Free night on property strategy

[pgianna]

This is my number 1 Disney money saving tip. What I basically do is have a Starwood am ex card and use it for everything, and I mean EVERYTHING! From the big purchases to the cup of coffee at Dunkin Donuts. Starwood gives you a point for every dollar you spend. So I basically use my points to stay at the Swan/Dolphin. I get enough points that I can stay for a week every two years at no charge, other than the resort fee. Another great thing, because there are no room charges, there are no taxes either. It’s an awesome deal in my opinion. You need 60,000 points for a week stay. I know it seems like a lot of money, but if you put everything on this am ex card, it will build up real fast, you will be surprised. You will be surprised what you can put on your card, for example, your cable bill, cell phone bill. Look into every bill you pay and see if you can pay using your am ex card. Here are some drawbacks, but in my opinion, it wasn’t a big deal, but you need to judge for yourself. These are not Disney owned hotels, even though they are on property, so you don’t get the 24/7 Disney experience, which to me is fine. I don’t need Mickey bed sheets. Secondly you can’t participate in the Disney Dining Plan. But I calculated it out and we spent about 50 more, total, for 4 people paying as you go. Finally, you don’t get free airport transportation from and to the airport. For us, that wasn’t a big deal either. We booked a private car, it was a nice treat, without the hassle of a bus, and we got a grocery stop. You also don’t get your bags delivered to your hotel; you need to do that yourself, for us, not a big deal. Another big perk staying at the swan/dolphin, is that you don’t need a car. So if you were considering staying off property due to cost of staying on property, this is a huge selling point.
I just want to mention, we are a typical middle class family with two children 8 and 11 and this is the best way we have determined to make Disney the most affordable for us. If you take the cost of the hotel off the table, it makes Disney so much more doable.
I hope this helps.

pete g

 

[rvchat]

This is my number 1 Disney money saving tip. What I basically do is have a Starwood am ex card and use it for everything, and I mean EVERYTHING! From the big purchases to the cup of coffee at Dunkin Donuts. Starwood gives you a point for every dollar you spend. So I basically use my points to stay at the Swan/Dolphin. I get enough points that I can stay for a week every two years at no charge, other than the resort fee. Another great thing, because there are no room charges, there are no taxes either. It’s an awesome deal in my opinion. You need 60,000 points for a week stay. I know it seems like a lot of money, but if you put everything on this am ex card, it will build up real fast, you will be surprised. You will be surprised what you can put on your card, for example, your cable bill, cell phone bill. Look into every bill you pay and see if you can pay using your am ex card. Here are some drawbacks, but in my opinion, it wasn’t a big deal, but you need to judge for yourself. These are not Disney owned hotels, even though they are on property, so you don’t get the 24/7 Disney experience, which to me is fine. I don’t need Mickey bed sheets. Secondly you can’t participate in the Disney Dining Plan. But I calculated it out and we spent about 50 more, total, for 4 people paying as you go. Finally, you don’t get free airport transportation from and to the airport. For us, that wasn’t a big deal either. We booked a private car, it was a nice treat, without the hassle of a bus, and we got a grocery stop. You also don’t get your bags delivered to your hotel; you need to do that yourself, for us, not a big deal. Another big perk staying at the swan/dolphin, is that you don’t need a car. So if you were considering staying off property due to cost of staying on property, this is a huge selling point.
I just want to mention, we are a typical middle class family with two children 8 and 11 and this is the best way we have determined to make Disney the most affordable for us. If you take the cost of the hotel off the table, it makes Disney so much more doable.
I hope this helps.

pete g

thanks p. i like this tip but do you know how many points starwood wants for a 3 to 4 day stay at the swan/d? tia

 

[Marionnette]

This is my number 1 Disney money saving tip. What I basically do is have a Starwood am ex card and use it for everything, and I mean EVERYTHING! From the big purchases to the cup of coffee at Dunkin Donuts. Starwood gives you a point for every dollar you spend. So I basically use my points to stay at the Swan/Dolphin. I get enough points that I can stay for a week every two years at no charge, other than the resort fee. Another great thing, because there are no room charges, there are no taxes either. It’s an awesome deal in my opinion. You need 60,000 points for a week stay. I know it seems like a lot of money, but if you put everything on this am ex card, it will build up real fast, you will be surprised. You will be surprised what you can put on your card, for example, your cable bill, cell phone bill. Look into every bill you pay and see if you can pay using your am ex card. Here are some drawbacks, but in my opinion, it wasn’t a big deal, but you need to judge for yourself. These are not Disney owned hotels, even though they are on property, so you don’t get the 24/7 Disney experience, which to me is fine. I don’t need Mickey bed sheets. Secondly you can’t participate in the Disney Dining Plan. But I calculated it out and we spent about 50 more, total, for 4 people paying as you go. Finally, you don’t get free airport transportation from and to the airport. For us, that wasn’t a big deal either. We booked a private car, it was a nice treat, without the hassle of a bus, and we got a grocery stop. You also don’t get your bags delivered to your hotel; you need to do that yourself, for us, not a big deal. Another big perk staying at the swan/dolphin, is that you don’t need a car. So if you were considering staying off property due to cost of staying on property, this is a huge selling point.
I just want to mention, we are a typical middle class family with two children 8 and 11 and this is the best way we have determined to make Disney the most affordable for us. If you take the cost of the hotel off the table, it makes Disney so much more doable.
I hope this helps.

pete g

60K in points translates to $60K in spending. That's an average of $2,500 per month on your Amex for your every other year trip. Every month. For two years.

That is a lot of charges, even if you put everything that you can put on your credit card.

$30K on one credit card. That a lot of companies don't accept for payment.

You need a lot of income to be able to reach that level.

So while it works for you - and congrats to you for being able to afford to spend at that level - it probably will not work for most people.

 

[pgianna]

Its basically 10,000 points a night, but every 5 th night is free. So 4 nights is 40,000, but 5 nights is also 40,000.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Thanks for sharing your idea! It's definitely a great option.

I do something similar but using our Disney Visa. Looking at the amount of money you have to spend to get the points you describe, I'd have $600 in Disney Rewards. Add in the cost of airport transportation for our family and we'd have a week at a value resort paid for. Obviously Swalphin is much higher end than value resorts but staying value we can do much more budget trips because the food courts offer us greater ability to save on dining as the CS options around crescent lake are so limited, especially for those of us with food allergies.

Starwood points does definitely have the advantage of not being limited to Disney (though we are on a Disney fan site so really, is that an advantage or does it give family who's not quite as obsessed a chance to say we should go elsewhere? LOL)

 

[mombrontrent]

Sorry to sound skeptical but as the OP is new to the boards I am. This sounds like an advertisement for this Am ex credit card if you ask me.

 

[pgianna]

Marrionette, you kind of missed my point, this is just a strategy on getting free nights on property. You don't need to spend a week, you can book as many or as few nights as you like, at 10,000 per night, and every 5th night is free. So you can do whatever you want depending on your on personal situation. You can put as much or little on your am ex card, its your choice. If someone puts an average of 1,000 a month on their card than it will take longer, no doubt about it.

 

[pgianna]

That funny, it does, doesn't it.

 

[DawnM]

I put everything on my Fidelity American Express and get 2% back on every purchase. I use SkyAuction.com condos and spend a max of $250 per week off-site. (this past trip I only spent $149 per week!) Anyway, that translates to only needing to spend $1,000 per month on your CC for a week per year at $250 per week.

However, I can spend that $$ any way I wish, so it doesn't need to be on vacation.

It I spent $30,000 per year (which I don't come close to!), I could almost fund my entire Disney vacation!

I know people have said they have paid for things like roof repair/replacement, A/C replacements, general contracting......but as we have fixed up our home we have gotten more than 25% off by offering CASH, which is far greater than a 1% or 2% return by using our CC. In fact, the A/C guy gave us 40% off by using cash.

So, make sure you aren't spending more than you need to by using your CC. I don't get discounts on cell phone bills, electricity payments, etc....so I do use a CC to pay for those.

Dawn

 

[Marionnette]

Marrionette, you kind of missed my point, this is just a strategy on getting free nights on property. You don't need to spend a week, you can book as many or as few nights as you like, at 10,000 per night, and every 5th night is free. So you can do whatever you want depending on your on personal situation. You can put as much or little on your am ex card, its your choice. If someone puts an average of 1,000 a month on their card than it will take longer, no doubt about it.

Well, if that was your point...

I could use my Disney Visa, get 1 point for every dollar spent and use it to pay for a discounted room at a value resort. I would get free transportation from the airport and access to EMH.

And it would cost me a lot less than 10K points per night.

Your strategy is nothing new.

 

[pgianna]

This is just a startegy I use, it may not be for everybody. I just wanted to share it. I use starwood am ex and not the disney visa, because I didn't want to be locked into Disney. Also, you do get access to EMH at the swan dolphin.

 

[pgianna]

Another point, I am definately not advocating to use to your yout credit card just to get the points. The point is, if you are going to spend the money anyway, and they take am ex cards, then use it.

 

[Judique]

Sorry to sound skeptical but as the OP is new to the boards I am. This sounds like an advertisement for this Am ex credit card if you ask me.

Well, I am not new to the boards and I also would recommend the Starwood Amex card.

I use it all the time and I collect and use the points for stays everywhere, including Disney in the past. I won't pay 10k for S&D as I can get S&D for less cash value.

One thing the OP did not mention was the cash and points options. You don't have to have 10k points all the time for a S&D room as you may be able to pay with 4000 points and $60.

I usually try to save my starpoints for other hotels then S&D. You can get rooms elsewhere as low as 3000 points. That 40k points can go a long way at 3-4K a night.

The Sheraton at MCO used to be 3K on weekends.

There are also other options for earning starpoints besides the $ for point transaction. 60k points do not have to come from 60K dollars.

And there are alternative earnings - I use this amex card at costco and I have the executive membership - 2 % back pays for the costco membership.

Plus other advantages to just having amex.

The caveat is pay it off monthly. It is a fee card. And any pluses would be rapidly gone if you carry a balance.

 

[pgianna]

Thank you Judique, for all your great points. You probably did a better job of explaining it than I did. The Sheraton Safari is an example of an off disney property for only 3,000 points a night. That is the beauty of these starwood points, you can use them any way you wish.

 

[marie1203]

Well, if that was your point...

I could use my Disney Visa, get 1 point for every dollar spent and use it to pay for a discounted room at a value resort. I would get free transportation from the airport and access to EMH.

And it would cost me a lot less than 10K points per night.

Your strategy is nothing new.

Disney Visa gives you a point for every $100 not every dollar spend. The Amex gives you a point per dollar but to redeem it is much higher points needed. I like my Disney visa better. Visa is accepted more places that Amex, Right now we have over $600 dollars to use in our next trip, and we used all our points in March. Plus you don't have to spend it on hotels nights but can also use for dinning, tickets, disney store, etc. That way you can pick from a variety of hotels vs just 2 hotels on base.

 

[Judique]

Disney Visa gives you a point for every $100 not every dollar spend. The Amex gives you a point per dollar but to redeem it is much higher points needed. I like my Disney visa better. Visa is accepted more places that Amex, Right now we have over $600 dollars to use in our next trip, and we used all our points in March. Plus you don't have to spend it on hotels nights but can also use for dinning, tickets, disney store, etc. That way you can pick from a variety of hotels vs just 2 hotels on base.

For me, I won't deal with Chase.

And it's the Chase Disney Visa unless it has changed.

Chase has lots of promos for their visa cards. The recent Southwest promo was for 50k points - a value up to $800 Just for signing up and using it once.

The Disney Chase is one of the smallest values. But since it has the 'Disney' name attached - people flock, lol.

 

[Judique]

Disney Visa gives you a point for every $100 not every dollar spend. The Amex gives you a point per dollar but to redeem it is much higher points needed. I like my Disney visa better. Visa is accepted more places that Amex, Right now we have over $600 dollars to use in our next trip, and we used all our points in March. Plus you don't have to spend it on hotels nights but can also use for dinning, tickets, disney store, etc. That way you can pick from a variety of hotels vs just 2 hotels on base.

I'm going to try some math here.

First, there are many ways to get 'free' products. So, having more than one way is always an option. My Visa card gives me gift cards - visa gift cards. I can buy disney rooms, disney dining, disney souvenirs, gas, just about anything with them.

So, we were talking about the Starwood card. And Starwood points.

Depending on use, that starwood point can be worth 2 cents, 3 cents, 4 cents, even as high as 5 cents in 'hotel' value. So if I'm booking a particular room, I don't want to use my one cent per dollar Visa (that is your disney visa and my visa) I want to use a value that is higher - for example Starwood points.

For example - if the Swan costs $150 a night with tax and fees, I don't want to spend 10k points on it, as I would only be getting 1 and 1/2 cents for each dollar. You will note this is more value than the Disney Visa.

But, I will use starpoints for that night at the airport before an early flight or after a late one. 99$ rate with tax about $112 for 3000 starpoints = 3.7 cents per dollar. Your Disney Visa is 1 cent per dollar or as you said 1 point per $100 with 1 point being worth $1. It is a one per cent reward however you say it. The AMEX in this case is a 3.7 per cent reward.

So, if you figure out how to collect points - starpoints are a much better value - either staying at Disney or elsewhere - than the Disney Visa. And you can collect points in alternative ways other then using the Amex.

This is just another option. It is not for everybody. Just as many other options don't work for me.

Just don't be so ready to put down something because you don't understand it, don't have 30k a year for discretionary spending, think your way is the best, or think 'budget' has to mean 'the cheapest way to go regardless of how cruddy it is'. People with loads of money 'budget' also, and stay in luxe places at 'budget' prices - their budget.

 

[pgianna]

I certainly created a lively discussion. I just want to mention, as I did in my original post. My family is just a typically, middle class family, and don't have 30k of discretionary income per year. Just because you charge on your credit card does not mean its discretionary spending. Let me give you an example. Just between groceries and gas, I spend about 1200 per month, that's 14,400 per year right there. That isn't discretionary spending folks. Those are basic everyday living expenses we all pay. I am not going around buying my wife diamond rings at Tiffany's. BTW, I pay the card off every month. The point is to run the transaction through your card and pay it off at month end. Another point, for the Swan/Dolphin, the room is closer to 250 per night every time I have checked, so that makes those Starpoints even more valuable. It also depends on what time of year you go. Everybody has their own system, there is no right or wrong answer.

 

[Marionnette]

I certainly created a lively discussion. I just want to mention, as I did in my original post. My family is just a typically, middle class family, and don't have 30k of discretionary income per year. Just because you charge on your credit card does not mean its discretionary spending. Let me give you an example. Just between groceries and gas, I spend about 1200 per month, that's 14,400 per year right there. That isn't discretionary spending folks. Those are basic everyday living expenses we all pay. I am not going around buying my wife diamond rings at Tiffany's. BTW, I pay the card off every month. The point is to run the transaction through your card and pay it off at month end. Another point, for the Swan/Dolphin, the room is closer to 250 per night every time I have checked, so that makes those Starpoints even more valuable. It also depends on what time of year you go. Everybody has their own system, there is no right or wrong answer.

If you're spending $1200/month on gas and groceries, you are way outspending many people in those areas. Do you realize that the median household income in America is around $46K before taxes? Many families don't even have $30K to spend each year, let alone spend half of it on groceries and gasoline!

But you choose to ignore my point which is this: You have not invented the wheel. Using credit card rewards points to pay for your hotel stay or any other part of your vacation is nothing new to this board. It is wonderful that you have found a rewards credit card that suits your needs.

 

[marie1203]

For me, I won't deal with Chase.

And it's the Chase Disney Visa unless it has changed.

Chase has lots of promos for their visa cards. The recent Southwest promo was for 50k points - a value up to $800 Just for signing up and using it once.

The Disney Chase is one of the smallest values. But since it has the 'Disney' name attached - people flock, lol.

That is fine if you don't want to deal with chase. That is why in my first post I said for me. Just because they offer a good cc offer doesn't mean I jump and get a cc. Southwest doesn't operate any of our local airports so that doesn't help us but we do go to Disney at least once every 2 years.

I'm going to try some math here.

First, there are many ways to get 'free' products. So, having more than one way is always an option. My Visa card gives me gift cards - visa gift cards. I can buy disney rooms, disney dining, disney souvenirs, gas, just about anything with them.

So, we were talking about the Starwood card. And Starwood points.

Depending on use, that starwood point can be worth 2 cents, 3 cents, 4 cents, even as high as 5 cents in 'hotel' value. So if I'm booking a particular room, I don't want to use my one cent per dollar Visa (that is your disney visa and my visa) I want to use a value that is higher - for example Starwood points.

For example - if the Swan costs $150 a night with tax and fees, I don't want to spend 10k points on it, as I would only be getting 1 and 1/2 cents for each dollar. You will note this is more value than the Disney Visa.

But, I will use starpoints for that night at the airport before an early flight or after a late one. 99$ rate with tax about $112 for 3000 starpoints = 3.7 cents per dollar. Your Disney Visa is 1 cent per dollar or as you said 1 point per $100 with 1 point being worth $1. It is a one per cent reward however you say it. The AMEX in this case is a 3.7 per cent reward.

So, if you figure out how to collect points - starpoints are a much better value - either staying at Disney or elsewhere - than the Disney Visa. And you can collect points in alternative ways other then using the Amex.

This is just another option. It is not for everybody. Just as many other options don't work for me.

Just don't be so ready to put down something because you don't understand it, don't have 30k a year for discretionary spending, think your way is the best, or think 'budget' has to mean 'the cheapest way to go regardless of how cruddy it is'. People with loads of money 'budget' also, and stay in luxe places at 'budget' prices - their budget.

Not that I don't understand. This kind of things come to the board all the time. We been using our credit cards for every day expenses for years.
My Disney Visa just gave me 3x the rewards for the past 4 months, just like when my other visa offers me 5% cash back I use that instead. For some of us we can get better deals in Disney hotels than the Dolphin/swan so overall the Disney visa is better choice. Since this is a Disney board people like to visit different hotels with the amex you are limited to 2 hotels, many people don't like dealing with their bags staying at the Dolphin/Swan you don't get a choice. The best example will be 5 of us are going in January we are staying at the cabins of Fort Wilderness for less than $1600 for 7 nights. I can't fit 5 adults in a Swan/dolphin room, etc. Also in the above you didn't add transportation cost to your math equation. It about evens out price wise after you add transportation but the Disney visa offers me more choices and that is why I rather use it.