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

[MickeyMouseCD524]

I'm back to reconsidering doing a different Character Breakfast with the grand daughters. Not cancelling the idea, but I just read a review and found another of interest to me.

Topolino's Terrace at Riviera has a character breakfast that includes Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy and Pluto was on the terrace - the others do table visits. Of course it's brand new so not too many reviews. Also, not overly focused on the actual food - we will eat whatever is available. It's more the experience I'm going for. Pete and his crew did a video just this week and you can find it in the sidebar Disney News and Updates. Would I ride the Skyliner there? Probably not. Easy drive from Boardwalk, though. Any thoughts?

Haven't had a chance to look into it yet but I'm really interested to go and try it out. I would give the skyliner's a ride if you go though. The ride there from EPCOT is so quick and easy and it's a very smooth ride.

 

[amalone1013]

Huh.

 

[AmyAnne]

.

New Chase offer on my CIP. Just as good as that McDonalds one!

View attachment 459634

Well, actually, having initially defended the McDonalds deal, I feel compelled to now say that this is actually a better deal . . . the McDonalds deal was 5% back so you'd have to spend $20 to get your $1. I do go to McDonalds probably more than most people but I never spend more than a few dollars. I did think about buying a gift card but even I couldn't justify the hassle of keeping with a gift card for a single dollar.

 

[Judique]

Haven't had a chance to look into it yet but I'm really interested to go and try it out. I would give the skyliner's a ride if you go though. The ride there from EPCOT is so quick and easy and it's a very smooth ride.

Is it direct to Riviera from Epcot? I know the stations but haven't really keyed into the routes.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Replying to myself since I think my question maybe got lost in the shuffle...would y'all recommend speculatively transferring my MR stash to VS while this 30% bonus is going on? I won't be ready to book our flights for another couple of months and we haven't discussed taking 2 weeks off with our employers, although I think the requests will be approved. I know the transfers are permanent which is why it makes me nervous. Any insight is appreciated!

Sorry I missed this the first go around. I'm trying to figure out how much to speculatively transfer to VS myself. I think the answer depends on your tolerance for risk and how much you want to throw your eggs all in one basket to potentially get a great redemption. I make my decisions on speculative transfers to take advantage of transfer bonuses based on how many URs and MRs I have left once I make the transfer to cover myself in case my plans don't work out and/or cover any other trips I need to book. In other words, I try to make sure I have enough for option two if option one doesn't work out. I guess in your position, I'd be asking myself what would happen if I bet wrong: i.e., I can't get the Virgin flights and/or the request isn't approved. Do you have use for the Virgin miles anyway (i.e. other trips you could use them for like London)? Could you book a revenue flight in the alternative if it turns out you can't get the flights you want via Virgin?

 

[Judique]

Tom Bricker wrote an article about it. He said it’s the best character breakfast at wdw now

Who is Tom Bricker?

I reserved it for the morning we leave at 10am. We have a 5 hour drive to Hilton Head, roughly, so, maybe I should do an earlier time slot. When I'm by myself, I leave late morning when going to HHead. Maybe I need to rethink the time back to 8am.

It's only been open since Monday. Bricker must have really liked something....

 

[PolyRob]

Now that I have a trip planned for March - what is the strategy for ROTR? Just get up early and head over to get in line before park opening?

The RotR virtual queue has evolved. As of 2 days ago, guests are being let into DHS early, but held on Hollywood Boulevard until posted park opening time and the virtual queue is not opening until posted park opening time. This puts those arriving really early at a slight disadvantage for RotR since someone arriving 2 hours later could theoretically get an earlier boarding group. With that said, if you want to get to SDD or MFSR first, get there early and be in front of the crowd. I would say arriving an hour before park opening time will ensure you are past security and scanned into the park with sufficient time to get a boarding spot once it opens. Gold and Silver APs are also blocked out now and the holiday rush is coming so it could change. There is another thread tracking the current procedure and I am also following the information for the spring! Who knows, maybe the ride will be stable enough and the virtual queue goes away.

 

[PolyRob]

Do you want this fair skinned girl forgot to make sure to pack plenty of for the Caribbean? Yep, suntan lotion! Thank goodness we get a discount and I’ll get 3x on my CSR since it’s $27. Yikes! It’s either pay the pauper or get burnt...

Worth every single penny. The sun is very scary!

 

[MickeyMouseCD524]

Is it direct to Riviera from Epcot? I know the stations but haven't really keyed into the routes.

Yup! It's the first stop from International Gateway

 

[PolyRob]

@PolyRob I'm sorry that I forgot to come back and respond to you! No, the Disney+ stuff is not fixed! My dh's account is still not working and I have not been refunded for being charged for the free 30-day entitlement account. I need to call them again but we were at WDW and I got a cold (really bad sore throat) and I screamed on rides the first couple days. That is not a good combo! I lost my voice lol! I had very little voice at all the last day there and it really just came back yesterday for the most part. I still sound really raspy, which the lady at the grocery store says is 'super cute' And then dh had oral surgery the day after we got back. So long story to say that we have not called again but will here soon. I'm ticked at them and my niceness over all this is wearing thin.

Also, you may remember how somehow the Disney+ stuff broke my dh's MDE account. He disappeared off our resort reservation and all our FP's. We called regular Disney IT and spent a ton of time with them getting him set back up. All seemed well BUT none of his MB's scanned right for pics. So, the times my band was scanned, the pics show up but when he scanned, they are gone. Weird thing is that those pics are showing up on my aunt's MDE who is connected to us So, I can get them from her account but it's all so frustrating....

No worries!! I am so sorry his account is still messed up and you were charged for that 30-day trial! I hope you're feeling better and can finally get some resolution. What a mess on Disney's part!

The MDE part is even more frightening! How terrible. If Disney wants to use one account across all platforms, it needs to get its act together! I hope it works better going forward. I had some bad MDE issues and no longer use my MB for PhotoPass after almost losing them all one trip. I make a family member do it. I even got into the practice of having CMs scan a card after tapping the band so I had a backup. So sad that we need to do these things!

 

[PolyRob]

I'm back to reconsidering doing a different Character Breakfast with the grand daughters. Not cancelling the idea, but I just read a review and found another of interest to me.

Topolino's Terrace at Riviera has a character breakfast that includes Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy and Pluto was on the terrace - the others do table visits. Of course it's brand new so not too many reviews. Also, not overly focused on the actual food - we will eat whatever is available. It's more the experience I'm going for. Pete and his crew did a video just this week and you can find it in the sidebar Disney News and Updates. Would I ride the Skyliner there? Probably not. Easy drive from Boardwalk, though. Any thoughts?

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I just did the Bon Voyage breakfast at Trattoria al Forno last week and it was the most underwhelming character breakfast. The only character meal I have done that is worse is Hollywood and Vine for dinner. The pastries were stale, the food was not good (pancakes were like lead), coffee was weak, and the characters besides Ariel sadly fell flat. Flynn basically said "hi" and walked away. Everything I had read from multiple sources (even including this thread) said this breakfast should be great so I am hoping I had an off day, but I just felt I should share my experience.

I watched the DIS review of Topolino's because I had it booked for the spring, but was reconsidering it after my less than stellar December character breakfast. I am still on the fence, but the characters really looked cute and unique. If your granddaughters have a favorite, Riviera even sells plush versions of each character in the special costume.

The Riviera is the first stop on the IG line before it goes to CBR. It could be nice, but depending on the time of your breakfast, IDK how crowded it would be with people heading to parks. If you're hesitant to try it, the drive wouldn't be far at all.

 

[WVMomof3]

@Haley R did you ever get your Fedex delivered? I just got my Priority Pass that I requested last Friday. They said they would rush it and I should have in a few days. They sent it out Monday Fedex Overnight delivery. I just got it today.

 

[Alexle2007]

I am trying to get motivated to call for a retention offer on my Gold card. Annual fee appeared this week, and I want to keep it, but it would be nice to have a little help in replacing the airline credit - the gift card was a justification for me. I'd also like it in the form of a statement credit versus MR's, but can't remember if anyone has gotten anything other than MR's.

Also, my xmas shopping is pretty much done so not big tickets for the next while, so I need a 'small' spending incentive. Like spend 1k to 1.5k get $100 credit. I've been putting maybe 1k a month on this card, but not sure that's enough. I don't MS so can't really raise it by much. And, recently I've been slapping as much as possible on my Hyatt card as I had an incentive and those points are worth .03 to me.

I was actually offered a statement credit and asked for MRs (or my Gold and Plat).

 

[Haley R]

Who is Tom Bricker?

I reserved it for the morning we leave at 10am. We have a 5 hour drive to Hilton Head, roughly, so, maybe I should do an earlier time slot. When I'm by myself, I leave late morning when going to HHead. Maybe I need to rethink the time back to 8am.

It's only been open since Monday. Bricker must have really liked something....

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/review-topolinos-terrace-character-breakfast-art/

 

[Haley R]

@Haley R did you ever get your Fedex delivered? I just got my Priority Pass that I requested last Friday. They said they would rush it and I should have in a few days. They sent it out Monday Fedex Overnight delivery. I just got it today.

I did eventually get it

 

[Judique]

Yup! It's the first stop from International Gateway

Thanks! If I do breakfast, I will be packing up to leave and checking out first, so I'll definitely be driving. I forgot that little detail when I posted about the Skyliner.

 

[GZanta77]

Sorry I missed this the first go around. I'm trying to figure out how much to speculatively transfer to VS myself. I think the answer depends on your tolerance for risk and how much you want to throw your eggs all in one basket to potentially get a great redemption. I make my decisions on speculative transfers to take advantage of transfer bonuses based on how many URs and MRs I have left once I make the transfer to cover myself in case my plans don't work out and/or cover any other trips I need to book. In other words, I try to make sure I have enough for option two if option one doesn't work out. I guess in your position, I'd be asking myself what would happen if I bet wrong: i.e., I can't get the Virgin flights and/or the request isn't approved. Do you have use for the Virgin miles anyway (i.e. other trips you could use them for like London)? Could you book a revenue flight in the alternative if it turns out you can't get the flights you want via Virgin?

Just wanted to add....and sorry if this has been mentioned already...but if all else fails - you can often redeem VS miles on Delta flights, even domestic. Not sure of the value as I haven't done this myself, but it is another option if you find yourself with miles stranded in Virgin.

 

[tlg588]

CHASE SOUTHWEST 24 month REWARDS QUESTION. Do I have to wait 24 months after earning a bonus before applying fo a card with a bonus or does it just need to be 24 months between earning bonuses?

Thanks in advance for help.

Tim

 

[Judique]

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/review-topolinos-terrace-character-breakfast-art/

Thank you!

 

[mmmears]

I am trying to get motivated to call for a retention offer on my Gold card. Annual fee appeared this week, and I want to keep it, but it would be nice to have a little help in replacing the airline credit - the gift card was a justification for me. I'd also like it in the form of a statement credit versus MR's, but can't remember if anyone has gotten anything other than MR's.

Also, my xmas shopping is pretty much done so not big tickets for the next while, so I need a 'small' spending incentive. Like spend 1k to 1.5k get $100 credit. I've been putting maybe 1k a month on this card, but not sure that's enough. I don't MS so can't really raise it by much. And, recently I've been slapping as much as possible on my Hyatt card as I had an incentive and those points are worth .03 to me.

I was offered 10K MRs or $70 for 1.5k spend. Not bad, but not great either. The MR offer was better but I was going to take the points in any case. I have noticed that their cash/MR offers were equal (assuming 1¢ pp) in the past but seem to be lopsided these days. Good luck!