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

[Lain]

every airport has free massages... just ask a TSA agent... i think they call it a pat down though...

 

[Lain]

Just received three letters, one for each citi aa account I currently have open. All are granting 20k to each account.

I got a letter first saying I wasn’t solicited for the offer. I just kept chatting every other day and these showed up.

Thanks for the additional DP!

 

[snugglebug]

Pappasitos is my fav of the two. Just could live on Tex-Mex if it were available to me all the time

Now I'm wanting Pappasitos, it's been awhile since I've been there, ours isn't very convenient to get to. Tex-Mex is my go to food, I'm thankful to be back in Texas where there is plenty of it. We had one restaurant in Maryland that we went to, I like the variety here.

 

[mmmears]

Study abroad/year abroad people, I have a question.

DD is still finalizing her dates (will that ever get done???) and we are trying to help her find the best deal for her flight since she has a limited stipend and a limited number of points.

I remember reading that sometimes you need to book a RT ticket... can someone tell me where I can find that info?
All we know now is early Aug to sometime in late May or early June. I think she'll get the start date long before the end date, but I want to grab tickets sooner rather than later. We saw some great fares right now, but aren't sure if she has to have a return ticket when entering the country, or if it's ok to get one later since she will be there for almost a year.

 

[WVMomof3]

One word - convertible

Ha! I'm sure DD would love getting that as a hand me down!

TBH I don't see many convertibles in CO, at least where I am. I'm guessing the cold and snow have something to do with it. Last time we were in Maui, DH & I rented a convertible during our stay and did the road all the way around the island and it was the perfect car for that.

I am looking for something to hold kayaks but my sister has a convertible and that is how she moves her kayak. Top down. lol She lives in Cleveland, so plenty of cold and snow there too. But if the is out she is . Doesn't matter if it is 30 or 80. She is a little crazy. And unfortunately I have been in the car to witness it. Personally, I am not a convertible fan, probably thanks to her.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

That's what I want I always want to say to people about WDW... Someone asked me the other day why we go so much and why we're going again this year. I wanted to say "because it's cheap." Between URs and discounted gift cards, I currently have $1600 OOP cash invested in an 8 day trip for 6 adults. $600 of that is because I put the deposits for each room on a CC I was meeting MSR on. I estimate it won't be more than $3000 OOP (max) for everything including food and souvenirs by the time it's all said and done.

I just got my folio from our stay last weekend...after emailing and calling and basically pleading to see my bill...weird...

Anyways, $161.03 on food. 4 nights 5 days. that included a popcorn bucket and refillable mug. Whoop whoop! I was sort of playing a game with myself to see how cheap we could eat. I did have $50 of groceries delivered that I didn't count b/c I would have had to buy groceries even if I had been home. Maybe I need to write an article on cheap eats at disney.

 

[Limes96]

I’m totally behind on the thread, but I’m running in to the room to spread the happy news, my DS was offered a piano performance scholarship at his first choice college which will be in addition to his academic scholarship. He’s wanting to work on music in the film industry. The scholarship won’t be enough to cover his entire college cost, but it will help A LOT!

 

[elgerber]

I’m totally behind on the thread, but I’m running in to the room to spread the happy news, my DS was offered a piano performance scholarship at his first choice college which will be in addition to his academic scholarship. He’s wanting to work on music in the film industry. The scholarship won’t be enough to cover his entire college cost, but it will help A LOT!

That's fantastic, congrats to you and your son!!!

 

[WVMomof3]

Study abroad/year abroad people, I have a question.

DD is still finalizing her dates (will that ever get done???) and we are trying to help her find the best deal for her flight since she has a limited stipend and a limited number of points.

I remember reading that sometimes you need to book a RT ticket... can someone tell me where I can find that info?
All we know now is early Aug to sometime in late May or early June. I think she'll get the start date long before the end date, but I want to grab tickets sooner rather than later. We saw some great fares right now, but aren't sure if she has to have a return ticket when entering the country, or if it's ok to get one later since she will be there for almost a year.

I think it may depend on the country? I researched this a lot and never really did find a good answer. I had seen where people were denied entry onto the plane getting there if they couldn't produce a return ticket. I didn't want to take any chances, so we did book DD a return ticket. She said no one ever asked to see it. We did have to show a round trip "reservation" when we got her visa, but it said not to buy it before the visa was finalized. So I just printed a random itinerary from kayak. It worked, lol, but not sure that is what was intended. She still is unsure of her final day. I booked a ticket that could be changed, but I am thinking as the date gets closer it will be extremely expensive to actually change.

 

[miztressuz]

Ha! I'm sure DD would love getting that as a hand me down!

TBH I don't see many convertibles in CO, at least where I am. I'm guessing the cold and snow have something to do with it. Last time we were in Maui, DH & I rented a convertible during our stay and did the road all the way around the island and it was the perfect car for that.

Yes, it's definitely more fun with less snow We got ours down to FL just once while we had it. Unfortunately us and Disney usually also involves "record setting heat" at some point in our trip so there was a couple days we kept the top up so the A/C could compete. But otherwise if it was close to 60 degrees, the top was down regardless of location or season. It helps to have a garage to keep the snow off it. It's how I got kicked out of my one-car garage

@tink1970 , hubby agrees that a sunroof isn't the same but it's "good enough" with his current car. The rest of it makes up for it. I would love a mini cooper convertible if I won the lottery. I've wanted one of those cars since the US version hit here but I can't justify the price tag. I'm cheap!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

This is exactly how I am with my family! It just feels wrong not to get everything we possibly can in. I will say we do not let ourselves get burnt out. We build in later mornings, but will stay out late. I will even change things if it seems like we've done too much or not enough. It really varies, but I try to make sure everyone is satisfied.

I had the same struggle with CL. I've always wanted to try it, but based on my touring and ADRs, it would have never really been that beneficial for the price. I got some great AP rates for my upcoming trip and ended up upgrading both my BC and GF reservations to CL for less than $200 additional total for 7 nights. I jumped on $28.50 a day. The planner I am had to build lounge time in. I will see how it works out!

What date range are you traveling in for these? I've never seen it that cheap. apparently I need to go when you are!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I just logged in to our Marriott account and noticed that one of the rooms we have reserved jumped from 35K/night to 50K/night... WTH? I thought that you were looked in if you made reservations before the point change?

They change it in hopes that you don't notice. But if/when you do notice, you can call back 24 times until you find someone to fix it for you back to the original amount. Don't bother calling until you have the points to apply, though.

 

[amalone1013]

I’m in a similar situation where I’ve got a lot of bills coming up and may try out Plastiq. I’m debating what type of business card to get in addition to CIP. What’s leaning you towards the AA biz?

Mainly using the miles for Disney hotels and then being limited to either Visa or MC biz cards because I am paying car loans and AMEX wont let you do that with Plastiq. Too bad because it would have been a great time for a Biz Platinum

 

[WVMomof3]

I’m totally behind on the thread, but I’m running in to the room to spread the happy news, my DS was offered a piano performance scholarship at his first choice college which will be in addition to his academic scholarship. He’s wanting to work on music in the film industry. The scholarship won’t be enough to cover his entire college cost, but it will help A LOT!

Congrats!!

 

[Haley R]

Our theater is only $5.95 every day for matinees, $2 more for evening, in leather reserved recliners.

Yep ours has leather reserved seats too and the ultra screen doesn’t cost extra

 

[Haley R]

Haven't seen those prices in ages. I know other regions have it worse, but our kids tickets are higher than your evening prices, even for matinees. $5 Tuesdays is huge for us. We use it to see the big movies in the Dolby theater with the nice leather reserved recliners, makes it only $11/ticket on Tuesdays. Otherwise we sit in the "reserved" 20 year old seats (with millions of butt hours, with the hardware store number stickers on the arm rests for the "reserved" part) or if we're not going on a Tuesday then we use the discounted vouchers; but last time we bought those they were up to $9 I think. If it weren't for the Marvel type movies, we'd probably never go to the theater anymore. But some movies just need a big screen, for all the rest there's Netflix.

Yeah we wouldn’t go often if we had to pay $11 per person

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I’m totally behind on the thread, but I’m running in to the room to spread the happy news, my DS was offered a piano performance scholarship at his first choice college which will be in addition to his academic scholarship. He’s wanting to work on music in the film industry. The scholarship won’t be enough to cover his entire college cost, but it will help A LOT!

yaaayyyY! congrats to you, him, and your wallet.

 

[miztressuz]

I’m totally behind on the thread, but I’m running in to the room to spread the happy news, my DS was offered a piano performance scholarship at his first choice college which will be in addition to his academic scholarship. He’s wanting to work on music in the film industry. The scholarship won’t be enough to cover his entire college cost, but it will help A LOT!

Well, if it could be considered a bright side, I guess that leaves a little room to meet MSRs? But congratulations to DS and proud mama

 

[WVMomof3]

I haven't been to the actual movie theater in forever. But all this talk made me look up our prices because I thought they were more than what I was seeing here. It is $11.60 at night, I think $2 cheaper for matinee and this is seats from the 1980s. We don't have any fancy reserved or reclining seats. I have zero idea what an ultra screen is, but I am guessing we don't have that either. lol This was online pricing, so not sure if it is the same if you go there to buy? I think there was a cheaper option on Tuesday, but I couldn't tell what it was from the website.

 

[NewbieMom]

Anyone been to Portugal? Thinking of either Lisbon or Porto as one stop in our prospective Europe trip - seeing good award availability flying through either, and with United it doesn't cost any more points to do 2 stops in Europe. Thinking Vienna and someplace in Portugal - yes, its kinda random, but Portugal is relatively inexpensive for Europe, which will balance out Vienna, which will be $$$. My plan A was Budapest, but DH isn't crazy about going someplace with an authoritarian regime and lots of anti-immigrant sentiment (and I said if all you do is watch the news, the US wouldn't look so hot at the moment either, but I see his point.) I have a friend at work who has family in Portugal, so I'm definitely going to bug him for insight, but he isn't here today.

We've been to Lisbon, Vienna, and Budapest. Absolutely loved Lisbon and Budapest. Both cities had the friendliest people, whether at the hotel or just random people we come across while out and about. Both are relatively inexpensive compared to the rest of Europe. Neither places did we come across a language barrier. Lisbon reminds me a lot of San Francisco (if you've been). Lots of steep hills (but there's a street trolley). If time allows, I would definitely recommend the coastal towns of Sintra and Cascais for day trips (45 mins outside Lisbon). It's beautiful and relaxing, and the Ritz Carlton in Sintra (Penha Longa Resort) is amazing!