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

[calypso726]

What’s that about?

Lady goes back in time in Scotland... im bad at describing. I put it on my list after several here saying it inspired them to go to Scotland like @calypso726

@Haley R - You know how the Tokyo Disney parks ruins some of us for all Disney parks? Ok, the Outlander series ruined me for reading I resisted reading it for 20 years because it didn't sound like anything I'd be interested in at all, despite how many people told me I should read it. It had every element I didn't like, romance, history and time travel blech! I finally read it after a friend gave it to me as an FE gift on a Disney cruise. She swore I'd thank her and I gave in because we were very much alike in terms of tastes for movies, books, music etc. Over the years we've discovered we are likely sharing a brain. I've re-read the series 4 or 5 times since 2011 and it remains my favorite book series of all time. I'm an avid reader/book listener. The series has been made into a show on Starz and it is ok but no where near as good as the books. The character development, depth of the story etc, simply aren't there.

@amalone1013 is correct. DH and I both read/listened to the series and were inspired to go to Scotland. We felt like we'd already been there, the writing was so good and we had to see it. That was how I stumbled across travel hacking. ABD announced they were going to Scotland and I wanted to take our first ABD and had no idea how to pay for it because it wasn't in the budget. So basically, DVC led me to a DVC cruise, which led me to a group of lifelong friends, which led me to reading Outlander, which led me wanting to go to Scotland, which led me to travel hacking. Obviously, I fell in love with Scotland and our recent trip was 5th one there since 2013.

Ok, this straw conversation has piqued my interest. A plastics waste ordinance recently went into effect here in SF, which bans among other things restaurants from giving out plastic straws. I’m all for the new law because my kiddo plays at the beach, I’ve volunteered at beach cleanups, and we see firsthand that single use plastics are a real problem for the environment. Together with stories of plastics breaking down to microplastics in our oceans and landfills, making their way into birds’ and sea animals’ digestive systems and even our food chain, and China and other countries no longer accepting our plastic recyclables forcing the whole recycling industry here into a scramble, we’ve been trying to reduce our use of plastic and recycle what we can. We’ve already switched over to metal straws at home and even started taking them on trips. (I think @calypso726 mentioned she brings along metal straws too.) But I haven’t figured out how to take a metal straw with me on my day-to-day in a non-intrusive way, as in not having a metal stick sticking out of my pockets, and then cleaning it after using it at a restaurant so that it doesn’t make a mess of my pants. (“Excuse me while I go to the restroom to wash my straw.”) I guess wiping it down and putting it into a toothbrush container could work until I can clean it at a more convenient time. Almost all the restaurants, cafes and bars I’ve been to in the city this month have switched over to paper straws. I like the idea of paper straws, but they get mushy fast. So if I can figure out a way to bring my own straw with me without looking like a total goofball, I’d do it.

I carry around something like this https://tinyurl.com/y5u78zh4
I prefer the two pieces that can be screwed together and are telescopic compared to the collapsible ones. I do have the metal non folding ones but those stay at home. These portable ones are also easy to clean on the go since the bristle brush fits easily in the tiny case. They key chain case is quite convenient. Yup, I've done the "go to the restroom to wash my straw" real quick. It becomes an interesting conversation starter with fellow patrons, your dining companions and the wait staff.

 

[ten6mom]

@Haley R - You know how the Tokyo Disney parks ruins some of us for all Disney parks? Ok, the Outlander series ruined me for reading I resisted reading it for 20 years because it didn't sound like anything I'd be interested in at all, despite how many people told me I should read it. It had every element I didn't like, romance, history and time travel blech! I finally read it after a friend gave it to me as an FE gift on a Disney cruise. She swore I'd thank her and I gave in because we were very much alike in terms of tastes for movies, books, music etc. Over the years we've discovered we are likely sharing a brain. I've re-read the series 4 or 5 times since 2011 and it remains my favorite book series of all time. I'm an avid reader/book listener. The series has been made into a show on Starz and it is ok but no where near as good as the books. The character development, depth of the story etc, simply aren't there.

@amalone1013 is correct. DH and I both read/listened to the series and were inspired to go to Scotland. We felt like we'd already been there, the writing was so good and we had to see it. That was how I stumbled across travel hacking. ABD announced they were going to Scotland and I wanted to take our first ABD and had no idea how to pay for it because it wasn't in the budget. So basically, DVC led me to a DVC cruise, which led me to a group of lifelong friends, which led me to reading Outlander, which led me wanting to go to Scotland, which led me to travel hacking. Obviously, I fell in love with Scotland and our recent trip was 5th one there since 2013.

Someone had given my mom the first four books as a gift many years ago and I saw them at her house. She didn't care for them (!!!) so she loaned them to me and I was HOOKED. I love the humor and the storytelling (and I admire Jamie Fraser's character greatly but physically I don't find his description attractive). It's really cool that the author is local to me. I've heard her speak a few times and I find her entertaining as well.

I did watch the first two episodes when it first aired and I never bothered to go back... but I LOVE the books!

 

[calypso726]

My weird germophobe OCD co worker drinks her coffee thru a straw stuck in the lid of her foam take out cup from the cafeteria at work. The paper cup doesn’t keep her coffee hot enough, but she must use a straw so her teeth don’t discolor.

I'm one of those weirdos who drinks coffee with a straw too. Not a germaphobe though, I do it at home too. I do it to avoid coffee stains on my teeth and also lessen the risk of burning my mouth with coffee that is too hot

 

[wendow]

Ohhhhhh yes. How could I forget that? SMH

Do you have the option to upgrade the ticket in the MDE app?

I don’t think there’s an upgrade option

 

[wendow]

My parents have had hotter weather lately in Iowa than us here in Florida. Next week we are supposed to be at 90 and they are getting all the way up to 98

We got to 98 today here in CO! DD16 was filming an outside dance video with her studio group and she got fried

 

[wendow]

Aren’t the metal ones hard on your mouth? There are reports of people cutting the roof of their mouth where the straw poked them. I can’t imagine if a child tripped while drinking out of one.
We clean our straws with a baby bottle brush. I don’t sterilize my dishes, uneven had a reason to sterilize straws.

I’ve never cut my mouth on the metal straws. I guess it could happen but none of us have. No sterilization for my straws either

 

[wendow]

I'm one of those weirdos who drinks coffee with a straw too. Not a germaphobe though, I do it at home too. I do it to avoid coffee stains on my teeth and also lessen the risk of burning my mouth with coffee that is too hot

Same! No coffee stained teeth for me

 

[brownhaired_girl]

I don’t think there’s an upgrade option

You might want to try logging into your MDE and “chat” with the IT person. You may need to upgrade just the main reservation holder to start.

 

[disfanforlife]

I don’t think there’s an upgrade option

I don’t think that the option to upgrade on the app will appear until after you use the ticket at Disney.

 

[chattadisser]

Oh in churning news, DH's citi AA biz statement closed and I see the 40k bonus miles. That was his 2nd card and used the dummy booking 2k spend for 40k miles + 250 statement credit. I'll buy a gift card next. I was waiting to see if his bonus miles posted.

Is this from a mailer or did you just use a different offer for the 2nd? I'm eligible to get my second Citi AA Biz but I can't decide what offer to use or if I should just continue drinking the CIPpy cup. A CIP MSR and Citi AA Biz MSR is probably more than I want to take on right now with no big expenses coming up. I definitely want to keep drinking from the CIPpy cup till it gets taken away.

 

[Limes96]

I have stayed there, pre renovation. It was nice then, and the reno was supposed to be even nicer, I think to compete with the JW a few doors down. We were supposed to stay right after the reno for Thanksgiving but they put us at the JW because construction was behind schedule. The whole place was shut down for the renovation, (not just sections) so it was a pretty big undertaking. But when they finished the reno, and hadn't even opened back up yet (if I recall) the hurricane came through and ruined everything. So awful. So it was then closed forever again. Seems like there was a fire thrown in there too. Anyways, it was closed for probably 2 years but it should be really nice and fresh now, after all that!

Wow, that’s a lot of setbacks on their renovations! I had no idea. Looking at the pictures it looks so nice! If I can manage to accumulate enough HH we’d love to try it. Seems like several here have stayed at the JW though and the beach is getting good reviews. I like that it’s far enough south that (unlike Orlando) it shouldn’t get any of the crazy cold fronts the rest of us get over the winter. We need sun! Vitamin D is so important you know.

 

[DisneyMandC]

They need to have their own account and then you need to be friends with them so you can book their stuff. It's how my friend and I have it set up since we don't always travel together. Whenever I make an fp or an adr she pops up as an option even if she's not on the the hotel rez.

My husband and big kids have their own acct. They all show up in mine and I handle everything.

So none of them have their own account but since I have all their reservation numbers and info in my account for booking, it gives me the option to add them to ADRs and I can choose their MBs and whatnot. I would assume that’s sufficient for me to make their FPs in a week and then give them their reservation numbers and let them create their own account?

FWIW, they all show up as my "Family and Friends."

 

[punkin]

My DD is trying to point her DH in the right churning direction (has good credit. Only has 2 credit cards everything older than 24 months) but he's being difficult. He doesn't want a "BUSINESS" card. She gets that so she says how about a saphire preferred for the bonus. So he decides to do his own research and comes up with....Capitol one venture card. DD is at a loss. She explains that the redemption value sux. He says but the annual fee is waived. She says but the higher bonus offsets that. He says I like CapOne. I told her sometimes you just have to let your husband make his own mistakes. Newlyweds!!! Lol.

 

[hayesdvc]

Looking to get a new CC to cover either Marriott or Hilton stays. Recommendations on one one these or another. TIA

 

[hsmamato2]

Target redcard $40 off $40 deal for credit or debit...are both considered a 'slot' in cc lineup for apps?

 

[hsmamato2]

I've gotten no notice at all, email or snail mail, about my purple cards. Starting to wonder if I should be worried.

I don;t know what to think...I'll likely have to call in later this week to figure it out since IDK what happened to those new cards

 

[Alexle2007]

Target redcard $40 off $40 deal for credit or debit...are both considered a 'slot' in cc lineup for apps?

I would think the CC option would be counted. My Target CC is also a Visa that I can use anywhere and not just a store card. The debit is basically like a bank card so it shouldn’t be counted.

 

[Lain]

Target redcard $40 off $40 deal for credit or debit...are both considered a 'slot' in cc lineup for apps?

Target REDcard credit card absolutely does count. It's issued by TD Bank. I got one in the heyday of the Target-eBay churn and then that went kaput and I was left with a credit card on my reports that was less than 24 months old when I started ramping up the credit card churn.

A REDcard debit does not count against 5/24.

 

[Lain]

Looking to get a new CC to cover either Marriott or Hilton stays. Recommendations on one one these or another. TIA

Let's start with,

Do you stay at one over the other?

Do you have elite status at either?

Do you value things like late checkout, upgrades, or free breakfast?

Where do you tend or plan to visit when staying at a Marriott or Hilton?

Are one chain's hotels more convenient or appealing to you than the other?

Are you looking for a card, or several cards?

Are you in 2-Player mode? Is your spouse willing to open up cards too?

What's your 5/24 status? List all the cards you've opened, with month and year, in the past 24 months. (If in 2-Player mode, do the same for P2.)

Do you currently have, or have you ever had any Marriott, SPG, or Bonvoy branded cards from either Chase or Amex? (Do the same for P2.)

Do you or P2 have any Amex cards?

Are you looking for a card to with a big signup bonus or free night certificates to use towards free stays, or are you looking for a card that gives you a good bonus multiplier for cash you are spending or planning to spend at hotels?

Do you mind annual fees?

 

[hsmamato2]

Target REDcard credit card absolutely does count. It's issued by TD Bank. I got one in the heyday of the Target-eBay churn and then that went kaput and I was left with a credit card on my reports that was less than 24 months old when I started ramping up the credit card churn.

A REDcard debit does not count against 5/24.

really..... that's a good option then! I haven't had a redcard debit for many years(P2 had one back in the ebay/gc heyday) but I see a lot of deals that 5% would come in handy.....