Some US consumers can receive up to $120 a year toward eligible Disney streaming services through a benefit attached to the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card.
The Streaming Credit Can Be Worth Up to $120 a Year
The benefit comes as a monthly statement credit rather than a direct payment. Eligible cardholders can receive up to $10 per month when they use their enrolled card for qualifying Disney, Hulu or ESPN streaming purchases.
The Blue Cash Preferred Card offers an annual maximum of $120 through the Disney Streaming Credit. Cardholders can receive up to $10 back for eligible purchases made during each calendar month.
The benefit applies to qualifying subscriptions purchased directly through DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com and Stream.ESPN.com in the US. Eligible bundle subscriptions bought through those websites can also qualify.
Cardholders Must Enroll First
The credit is not automatically available simply because someone has the card. Cardholders must first enroll in the Disney Streaming Credit benefit through American Express.
After enrollment, they need to use the enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card to pay for an eligible subscription. American Express says there is no minimum purchase requirement for the monthly credit.
The $10 Credit Resets Every Month
The benefit is capped at $10 per calendar month for each enrolled card account. Unused credit does not roll over. For example, someone who does not use the benefit in January cannot receive $20 in February to make up for the missed month.
The credit is therefore worth a maximum of $120 over a full year only if an eligible purchase is made during every month.
Annual Subscriptions Have a Catch
Consumers paying for an annual streaming subscription should pay close attention to how the benefit works.
An eligible annual purchase can trigger one monthly credit of up to $10 when the charge is made. It does not automatically generate 12 monthly credits or provide the full $120 benefit.
That means customers considering an annual subscription should not assume they will receive $10 every month for the duration of the plan.
Some Streaming Purchases Do Not Qualify
The benefit has restrictions on how subscriptions are purchased. Payments made through certain third-party platforms or digital devices may not qualify when the transaction is not processed directly through an eligible Disney, Hulu or ESPN website.
Gift cards, advertising services and subscriptions bundled with cable services are also excluded under the benefit’s terms. Consumers should check the American Express conditions before changing how they pay for a subscription.
The Credit May Not Cover the Entire Bill
The $10 monthly credit does not necessarily cover a customer’s full streaming subscription.
NerdWallet reports that the cheapest monthly Disney+ or Hulu plans cost $11.99, meaning an eligible customer could still have to pay part of the monthly subscription.
The actual amount a customer pays will depend on the subscription selected and any applicable pricing changes.
The Card Has an Annual Fee After the First Year
The Blue Cash Preferred Card currently has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, according to NerdWallet. After that introductory period, the annual fee is $95.
This means the streaming benefit should be considered alongside the card’s annual fee and its other benefits when deciding whether the card makes financial sense.
The potential $120 annual streaming credit does not by itself mean every cardholder will come out ahead.
The Benefit Depends on Keeping the Account Eligible
American Express says the card account must remain open and not past due when a statement credit is issued. Credits will typically appear within a few days after an eligible charge, although American Express says they can take six to eight weeks in some cases.
Cardholders who want to receive the full potential benefit therefore need to remain enrolled and make qualifying purchases throughout the year.
The benefit can reduce the cost of eligible streaming services, but consumers should check the terms, subscription price and card fee before relying on it as a way to cut their overall entertainment spending.
