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

[alryan]

There are several reasons for buying no fee and discounted VGC/MCGC, but primarily it’s either to MS (spend money on your cards to generate points/hit SUBs without being out that money, because you’re able to liquidate the VGC/MCGC back to cash); shift spend to a later time (buy VGC/MCGC during the MSR period to count towards MSR, spend down the VGC/MCGC later); or shift category bonuses (buy VGC/MCGC where you get high category bonuses on your card, use VGC/MCGC where you don’t earn any category bonuses).

Check out this thread on DISchurners, where we had a discussion about why we buy VGC/MCGC.

https://www.reddit.com/r/DISchurners/comments/cfv6iu/_/euf1jku

The reason one person buys might be different than why someone else buys, depending on the cards they have, what MSRs they’re working on, what stores they have nearby that run these deals, and if there are stores where you can liquidate the VGC/MCGC back into cash.

You might remember that I said your velocity (how many cards you can get/how quickly) is in part determined by each credit card issuer’s rules for approving cards, but also by how much you can spend without spending more than you would otherwise (because we don’t want you getting into that trap of spending more to earn more miles, and suddenly find yourself having spent more than you can afford to pay off).

If you can manufacture spend (MS) by buying VGC/MCGC (with little to no fee), and have those purchases count against your MSRs, and if you can then get the cash value out of those VGC/MCGC (again, with little to no fee) to put back into your bank account to pay the credit card charge, you’ll have spent money and earned points on your card without really spending money. And that additional spend could dramatically increase the number of new cards (and their MSR/SUB) that you can go after. Deals like the ones I’ve been rounding up minimize or negate the fees you pay for VGC/MCGC and therefore lowers the cost of MS.

If you have

Spoiler: Goliath National Bank

Walmart

Spoiler: Gringotts Wizarding Bank

Dollar General

Spoiler: Dawes, Tomes, Mousely, Grubbs Fidelity Fiduciary Bank

Family Dollar

nearby, you can test the waters with liquidating via Serve.

If you have a Staples, Office Depot/OfficeMax, Albertsons owned supermarket, a Kroger or Harris Tetter, they often run deals on VGC/MCGC.

Just wanted to say thank you for all of your detailed answers, even though this one wasn't directed toward me it is the same advice I looked at months ago and now I have earned almost 50,000 UR on my CIC in the past five months. Thank you!!

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

We're going in mid-July. Only 11 months to wait haha. We had been planning on going in August, but between my work schedule and when the kids start school, we decided that July would work better. DD will turn 5 a week after the trip and DS will just have turned 7.

Nice! Mine are 13 and 9 - would love to get back there soon!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Called AAvacations this morning to obtain my Disney Reservation number to add my stay to MDE. That process could not have been easier - they knew what I needed, it was a brief hold, the number worked. That was great because part of me worried they'd be like "you need what???" HAHA!

 

[wendow]

Called AAvacations this morning to obtain my Disney Reservation number to add my stay to MDE. That process could not have been easier - they knew what I needed, it was a brief hold, the number worked. That was great because part of me worried they'd be like "you need what???" HAHA!

That's awesome!!! I got the "you need what". I explain it all. The lady is still like "why do you need this?". I explain. She puts me on hold, comes back and says she talked to her supervisor and her supervisor wanted more clarification on what this number was. I explain all over again, giving more details each time lol. Lady says she gets it now and will just call the resort. Ten min hold later she comes back and gives me the number. It feels good to know that maybe my efforts paved the way so people like you can have it easier

 

[ten6mom]

Ok I'll bite. What is an MDE???

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Ok I'll bite. What is an MDE???

My Disney Experience - the website and app that you use for all your Disney Planning (i.e. dining, fastpasses, tickets, hotels, etc.)

 

[miztressuz]

I just spent 2 weeks traveling through Italy with my DS 16, DSIL 18, and DMIL. I used my arrival + to erase cheap flights to Paris, URs for short/cheap flights to Italy and a free night at hotels .com for our last night in Paris. The rest of the time we stayed in the most magical air bnbs paid for with cash. As I was working on my scrapbook I started thinking about all the time I had spent into planning this trip and then I kept hearing everyone say “I can’t believe we just keep running into these beautiful places” not knowing that I was navigating us the entire time. I usually like to plan more time to just wander the streets without a destination, but with this travel party it just wasn’t a good idea. I figure most people on this board are planners like me so I thought I would ask - do you feel like being the person who does all of the planning takes away some of the magic of discovery on vacation and what do you do to help that not happen? The planning is a big part of what I enjoy about vacations so I would never want to let that go, but I’m wondering if I sometimes do too much research which leaves me without that element of surprise.

Yes I do. I haven't quite mastered it yet, but what's been working for the last few trips is not planning down to the details but having an overall guide for what to do, what not to miss.

For instance, when we did our trip to Europe we planned it like we might not get back. So if you were going on a once in a lifetime trip, what couldn't you miss? Well that lead to lots of research into each city, particularly Rome since that's where we were starting and had the most time. (we did a 17 night transatlantic cruise, so every other city was a day stop) It was also a budget trip so I played tour guide in Rome, trying to find out the info that would be most interesting for hubby and work out an order to view it all to keep it interesting. It was fascinating research I learned a good deal, picked out the pieces that he'd find fascinating, I even had printed out and carried some articles for further info should seeing the sites prompt other unanticipated interest. (I did actually pull one out at Largo di Torre Argentina as we tried to identify the different temples and where Caesar was believed to be assassinated)

Unfortunately I think this led to the lack of "wow" factor I experienced. I felt it particularly at the Colosseum. As we're walking around with our walking tour podcast and I'm pointing things out for hubby, I can see the difference from him learning about it at the same time as experiencing it versus me just seeing it in person. Like I had a multi step journey that ended with just the last piece being seeing it live rather than a million pictures - he got all those pieces at the same time, immersed in the location. I compared it to right before that when we did the Palatine Hill which I don't think we had a walking tour for so I had done just basic research into it - I think just enough to work out how much time we'd need there. There was one stop there where you could see a remarkably well preserved bit of house from centuries ago, and I don't recall seeing pictures of it in my research. That was where I got that wow feeling, where it really sunk in just how amazing it is to be seeing something like that. But after that, as fascinating as it was to do the Colosseum and the Forum after, it wasn't quite the same. Which is fine, after all, it's just a bunch of rocks at this point but I did think being there would make it feel different than just reading it. For me, having so much advance knowledge does seem to alter it and it's not the same.

So now I'm trying to do enough research to have a roadmap but not go down the rabbit hole beforehand. I like to let the info onsite guide our discovery and if we want to know more, either a smartphone is just a touch away or we take notes for research later. Or if it's some place like Torre Argentina where there's not really info plaques around, I'll skim some articles and have them handy for reference. I'm trying to keep it at big picture concepts so there's still stuff to discover in the moment.

We'll see how well that turns out in a few weeks. This is our biggest trip since Europe so it should be a good comparison. As much time as I've spent on this Alaska trip coming up, I've tried not to get immersed in fine details, and outside of logistics we mostly just have a rough plan for what we're seeing each day. It worked out when we did Colorado so I'm hoping that wasn't a fluke

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Finally handled my Disney+ subscription - $150.84 here with the 7% sales tax that I sort of expected

So $4.19 a month for 36 months... I'm good with that. We don't do any streaming services but this one seems worth it based on our interest in all things Disney. I put it on a VGC so good luck charging me an auto-renewal on that 3 years from now HAHA!

 

[hsmamato2]

SWA experts...those who have spreadsheets or keep track of SWA cc bonus offer cycles..... right now the offers aren't great..... any idea on the usual cycle of good offers? I know we had a great offer in June, and a lot of people like to jump in for CP season in October or so.... I have a reluctant fam member/player who is going to NEED those points sooner than they will get them (sigh, why do I even give advice sometimes) and now is wanting to go for the 40k/1k offer.... it feels so dismally low, but I guess 40k in the hand is better than waiting for the bigger offers to pop back up? the next round of booking openings is going to catch them by surprise,this I know already....advice?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

SWA experts...those who have spreadsheets or keep track of SWA cc bonus offer cycles..... right now the offers aren't great..... any idea on the usual cycle of good offers? I know we had a great offer in June, and a lot of people like to jump in for CP season in October or so.... I have a reluctant fam member/player who is going to NEED those points sooner than they will get them (sigh, why do I even give advice sometimes) and now is wanting to go for the 40k/1k offer.... it feels so dismally low, but I guess 40k in the hand is better than waiting for the bigger offers to pop back up? the next round of booking openings is going to catch them by surprise,this I know already....advice?

Sometimes it's ok to not think like a churner. If that family member wants the points and feels the 40k/1k offer is good then you may just need to get out of the way. It's still a great offer with a really low MSR. Can you or somebody else in your family give them a support link for this card? That at least would mean somebody would get another 10k points...

 

[LynnTH]

Update on my US Bank Business Cash Back Card. Was recently approved for this. ($500 SUB after $4500 in purchases in 150 days). So easy to do. Not so much when they only give you a $500 credit limit. Seriously, do they really want you to use their card or what..

So, Yesterday I was on the phone with them as I was having issues logging and setting up my bank as payment. I asked if I could get my limit raised. She said they would have to do another hard pull (Fine -whatever). And that I would get a letter within 7-10 days. I logged into my account today and now my credit limit is $9500. So much better. And since it is a MC - I can pay my Mortgage with it now to help on the spend instead of doing $500 at a time and then paying it and doing it again..

 

[PolyRob]

But that’s cheating! I’m getting too old to go down to Disney for these weekend trips so I maybe buying them on eBay too lol

I know, I did have a Festival of the Arts trip planned for last year, but then I had to cancel. I got lucky with Donald last summer. I didn't think I was going to be able to head down, but I had to go to Florida for work. ORLANDO no less! I ran over to WDW my first day and hit DHS, Epcot, and MK and got my family our magnets LOL

 

[MKTokyo]

Called Amex for a retention offer on my Plat & they gave me 50K MR. No spend requirement. The gentleman I spoke to said it was the highest offer they ever do.

 

[bernina]

Here's an odd DP: I applied for the Amex Blue Business Cash card for DH a few days ago because DH was getting the popup on the Hilton Biz. Since tonight is the last night for the Hilton Biz promo, I decided on a whim to apply for him again... and he was approved, no pop up.

But, it was kind of weird. He got the "we've received your application" message. Then, the screen changed to "this offer has expired" or something similar, I'm not exactly sure what it was. I figured it hadn't gone through, but he was approved a few minutes later. I wonder if he'll get the bonus? Anybody have any guesses?

Not exactly the same but your post reminded me of the weird experience I had applying for the Hilton Biz Ofer a few weeks ago. I generated a support link from P2’s BBP. I applied and received the “we’ve received your application” page. Then it took me to another screen that showed my new credit limit and it was instantly in my account. I didn’t get a pop up or expired offer page. Definitely made me go

Our Hawaii flights are now officially booked! I can't believe I was able to get 4 of us first class tickets roundtrip from Boston to Hawaii on points. We are flying Delta from Boston to Maui and then United from Honolulu back to Boston. Paying cash the fights would have been about $11,000. This wouldn't have been possible without this board, so thank you to everyone who posts here.

Now I need some new cards!!

Awesome!! How many Sky Miles/United points were the tickets?

 

[PolyRob]

Someone convince me that a last minute, more crowded October trip won’t be disappointing. You know, past the 60 day window and waaaay past the ADR window. That I don’t need my dining reservations, FOP, SDMT, and SDD FP, or all those extra anytime pixie dust FP we got when our EMM was cancelled (Tuesday was going to be such an awesome day at MK). I know we could wait for some Spring dates but the idea of going in Spring when I’ve bought/made all this Halloween themed stuff is depressing. Or any tips on how to get AA to approve me so I can at least book a miles trip next time?

Ok so has anyone booked a last minute trip, less than 60 days, with little kids, at a busier time than you’re used to? Was it awful?

I love going at the end of October! The weather is usually nicer and a little cooler. ADRs and FP+ are a bummer, but you are just about at the 60 day window with mid to late October so people are shuffling plans and you may be able to pickup ADRs. As for FP+, I would honestly contact guest relations (after all the hurricane drama because I am sure they are slammed) and plead your case. I bet they will work with you and even load anytime FP+ with no restrictions so you can get FoP, 7DMT, SDD, and honor the FP+ you got on your other trip. If not, HUCA or try in person when you check-in with concierge or at GRs in a park. I know some people have soured on Disney (not here, just on the DIS), but it still has some of the best guest service I have ever seen!

 

[amalone1013]

Idk. Ask your dh what you should do

I'd say you all are on to me but I was freezing my butt off this morning lol

So be honest. How long is the walk from the bus stop to the room? Still undecided on the rental car....if we even get too go.

Under 10 mins for us this morning. We cut through the food court but were almost as far as we cannbe, red dot

 

[PolyRob]

I have been fortunate to have visited enough and collected most of them too. I also need a new spot because magnets don’t stick to the front of my fridge - only the side. And I also have been collecting other Disney magnets for years so they are competing for space along with the AP ones.

I love it! The other door on my fridge has all resort magnets for where I have stayed over the years. That side is getting a little full too.

 

[schmass]

Awesome!! How many Sky Miles/United points were the tickets?

Too many! I booked the United flights with URs (87k each), which was less than the 95k United would have been directly. I booked one Delta flight with URs (70k) and the other 3 with MRs that I transferred to Delta (91k each). Way more than I wanted to spend, but with over 12 hour flights and 2 little kids, I decided in the end it's worth it.

 

[bernina]

I love going at the end of October! The weather is usually nicer and a little cooler. ADRs and FP+ are a bummer, but you are just about at the 60 day window with mid to late October so people are shuffling plans and you may be able to pickup ADR. As for FP+, I would honestly contact guest relations (after all the hurricane drama because I am sure they are slammed) and plead your case. I bet they will work with you and even load anytime FP+ with no restriction so you can get FoP, 7DMT, and SDD, and honor the FP+ you got on your other trip. If not, HUCA or try in person when you check-in with concierge or at GRs in a park. I know some people have soured on Disney (not here, just on the DIS), but it still has some of the best guest service I have ever seen!

⬆

Totally agree with all of this. We went Oct last year on a whim since good friends were in for a few days from England pre cruise. Weather was great (still hot but cooler in evening) and the crowds were fine. Check the night before and first thing in the morning for FP. Use touring plans free reservation finder for ADRs. It’s great and usually finds us what we want. Also check the night before since they now charge for no shows. Another tip for Disney Springs is to use Open Table. Most of the DS restaurants are on there and some of the hotel restaurants are there too. There’s no cancellation/no show penalty like Disney and it’s free. I still cancel of course but you don’t need to worry about doing it the night before.

 

[PolyRob]

Ok I'll bite. What is an MDE???

MDE =



@SouthFayetteFan gave a great overview! I only joke because the website and app can be very buggy sometimes