Best savings options for a Disney vacation account

Disney used to offer a Disney Vacation Savings account, but it shut this program down in 2017. To help you save for your Disney vacation, we’ve gathered the five best credit unions that offer Disney discounts and the top five alternative savings accounts you could use to save for your next trip.

To narrow down our list of credit unions, our primary focus was on finding those that had the best Disney discounts. This meant ignoring secondary factors like membership requirements and branch locations. All five of our picks require you to open a basic savings account to establish membership, so we noted the account details, pros and cons of each account.

To find the best alternative savings accounts for Disney vacations, we focused on accounts with high APYs, low monthly fees, and goal tracking features that allow you to set and manage your progress as you save toward your Disney trip.

• What's changed in 2020?

  Disney had its own vacation savings account—called the Disney Vacation Account—but it shut down this program in 2017. We broke our list into two parts. The first part focuses on credit unions that offer the best Disney discounts. The second part focuses on alternative accounts that come with automatic savings tools and goal tracking features to help you visualize and accomplish your Disney savings goals.

5 credit unions that offer Disney perks

Providence Federal Credit Union Share Savings account

0.05%
APY

None
Fees

$5
Min. opening deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

When you join Providence Federal Credit Union, you save up to 50% on select vacations to destinations such as Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Knotts Berry Farm, SeaWorld, Legoland California, Universal Studios Hollywood, and more.

• Visa Travel Money Card. Load up to $5,000 on this exclusive prepaid card and enjoy free travel and emergency assistance, lost luggage reimbursements and a competitive foreign exchange rate when you take your Disney vacation.
• No monthly fee. Providence doesn't charge any monthly maintenance fees for its Share Savings account.
• Online application. If you qualify for membership, you can open this account online without having to visit a local branch.

• Average APY. This account earns 0.05% APY, which is lower than most online banks that offer rates over 1.7%.
• Minimum balance requirements. You'll need to keep at least $100 in this account to earn interest.
• Strict membership requirements. Membership is open to employees of Providence St. Joseph Health or one of its own subsidiaries and their families.

Interest compounding	Monthly
Minimum to earn interest	$100
Monthly transaction limit
Fee per transaction over limit

Call Federal Savings account

0.35%
APY

None
Fees

$5
Min. opening deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Call Federal Credit Union has a range of perks for its members, including discounted tickets to Disneyland and Disney World through one of its partners, Tickets at Work.

• Other membership benefits. Get access to money education programs and free meetings with a certified financial counselor.
• No fees. You won't pay any monthly fees to open or maintain this account.
• Low minimum deposit. You only need $5

• Minimum balance to earn interest. You'll need to keep at least $100 in this account to earn 0.35% APY.
• Excessive transaction fee. You'll pay a $10 fee each time you make more than six outgoing transactions a month. Although this policy could be temporarily suspended due to the coronavirus. Contact customer service for more information.
• Strict membership requirements. This credit union is only open to those who live, work or worship in the Greater Richmond, Virginia area.

Interest compounding	Quarterly
Minimum to earn interest	$100
Monthly transaction limit	6
Fee per transaction over limit	$10

Noble Credit Union Regular Savings account

Up to 0.25%
APY

None
Fees

$5
Min. opening deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Noble Credit Union members can enjoy discount tickets and hotel packages to numerous theme parks through Get Away Today. Popular attractions include Disneyland, Walt Disney World, San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld and more.

• No monthly fee. There's no monthly fee to open or maintain a Regular Savings account.
• Other membership perks. Noble Credit Union members get a free Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance policy worth $2,000 and access to free member seminars on topics like budgeting, understanding credit, money management and more.
• Lifetime membership. Once you join this credit union, you're a member for life and any of your immediate family members can join too.

• Low APYs. You'll earn 0% on balances up to $249, 0.10% on balances up to $4,999, 0.15% on balances up to $9,999, 0.2% on balances up to $24,999 and 0.25% on balances over $25,000.
• Strict membership requirements. Membership is primarily open to those who work for select businesses in Fresno and Madera County, California and their families.

Interest compounding	Monthly
Minimum to earn interest	$250
Monthly transaction limit
Fee per transaction over limit

Tower Federal Credit Union Prime Share Savings account

0.08%
APY

None
Fees

$5
Min. opening deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Tower Federal Credit Union offers a breadth of resources to help you save money on your Disney vacation. It offers several tips on its website for how to find the best transportation and lodging. Plus, you can get discounted Disney World and Disneyland tickets through Undercover Tourist.

• No monthly fee. You won't may any monthly fees or service charges when you open a Prime Share Savings account.
• Daily compound interest. Your money grows faster when you earn interest on yesterday's interest.
• Easy membership requirements. If you fall outside of Tower's regular field of membership, you can still join when you make a $35 donation to the TowerCares Foundation.

• 0.08% APY. This APY is the highest of any credit union on our list, but most online-only banks offer much higher rates.
• Below balance fee. You may pay $4.99 if your account balance dips below $5.
• Excessive transaction penalties. Normally, your account could be closed if you passed the six transaction limit, but you'll want to check with Tower Federal Credit Union to see if this policy is temporarily suspended.

Interest compounding	Daily
Minimum to earn interest	$0
Monthly transaction limit	6
Fee per transaction over limit

Goldenwest Credit Union Primary Shares account

0.1%
APY

None
Fees

$5
Min. opening deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Goldenwest Credit Union partners with Get Away Today to offer discounted travel packages to Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, San Diego Zoo and more.

• Low opening deposit. If you qualify for membership, you can open this account with as little as $5.
• No monthly fees. You won't pay any monthly fees when you open this account.
• Co-op network. Goldenwest Credit Union is part of the Co-op network, which means you get access to 5,000 branches and 30,000 free ATMs nationwide.

• Average APY. This account earns 0.1% APY, which is on par with the national average. Many online banks offer rates much higher than this.
• Minimum balance requirement. You'll need to keep at least $25 in this account to earn interest.
• Open to members only. Goldenwest primarily services those who live, work, worship or attend school in select areas of Utah.

Interest compounding	Daily
Minimum to earn interest	$25
Monthly transaction limit	6
Fee per transaction over limit

5 Disney Vacation Account alternatives

Digit

Finder Rating: 3.4 / 5

★★★★★

Apply now at Digit's secure site

Up to 0.1%
APY

$5
Fees

None
Min. opening deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Digit is a micro-savings app that learns your spending habits and transfers leftover money into savings for you. It has built-in tools to help you set up savings goals for different aspects of your trip including travel, lodging, theme park tickets, food and more.

• Free 30-day trial. Digit has a $5 monthly fee, but you can try it for free for 30 days.
• No minimum opening deposit. Get started with Digit with as little as $0.
• Savings bonus. You'll earn a 0.5% annualized savings bonus when you use Digit to save for three consecutive months.

• Interest compounded quarterly. Most banks help you grow your money faster with interest that's compounded daily. But Digit compounds interest once every three months.
• Monthly fee. Expect to pay $5 a month to use Digit.
• Limited customer service. Digit doesn't have phone or live chat support, so the only way to reach someone is through email.

Interest compounding	Annually
Minimum to earn interest	$1
Monthly transaction limit
Fee per transaction over limit

Ally Bank Online Savings Account

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Read review

0.6%
APY

None
Fees

None
Min. opening deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Ally Bank recently released three tools to make saving for your Disney vacation even easier. You can set up automatic transfers, organize your money into different savings buckets or let Ally analyze your spending and move extra money into savings each week.

• Interest compounded daily. Your money grows even faster with a 0.6% APY that's compounded daily.
• No hidden fees. Ally doesn't charge any monthly maintenance fees and clearly outlines which fees it does charge in its Straight Talk product guide.
• No minimum deposit requirements. You can open this account with as much or as little money as you'd like.

• Online only. Ally operates entirely online, so it doesn't accept cash deposits and you're limited to phone and email support.
• No ATM card. You'll have to transfer money to another account if you need to withdraw cash.
• 30 days to fund account. If you don't fund your account within 30 days of opening, Ally will close it.

Interest compounding	Daily
Minimum to earn interest	$0
Monthly transaction limit	6
Fee per transaction over limit	$10

Simple

Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5

★★★★★

Read review

0.6%
APY

None
Fees

None
Min. opening deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Simple is a high-yield bank account with a primary focus on helping you budget. The app comes with a free Protected Goals Account that you can use to save for your Disney Vacation.

• Competitive APY. Earn 0.6% APY on your total account balance when you save for your Disney vacation using Simple's Protected Goals Account.
• Round-up your spare change. Turn on the round-up rules feature and Simple will automatically round up your debit card purchases to the nearest whole dollar and sweep the spare change into your Protected Goals Account.
• Safe-to-Spend feature. This tool subtracts your expenses and savings from your account balance to show how much extra money you have in your budget.

• No cash deposits. Simple is an online-only bank, so it doesn't support cash deposits of any kind.
• No in-person support. The only way to reach customer support is by phone or by filling out the online form on its website.
• Five-day hold on deposits. Simple used to offer personal bill pay services, but it no longer does.

APY	0.6%
Account fees	$0 monthly
Can the fee be waived?	Yes
Insufficient funds fee	$0
ATM transaction fee	$0
Wire transfer fee	$0
Overdraft fee	$0
Accout closure fee	$0

Capital One 360 Performance Savings

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5

★★★★★

Read review

0.5%
APY

None
Fees

None
Min. opening deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Capital One 360 Performance Savings account comes with a sleek mobile app that helps you track savings goals, so you know exactly how far away you are from that Disney trip. Plus, you can check your credit score and categorize transactions.

• High APY. Earn a solid 0.5% APY on your total account balance.
• No monthly fees. Capital One doesn't charge you anything to open or maintain this account.
• Digital savings tools. Set up automatic payments and have part of every paycheck set aside for your Disney trip.

• No ATM access. The Capital One 360 Performance Savings account doesn't come with an ATM card, so you'll have to transfer money to another account if you need cash.
• Monthly withdrawal limit. As with all savings accounts, you can't make more than 6 outgoing transactions a month. But check with Capital One to see if this policy is currently suspended.

Interest compounding	Monthly
Minimum to earn interest	$0
Monthly transaction limit	6
Fee per transaction over limit	$0

Alliant High-Rate Savings

Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5

★★★★★

Read review

0.55%
APY

$1
Fees

$5
Min. opening deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

As an Alliant member, you'll get access to a money management tool that lets you create and track your Disney vacation savings goals, keep an eye on your spending patterns and manage transactions straight from your phone. Plus, this online savings account offers a competitive APY that's higher than the national average.

• Competitive APY. You'll earn 0.55% APY when you keep at least $100 in this account.
• Comes with an ATM card. If you don't have an existing Alliant checking account, you'll get an ATM card that lets you quickly access your money at ATMs nationwide.
• No initial deposit requirements. Alliant pays the $5 opening deposit for you, so you can get a jump start on your savings.

• Open to members only. If you don't qualify for a regular membership, you can still join when you make a $5 donation to Foster Care to Success.
• Withdrawal limits. If you have a Chexsystems record, you can't withdraw more than $200 a day. If you don't have one, your limit is $500.
• Miscellaneous fees. Alliant charges fees for paper statements, overdrafts, stop-payments and more.

Interest compounding	Daily
Minimum to earn interest	$100
Monthly transaction limit	6
Fee per transaction over limit

How to find the best Disney vacation savings account for your family

No matter how many people you’re planning on bringing with you, use the following criteria to find the best savings account to help you reach your savings goal:

APY

Look for the highest annual percentage yield possible, as compound interest on a high APY will help you fund your trip sooner.

Fees

Keep an eye out for monthly fees and other charges that may chip away at your balance.

Bonus or rewards

Find out if you’re eligible for any signup bonuses or rewards programs that could give you a head start on saving.

Features

Look for features like mobile banking, automatic savings programs and more to find an account that meets your needs and goals.

Conditions

Check your eligibility for the account you’re considering so you can meet deposit requirements and minimum balances.

Access

Consider how you would access your money when you need it.

How much should I save for a Disney vacation?

Disney vacations can be the trip of a lifetime, but costs can add up quickly. Here’s what you can expect to pay for accommodations and tickets, depending on the size of your group:

Room and ticket package (6 night, 7 day stay, tickets valid at all four theme parks)

Room, ticket and dining package (6 night, 7 day stay, tickets valid at all four theme parks)

Keep in mind that these don’t include expenses such as:

What if I can’t quite save enough?

If you’ve set a goal and planned out your Disney vacation savings but it won’t quite cover the cost or you’re on a tight timeline to get there, consider one of many Disney vacation financing options, like a Disney rewards credit card or a low-interest personal loan. You can also watch for discounts or find ways to save on travel or dining.

Bottom line

With the right approach, you can make your Disney vacation dreams a reality. Calculate how much it’ll cost your family to visit, then work out a budget or savings plan to fund your trip.

The right savings account can help you reach your goal sooner with the power of compound interest, so compare your options to find one that fits your needs.

Compare with other savings accounts

Initial Deposit

$

Monthly Deposit

$

Period

months

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Name	Product	Interest rates (APY)	Fee	Minimum deposit to open	Interest earned
American Express® High Yield Savings		0.60%	$0	$0		Enjoy no monthly fees and a competitive APY with this online-only savings account. Accounts offered by American Express National Bank, Member FDIC.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Axos Bank High Yield Savings		0.61%	$0	$250		No monthly maintenance fees. No minimum balance requirements. Interest compounded daily.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Aspiration Spend & Save Account		1.00% on $0 to $10,000 but you’ll need to be enrolled in Aspiration Plus and make at least $1,000 in debit card purchases a month	$0 per month or $7 per month for Aspiration Plus ($5.75 per month if you pay annually)	$10		Deposits are fossil fuel-free and insured by the FDIC. Enjoy a spend and save combo account with unlimited cash back rewards and a $100 bonus when you spend $1,000 in your first 60 days.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
CIT Bank Money Market		0.50%	$0	$100		A savings account with a higher-than-average rate and minimal fees.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Central Bank of Kansas City Savings		0.40%	$0	$1		The Central Bank of Kansas City Savings account, offered through SaveBetter, has a $1 opening deposit and earns 0.4% APY.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
SoFi Money		0.25%	$0	$0		SoFi Money® is a cash management account that charges no account fees to save, spend, and earn cash back rewards when you spend on brands you love.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Chase Savings		0.01%	$5 per month (can be waived)	$0		A simple savings account with low, waivable monthly fees and a $150 signup bonus when you meet deposit and balance requirements.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
CIT Bank Savings Builder High Yield Savings Account		0.45% on $25,000+ or set up a direct deposit of $100+ each month 0.29% on $0 to $24,999	$0	$100		No account opening or maintenance fees. Daily compounding interest. Earn one of the nation's top rates	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Discover Online Savings Account		0.50%	$0	$0		Take advantage of a high-interest online savings account with no fees, no minimums and more.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
BBVA Money Market		0.10% on $1,000,000+ for 3 months (0.07% after) 0.08% on $20,000 to $999,999.99 for 3 months (0.05% after) 0.05% on $10,000 to $19,999.99 for 3 months (0.02% after)	$15 per month (can be waived)	$25		Earn a promotional APY for your first 3 months and access your money by ATM, check or bill pay.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Discover Money Market		0.40% on $100,000+ 0.35% on $1 to $99,999	$0	$2,500		This money market account offers a competitive APY.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
UFB Direct High Yield Savings		0.40%	$0	$100		Earn an APY when your balance is higher than $10,000 with this no-monthly-fee savings account.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Betterment Everyday Cash Reserve		0.40%	$0	$10		This savings account has no account and overdraft fees, plus it requires no minimum balance.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Synchrony High Yield Savings		0.65%	$0	$0		Earn one of the highest interest rates without the fees.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
UFB Direct Premium Money Market Account		0.40% on $25,000+ 0.10% on $0 to $24,999.99	$10 per month (can be waived)	$5,000		Enjoy the security and earning potential of a savings account while maintaining the flexibility to write checks.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Radius Bank High-Yield Savings		0.25% on $25,000+ 0.15% on $2,500 to $24,999.99 0.05% on $10 to $2,499.99	$0	$100		A free high-interest savings account with a $100 minimum deposit to open	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Ponce Bank High Yield Savings		0.50%	$0	$1		Ponce Bank Savings account, offered through SaveBetter, has a $1 opening deposit and earns 0.50% APY.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Continental Bank High Yield Savings		0.45%	$0	$1		Continental Bank High Yield Savings account, offered through SaveBetter, has a $1 opening deposit and earns 0.45% APY.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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