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Compare financing options for a Disney vacation

10 ways to manage the cost of a trip to Main Street, USA.

A Disney vacation can easily set you back thousands of dollars. But if you’re set on visiting the Magic Kingdom or a resort, there are ways to save on the cost — or otherwise make it a little more affordable in the short term.

How can I finance a Disney vacation?

There are several ways you can finance your Disney vacation both from Disney and private companies.

Credit cards

  • Best for: Short-term financing for a one-time Disney vacation.

A credit card can be a great choice to pay for a Disney vacation, especially if you’ll pay off your balance within a few months. Many card providers classify Disney tickets and vacation packages as travel — in which case you could earn attractive bonus rewards.

You could save a lot on interest with a 0% intro APR card. Most cards of this type offer intro periods between 12 and 15 months, and some stretch these periods up to 18 to 21 months. If you pay off your balance before your purchase intro APR expires, you could enjoy an interest-free Disney trip.

Be careful with intro APRs

With an intro APR, you might be tempted to make a big purchase now and pay it off much later. But this is usually a mistake. Once your intro APR expires, your balance could accumulate interest at a double-digit ongoing APR.

Have a blast during your Disney vacation, but make sure it doesn’t stress you out later. Consider making a plan to consistently pay off your Disney debt each month. When the sun sets on your intro APR, you can reminisce about your amazing trip instead of worrying about interest payments.

Co-branded Disney credit cards

The Disney® Visa® Card and Disney® Premier Visa® Card offer Disney Reward Dollars on your purchases. They also come with savings on shopping and dining at Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts, as well as cardholder-only events and character experiences.

Each card comes with a 0% intro APR for 6 months from date of purchase on select Disney vacation packages (promo APR only applies to these purchases) on some Disney vacation packages (after that, 19.24% to 28.24% variable). This can help you break your vacation cost into a few manageable payments.

Disney Vacation Club

  • Best for: Financing an annual Disney vacation for years to come.

If you’re no stranger to Disney vacations — or see several on the horizon — it might be worth investing in a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) membership. Becoming a member can potentially save you up to 50% on some package deals, but it might not be worth the investment if you only plan on going once or twice. Members typically will see savings six to 12 years after signing up.

The DVC is a timeshare on a Disney Vacation Club Resort. As a member, you can can buy or earn points, which you can use to book a room at any Disney resort. You also get access to membership perks like exclusive events and shorter lines at some Disney parks.

How much does the Disney Vacation Club cost?

There are several costs to consider when signing up for a DVC membership:

  • Purchase price. It costs $188 per point, though you’ll have to fork over at least $18,800 for 100 points when you sign up — or finance this cost.
  • Closing costs. Closing your membership starts at $454, depending on your home resort and how many vacation points you own.
  • Annual dues. Members pay an annual fee that breaks down to at least $62 per month.

Financing the purchasing price

If you’re short the $18,800, Disney offers loans to its customers. Typically, you’ll have to make a down payment and then pay it off plus interest and fees over several years. On a 10-year loan for the minimum 100 points, you can expect to pay at least $265 per month.

Several third-party companies also offer financing specifically for the DVC, though you might get a better deal with a standard personal loan.

Another popular way to take advantage of the DVC program is to rent points from a DVC owner. If you don’t already know someone directly, you can pay for a service to connect you with an owner. Or you can find an owner on an online forum — potentially less expensive, but more of a risk since there’s less security.

Personal loan

  • Best for: Long-term financing for the occasional Disney vacation.

If you need more than six months to pay off your vacation, a personal loan could help you cover the cost. Personal loan rates typically start lower than what you’d pay on a credit card, and terms typically run from three to seven years. They can also be a good option if you want to invest in a timeshare at a Disney resort.

Compare financing options

1 - 10 of 18
Name Product USCCF Filter values Welcome Offer Rewards Annual fee
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Up to 5x miles
$0
Earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. See rates & fees
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Enjoy 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Up to 5x miles
$95
Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months ​from account opening, equal to $750 in travel. See rates & fees
Bilt Mastercard®
Bilt Mastercard®
Bilt does not have a welcome offer. However, they have a unique bonus offer of double points on the first of each month – that’s 3x points on dining, 2x points on travel, and 1x points on other purchases. Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points). Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
Up to 3x points
$0
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
$200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Up to 1.5% cash back
$0
More than an unlimited 1.5% cash back card: you'll also earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). See rates & fees
Capital One VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit
Capital One VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit
N/A
Up to 5x miles
$0
The same rewards and $0 annual fee as the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, but for those with good credit. See rates & fees
American Express® Gold Card
Spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months you own the card and earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points. Additionally, within the first 6 months of Card Membership, earn 20% in statement credits on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, up to $100 back. This limited time offer ends on 11/6/24.
Up to 4x points
$325

Card Members can choose between a Gold, Rose Gold or Limited Edition White Gold Card.

Earn up to 4x points on select purchases and enjoy a bevy of travel perks with this upper-mid tier travel card. Terms apply, see rates & fees
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 in your first 3 months of account opening
Up to 10x miles
$395
Capital One's premium luxury travel card, featuring airport lounge access at 1,300+ lounges. See rates & fees
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000 points after spending $8,000 in your first 6 months
Up to 5x points
$695
80,000 points after spending $8,000 in your first 6 months. Terms apply, see rates & fees
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in the first 6 months. Offer ends 1/8/2025.
Up to 7x points
$0
Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in the first 6 months. Offer ends 1/8/2025. Terms apply, see rates & fees
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in your first 6 months
Up to 2x miles
$0
Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months. Terms apply, see rates & fees
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Name Product USFPL Filter Values APR Min. credit score Loan amount
Best Egg personal loans
Finder Score: 3.8 / 5: ★★★★★
Best Egg personal loans
7.99% to 35.99%
640
$2,000 to $50,000
Fast and easy personal loan application process. See options first without affecting your credit score.
Upstart personal loans
Finder Score: 4.2 / 5: ★★★★★
Upstart personal loans
7.80% to 35.99%
300
$1,000 to $50,000
This service looks beyond your credit score to get you a competitive-rate personal loan.
SoFi personal loans
Finder Score: 4.4 / 5: ★★★★★
SoFi personal loans
8.99% to 29.99% fixed APR
680
$5,000 to $100,000
A highly-rated lender with competitive rates, high loan amounts and no required fees.
Upgrade
Finder Score: 4 / 5: ★★★★★
Upgrade
9.99% to 35.99%
620
$1,000 to $50,000
Check your rates with this online lender without impacting your credit score.
LendingPoint personal loans
Finder Score: 3.3 / 5: ★★★★★
LendingPoint personal loans
7.99% to 35.99%
Not stated
$2,000 to $36,500
Get a personal loan with reasonable rates even if you have a fair credit score in the 600s.
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How much does a Disney vacation cost?

How much it costs depends on the type of vacation package you sign up for, how many people are going and the length of the stay.

Here’s an example of what you might expect for two popular six-night, seven-day vacation packages at select All-Star Disney Resorts with tickets to visit all four theme parks:

PackagePrice per person, per dayTotal cost for a family of 4
Room and ticket$102$2,856
Room, ticket and quick-service dining$141$3,943

Other factors that can affect your price include the type of room, time of year and which resort you choose.

You should also consider the cost of getting to Disney. For example, round-trip flights from Los Angeles to Orlando may cost anywhere from $200 to $400 per person during the summer months. Flights from New York are a little cheaper, topping out at around $350, but you may still want to consider some of the best airline rewards credit card programs to help reduce the overall expense.

Alternative ways to pay for a Disney vacation

Financing can make an already-expensive trip even more costly. Planning ahead or taking advantage of discounts can help you comfortably afford the price tag.

Disney vacation savings account

Setting up a dedicated savings account can make it easy to budget for your Disney vacation. There are lots of great savings options for a Disney trip, but make sure the one you choose has features that allow you to easily and consistently put aside money in weekly, bi-weekly or monthly contributions, as well as an interest rate that will grow your Disney savings or a signup bonus that can jumpstart your savings.

Magical Extras Savings Card and vouchers

The Magical Extras Savings Card and vouchers are available to visitors who book through the Walt Disney Travel Company. The card can get you discounts at Disney bars, restaurants and retail stores. And the vouchers give families of four access to free activities like miniature golf.

Your card is valid for the duration of your trip, while vouchers are often only available at certain times of the day.

Discounted Disney gift cards

Several wholesale stores like Sam’s Club and BJ’s offer discounts on Disney gift cards, which you can buy in bulk to save on expenses while on your Disney vacation. Some vacationers also take advantage of cashback programs on their credit cards when they purchase these gift cards, which can save you around 5%.

4 tips to save on a Disney vacation

Ready to plan your trip to the Magic Kingdom? Keep these tips in mind to save even more.

  1. Go during the off-season. Flights, rooms and everything else are typically less expensive during the off-season. While pulling your kids out of school for a week in October might not be feasible, traveling during the less-popular mid-winter break might help you save on the overall cost.
  2. Use a travel agent. It’s a travel agent’s job to know about deals. Hiring one might more than pay for itself in savings, especially if you’re too busy to do the research yourself.
  3. Be flexible about accommodations. Staying off-site or at the value resort hotel can reduce the cost of your vacation, especially if you cook your own meals.
  4. Go when your child is under three. Thinking of putting off your Disney vacation until your youngest is older? You might want to reconsider. Children under three can visit any of the parks for free.

Bottom line

Disney vacations are expensive — even with a discount. But there are ways to make the cost more manageable, including taking out a Disney Rewards Card, making a savings plan well in advance or taking out a personal loan when plans are more short-term.

Check out our guide to personal loans to find out more about how they work or compare other credit card options that might suit your needs.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need good credit to qualify for DVC financing?

It depends on where you get your financing — through Disney or another lender. Most reputable lenders require good credit for the lowest rates.

However, it’s possible to find a lender that doesn’t run a credit check. Bad-credit borrowers typically can expect higher rates and a larger down payment for any type of financing.

How long is the Disney Visa vacation financing good for?

There’s no limit to how long you can take to pay off a Disney vacation paid for with a co-branded Disney credit card. However, you only have a 0% APR for 6 months on select Disney vacation packages — after that it shoots up to 15.99% variable.

How much is the deposit for a Disney vacation?

It depends on when you make your reservation. If you reserve at least 31 days in advance, the deposit is $200, due within three days of the booking. You’re required to make the payment in full at least 30 days before your vacation — or when you book if you have less than 30 days before the trip.

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Anna Serio was a lead editor at Finder, specializing in consumer and business financing. A trusted lending expert and former certified commercial loan officer, Anna's written and edited more than 1,000 articles on Finder to help Americans strengthen their financial literacy. Her expertise and analysis on personal, student, business and car loans has been featured in publications like Business Insider, CNBC and Nasdaq, and has appeared on NBC and KADN. Anna holds an MA in Middle Eastern studies from the American University of Beirut and a BA in Creative Writing from Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, CUNY. See full bio

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Anna has written 238 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Personal, business, student and car loans
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