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

[amalone1013]

How long does citi AA business cards take to arrive in the mail once approved? It said 7-10 days on the phone status but wondering if they are only counting business days.

 

[happ]

I wasn’t able to get my 16 and 14 year old sons an employee card. I thought it was their ages but maybe it was just the crappy Barclays website. Off to try again!

I tried to add my 17 year old as an employee on my application and couldn't get it to work. I added myself as an employee instead, but I don't know if that'll actually work. I'm still waiting for my identity verification documents to process.

 

[kmc8826]

We are now back from the crazy heat this past week of WDW to unseasonably cold and rainy. Why can't I just have normal/seasonal weather?!?

For anyone who paid attention this was a trip originally with just my youngest and then my DH decided he wanted to come too. We had a crazy split stay of one night at Boardwalk, one night at BLT, one night of VGF, and two nights at Poly. Since it was a last minute trip it was a fun way to use my DVC points on the studios. If anyone else has a similar situation come up I was a little worried about changing rooms so much but it ended up being really fun. We had extremely good luck in being able to get into our new room not too late in the day, and with Disney transporting the luggage it was pretty easy. The one night stay made it also easy to add the deluxe dining plan so we were able to eat at Chef Mickey's, Artist Point, and Garden Grill and come out ahead. My unexpected favorite of the resorts we stayed was VGF. I don't know that we will be repeating it since I just lucked into getting the room for the one night but it was fun nevertheless.

We also did Moonlight Magic at Epcot and that was way fun. Free meal vouchers, free ice cream bars, and Goofy in full on clan tartan. Need I say more?!?

My other two who did not get to come this trip our really wanting to go so now I am figuring out August...thinking another split stay booked on the AP rate and then charges erased with the Arrival Plus.

Thanks to everyone also who chimed in on the scooter/wheelchair issue. We went with the wheelchair and other than dealing with a miserable husband who did not like being pushed in it but needed to be it went just fine. I miss having babies but pushing the wheelchair put me back to the stroller days which I do not miss at all!

The best news is we really did not spend all that much since our entertainment mostly came from the moving resorts and Moonlight Magic and I came back with almost $1200 in gift cards. I might actually finish up the Lowes/Staples Amex deals with Amazon and not all Disney cards.

 

[Lain]

Hawaii is on my radar for Christmas week 2020. Would the weather be reliably decent? Also, for a 5-day (first) trip, where would be the best place to start? Of course I am thinking Aulani but is that convenient to other things we would want to do?

ETA: We are not beach people so we'd need some hiking or biking or some other sort of interact with nature activities.

We try to make it back to Oahu over Christmas every year to visit family; usually we'll also try to extend our trip over the New Year. So our typical trip is between 10-14 days over December and January. December is in Hawaii’s rainy season. (So is March for those planning on visiting then.) But that doesn’t mean it’ll be rainy all the time, or even everywhere.

Rain systems tend to come down from the northern, windward side of the island, but the Koolau mountains break up the rain clouds as they make their way southward, so mostly by the time these rain clouds reach the southern side of the island, where you’ll find Waikiki, Honolulu, and Ko Olina (where Aulani is), the rains will have dissipated to scattered showers. Meanwhile, on the other side of the island, the steep vertical cliffsides of the Koolau mountains in the pictures that @hulagirl shared become filled with plunging waterfalls; and a good rainstorm might result in the Koolaus awash with over a dozen waterfalls.

I’ve posted aerials shot that kind of explain what I mean: https://www.disboards.com/threads/i-love-credit-cards-so-much.3528202/page-574#post-58615409

ETA: See those rainbows in the distance? Also see the rain. But it was completely dry and sunny at our hotel in Waikiki.

It can be entirely sunny in one spot, and gray and wet if you happen to be under a passing rain cloud. Again, Honolulu and Waikiki will see less rain than the windward side (going up to the North Shore), and Ko Olina is on the dry side of the island so will get even less rain than Honolulu and Waikiki.

The above shots were taken at the end of December 2017 and over New Year 2018-19. In 2017, I think we got some pretty heavy downpour for a day or two while we were at Aulani, but that was about the only real rain we saw during a ~10 days trip. It didn’t faze my kiddo, who enjoyed the lazy river at Aulani just the same since she’d be wet anyway. Last year, in December 2018, I remember we saw about two days with rain in the forecast while we were staying in Waikiki, but it was mostly morning showers that cleared up by noon. We also did have some cool overcast days that gave away to sunshine. Temperatures were between ~78-82.

I will add though, my wife and I got married on Oahu in March, and it rained hard almost the whole week before our wedding day; the weather finally cleared up just in time. But I’ve also been in Hawaii in March when the weather was perfect the entire time.

I generally like visiting in the “rainy” winter seasons because even though rain is kind of unpredictable, the weather is cooler and less muggy.

As for where to stay and how to divide up your time, you might want to do a split stay. Aulani is way on the western side of the island in a private resort community, and its rack rates are expensive if you’re just using it as a base to explore and not going to really be there to enjoy all the amenities. We’ve stayed at Aulani for 5 days, and thought it was too much of a bubble (and I kept thinking we were wasting money every time we stepped off property because we were paying so much to stay there). Waikiki has most of Oahu’s hotels and you’ll easily find something a lot cheaper than Aulani. It’s more central to dining, entertainment, shopping, and commuting to other parts of the island. I’m thinking nature stuff like snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, hiking up Diamond Head or Koko Head craters, Manoa Falls, and Makapuu Lighthouse trail are all much closer from Waikiki. Outdoorsy stuff on the windward side, like Kualoa Ranch and Waimea Valley, and everything else we mentioned yesterday, are probably equally accessible from Waikiki or Ko Olina. We like to unwind at Aulani. Two or three nights there is perfection.

 

[havaneselover]

@punkin I'm so sorry

 

[wendow]

@punkin

 

[palhockeymomof2]

You're so welcome! Have a great trip (leaving tomorrow right?)

Thanks...yes we will be in Orlando tomorrow...soo looking forward to seeing my son and his girlfriend

 

[mmmears]

They've been open for over a year and they still have lines out the door! We finally got around to eating here a few months ago on a cold, rainy weekend, and it really hit the spot. Although, we did go a little crazy with the tempura sides. The new hot thing at Stonestown is Gram Cafe & Pancakes, and waiting in line for the 90 servings of soufflé pancakes they serve daily.

I hate how there are lines here every time a new place opens up. The lines for Din Tai Fung are still long, even after a couple of years, although not as bad as they were in the beginning. I'm not willing to wait in line for my dinner. I haven't heard about those 2 places. Maybe I'll have to look into them and then wait until they aren't new and the crowds die down.

 

[Haley R]

OMG. I never knew that either... Well, I have learned something new today - I think I should be able to leave work now...

Lol pack it up. It’s time to go home

 

[Haley R]

My dog just got a cancer diagnosis. I have an oncologist appointment in 2 weeks. It's not looking good.

Oh no I’m sorry! Dh’s childhood dog is being put to sleep today. She needs to be put down so bad. It’s so sad. She’s been biting her leg for about a year now and I think it’s cancer.

 

[Judique]

My dog just got a cancer diagnosis. I have an oncologist appointment in 2 weeks. It's not looking good.

So sorry to hear this. My Norwegian Elkhound passed from cancer a year ago last October. And my Yorkie is at the vet for the day - he is getting groomed (needs to be sedated) plus his exam, shots and bloodwork. He's getting older now so you never know.

 

[tink1970]

@punkin- so sorry to hear this! Hugs and prayers from me and my four legged crew.

 

[DisneyMandC]

With all the Hawaii talk, I would like to point out that TPG (sorry) just posted that there are flights as low as $411 to Hawaii from east coast airports today.

 

[wanderlust7]

I hate how there are lines here every time a new place opens up. The lines for Din Tai Fung are still long, even after a couple of years, although not as bad as they were in the beginning. I'm not willing to wait in line for my dinner. I haven't heard about those 2 places. Maybe I'll have to look into them and then wait until they aren't new and the crowds die down.

Mmm...Din Tai Fung dumplings. Haven't gone to the Valley Fair one yet since I know it'll just be crazy. Though DH brought me take-out once when he happened to be in the area. When in L.A., we'll go to the Arcadia one. Sometimes wait's not so bad - weekdays, a little earlier or a little later. We've eaten it in the car a couple times when the wait was longer than I was willing to do. Yeah...that's how much I like it, lol.

 

[amalone1013]

Going to call UR travel and pretend to be DH. Wish me luck lol.

 

[vanjust14]

Don't know if this was already mentioned but saw some new Chase offers on my Disney card today.. 10% back at Starbucks, Google Express, and Best Western.

 

[mmmears]

Mmm...Din Tai Fung dumplings. Haven't gone to the Valley Fair one yet since I know it'll just be crazy. Though DH brought me take-out once when he happened to be in the area. When in L.A., we'll go to the Arcadia one. Sometimes wait's not so bad - weekdays, a little earlier or a little later. We've eaten it in the car a couple times when the wait was longer than I was willing to do. Yeah...that's how much I like it, lol.

I really have VF (and most malls) and so does my DH. The fact that we are willing to go there just for the dumplings says how much we both like it.

 

[vanjust14]

We are now back from the crazy heat this past week of WDW to unseasonably cold and rainy. Why can't I just have normal/seasonal weather?!?

For anyone who paid attention this was a trip originally with just my youngest and then my DH decided he wanted to come too. We had a crazy split stay of one night at Boardwalk, one night at BLT, one night of VGF, and two nights at Poly. Since it was a last minute trip it was a fun way to use my DVC points on the studios. If anyone else has a similar situation come up I was a little worried about changing rooms so much but it ended up being really fun. We had extremely good luck in being able to get into our new room not too late in the day, and with Disney transporting the luggage it was pretty easy. The one night stay made it also easy to add the deluxe dining plan so we were able to eat at Chef Mickey's, Artist Point, and Garden Grill and come out ahead. My unexpected favorite of the resorts we stayed was VGF. I don't know that we will be repeating it since I just lucked into getting the room for the one night but it was fun nevertheless.

We also did Moonlight Magic at Epcot and that was way fun. Free meal vouchers, free ice cream bars, and Goofy in full on clan tartan. Need I say more?!?

My other two who did not get to come this trip our really wanting to go so now I am figuring out August...thinking another split stay booked on the AP rate and then charges erased with the Arrival Plus.

Thanks to everyone also who chimed in on the scooter/wheelchair issue. We went with the wheelchair and other than dealing with a miserable husband who did not like being pushed in it but needed to be it went just fine. I miss having babies but pushing the wheelchair put me back to the stroller days which I do not miss at all!

The best news is we really did not spend all that much since our entertainment mostly came from the moving resorts and Moonlight Magic and I came back with almost $1200 in gift cards. I might actually finish up the Lowes/Staples Amex deals with Amazon and not all Disney cards.

Thanks for the info! I'l be at VGF for the first time this weekend and can't wait! How did the deluxe dining work with the multiple reservations? Did you add it to a one night stay? Do you have to use all the credits that one day?

 

[amalone1013]

My car rental refund through UR got hung up somewhere and so it had to have a something or other filled out... it didn't sound like ticket or case or any other word I would have expected. Supposedly I should see them back in 72hrs

 

[bernina]

Update on the continuing saga of the approved but not really approved Barclay Aviator Business MC for DH.

Called again today (after DH was told fraud dept would contact him within 48 hrs which we’re way past) and after listening to hold music for 15 minutes finally connected to a rep. She said we needed to provide articles of incorporation or tax documents. DH asked to speak to a supervisor and when connected was told that same thing. He asked several times if personal returns were acceptable and they couldn’t give him a straight answer. I’m more than annoyed with this (and so is DH). I guess we’ll attempt to fax in the returns and his license and see where we get. He also had the supervisor lodge a formal complaint about the absolute lack of communication. Other than the card being declined when attempting to use we’ve had 0 communication. No calls, emails or letters in the mail.