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

[usakiwi]

Just a DP regarding extending a Marriott FN: We totally lost track of the expiration date on one of our FN (actually I was too stingy to use it on MANY redemptions and used URs instead because it was a much better value, only to still be sitting on the FN as it is supposed to expire in 2 nights!! oops!)

DH just called a few minutes ago, and really did not have any very good explanation except that we just lost track of time, and they extended it...FOR A YEAR...pretty much no questions asked! I have logged into his account and the date has already been changed to expire in 2020. So, we will take that small victory.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Just a DP regarding extending a Marriott FN: We totally lost track of the expiration date on one of our FN (actually I was too stingy to use it on MANY redemptions and used URs instead because it was a much better value, only to still be sitting on the FN as it is supposed to expire in 2 nights!! oops!)

DH just called a few minutes ago, and really did not have any very good explanation except that we just lost track of time, and they extended it...FOR A YEAR...pretty much no questions asked! I have logged into his account and the date has already been changed to expire in 2020. So, we will take that small victory.

Marriott was always good about this - and I'm glad it hasn't changed. They extended mine back in December. One of the keys here is that they will always extend it for one year from when you call. So don't call too early...wait to ask for the extension to get the full additional year

 

[Lain]

I'll dig deeper into this as the trip won't be until May 2021. Things, I assume, could/will change again with their pricing. I'm really not even sure how far out you can book with them as I am so used to flying Southwest.

330 days.

 

[platamama]

Thank you - this is great to know. DH is a real estate agent, so we can get a business card. So basically the 80K URs = $1000 credit on travel purchases after $5000 of charges. Pretty good return. I still need to purchase Universal tickets, Disney dining plan and 2 WDW tickets. Any chance any of those count as "travel" that I can apply the $1000 against?

Wow, someone here with an actual business! haha But seriously, there are anecdotal reports where people with real businesses get more scrutinized than those of us with "businesses" do. It's not an ironclad rule by any means though. I've had success applying with my name as the business and my SSN, nothing else fancy, well so far at least with Chase and Amex and Citi. With BoA I'm still in limbo, waiting to hear.

Those of us fortunate enough to have a spouse/SO (aka Player2 or P2) play this same game build up the points and miles the fastest. You and your DH should get cards separate from each other and not put each other on as AUs, thus ramping up your accumulation of points. Say one of you gets the CIP, then refers the other to the CIP, you could have 190K URs between the two of you in short order. 85K for P1 from the sign up and MSR, same for P2, but additional 20K for the referral goes to P1. Then move on to CIC... and CIU... (or repeat CIP if that's still working).

Our Dischurners group also has a section about saving money at Disney that you might find helpful.

 

[platamama]

I have the United theme on vinyl and have played it.

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue?

 

[pillow]

The important thing with January/February trips is to not count on being able to swim or visit water parks. If you're thinking of it as "a bonus" or it "might be nice" then you won't be disappointed. As you can see from my signature, I have extensive Jan/Feb visit experience. I can tell you that your highs could be as high as mid 80's or the high could not even hit 50. Even when it is at its warmest, temperatures start low in the morning and then fall quickly at night due to the limited sun (sunsets coming at around 6pm that time of year). The other thing is you can't trust the forecast when packing for a week-long trip. That time of year, the temperatures and outlook 6-10 days out can change rapidly. When you leave, you might see a forecast of all 70s and by the end of your week it's in the low 50s. A rainy day can also kill all warmth. So like I said...don't count on swimming between Jan 1 and Feb 28, and if you can, count it as a blessing!

Wow this sounds super negative...HAHA! All that said, I LOVE January and February trips! Escaping the cold of the north = AWESOME! Touring Epcot in a hooded sweatshirt = pretty cool if you compare it to July and sweating your butt off! We've only had 1 truly frigid trip in all our years (and it was a little tough to enjoy if I'm being honest) but every other trip has been GREAT.

Was it 2001??? My MIL won a trip, and it was our first visit to WDW. DD was 9 months old, and Orlando saw record low temps (right at freezing in the mornings). We didn't have warm enough clothes for her, so DH put his long socks on her. She was so tiny, his socks ran up her entire leg!! We still had a great time though - just had to improvise a little. And I'd take it any day over summer weather.

 

[wendow]

The important thing with January/February trips is to not count on being able to swim or visit water parks. If you're thinking of it as "a bonus" or it "might be nice" then you won't be disappointed. As you can see from my signature, I have extensive Jan/Feb visit experience. I can tell you that your highs could be as high as mid 80's or the high could not even hit 50. Even when it is at its warmest, temperatures start low in the morning and then fall quickly at night due to the limited sun (sunsets coming at around 6pm that time of year). The other thing is you can't trust the forecast when packing for a week-long trip. That time of year, the temperatures and outlook 6-10 days out can change rapidly. When you leave, you might see a forecast of all 70s and by the end of your week it's in the low 50s. A rainy day can also kill all warmth. So like I said...don't count on swimming between Jan 1 and Feb 28, and if you can, count it as a blessing!

Wow this sounds super negative...HAHA! All that said, I LOVE January and February trips! Escaping the cold of the north = AWESOME! Touring Epcot in a hooded sweatshirt = pretty cool if you compare it to July and sweating your butt off! We've only had 1 truly frigid trip in all our years (and it was a little tough to enjoy if I'm being honest) but every other trip has been GREAT.

And I will take hot over cold any day! Disney is not Disney to me unless I'm breaking a sweat lol. I'm like Olaf - I love all things summer The one mid-Dec trip we took was high 50's during the day and I thought I would freeze TO DEATH waiting for the MSEP in the 40's at night. No swimming, no tank tops, no flip flops, no water rides, no thanks! I keep thinking I want to go back when it's decorated for Christmas cause that was truly magical but then I remember how cold it was

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Was it 2001??? My MIL won a trip, and it was our first visit to WDW. DD was 9 months old, and Orlando saw record low temps (right at freezing in the mornings). We didn't have warm enough clothes for her, so DH put his long socks on her. She was so tiny, his socks ran up her entire leg!! We still had a great time though - just had to improvise a little. And I'd take it any day over summer weather.

Our coldest trip was 2009 and we had another semi-cold one in 2011. This year's trip was chilly at times but we were super prepared for it and it was awesome.

EDIT: it was 2008...https://www.currentresults.com/Year...do/extreme-annual-orlando-low-temperature.php

• 31 degrees = January 03, 2008

Yeah...that week was rough!

That attachment is interesting to look book and see how every year has at least one cold spell...and it moves around so there is no rhyme or reason to it. If you're traveling between Dec 15 and Feb 28 you just HOPE it's not your week, lol!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I have the United theme on vinyl and have played it.

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue?

I have it on piano music and have played it

 

[Haley R]

The important thing with January/February trips is to not count on being able to swim or visit water parks. If you're thinking of it as "a bonus" or it "might be nice" then you won't be disappointed. As you can see from my signature, I have extensive Jan/Feb visit experience. I can tell you that your highs could be as high as mid 80's or the high could not even hit 50. Even when it is at its warmest, temperatures start low in the morning and then fall quickly at night due to the limited sun (sunsets coming at around 6pm that time of year). The other thing is you can't trust the forecast when packing for a week-long trip. That time of year, the temperatures and outlook 6-10 days out can change rapidly. When you leave, you might see a forecast of all 70s and by the end of your week it's in the low 50s. A rainy day can also kill all warmth. So like I said...don't count on swimming between Jan 1 and Feb 28, and if you can, count it as a blessing!

Wow this sounds super negative...HAHA! All that said, I LOVE January and February trips! Escaping the cold of the north = AWESOME! Touring Epcot in a hooded sweatshirt = pretty cool if you compare it to July and sweating your butt off! We've only had 1 truly frigid trip in all our years (and it was a little tough to enjoy if I'm being honest) but every other trip has been GREAT.

When we were there it got as low as 30 one night and then one day during our week the high was 78 or so. It’s crazy how drastically it can change. I agree about getting to wear long sleeved shirts. It’s nice to walk around and not sweat your butt off

 

[wendow]

Was it 2001??? My MIL won a trip, and it was our first visit to WDW. DD was 9 months old, and Orlando saw record low temps (right at freezing in the mornings). We didn't have warm enough clothes for her, so DH put his long socks on her. She was so tiny, his socks ran up her entire leg!! We still had a great time though - just had to improvise a little. And I'd take it any day over summer weather.

Our Dec trip was in 2014...my aunt had won a trip too!...and yes, so cold. I don't think it ever got into the 30's but it was low 40's at night (apparently, it was a 'rare' cold snap as well). I had my youngest, who was 3, bundled up like the michelin tire boy. Thankfully, one of my dh's co-workers had gone in Jan a year or two before and warned us that the temps looked to be really cold when we were there and we should take gloves, hats, blankets, coats, etc. So, we did. And we used every single bit of it! Most years, I have to kind of study our family pics to think what year that was. Not those pics. I see us shivering in hoodies and fleece caps and I know exactly what year that was lol!

 

[platamama]

I'm kind of surprised at all the love for United here. Back when we had a toddler and they were the only option for nonstop flights to MCO and Maui and we traveled to both at least once a year they treated us so badly every time that we just hate the airline and go out of our way (including taking flights with stops now that we don't have a little one) to avoid flying with them. They wouldn't even let DH preboard (and this is with assigned seats) so he could belt in the carseat early so we didn't hold up the boarding line. So we would get on the plane and everyone would have to wait. It was awful. I can't even begin to describe how disloyal I am to that airline. We were spending tons of money to fly on these flights, 4 seats every time, and we treated like dirt. DD can fly on either United or AA to college, nonstop, and we have put her on AA every break for 4 solid years. Sorry for the rant but I really hate flying with them.

Yeah, I'm not impressed with United. We flew United over spring break, and paid for Econ+ for one segment -- turns out the Econ+ seats (which cost $89 more per person) have the same legroom as SW's regular seats. United's regular Econ seats were such that my knees were almost in contact with the seat in front of me and I'm kinda short. My home airport is a United hub, and I've only flown one other time on United in the past 4 years (and it was miserable then too).

 

[platamama]

I have it on piano music and have played it

Oh, you're good!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Oh, you're good!

I didn't say I played it well...hahaha!! I wanted to play it my senior year of high school as a recital piece so I kind of cut and pasted excerpts that I could play and did my own arrangement. It is such a beautiful song! (I played most of the iconic parts people would recognize...I skipped some of the crazy sections with insane runs and such)

 

[pillow]

Our Dec trip was in 2014...my aunt had won a trip too!...and yes, so cold. I don't think it ever got into the 30's but it was low 40's at night (apparently, it was a 'rare' cold snap as well). I had my youngest, who was 3, bundled up like the michelin tire boy. Thankfully, one of my dh's co-workers had gone in Jan a year or two before and warned us that the temps looked to be really cold when we were there and we should take gloves, hats, blankets, coats, etc. So, we did. And we used every single bit of it! Most years, I have to kind of study our family pics to think what year that was. Not those pics. I see us shivering in hoodies and fleece caps and I know exactly what year that was lol!

Yeah I recall buying a blanket at Epcot before fireworks in December once. We were not prepared!

So I just looked it up . . . January 5, 2001 - the low was 28 degrees!! Brrr.

 

[wendow]

Yeah I recall buying a blanket at Epcot before fireworks in December once. We were not prepared!

So I just looked it up . . . January 5, 2001 - the low was 28 degrees!! Brrr.

28 degrees in FL humidity! I'd have just stayed in the hotel lol! That is miserable!!

 

[Lain]

I have the United theme on vinyl and have played it.

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue?

I have it on piano music and have played it

I didn't say I played it well...hahaha!! I wanted to play it my senior year of high school as a recital piece so I kind of cut and pasted excerpts that I could play and did my own arrangement. It is such a beautiful song! (I played most of the iconic parts people would recognize...I skipped some of the crazy sections with insane runs and such)

Love that Rhapsody in Blue is a segment in Fantasia 2000!

I confess that I too always associate Rhapsody in Blue as the United theme. My first flight on United was when I was just a kid, and they used to play the theme during boarding and I just remember loving the tune. Years later when I was finally exposed to some culture and heard Rhapsody in Blue in full for the first time, I was like hey that’s from United. No, Lain, it’s the other way around...

 

[pillow]

28 degrees in FL humidity! I'd have just stayed in the hotel lol! That is miserable!!

It was our first time there, and we were so excited, we didn't really care. And it did warm up during the day. The mornings though we just frigid! This makes me wanna go dig out the pictures.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I just had to spend 30 minutes trying to tweak some stuff on r/churningreferrals (I'm a mod there if you didn't know that)...

Oh. My. Goodness. NEW Reddit is SOOOOOOO BAD!!!!!!!! Wow is new reddit bad... I mean...I just can't figure out how anybody thought that was an improvement over old reddit (which was insanely simple to understand)...

Of course the things I had to tweak were how our sub displayed in new reddit because we were getting all kinds of goofy mod messages because...new reddit sucks. Wow... (Ok end rant, sorry...)

 

[afan]

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue?

Love that Rhapsody in Blue is a segment in Fantasia 2000!

I confess that I too always associate Rhapsody in Blue as the United theme. My first flight on United was when I was just a kid, and they used to play the theme during boarding and I just remember loving the tune. Years later when I was finally exposed to some culture and heard Rhapsody in Blue in full for the first time, I was like hey that’s from United. No, Lain, it’s the other way around...

Former concert band member hanging my head in shame that I had no idea because I haven't heard it outside of United. I saw Fantasia a LONG time ago. I just like it cause it makes me think of my grandpa. And same as @Lain that's who I flew on first and can remember.

In hockey news, glad the Sharks won, it was a nasty series and I hope Pavs is ok, but any time they want to stop winning (or losing for that matter) in such dramatic fashion in the playoffs that'd be super great. The games are always so stressful though scoring 4 goals on a 5 min PP is too awesome and I still can't believe what I saw tonight.