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

[SouthFayetteFan]

That has me feeling more hopeful. I went crazy and bought extra leg room initially. Fingers crossed.

I feel like we're grasping at straws at this point...but anything that helps is good...

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I feel like a bunch of us will soon be adding this to our DIS signature:

I'm not actually adding the words because I don't want to jinx it... YES I am paranoid!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

For everybody who has an IHG account:
They are adding the ability to set a REAL password - ditch the 4 digit PIN friends

https://onemileatatime.com/ihg-rewards-club-password/

 

[bernina]

Sounds like a fun trip! Will you be able to check in early enough on the 3rd at Portofino to take advantage of the Early Park Admission hour at Universal Studios? It's not a must-do to be able to ride Gringotts with a short wait but it's so nice to be able to explore Diagon Alley without the crowds that materialize soon after regular park open. Also, looks like IOA has early park admission at 8 am on the 4th. So you will want to arrive by 6:45 or 7 am to the gates to be at the front of the line for Hagrid's. Maybe even 6:30...Definitely agree with the advice to do IOA in a loop so you don't have to backtrack too much. Express Pass is amazing and you should be able to get on most rides with a reasonable-ish wait even in the middle of the day. It really simplifies touring. Do you have park-to-park tickets? You will need one to ride the Hogwarts Express or park-hop, if that matters to you.

The holiday entertainment will still be going while you are there and I cannot recommend the parade highly enough! The area in front of the lockers for Revenge of the Mummy has a great view, especially of the tree lighting. Also, the Grinchmas show is supposed to be great and I'm really sad I missed it on my trip in November. You have to line up about 30 minutes ahead of time to guarantee a seat. The entrance is near the book store in Seuss Island and you can meet the Grinch after. There are also special holiday versions of the stage shows in Carkitt Market and the stage in Hogsmeade - Celestina Warbeck's holiday set is great and I'm still humming "My Baby Got Me A Hippogriff for Christmas". The Christmas lights at Hogwarts are lovely and I would recommend trying to see one of the last shows of the night to avoid the crowds. You can also watch the show from the bridge between Hogsmeade and Jurassic Park. It's slightly less immersive but you're not packed in so tight. Oh, and check out the secret song list for Rip Ride Rockit so your thrill seekers can pick an appropriate soundtrack

Dining tips....Hot Butterbeer is delicious. The green stand outside of Grimmauld Place on the London Waterfront sells baked potatoes with hearty toppings that are a substantial snack or small meal. Dining reservations are much less of a big deal at USO than WDW, so you should be able to make a reservation now for your group for dinner. Toothsome and Mythos were our two favorites from the last trip.

Thank you so much for all of this great info. I'm bookmarking and will re-read to try and process it all I can do Disney with eyes closed but Universal is so confusing to me.

 

[Judique]

Daughter invited me to go stay over night at the St Regis, and walk around the city a bit tonight. I wasn't keen on going downtown when it is cold, and eventually got sick so I missed it. But here is a pic of the girls taking a break on the Ellipse near the National Christmas Tree this evening:



I've also got pics of them enjoying Uber eats (Plat credit) and both jumping on the huge king bed in their suite - she got upgraded (Marriott Platinum). Breakfast is a $60 credit. This was burning up a free night certificate.

 

[Judique]

For everybody who has an IHG account:
They are adding the ability to set a REAL password - ditch the 4 digit PIN friends

https://onemileatatime.com/ihg-rewards-club-password/

Yikes. I like my 4 digit pin.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Yikes. I like my 4 digit pin.

You don't have to change it... but it's widely been regarded as a security risk by people who have A LOT of IHG points given how much less secure it is than a long password with letters, digits and special characters.

 

[GlamMistress]

Chase declined me yet again. I am 5/24. Sometimes I feel like I will never get another Chase card.

I just applied and was approved for the Citi Costco business. Now I can access the Citi presales for concerts and use at Costco. Not very exciting but the right move for a longterm play.

Went to Urgent Care today. Had to wait 2 hours. Yet another ear ache. Tons of fluid backed up in each ear. I'm a toddler trapped in a 40 year olds body!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

This should come as no surprise but I'll report it anyways... ChurningMarketplace has removed all of the AA threads... No more selling mailers.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Chase declined me yet again. I am 5/24. Sometimes I feel like I will never get another Chase card.

I just applied and was approved for the Citi Costco business. Now I can access the Citi presales for concerts and use at Costco. Not very exciting but the right move for a longterm play.

Went to Urgent Care today. Had to wait 2 hours. Yet another ear ache. Tons of fluid backed up in each ear. I'm a toddler trapped in a 40 year olds body!

What Chase card did you go for? Are you saying you are AT 5/24 or under 5/24 right now? I might just be misreading your comment.

 

[Judique]

You don't have to change it... but it's widely been regarded as a security risk by people who have A LOT of IHG points given how much less secure it is than a long password with letters, digits and special characters.

I know and I absolutely agree. I've had maybe 200K as a high number of IHG points in the past but right now I'm at about 20K, so not a big worry.

 

[GlamMistress]

What Chase card did you go for? Are you saying you are AT 5/24 or under 5/24 right now? I might just be misreading your comment.

I'm just under 5/24 (so 4/24). I typed it in a confusing way. I blame my ear issue for the delirium. I wanted the Freedom so DH and I would each have one to max the categories each quarter. Life moves on.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I'm just under 5/24 (so 4/24). I typed it in a confusing way. I blame my ear issue for the delirium. I wanted the Freedom so DH and I would each have one to max the categories each quarter. Life moves on.

Denied for a freedom...that feels like a slap in the face. Wonder what reasons they’ll cite on the letter?

 

[gottalovepluto]

-

 

[Judique]

Chase declined me yet again. I am 5/24. Sometimes I feel like I will never get another Chase card.

I just applied and was approved for the Citi Costco business. Now I can access the Citi presales for concerts and use at Costco. Not very exciting but the right move for a longterm play.

Went to Urgent Care today. Had to wait 2 hours. Yet another ear ache. Tons of fluid backed up in each ear. I'm a toddler trapped in a 40 year olds body!

Sorry to hear the Chase news.....I'm in for the long haul waiting until July or august of next year. We will get there, maybe. I keep getting tempted by many other cards.

Congrats on the Citi card.

I've had sinus but no ear ache, thankfully. I had that last year and the year before and it was extremely painful. If I have to be sick, I'll settle for the sinus issue. Hope your meds work quickly...I've got 4 more days of z pak.

 

[GlamMistress]

Denied for a freedom...that feels like a slap in the face. Wonder what reasons they’ll cite on the letter?

Who knows. I mean, no one else has a problem giving me credit! 830 credit score, REALLY good income...I keep thousands with Chase and use them for real banking. That said, I am a debt deadbeat. I have no debt save the mortgage. I think Chase hates that. Maybe they just hate me. I've decided to take it personally, ha.

 

[GlamMistress]

Sorry to hear the Chase news.....I'm in for the long haul waiting until July or august of next year. We will get there, maybe. I keep getting tempted by many other cards.

Congrats on the Citi card.

I've had sinus but no ear ache, thankfully. I had that last year and the year before and it was extremely painful. If I have to be sick, I'll settle for the sinus issue. Hope your meds work quickly...I've got 4 more days of z pak.

I tried a Z Pack last year. Did nothing. Maybe I am resistant, not sure. One of my ear infections last year was so bad I had to go to the doctor 3 different times for stronger medicine. He finally "nuked" with something you don't even use for earaches (I can't remember what it was exactly but it made me incredibly nauseous for a week. Got rid of that ear ache tho!)

I hope you feel better soon. Sinus issues plain suck.

 

[Judique]

Denied for a freedom...that feels like a slap in the face. Wonder what reasons they’ll cite on the letter?

Seems like every card issuer is starting the tightening up process.
But, all things are cyclical - and nobody ever learns so they will come full circle.

 

[smmco]

I have to say, I find this somewhat ridiculous as one could get 4 cards and SUBs (citi biz and personal, barclay biz and personal) without doing anything that would even resemble gaming. All of those cards are publicly available and have no terms stated that would prevent you from getting any of them.

I doubt im at risk with only 2 SUBs and having used all but 7k of my aa miles. But they seem to be taking this to something of an extreme.

I have three AA cards personal and BIZ Barclay and Biz Citi. I was denied the AA Citi personnel. I'm not worried about having one of each. I don't think that's a problem at all. I have exactly 1200 miles in my account. I have ticketed flights to and from Europe in August.
I do think there will be more rounds of shutdowns though.

 

[Judique]

I tried a Z Pack last year. Did nothing. Maybe I am resistant, not sure. One of my ear infections last year was so bad I had to go to the doctor 3 different times for stronger medicine. He finally "nuked" with something you don't even use for earaches (I can't remember what it was exactly but it made me incredibly nauseous for a week. Got rid of that ear ache tho!)

I hope you feel better soon. Sinus issues plain suck.

I feel quite a bit better today. For previous bad sinus or ear infections I've had Levaquin. It's a very strong antibiotic. But, my dr's office called it in for me and there was some kind of confusion because the automated system said 'Lev' was ready. Then automated system called me back and said I couldn't have it until Jan 12. I called and they said they were contacting my doctor. So, I don't know if they didn't have it or what. I'd rather actually have the z pak if it works.

Eventually I rec'd 4 scripts - the z pak, a cough suppressant, nasal spray and allergy pills. I declined all but the z pak. Actually got dressed and went down to the cvs this morning due to the phone calls. I already have the nasal spray and allergy pills and I don't have a cough, so didn't need to have my insurance paying for all that.

At least I didn't have to sit in a waiting room for two hours. I'm truly thankful for that. If my doc's office hadn't helped me out, I was going to do the video visit with CVS minute clinic - $59. I have never done it but I was feeling so yuch yesterday I just didn't want to go in to the office to see my doctor. I figured the $59 was worth not sitting in a dr office.