Skip to main content

This Disney Inspire Visa Offer Expires Next Week

By U.S. News & World Report

You, too, can celebrate Star Wars Day by getting the Disney® Inspire Visa® Card before its welcome bonus offer expires on May 4. After that, you’ll lose out on the Disney gift card that all new cardholders receive automatically upon approval.

[Read: Best Credit Cards]

Current Disney Inspire Visa Card Offer

The Disney Inspire Visa Card launched earlier this year with valuable benefits targeting Disney super fans. New cardholders receive a $300 Disney gift card upon approval. Plus, they’ll get a $300 statement credit after spending $1,000 in the first three months after opening an account. This welcome bonus offer is expiring on May 4, 2026.

Reduced Bonus Offer Starting May 5

Starting May 5, the Disney Inspire Visa Card welcome bonus is reduced to a $500 statement credit. While the statement credit increases from $300 to $500, Chase is eliminating the $300 Disney gift card that new cardholders currently receive. To qualify for the $500 welcome bonus, you’ll still need to meet the $1,000 minimum spending requirement within three months of opening your account.

[Read: Travel Credit Cards]

Top Features of This Card

Whether you apply before the current offer expires or at a later date, the Disney Inspire Visa Card offers numerous benefits that will help you get more out of your Disney vacation. Here are the top features you need to know about:

— Earn up to 10% back on purchases. Receive Disney dollars that you can use on your next trip to Disney or when ordering online. You’ll earn 10% on purchases at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.ESPN.com, 3% at gas stations and U.S. Disney locations, 2% on groceries and dining and 1% on everything else.

— Annual credits based on spending. Get $200 in Disney Rewards Dollars when you spend $2,000 each year on U.S. Disney Resort stays or Disney Cruise Line bookings. Earn another $100 statement credit after spending $200 per year on U.S. Disney theme park tickets, just in time for your summer Disney vacation.

— Disney streaming credits. Qualifying subscriptions of $10 or more on DisneyPlus, Hulu or ESPN earn a $10 statement credit each month.

— Special financing on Disney Vacation packages. Use your Disney Inspire Visa when booking to receive a 0% promotional annual percentage rate for six months.

— Other Disney perks. Receive additional discounts on Disney merchandise, dining and guided tours. Plus, enjoy complimentary downloads of your photos taken at private cardholder locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort.

Alternative Card to Consider

If you’re unsure whether you’ll visit Disney theme parks enough to justify the card’s $149 annual fee, a different travel credit card might be a better option. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a solid travel card with earning power, benefits and a welcome bonus that you’ll love. With this card, you’ll earn five points per dollar on Chase Travel? reservations, three points on dining, two points on all other travel purchases and one point on everything else.

New cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Points can be used to book travel, transfer to airline and hotel partners and get cash back. While it has a $95 annual fee, it also comes with up to a $50 annual hotel credit, complimentary travel and purchase protections and exclusive partner benefits.

More from U.S. News

Survey: 65% of Americans Alter Summer Travel Plans Due to Rising Prices

Citi ThankYou® Rewards: Transfer Partners Guide

AmEx Gold Announces Special Perks to Celebrate 60 Years

This Disney Inspire Visa Offer Expires Next Week originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related Stories

APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake
Latest News
Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430
June 27, 2026
APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Bahrain US Rubio Gulf

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in 'first step' toward peace, Rubio says

APTOPIX Colombia Election

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia's next president as rival challenges vote

Iran US Congress

Congress wonders as the Iran war draws to a close: Was it worth it?

Supreme Court

Supreme Court sides with a Texas man who says it’s not a crime for marijuana users to have guns