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

[miztressuz]

Thanks! Gonna look at this option!

Ah, now I kinda remember this. Playing around with the vacations site, you can use your vacations eCert or a Delta GC to pay for a hotel + car package but the miles option only pops up with a flight (now that I see where it is). I think people were adding dummy flights, so you'd find a short or sale flight to add to kind of throw away. If I change DEN to ATL it saved close to $200 off the package using 1 adult. Hopefully someone who's booked will chime in tomorrow on how that worked out.

 

[Alexle2007]

I do this all the time with mixed class tickets (call to make sure the economy list is "waitlisted"), and I have never been put in 1st. You are *supposed* to be ahead of others elites, but the gate agents are in charge if you don't clear by 24 hours, and they don't seem to get that. To give you an idea, a couple weeks ago I was Polaris from LHR to Chicago and waitlisted for 1st from Chicago to SFO. I was #24 on the upgrade list at the gate. Absolutely ridiculous. I tried explaining the concept of waitlist versus upgrade, but they insisted I was #24.

Thanks! Since the flight from SYD to LAX is most critical, we’ll just deal if we need to.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

I am pretty sure @kidsfirsttrip said I could just book a hotel room with miles but I just cannot figure it out. It seems every option needs a flight, which is not good coming from Denver, since we we are not a Delta hub nor do we have good Delta options.

Is there any reason the flight option would need to originate in Denver?? Perhaps you could choose any origin with a cheap flight to Orlando? What’s to say you weren’t already visiting family in Tampa or Atlanta before your Disney trip?
Edit: I see miztressuz mentioned it already.

 

[wendow]

Ah, now I kinda remember this. Playing around with the vacations site, you can use your vacations eCert or a Delta GC to pay for a hotel + car package but the miles option only pops up with a flight (now that I see where it is). I think people were adding dummy flights, so you'd find a short or sale flight to add to kind of throw away. If I change DEN to ATL it saved close to $200 off the package using 1 adult. Hopefully someone who's booked will chime in tomorrow on how that worked out.

Is there any reason the flight option would need to originate in Denver?? Perhaps you could choose any origin with a cheap flight to Orlando? What’s to say you weren’t already visiting family in Tampa or Atlanta before your Disney trip?
Edit: I see miztressuz mentioned it already.

Thank you both! I’d forgotten about that option. I’ll start playing with some different cities and see if anything makes sense.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’ve been pretty MIA here as I was off playing at the World last week. I’ll churning trip report later, for now I’m catching up on churning in general and I saw Chase has a $900 Bank bonus offer. That is unprecedented, it’s $300 higher than the highest we’ve seen and the req’s are the same as the $600 offer. All you need to do is get your hands on a code- DoC is letting people request them DO NOT USE YOUR NORMAL EMAIL- JUNK EMAIL ADDRESS ONLY.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/chec...se-900-checking-savings-bonus/#comment-840948

 

[Alexle2007]

Two days until we leave for USO! And we are getting snow. Thank goodness it is not sticking at the moment. I am so over winter and it hasn’t even really started.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Yes! I think the great D23 deal eases the pain of buying the titles in addition to having the streaming. I am loving the original content. Imagineering Story and One Day at Disney will make my subscription worth it

We watched Kitbull last night which was cute but sad. DS wasn’t really paying attention but I noticed the sad details. Ironically we just had a discussion about dog fighting/abuse yesterday because DS was watching football “best of” vids on YouTube and Michael Vick was included.

I have only been taking advantage of the offers for the last couple of months but it was driving me bats because I couldn't keep the offers straight. I just started using my grocery list app, Our Groceries to track with, and it's working out great. I check for new offers every couple of weeks or if I see a heads up post for an offer I want.

Do you list each store or offer separately in your app? I use AnyList grocery app but I’d have to manually add each so not sure it’s worth it.

 

[EACarlson]

94 hours until we leave to start our vacation. Our travel agent only has 2 of our correct ADR's in MDE, and about 15 that we told her absolutely not or that we physically will not be able to make. Our arrival dinner is there, but not the 10th anniversary dinner for my wife and I or our son's birthday dinner. I'm so ready to reach through the phone and smack the hell out of her.

 

[CODisFan]

94 hours until we leave to start our vacation. Our travel agent only has 2 of our correct ADR's in MDE, and about 15 that we told her absolutely not or that we physically will not be able to make. Our arrival dinner is there, but not the 10th anniversary dinner for my wife and I or our son's birthday dinner. I'm so ready to reach through the phone and smack the hell out of her.

Oh, that’s frustrating! These are the things that make me feel better about being a control freak and not using a TA. Sorry

 

[trenty]

I have only been taking advantage of the offers for the last couple of months but it was driving me bats because I couldn't keep the offers straight. I just started using my grocery list app, Our Groceries to track with, and it's working out great. I check for new offers every couple of weeks or if I see a heads up post for an offer I want.

Great idea. I just set this up. I was using the notes app, but this is much easier.

 

[Judique]

Still stalking the DVC website for my 'extra' Jan and Feb trips. Originally I had Feb 14 to 21 booked to coincide with close family members (brother and his extended family) that will be there that week.

Decided first to book Feb 11 so I could go to Moonlight Madness at Animal Kingdom. I found a night at Bay Lake Towers. Added another night at Boulder Ridge. Got confused with the names and thought I was staying at CCV. Well, okay. Anyway this morning I was able to connect 2 more Bay Lake Tower nights and I'm no longer at BR. That's a yay! Mostly because it will be more convenient to just be at BLT for 3 nights and then move over to Boardwalk when family gets to town. So that's February - 10 DVC nights over the President's Day weekend.

Back to January. I kept looking at December and kept wanting to go back. But - I have the babies for about a week and I went back and forth on whether I wanted to go and bring them. The answer was yes and no. Yes, love being there with them, No, too much work unless someone joined me.

Anyway, had these DVC points burning a hole in my pocket so I started out booking a week in January - a 6 night week. Now I'm coming in January 12 and leaving January 17 - and going back to Hilton Head for the weekend. And I'm waitlisted for a couple of nights at Riviera - really hope that comes through so I can check it out.

Then, after discussing the Marriott certificate with my older DD, we/she decided to book it in December so she could use her platinum benefits. Right now she will be short 5 days for platinum for next year, and unless one of us does an extra 5 days in December before Xmas, she will be back to Gold. Oh well. 'One of us' would be me checking in under her reservation.
So we were going to use the certificate at Hilton Head, and I wasn't liking the choices anyway. I had booked a few nights at Disney's Hilton Head resort as a back up.

So, last night I got us 4 nights there in a 2 bedroom on the 2 DD's spring break week - they both work at the same place and we will do that in March.

So right now my next year so far is:

January - Disney - BWV, plus 1 night DHHIR
February - Disney - BLT and BWV
March - Hilton Head - 4 nights DHHIR and maybe the Westin for 2 more nights- DD's free nights
April - ???
May - Ocean City weekend 3 nights Courtyard Marriott
June - Ocean City - not booked yet - maybe Holiday Inn with free night and points
July - Ocean City - 3 nights Hyatt
August - nothing booked yet
September - nothing booked yet - I'd like to go to NE/CC area to see friends
October - Disney Beach Club Villas -booking this week when booking opens
November - Disney Boardwalk Villas -booking when the window opens
December - no plans yet

Will use Marriott, IHG, Radisson, Hyatt points as needed for overnights here and there.

 

[tink1970]

We watched Kitbull last night which was cute but sad. DS wasn’t really paying attention but I noticed the sad details. Ironically we just had a discussion about dog fighting/abuse yesterday because DS was watching football “best of” vids on YouTube and Michael Vick was included.

Thanks for the head's up. I could not watch that without getting way too emotional. I have worked in rescue with bait dogs and the things people do to animals are just horrific. Michael Vick in my house is a naughty word.

 

[Judique]

Two days until we leave for USO! And we are getting snow. Thank goodness it is not sticking at the moment. I am so over winter and it hasn’t even really started.

Yikes! It's 45 here and claims it will be raining at 11am. But going up to 50 and sunny by 2pm. I have work to do outside today so glad we are not getting anything frosty.

 

[CODisFan]

I’ve been pretty MIA here as I was off playing at the World last week. I’ll churning trip report later, for now I’m catching up on churning in general and I saw Chase has a $900 Bank bonus offer. That is unprecedented, it’s $300 higher than the highest we’ve seen and the req’s are the same as the $600 offer. All you need to do is get your hands on a code- DoC is letting people request them DO NOT USE YOUR NORMAL EMAIL- JUNK EMAIL ADDRESS ONLY.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/chec...se-900-checking-savings-bonus/#comment-840948

Ah, bummer - the timing stinks! We opened our Chase accounts in Jan 18 - got the $500 bonus, but I’ve been tossing around the idea of switching banks for another bonus. I just downgraded from Premier so I could pull $ out of savings for another CD at our CU. We have 2 CDs with Chase, maturing end of Feb and Mar. We’ve spoken with a rep at our local branch a few times and have a relationship going there.. Any thoughts on whether we could swing all or part of this deal with our banker?

 

[Judique]

94 hours until we leave to start our vacation. Our travel agent only has 2 of our correct ADR's in MDE, and about 15 that we told her absolutely not or that we physically will not be able to make. Our arrival dinner is there, but not the 10th anniversary dinner for my wife and I or our son's birthday dinner. I'm so ready to reach through the phone and smack the hell out of her.

Hopefully you have some time to cancel out those unwanted ADR's - that's a lot of 'hold' money! Some travel agents are wonderful....@wendow are you still doing some TA work? But, others just don't get how important some of these details are to Disney guests.

I'm sure your trip will still be magical and hope you get to enjoy some ADR's that will work out for you.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Thanks for the head's up. I could not watch that without getting way too emotional. I have worked in rescue with bait dogs and the things people do to animals are just horrific. Michael Vick in my house is a naughty word.

It’s not graphic but the dog has scratches and bruises and is kicked out of the house. My son was appropriately angry when I explained what Vick did. He is also confused as to why someone would even think to do that, especially since we have a pittie mix. Vick IS a bad word.

 

[kmc8826]

@wendow personally I would just call the Delta Vacations number and talk to them and see if they can help. That seems a lot easier than trying to book a throwaway flight or something like that.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Ah, bummer - the timing stinks! We opened our Chase accounts in Jan 18 - got the $500 bonus, but I’ve been tossing around the idea of switching banks for another bonus. I just downgraded from Premier so I could pull $ out of savings for another CD at our CU. We have 2 CDs with Chase, maturing end of Feb and Mar. We’ve spoken with a rep at our local branch a few times and have a relationship going there.. Any thoughts on whether we could swing all or part of this deal with our banker?

You cannot do this (or any chase checking/savings deal) deal until your checking and savings accounts have been closed 90 days. Your banker cannot get you this deal to my knowledge.

In general if you’re going to do bank bonuses you want to have a main hub type account at one bank and open others on the side for bonuses. You don’t want to switch your main bank to chase bonuses. If you’re happy with Chase as a hub stay there and open other accounts on the side for bonuses. Personally I use Ally as my hub account, there are a couple others people like as well. I’m quite happy with Ally as I hate having to talk to people in person lol.

 

[Haley R]

I feel like I just scored today with baby bottles. We had a starter set on our amazon baby registry that is now only being sold by third party sellers so I started looking for other options. I looked first at the Phillips website since they make the bottles and they had a link for target. Target is selling the same set for half the cost and they were on sale today! Plus I got the 5% with our red card. So I bought two sets because might as well at that price! Our target has them in stock so I chose pick up later today.

 

[wendow]

Hopefully you have some time to cancel out those unwanted ADR's - that's a lot of 'hold' money! Some travel agents are wonderful....@wendow are you still doing some TA work? But, others just don't get how important some of these details are to Disney guests.

I'm sure your trip will still be magical and hope you get to enjoy some ADR's that will work out for you.

I’ve seen TAs make these kind of mistakes with Disney bookings. Many just don’t get how Disney works because they don’t go at all or enough to understand and keep up with the changes.

@EACarlson hope you can get this sorted through before your trip and you still have a great time!