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

[PolyRob]

We did a 3 night because it worked better with our schedule but I definitely felt like we had nowhere near enough time to see some of the stuff... A 4 night was just hard to work in by the time we knew (it was a wedding gift) and would have taken away from my F&W time...

I definitely feel that struggle! I always try to do WDW for at least a week in the spring and this would be attached to it so I don't want to take too much away from that, but a cruise is a cruise! I can't forget that is an adventure in itself!

I'm doing the 4 night as well just to try it out and see how we like it, and to see how DD does on a cruise. I liked the 4 night because it is Monday to Thursday night...so its easy to add on Sat and Sun and Friday and Sat to the beginning and end respectively, and still only take 1 week of vaca from work.

Yes, those dates may actually work better is I "sandwich" between two WDW resorts. I admit I am a little scared of motion sickness. I've never had it before, but I don't do well with some simulators at WDW and Universal so the thought is in the back of my mind. I will take/wear/do whatever I can to avoid it! I just don't want it to ruin the cruise or the WDW portions of the trip.

I do think it's worth it because the 3 night is essentially just 2 days on the ship. My first cruise was a 3 night one just to check things out, but I preferred the 4 night one we took. Plus it makes it easier to get there in advance, etc. We actually used the 4 night cruise as a way to take a break in the middle of a busy WDW trip.

And yes, I worked my way up to that cruise, but sailing around the Caribbean doesn't really excite me. We sailed on the Wonder in Alaska and it was wonderful. Then tried the Magic to Norway, Iceland, and Scotland and that was by far the best trip ever! We saw so much, and it was so easy to plan. Going back on the Magic next summer.

Exactly! I hope you like it. The 3 night one was our test cruise, but the 4 night was better and gave us a nice break in between all those busy, crazy, running around all day park days at WDW. DD had one week off for spring break in college and we met her down in FL for a WDW-DCL-WDW week and it was great.

Hmmm so the 3 worked well as a test, and the 4 was a nice break. I will play and see what fits. The week I normally go will also have Easter around it so that is something to factor. I can either deal with it, or push the trip up or back. It would make WDW less crowded if it wasn't that week LOL

 

[georgina]

Our first cruise was RCL to Alaska (2004). We did a short Disney one after that (2006) and my kids all said they preferred Royal Caribbean. So we did one more RCL western Caribbean in 2008 (highlight was Chichen Itza) but haven't cruised since. I am really turned off by the huge mega ships they have now.

I've gone and looked at bands but what makes it an AP band? or an upgraded band?

Funny story - I had an AP that expired a year ago. I had never ordered the AP magic band, and it was still showing as available in MDE after the AP expired, so I ordered it then.

 

[PolyRob]

Anyone who uses ECV rentals or stroller rentals- Disney is apparently stopping the dropping off/picking up at Bell Services. It sounds like reservations made prior to Oct 1 will be allowed to use the old Bell Service pick-up/drop off but after that you have to meet your reps in person. WHAT a pain that will be. 2 scooter companies have confirmed it according to the comments, Disney has not officially commented. https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...-vendor-for-both-drop-off-and-pickup.3771682/

Thanks for posting, just made my stroller reservation for upcoming trip. I used Magic Strollers with coupon code MSDVC for $5 off.

Thank you for this! I secured my reservations for December and the spring. I doubt I would be able to do something for October or December 2020 and tell WDW "Well, I did reserve before 10/1/19 so please let them drop it off for October 2020" LOL

This will be something to factor in for the future. I will also be informing WDW GRs of my displeasure with the change!

 

[PolyRob]

I've gone and looked at bands but what makes it an AP band? or an upgraded band?

Just a side note for the AP bands... they are just like regular bands only the box is yellow on the inside with the AP logo. You are also supposed to get a new slider with each order. My last band came in the blue castle box with no slider. I had to call the WDW AP hotline and they shipped a slider out to me. If you don't get them, call and let them know!

 

[amcc]

I hate my bank so so so so much. A couple of months ago, I signed up for the free trial of YNAB but the bank wouldn't connect to it no matter what I tried. I was probably locked out of my bank account 20 times trying that plus I had to call them half the times to unlock it. Now, their stupid verification failed when I tried to sign up my husband for the Target debit and I have to do the 3-5 day verification which, of course, won't work for the $50 off $100. I can't wait to be fully transitioned to Charles Schwab. Hmmm, my mom has a separate account for a rental with my husband, I wonder if I apply for her if the stupid bank will still have us locked out since it's the same login.

 

[amalone1013]

Just a side note for the AP bands... they are just like regular bands only the box is yellow on the inside with the AP logo. You are also supposed to get a new slider with each order. My last band came in the blue castle box with no slider. I had to call the WDW AP hotline and they shipped a slider out to me. If you don't get them, call and let them know!

I've never gotten a slider and never had luck getting them to send them to me - they told me to ask at the park next time and we went on a wild goose chase and no one could produce any. A friend hooked me up with some extras!

 

[PolyRob]

I've never gotten a slider and never had luck getting them to send them to me - they told me to ask at the park next time and we went on a wild goose chase and no one could produce any. A friend hooked me up with some extras!

That is a shame you never got one! You have a very nice friend

I remember reading when they were out of stock. I purposely delayed my band order. I will admit, it was actually a little ridiculous that I got one little piece of orange silicone in a UPS envelope, but I figured why not get it? I think the AP price increase made me mad LOL The DVC sliders aren't produced anymore and they go for like $30+ on Ebay now!

 

[PolyRob]

In CC news, I got my PC'ed CF in the mail today. It is nice and shiny!



It also has the same account number as the old card, but new expiration and security code if anyone was interested.

 

[smmco]

Can confirm. I went on a Canada/NE sailing on Celebrity and at 33 felt like I should have been in the kids’ club!

Royal Caribbean isn’t a party atmosphere on the 7nt sailings either from experience though. We took an Eastern Med. with them a few years ago on Navigator and it wasn’t at all the kind of booze cruise type antics you see on YouTube lol. But pax were mostly Europeans and so the ship was still pleasantly lively later into the evenings. We were going to try DCL for the first time for Western Med next year but then my other half got Lapu Lapu fever again so...

I’m late 40’s and felt like this on my Disney cruise. It was a much older crowd on this transatlantic. The TA I did last May had a lot of College kids and teenagers since school gets out in May.
Surprisingly this cruise had about 30 kids in the vibe, but no babies and very few adults under 40.
It was definitely a different atmosphere.

I’ve also cruised Royal and didn’t find it to be a party cruise. There’s always people that over do the booze and this includes DCL. I’ve seen plenty of drunk people on DCL.

 

[smmco]

BTW I got 75k miles from my Barclays business cards. No problems with them except the wacky website. I need more AA miles. Is it possible to churn any AA cards?

 

[mmmears]

I don't understand the whole "slider" thing. I would happily give the one they sent me to someone if I knew where it was. I don't love the MBs, and the added feel of the slider just wasn't a positive addition for me.

Hmmm so the 3 worked well as a test, and the 4 was a nice break. I will play and see what fits. The week I normally go will also have Easter around it so that is something to factor. I can either deal with it, or push the trip up or back. It would make WDW less crowded if it wasn't that week LOL

Yes, the 3 was nice, but the 4 was so much better. Seriously, book the 4 night if you can, but if it doesn't work out don't feel bad about booking the 3. Hope that makes sense. Both of our short cruises were during that same time period, and it does make for more expensive cruising (although it also corresponds with the higher hotel charges at WDW).

 

[kmc8826]

American Express is not making me happy. I am missing 20,000 referral Hilton points. I chatted and gave them all the information a few weeks ago. I chatted again and the investigation is over and they say the link wasn't used rightly. So nothing they can do. Since I applied for DH I know the link was used correctly. I know others have had this happen, with even bigger amounts and from what I remember it was a total hassle and some never got their missing points. Think it's worth a phone call? Or will I just be wasting my time and making myself more upset?

I'm in the same boat. I used DH's support link to apply for a Hilton card for myself at the end of July. My bonus points have posted, but his support points haven't. The terms say it can take 8-12 weeks. Once it goes past 12 weeks, I'm going to chat. Then, I'll probably try to get him to make one phone call but will likely leave it at that.

I would just let it go with Amex. I fought the battle a couple years ago for support points to DH to me (I even sent them the email I clicked through for offer). Nothing. It seems that no one ever really wins a battle with them when they have decided they are not going to do it. (Apparently I am only a little bitter still).

 

[kylenne]

and congrats on your CSP-it's a great card!

Here's your first dance party!

Wow, now I really know I made it!

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

I don't understand the whole "slider" thing. I would happily give the one they sent me to someone if I knew where it was. I don't love the MBs, and the added feel of the slider just wasn't a positive addition for me.

I tossed our sliders (DVC? AP? it was several years ago)

 

[snugglebug]

Bank churners, any reason to keep Fidelity or Ellevest open? Trying to simplify my weekly account check ins.

 

[GlamMistress]

Bank churners, any reason to keep Fidelity or Ellevest open? Trying to simplify my weekly account check ins.

Do you invest with Fidelity at all? I enjoy my Fidelity cash management accounts. I use them as my vacation and house sinking funds. But all our investments are also at Fidelity which makes things nice. Plus we use Chase and a local credit union. I am no longer interested in opening more bank accounts at this point.

 

[PolyRob]

I don't understand the whole "slider" thing. I would happily give the one they sent me to someone if I knew where it was. I don't love the MBs, and the added feel of the slider just wasn't a positive addition for me.

Yes, the 3 was nice, but the 4 was so much better. Seriously, book the 4 night if you can, but if it doesn't work out don't feel bad about booking the 3. Hope that makes sense. Both of our short cruises were during that same time period, and it does make for more expensive cruising (although it also corresponds with the higher hotel charges at WDW).

Thanks! I completely understand what you mean. Both are worth it, 4 is even better, but I would not be disappointed with 3! I will play around with dates and see what I can piece together.

 

[elgerber]

I have my DVC sliders and several AP sliders. I don't wear my band,I wear the puck in a holder on my apple watch. The slider keeps the puck on.
The bags are packed and we are off tomorrow morning for our short visit for the last Illuminations

 

[amalone1013]

I have my DVC sliders and several AP sliders. I don't wear my band,I wear the puck in a holder on my apple watch. The slider keeps the puck on.
The bags are packed and we are off tomorrow morning for our short visit for the last Illuminations

 

[bernina]

Okay good lol. We most likely won’t do royal Caribbean or carnival cruises

I agree with the other poster that said longer RCCL Cruises aren’t party cruises. We did a 7 night western Carribean on Oasis and a 9 night NYE cruise on NCL Escape and neither were a party cruise.

So far Oasis has been our favorite ship and Disney our favorite service. Food was similar on all 3.

Definitely don’t rule out RCCL as a party cruise. They sail very similar itineraries to Disney for less than half the price at times. Way more to do on their Oasis class ships too. I think the majority of Alaska cruises won’t be party cruises either.

And I highly recommend a Norwegian Cruise (not the cruise line, the country). It combined the scenery of Alaska with the culture and history of a European cruise. The Norwegian Fjords Cruise on DCL Magic has been our favorite cruise so far.