(Almost) Free Disney Vacation?

This past November, we took our first real family vacation. We've traveled with the kids before, but it's always been to visit family in Texas and Florida (we're in Atlanta).

A little after our son was born, I got a Disney Rewards^® VISA^®card. For five years, we used that card for almost every purchase we made: groceries, gas, bills - everything. In return, we amassed enough Disney Rewards^® to pay for most of our vacation. And we had a nice one, at that. Now, we did get a deal (I scoured the web for the best), but our vacation included seven days at a moderate Disney property (Port Orleans Riverside), seven days of tickets, and the dining plan. We would not have taken such an extravagant vacation if it had not been for the rewards points. Our Disney Rewards^® covered about 80% of the total cost. We could have gone for completely free if we had opted for a value Disney hotel, but we figured after five years of waiting for a vacation, we could afford a little splurge.

Now, I understand that there are those who have problems with credit cards. If you don't pay off your balance, then the rewards cards just aren't worth it. The interest charges will negate any rewards you accrue, and you aren't being a savvy consumer. My husband and I have always been very diligent about paying off our credit cards and not carrying a balance, so they work for us. We've had several different kinds of rewards cards in the past, but we settled on the Disney Rewards^® VISA^® when we had kids and realized that the Disney vacations were coming. Now that we've taken one vacation on rewards points, we are already saving up points for another Disney trip we're planning for a few years in the future.

Benefits of the Disney card:

• Earn 1% in rewards for every purchase on your card.
  
• One reward point has the value of one dollar. 1 Reward = $1.
  
• Redeem your rewards to pay for most things Disney: park tickets, hotel stays, merchandise. Rewards can be used at your local Disney Store and for online purchases, but I prefer to save them up for vacation.
• Receive special Disney discounts and offers (we took advantage of a special vacation package deal offered to Disney Rewards^® VISA^® cardholders only)
• Take advantage of special cardmember benefits in the Parks (we got a free 5x7 family photo with Mickey and Minnie)
• Check the Disney Rewards^® VISA^® website for more details