topic Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback in Credit Cards

Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback

Teslaguy — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 16:37:13 GMT

Hi, any recent data points about dining inside Walt Disney World Orlando and Universal parks and if it classifies those transactions as "Restaurants" for cashback or if categories for purchases inside the park are considered "Tourist Attractions" (7991)?

The cards I plan to use are my Citi Custom Cash (5X on restaurants up to $500) and the PenFed Pathfinder Honors (4X), my backup is PayPal Debit card set to 5% cashback for "Restaurants"

Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback

ptatohed — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 21:58:55 GMT

I wonder this all the time. Food purchases inside Six Flags, Knott's, Great Wolf Lodge, Zoo, Casinos, etc. I just assume the worse (it won't code as restaurant) and I'll use my catch-all for 3-4% instead of risking 1%.

Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback

NoHardLimits — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 22:32:47 GMT

@ptatohed wrote:
I wonder this all the time. Food purchases inside Six Flags, Knott's, Great Wolf Lodge, Zoo, Casinos, etc. I just assume the worse (it won't code as restaurant) and I'll use my catch-all for 3-4% instead of risking 1%.

In recent years, I've been using my Capital One Savor card in these situations. 3% rewards whether dining or entertainment.

Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback

ptatohed — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 00:20:06 GMT

@NoHardLimits wrote:
@ptatohed wrote:
I wonder this all the time. Food purchases inside Six Flags, Knott's, Great Wolf Lodge, Zoo, Casinos, etc. I just assume the worse (it won't code as restaurant) and I'll use my catch-all for 3-4% instead of risking 1%.
In recent years, I've been using my Capital One Savor card in these situations. 3% rewards whether dining or entertainment.

Smart! 👍

Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback

Cowboys4Life — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 01:01:04 GMT

@Teslaguy wrote:
Hi, any recent data points about dining inside Walt Disney World Orlando and Universal parks and if it classifies those transactions as "Restaurants" for cashback or if categories for purchases inside the park are considered "Tourist Attractions" (7991)?

The cards I plan to use are my Citi Custom Cash (5X on restaurants up to $500) and the PenFed Pathfinder Honors (4X), my backup is PayPal Debit card set to 5% cashback for "Restaurants"

Coincidentally I am there now. I did Universal Islands of Adventure today and charged my renewal of my unlimited refills Coke Freestyle cup and a corn on the cob snack. It shows on my Universal (FNBO) card as "Restaurants" from the stand. Not even an actual restaurants so my answer is: YES at Universal if you charge food at a restaurant, quick service or snack stqnd it will code as Restaurant for cash back purposes. I don't do Disney until Tuesday/Wednesday but will let you know.

Oh, and FYI: I can now add and cross off my bucket list: "get stuck on a roller coaster." Hands down Velocicoaster is the best ride ever even if we had to wait 20 minute for them to get us out of the seats and leave via the back door so to speak.

Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback

okurosetta — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 04:24:10 GMT

@Cowboys4Life wrote:
Oh, and FYI: I can now add and cross off my bucket list: "get stuck on a roller coaster." Hands down Velocicoaster is the best ride ever even if we had to wait 20 minute for them to get us out of the seats and leave via the back door so to speak.

Velocicoaster is so unreal. So good. Have only done twice, on the second time it broke down while in line, I happily waited, sitting on the floor until it came back - sorry to P2, who was waiting for me outside. Unreal ride. Bring me back!

Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback

okurosetta — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 04:35:41 GMT

I wish I could look it up, but I held Amex Gold years ago, and I seem to remember food vendors and restaurants reliably coding as 4X. Things could have changed, so maybe this isn't worth saying at all, but at least at that time, I recall feeling confident in swiping a "dining" card.

I'll also say the PayPal debit is known to be wider in scope than many in what is considered dining. I don't want to swing and miss for you, but that's what I'd personally be using.

Though if you do have something like a Savor which earns in dining and entertainment, or a Hilton Surpass where 6X is preferred but 3X is OK while working towards free night certificate, then those could be safer options.

Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback

Cowboys4Life — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 14:59:33 GMT

Sorry for the delay in update. I am back and after 2 days at the Magic Kindgom I can tell you how they code billing is hit or miss. Buying Lightning Lane passes and one visit to Casey's Corner for a chili dog for breakfast (don't judge) were coded as "ATM/Cash Advance". Some dining was billed as that or restaurants and others just purchases. That was all on my NFCU Flagship card. Your mileage may vary.

Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback

ElvisCaprice — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 15:09:48 GMT

@Cowboys4Life wrote:
Sorry for the delay in update. I am back and after 2 days at the Magic Kindgom I can tell you how they code billing is hit or miss. Buying Lightning Lane passes and one visit to Casey's Corner for a chili dog for breakfast (don't judge) were coded as "ATM/Cash Advance". Some dining was billed as that or restaurants and others just purchases. That was all on my NFCU Flagship card. Your mileage may vary.

If it's an ATM/Cash Advance aren't you required to enter a pin number? If not, I would argue with NFCU about these charges being reversed for purchases. This is why I like to get my cash advance credit line eliminated or reduced as low as possible.

Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback

coldfusion — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 15:23:08 GMT

@Cowboys4Life wrote:
a chili dog for breakfast (don't judge)

I'm not judging - back when I was a regular visitor to Taiwan while I never requested it several times I was served a side salad with Thousand Island dressing as part of my breakfast.

Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback

Cowboys4Life — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:16:43 GMT

@ElvisCaprice wrote:
@Cowboys4Life wrote:
Sorry for the delay in update. I am back and after 2 days at the Magic Kindgom I can tell you how they code billing is hit or miss. Buying Lightning Lane passes and one visit to Casey's Corner for a chili dog for breakfast (don't judge) were coded as "ATM/Cash Advance". Some dining was billed as that or restaurants and others just purchases. That was all on my NFCU Flagship card. Your mileage may vary.
If it's an ATM/Cash Advance aren't you required to enter a pin number? If not, I would argue with NFCU about these charges being reversed for purchases. This is why I like to get my cash advance credit line eliminated or reduced as low as possible.

Oddly enough NFCU isn't charging me as though that is what the transaction actually is. That is just the line underneath it on the statement activity of what type of transaction it is. I used my Flagship credit card for the purchases and I don't even know if it does have a PIN. I was never asked for one. I can say that both the transactions listed that way were mobile orders through the Disney app. That may have something to do with it.

Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback UPDATE

Cowboys4Life — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 19:10:47 GMT

This is my update not the OP. Learn from my confusion.

When you look at your credit card statement online the transaction MIGHT read as something it isn't. I just spend 40+ minutes on the phone with NFCU and Disney because it appeared on my Flagship card statement the majority of transactions were coded incorrectly as ATM/Cash withdrawals and not dining/restaurant or retail purchases. I FINALLY got to the correct representative who educated me thank GOD. Regardless of how it reads on your statement (apparently some banks use their own coding for transactions for their statements not the same as the coding for rewards) just go to the rewards section and see each transaction and what rewards they assigned to it.

The good news is the Lightning Lane passes we purchased were coded as entertainment for a 3% rewards. Next time I have a question I am starting there. What a headache.

Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback

SunriseEarth — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 19:43:56 GMT

@Teslaguy wrote:
Hi, any recent data points about dining inside Walt Disney World Orlando and Universal parks and if it classifies those transactions as "Restaurants" for cashback or if categories for purchases inside the park are considered "Tourist Attractions" (7991)?

The cards I plan to use are my Citi Custom Cash (5X on restaurants up to $500) and the PenFed Pathfinder Honors (4X), my backup is PayPal Debit card set to 5% cashback for "Restaurants"

IME at Disney World (and also at Disneyland), Quick Service food locations will code as "Fast Food" and Table Service will code as "Restaurants," so your cards will definitely get the dining points at either type of location. I mention this distinction because I typically use my Cash+ card with 5% Fast Food at any Disney quick service location.

However, if you're staying on Disney property and use your MagicBand for any charges, those charges will all be billed as "Hotels/Lodging," which may be useful if you're using a Travel card.

Re: Dining inside Disney World and Universal... does it MCC code as Restaurants for cashback

NAVYCHOP — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:29:41 GMT

I visit Disneyland frequently. The dining locations seem to code as restaurants/fast food.

Initially I was hoping they would code generically as theme park because NFCU Flagship offers the 3 percent for theme parks in the the travel category but only two percent on restaurants. (I.e. NFCU will offer a 3 percent cash back on Disney admission tickets and passes.)

Now I actually use the BOA Premium Elite card at Disney because that card's travel category includes both theme parks and restaurants. As a BOA Plat Honors I receive 3.5 percent cash back in the travel/ restaurant category and even 4.375 percent cash back when redeemed for commercial airline tickets. At that rate when redeemed for airline tickets, we yielded a $153 rebate just for renewing two of the top tier Disneyland annual passes last week. So far in the last 12 months I have earned more than $5k in credits that I can redeem for air travel. That makes it my most profitable go-to card.