Critique my trip savings plans

[ElCray]

What is the new bus that leaves from MCO? do you have any info on that?

Here is a link:

https://www.wesh.com/article/florida-bus-orlando-airport-disney-affordable-shuttle/61635198

 

[R&RsMom]

Good tips! We are planning to get my wife signed up for the Amex Bonvoy as well. Do you know whether the annual free night counts as a points booking? I’ve heard there are usually only a limited number of rooms available for points vs cash.

As someone else said, the free night is a separate booking. I have the Bonvoy Boundless Visa. It gives Silver status, but has no annual spend for the free night. Pretty easy to ge5 to Gold. I likely won’t get higher than Hold, which is fine, Check your benefits - my card gives me a free night worth 35000 points, to which I can add 15000. That may be one night at Dolphin or Swan. However, I have gotten a room upgrade at every Dolphin stay. About room availability, my experience with nights on points is that they tend to be basic rooms. Two queens or a king, no option to upgrade even with cash supplement to a room with extra amenities like a sitting area. The card has been really great for us, however.

 

[DenaRox]

If going for more than 7 days, check out the tickets from the UK website, cheaper includes photo pass and hopper.
Also start buying Disney gift cards here, use them there and no forex fees, straight exchange on the daily exchange rate. As others have said preload Starbucks and use there, again no forex fees. We Ubered to and from airport, cheaper and quicker for us.

We bought the 14 days for 7 tickets from attractiontickets and paid in Euros. With the 7% discount right now ( it might have just ended) our 14 days with park hopper, waterparks, and free mini golf was less expensive than a four day base ticket from the Disney website. We are going in October after the current Canadian ticket promo ends. So make sure to do the math.

I never heard this before so thank you. Can you explain though how it works out to be cheaper as CAD vs GBP is a huge difference. I just tried it and the 1700 GBP price converted to 3000 CAD. I think I’m missing something

 

[mort1331]

I never heard this before so thank you. Can you explain though how it works out to be cheaper as CAD vs GBP is a huge difference. I just tried it and the 1700 GBP price converted to 3000 CAD. I think I’m missing something

No that is right,,,I just went onto an exchange website and that is the rate today

 

[DenaRox]

No that is right,,,I just went onto an exchange website and that is the rate today

Thanks for confirming. My issue was I was looking for short 7 day) trip which isn’t a savings but sure would be a great saving at 10 + days

 

[mort1331]

Thanks for confirming. My issue was I was looking for short 7 day) trip which isn’t a savings but sure would be a great saving at 10 + days

right,,but even buying the 7 day ticket for a 5 or 6 day trip usually turns out cheaper than even from UT,,gotta run the numbers depending on the promo at the time

 

[DenaRox]

right,,but even buying the 7 day ticket for a 5 or 6 day trip usually turns out cheaper than even from UT,,gotta run the numbers depending on the promo at the time

Good to know ◡̈

 

[daniTS]

Like others have said, grab gift cards whenever you get groceries. We get 4x the points on our visa and also don't notice the little bit extra each time--it won't add up to that much at the rate I'm buying them, but it's something. The only thing I didn't see on a quick scan is to make sure your phone plan is one of the US/Canada/Mexico ones. It's been around for awhile but in case you haven't updated your plan recently. I think basically all the carriers up here are doing it now and not paying for roaming makes a big difference over a trip! Also if you're a starbucks person, sadly you can't use your stars in the parks (though you do gain them) but if you redeem at any other store, it's the best value to do it in the US--you still get the same value (400 stars is 20$ in merch, or the other star rewards) except you're redeeming in USD what you build up in CAD. And their merch is way cheaper so you can actually just about get a mug for your 400 stars.