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

[Ngwira]

Would love to hear about the Valley of Fire after you do it. I am thinking about a trip next spring to Valley of Fire, Death Valley and Joshua tree. We weren't able to get to Valley of Fire when we went to Vegas/Grand Canyon/Zion/Bryce 2 years ago. I loved the Hoover Dam tour, the one where you get to see more of the dam. You get to go back areas and peer out one of the holes in the side of the dam. It was really good.

We just came back from Valley of Fire and Bryce and Zion in late April. You will love it if you love nature. Way better than Red Rock Canyon in my opinion. Lots of trails and interesting history.

 

[ten6mom]

Can anyone recommend a park ticket strategy? 3 park one day or 2 day park hopper? Maxpass essential or optional?

I visit DL several times a year, but I only live 6 hours away. For me personally, if I only went, say, once a year, I would do three day parkhoppers. I think three days is the perfect amount of time to see everything you want to see (Unless you want to see SWGE... too soon to tell about how that will affect operations, I suppose). I don't know if you've been to DL before, but it's very, very easy to park hop (I understand it's not so easy at WDW). MaxPass is nice but not essential... you can still get Fast Passes the "old fashioned" way... unless you tend to want a lot of pictures (ride photos and photopass photographer pictures) because those are included with Max Pass.

 

[Ngwira]

I visit DL several times a year, but I only live 6 hours away. For me personally, if I only went, say, once a year, I would do three day parkhoppers. I think three days is the perfect amount of time to see everything you want to see (Unless you want to see SWGE... too soon to tell about how that will affect operations, I suppose). I don't know if you've been to DL before, but it's very, very easy to park hop (I understand it's not so easy at WDW). MaxPass is nice but not essential... you can still get Fast Passes the "old fashioned" way... unless you tend to want a lot of pictures (ride photos and photopass photographer pictures) because those are included with Max Pass.

Great. Thanks for the advice. We are WDW vets so need advice for our first trip to DL.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Sorry OT SW question please!

Just checked in for our 5:40 am flight tomorrow on SW, and we got B boarding positions. We have a 5 year old and an 8 year old. Can all 4 of us use family boarding after A, or can only the 5 year old board with one parent? I'm a little freaked out about this! Trying not to be though, I just want to get to sit with the kiddos. I've just always had A boarding positions so I'm nervous. Thanks!

 

[Haley R]

Sorry OT SW question please!

Just checked in for our 5:40 am flight tomorrow on SW, and we got B boarding positions. We have a 5 year old and an 8 year old. Can all 4 of us use family boarding after A, or can only the 5 year old board with one parent? I'm a little freaked out about this! Trying not to be though, I just want to get to sit with the kiddos. I've just always had A boarding positions so I'm nervous. Thanks!

I think you should be fine. This is from their website:

I’ve seen families with teens board in the family boarding before. I’m not sure how that worked out but it did

 

[ten6mom]

Great. Thanks for the advice. We are WDW vets so need advice for our first trip to DL.

How fun!

Since it's your first time, then, getting there at "rope drop" is kind of a big deal. It's amazing how many things you can see/do if you get there in the early hours. I see you're not staying on property, so I believe that with a 3-day parkhopper ticket you get 1 included "magic morning" (entrance into DL one hour before park opening). In the summer I think that is 0700. Take advantage of it!

Also check this out

https://www.disboards.com/threads/a-dlr-guide-for-wdw-vets.1162599/

 

[disfanforlife]

Sorry OT SW question please!

Just checked in for our 5:40 am flight tomorrow on SW, and we got B boarding positions. We have a 5 year old and an 8 year old. Can all 4 of us use family boarding after A, or can only the 5 year old board with one parent? I'm a little freaked out about this! Trying not to be though, I just want to get to sit with the kiddos. I've just always had A boarding positions so I'm nervous. Thanks!

You’re whole family can board. I wouldn’t worry too much even if for some reason you can’t. The ones who board first can “save seats” for you. I have seen people do this many times. Also, a B boarding isn’t bad. It’s only if you get a C boarding that you would have a harder time getting seats together,
I have traveled with 6 people together and boarded with B boarding and we have always found together. 3 in each row.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I lowered my credit limits with Chase yesterday. Do I have to wait to apply for the CIP or am I clear since they already lowered my credit lines?

not sure...others may know definitely......I’ve lowered mine prior to applying but usually its a week or more before a new application

 

[striker1064]

I think @striker1064 closed and then reopened an Arrival Plus earlier this year. Not sure if his bonus posted. I got my Arrival in September and was approved for the Biz in March. I have thought about getting DH the Biz but am a little scared of those reports of additional documentation etc. I don’t want that drama right now.

Good memory! But alas. I did close my Arrival+, and I tried for another but was auto-denied. No hope of recon because of too many recently opened accounts. Unfortunately, I can't comment on the churnability of the card, because I couldn't pass their account-sensitivity (I was denied for the AAviator at the same time).

Went to trivia night at a local wine bar and you guy's bust out 4 pages. We didn't come in last and enjoyed our time.

Yay trivia! I organize a weekly group on Wednesday nights. If anyone is ever in the DC area and wants to play trivia, check my posts on reddit. I post every week unless we're out of town. We're a fun group and sometimes we even win!

 

[striker1064]

BB&T posted for DW. I know they are once per household. I got this at our previous address, then we moved and I tried for DW and it worked.

03/15/19 - Opened
03/25/19 - DD
04/08/19 - DD
04/22/19 - DD
05/06/19 - DD
05/20/19 - DD
06/03/19 - DD
06/04/19 - $200 bonus posted.

This was way more DDs than necessary to trigger the bonus, I just set it up through work to keep the account fee-free. cc @DisneyMandC

 

[magickingdomprincess]

You’re whole family can board. I wouldn’t worry too much even if for some reason you can’t. The ones who board first can “save seats” for you. I have seen people do this many times. Also, a B boarding isn’t bad. It’s only if you get a C boarding that you would have a harder time getting seats together,
I have traveled with 6 people together and boarded with B boarding and we have always found together. 3 in each row.

Thanks, that makes me feel better! We've just always had A before (sometimes bought EBCI, sometimes not). We didn't this time for the flights going to MCO, but did for the return so we wouldn't need to worry about checking in at 24 hours.

 

[disfanforlife]

Thanks, that makes me feel better! We've just always had A before (sometimes bought EBCI, sometimes not). We didn't this time for the flights going to MCO, but did for the return so we wouldn't need to worry about checking in at 24 hours.

Same, the first couple times I flew with SW I bought the EBCI. But then I realized we really didn’t need it anymore. Have a great trip!

 

[happ]

You’re whole family can board. I wouldn’t worry too much even if for some reason you can’t. The ones who board first can “save seats” for you. I have seen people do this many times. Also, a B boarding isn’t bad. It’s only if you get a C boarding that you would have a harder time getting seats together,
I have traveled with 6 people together and boarded with B boarding and we have always found together. 3 in each row.

I had B boarding when I took my two preteens on their first ever flight and we were not able to sit together. My blood pressure goes up just thinking about it now! They were fine as they sat together and I could lean forward and twist myself a bit to check on them, but I was sad that I didn't get to sit next to them. It's like I got cheated out of experiencing a "first" with them.

 

[Lain]

So I am reading on the other thread that Kroger (Fry's, in my area) is offering the 4x fuel points on gift card purchases.

I currently have the Chase Freedom (groceries not a current bonus category) and the CIP, which is brand new and I need to "get the spend". I am going to DL for one day on Saturday, so will have food and merchandise to buy. Just making sure it makes the most sense to purchase Disney gift cards that I can use this weekend, as opposed to buying some other type of gift card? Am I missing anything?

Grocery stores (and home improvement stores) are Chase Freedom’s 5x UR bonus category this quarter. Just be sure to activate the bonus category in your Chase app or online account.

I’ve said before that I hate diverting 5x spend but will if I need that spend to meet a MSR. The return you’re getting from the CIP MSR (in the range of ~15% or more depending on how you redeem your UR) is worth more than a 5x return. If you think you can meet this MSR without this grocery spend, you can charge it to your Chase Freedom for the 5x UR and leave other charges that would earn only 1x UR (non bonus category spend) on any of your cards or are 3x UR bonus categories (e.g., travel, cell phone bills, internet) for the CIP.

We always buy discounted Disney Gift Cards to take to the parks to pay for any balance of our hotel reservation, food, merchandise, etc. I don’t focus too much on fuel points for discounts, but I know others here and on the Disney Gift Card Deals thread do. And I know enough that it can be a significant savings. So yes, buy Disney Gift Cards when you can get some savings! Better than paying full price at the parks.

 

[ten6mom]

Grocery stores (and home improvement stores) are Chase Freedom’s 5x UR bonus category this quarter. Just be sure to activate the bonus category in your Chase app or online account.

I’ve said before that I hate diverting 5x spend but will if I need that spend to meet a MSR. The return you’re getting from the CIP MSR (in the range of ~15% or more depending on how you redeem your UR) is worth more than a 5x return. If you think you can meet this MSR without this grocery spend, you can charge it to your Chase Freedom for the 5x UR and leave other charges that would earn only 1x UR (non bonus category spend) on any of your cards or are 3x UR bonus categories (e.g., travel, cell phone bills, internet) for the CIP.

We always buy discounted Disney Gift Cards to take to the parks to pay for any balance of our hotel reservation, food, merchandise, etc. I don’t focus too much on fuel points for discounts, but I know others here and on the Disney Gift Card Deals thread do. And I know enough that it can be a significant savings. So yes, buy Disney Gift Cards when you can get some savings! Better than paying full price at the parks.

Uuuughhhh I am so dumb. Yes... YES grocery stores are this quarter's bonus! Wow, dumb of me. I CAN read... sometimes. Thank you for correcting me!

I am sure I can meet the spend without this purchase, so I will put this one on my Chase Freedom.

Thank you! Again!

 

[Lain]

Uuuughhhh I am so dumb. Yes... YES grocery stores are this quarter's bonus! Wow, dumb of me. I CAN read... sometimes. Thank you for correcting me!

I am sure I can meet the spend without this purchase, so I will put this one on my Chase Freedom.

Thank you! Again!

I just want to clarify that since you are staying at a Disneyland hotel, you could use Disney Gift Cards to pay for any remaining room charges. However, if you used your CIP to buy Disney GCs at a grocery store, you’d only earn 1x UR because grocery stores are not a bonus category on the CIP, but you would earn 4x fuel points. However, if you used your CIP to pay the hotel directly, that would earn you 3x UR because travel is a bonus category on the CIP. Either way, the spend would count towards your MSR.

Alternatively, you could use the CF to buy Disney GCs at a grocery store for 5x UR and earn 4x fuel points, then use those Disney GCs to pay for any room charges at a Disney hotel, food, souvenirs, tickets or APs, etc. Outside of a MSR period when you’re getting an outsized return on your spend, optimizing bonus categories so you’re always earning better than 1x is something to think about. and the CF’s 5x at grocery stores would then be a better card to use than a CIP that would earn only 1x UR after the MSR is met.

 

[disfanforlife]

I had B boarding when I took my two preteens on their first ever flight and we were not able to sit together. My blood pressure goes up just thinking about it now! They were fine as they sat together and I could lean forward and twist myself a bit to check on them, but I was sad that I didn't get to sit next to them. It's like I got cheated out of experiencing a "first" with them.

Awww, I am sorry to hear that. Maybe we just have just been lucky. We fly out of a smallish airport, so maybe that has something to do with it too.

 

[schmass]

Is anyone able to help me try to figure out how to get 4 1st class tickets from Boston to Hawaii on points? We're looking to go next August, so flights aren't released yet, but I was looking on awardhacker and I'm super confused. We could fly into HNL or OGG. Thank you!

 

[happ]

Awww, I am sorry to hear that. Maybe we just have just been lucky. We fly out of a smallish airport, so maybe that has something to do with it too.

We flew out of PVD and the flight was sold out. As soon as we landed I added EBCI to our return flight. We were able to sit together on the way home, but that flight was not full so we probably didn't even need the EBCI. With the added cost, I could have booked us on a different airline that lets you choose seats for the same price. Oh well, lesson learned.

 

[Alexle2007]

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