I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[Albort]

Yeah, following up on a comment @Lain made - theorizing about retention being tied to new accounts.

spend spend spend!

 

[alryan]

Wow! That is great! I calculated our trip at around a $9500 cost with about $1500 oop. Amazing. That’s 3 nights Disney with 2 day tix, 7 night RCL cruise, and 3 nights universal getting APs

We are upgrading to APs at universal. If you buy 4 day tix (but not the promo ones) it’s only around $10 person to upgrade. Also I heard you want PTP otherwise you can’t ride the Hogwarts express

All that for $1500 OOP?! So awesome! I'd love to hear how your cruise goes. My kids are wanting either that or an all inclusive trip next. When I look at all the cruise options it just seems overwhelming. It will definitely be Caribbean. So did you pay for the cruise using UR? We are thinking of the possibility of upgrading to APs as well. I know I'll probably end up doing the park to park to get the Hogwarts Express. Do you know if it is still possible to upgrade the promo ones? Because on the Universal Site the 4 day promo tickets are $310 and the seasonal annual pass is $305 so I would think that you could upgrade. If I don't hear anything for sure before we go I'll just try and if we can't we just won't upgrade. But I thought it would be a nice way to get another trip in for little cost. It is our first time at Universal, but I'm sure we'll like it enough to go again. Have a great trip!

 

[Alexle2007]

Ok, I am feeling really stupid. I sitting at the day spa, trying to enjoy my pedi and glass of complimentary wine when I get an AmEx fraud alert for a purchase at Target for $524 and change and did I make the purchase. I responded back no and then go to call the call listed. BIG mistake! I am hold and end up hanging up. So I check the voicemail from my hang up and thank goodness for Apple to translate without listening and I don't recognize any of the information. I think called the Plat 800 line, the CSR contacts the fraud dept and no fraud alerts on my account and it must have been a phishing exercise. To make a long story short, I had him issue me all new consumer accounts just to be safe. So I guess I'll get to see if they are really re-issuing replacements in rose gold tomorrow or Sat. Boy do I feel stupid! The CSR was so nice about it though so nothing but props to AmEx customer service!

 

[alryan]

I've done it twice and one went pending and one didn't. I think we are safe if they are pending. How many times can we do this?

I haven't done RMN since the good deals last October or so, but I think you have to wait for the credit to post before you can do again, and then I think they put a limit of 3 times during each promo. So I don't think it will reset before the fee free sale is done.

 

[vanjust14]

Which island?

Marriott releases room availability 50 weeks (about 350 days) in advance, usually in chunks of 5 days or so at a time. So if you have dates in mind, start checking about a year out. Currently, I can book out to 1/10/20 (351 days from now), but if I needed to check out on the 13th, I’d wait a few more days and keep checking. If you have your dates, there’s really no reason for you not to book ASAP because all Marriott hotels should now offer the points advance option that lets you book an award reservation whether or not you have enough points in your account. Remember, with award reservations, your 5th night is free.

I’m pretty on top of making reservations, so I tend to jump on them as soon as they’re released. But even during the busy Christmas and New Year’s period, I’m still finding award availability at all the Waikiki Marriotts (except the 35k/night Princess Kaiulani) almost two weeks after rooms were released. I’m seeing award availability at the Westin Ka’anapali, Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, and Sheraton on Maui, and availability at several hotels on Kauai, too. Last year, I think I made my award bookings for the Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton Waikiki in early April. Don’t wait too long.

I’d note that Marriott is planning to introduce peak pricing in, I believe, March, which may impact the points pricing during Christmastime. For Marriott’s category chart with standard, peak and off peak pricing, see: https://members.marriott.com/redeem/ However, all Marriott hotels should now offer points advance, which allows you to allows you to book an award reservation whether or not you have enough points in your account, provided you have the points by two weeks before your check-in.

Hope this helps. And I can’t wait to read about your Hawaii plans!

Thank you! I want to go end of 2020, so I will most likely encounter the peak pricing unfortunately. Definitely want to do Oahu for Aulani. Might just stay in Oahu for the whole trip. I'd like to do Maui, but not sure on getting from one to the other. My DD will be just turning 5, and we will be coming from East Coast so will probably stop in CA (Disneyland?!). I'm just in the beginning stages of planning and a little overwhelmed!

 

[georgina]

No idea. I'm a Uni virgin too - so really its just a hope that other parts of the park will be less busy, since the only thing my daughter cares about is the HP stuff.

I can let you know when I get back! It does look like it will be less busy in general when we're there (8th/9th) than it will be over the holiday weekend. The 9th is the first night that the Mardi Gras parade does its thing, seems to be only on certain nights.

Mardi Gras parade is every night, the concerts are only on Saturdays and some Sundays.

 

[Haley R]

We'll be there the 5-12, hoping it warms up a little too. Although anything will feel nice to us, next week we have three days with negative numbers for highs!

Our high next Wednesday is -12! I subbed today and this was their first school day all week. We ended up getting out at 12:30 because of high winds and drifting snow.

Ok... here with go with our cars.

I'm on my third Camry in my 12th year of driving. That sounds so wrong, doesn't it? I got my mom's 98 Camry as a hand me down when I turned 16... would have drove that thing forever (white, leather, sunroof, spoiler, tinted windows... parents got it after it had been leased new by a dealership employee for 1-2yrs). I was home for the summer from college at 20 when I left the sunroof open over night, the only time I've ever done that in my life, and some kid

SET IT ON FIRE



Yeah. Still have pictures of that damage. It was awful, it was in such good shape and 150k miles. I still get upset when I see similar ones on the road.

Then I had a Pontiac Grand Am from the As-Is trade in row at the Honda dealer, to take back to school, for about a year. Poor car was junk, and someone hit it and busted the taillight while it was parked at my apartment.

Then I got a 2003 Camry we bought from my cousin... had that for a few years, it needed some minor work that my dad would not do (and wouldn't let DH do for stupid reasons... ) which turned into problems ignored that turned into major problems. I'd have to stop to add oil multiple times driving it back to NE. Originally I wanted to buy it off my dad, but after all that and some other drama going on, I went car shopping.

And now I have a 2016 Camry, sunroof, leather, heated seats. Pearl white. And I've never giving it up! But I might get the windows tinted

DH shared a 90s Ford Tbird with his brothers in high school, then had a Buick Park Avenue Electra (man he misses that car still ), an old Dodge Van, drove his mom's old Ford Taurus after his brother was done with it for a bit, then his dad's old 90s Ford Ranger for a bit, then a Ford Fusion, and now a Ford F150.

They're a Ford family.

Seriously, DH drove this creeper van in college and I still started dating him

And because it's on my mind now... RIP first Camry... I miss you

Lol Dh's parents have always had a 12 passenger van because they coached soccer for different ages and have 8 kids. I always gave him crap in high school for having the family creeper van.

 

[georgina]

We are staying at RPR end of the trip. Presidents weekend. Rides are more open during parade? When does it start? Uni virgins here open to any suggestions.

You have unlimited express pass with your RPR stay. No worries about lines!

 

[Haley R]

Mine doesn't either. And the remote died a few months ago so I have to unlock the car with the key on the driver's side every time. Very annoying with a four year old whose car seat is on the other side.

Yeah if I unlock my car with the key the alarm goes off. That would be super annoying to hear every time I need in my car. My car does this weird thing where if you unlock it and don't get there fast enough it'll lock itself back up lol. It's so annoying!

 

[Calfan]

Made a Staples run at lunch to use the offer on my Biz Plat for 10% off up to $50. Bought $500 in gift cards. Need to renew my WDW AP.....

 

[Haley R]

Yes, my 2000 CR-V didn't come with heated seats.

Mine's a 2005 lol

 

[vanjust14]

I haven't done RMN since the good deals last October or so, but I think you have to wait for the credit to post before you can do again, and then I think they put a limit of 3 times during each promo. So I don't think it will reset before the fee free sale is done.

I didn't think you had to wait for the online offers, but Retailmenot pulled the offer today anyway.

 

[Lain]

Thank you! I want to go end of 2020, so I will most likely encounter the peak pricing unfortunately. Definitely want to do Oahu for Aulani. Might just stay in Oahu for the whole trip. I'd like to do Maui, but not sure on getting from one to the other. My DD will be just turning 5, and we will be coming from East Coast so will probably stop in CA (Disneyland?!). I'm just in the beginning stages of planning and a little overwhelmed!

Hawaiian Airlines runs interisland flights for as low as 7,500 HawaiianMiles one-way. Amex MR transfers to HA, and there’s usually a 25% transfer bonus sometime during the year. The Hawaiian Airlines MasterCard (issued by Barclays) is offering a 60k signup bonus right now. Pretty sure HA is on the Chase UR portal too. I also remember reading that SW plans to offer interisland flights. Unsure if they’ll be operating the flights or if it’s a code share situation. That might be an option if you have the CP.

 

[tink1970]

Ok, I am feeling really stupid. I sitting at the day spa, trying to enjoy my pedi and glass of complimentary wine when I get an AmEx fraud alert for a purchase at Target for $524 and change and did I make the purchase. I responded back no and then go to call the call listed. BIG mistake! I am hold and end up hanging up. So I check the voicemail from my hang up and thank goodness for Apple to translate without listening and I don't recognize any of the information. I think called the Plat 800 line, the CSR contacts the fraud dept and no fraud alerts on my account and it must have been a phishing exercise. To make a long story short, I had him issue me all new consumer accounts just to be safe. So I guess I'll get to see if they are really re-issuing replacements in rose gold tomorrow or Sat. Boy do I feel stupid! The CSR was so nice about it though so nothing but props to AmEx customer service!

I had a weird Amex-related phishing thing last week but I compared the email to a legit one from Amex and realized that's what it likely was so ignored it. My replacement gold was pink so hopefully yours will be too!

ETA-sorry the @#$%^&s disrupted your spa day. They should burn in &^%# for that. Spa days are precious. (clearly I take colors and spa time very seriously)

 

[Ngwira]

I've searched the boards and can't really find the answer to my question so I'm hoping that one of you can help. For our May trip, we fly in at 9pm so we're staying at the Hyatt MCO for the first time. I want to take an early ME to the resort in the morning. Do I just find a flight with an arrival time that matches when I want to get on the ME? I feel kind of weird putting fake information!

We did this in November...arrived late so we stayed at MCO. You don't need to schedule ME prior to boarding. Just show up with your resort reservation number and board.

 

[Alexle2007]

I had a weird Amex-related phishing thing last week but I compared the email to a legit one from Amex and realized that's what it likely was so ignored it. My replacement gold was pink so hopefully yours will be too!

ETA-sorry the @#$%^&s disrupted your spa day. They should burn in &^%# for that. Spa days are precious. (clearly I take colors and spa time very seriously)

This was a text message and I didn't even think about it. I am blaming it on the glass of wine and being relaxed

 

[disneybirds]

For those Shutterfly fans, I got the email this morning for free pages on books. Code FREEPAGES. Off to order my book!

 

[GZanta77]

We did this in November...arrived late so we stayed at MCO. You don't need to schedule ME prior to boarding. Just show up with your resort reservation number and board.

Yep same here - we didn't provide any flight details - just rolled down from the Hyatt in the morning and got in line. No problems.

 

[Haley R]

Yep same here - we didn't provide any flight details - just rolled down from the Hyatt in the morning and got in line. No problems.

I didn't know you could do this. That's good to know. I'm not sure if we would ever be in the position to actually do this, but it's good to know it's an option if we ever get in that position.

 

[schmass]

You stayed awake stressing about the creepy clown in the white van??? Lol! I’m grew up west of the city about 30 min. You? I do think it was an urban legend though hahaha!

I had an older sister that used to warn me about the bad clown I have always wondered if she used to tell me the stories just so I wouldn't want to tag along with her and her friends. I grew up about 15 miles north of Boston.

We did this in November...arrived late so we stayed at MCO. You don't need to schedule ME prior to boarding. Just show up with your resort reservation number and board.

Thanks! So since we don't need the luggage tags we don't need to register out arrival with ME at all? Just schedule the return?