opposed to going out to eat or traveling regularly), this card probably isn't your best option.
• The Citi ThankYou® Rewards program offers the opportunity to redeem points for lots of different things in addition to the option to transfer points to a number of travel loyalty programs. Those transfer may ultimately yield the best value for your points, but may NOT offer the best options for a Disney vacation if you're wanting to pay with travel rewards. Learn more about the program in our Guide to Citi ThankYou Points.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.