I love credit cards so much! v4.0 - 2021 (see first page for add'l details)

[Hoosier John]

We will be bringing pretty much all of our own food to cook. Ds is dairy/soy intolerant so it’s just easier that way and less stress for us. I don’t think Dh will want to eat anywhere inside. We haven’t decided yet but we may go into MK. Otherwise it’ll just be a resort trip for 2-3 nights

Thanks for the tip about reserving the golf cart ahead of time!

Oh, if you go to MK, don't forget about baby's first haircut at the barber shop near the fire station, if the timing (hair length) works out right.

 

[Judique]

Arne Sorensen has passed away from pancreatic cancer. Marriott CEO - 62 years old.

 

[amcc]

We’re thinking about staying at the fort wilderness cabins for ds’s first birthday in April. We’ve literally gone nowhere since last March lol. So this would be a big deal. We figured we’d be in our own cabin, can bring food from home to cook, can bring our bikes and bike trailer to pull him around, rent a golf cart, use the splash pad, and see the horses. I’m super excited. We haven’t booked yet because sometimes the Florida resident rates go down the closer you get and we aren’t completely set on dates yet.

Has anyone stayed in the cabins? Advice or tips?

The Fort is our happy place, the best place on Disney property . There is no where to eat inside at the Fort at this time, it's all takeout (with a few tables inside if you want but very few) so you can mobile order and just pick up if you don't feel like cooking - and the food is pretty good. They don't provide charcoal but they have it at the store. They have several playgrounds, the splash pad is perfect for a little one, and looping around on a bike or a golf cart can take up a whole afternoon. My kids love it as a destination, even the older ones because there are always kids of all ages and they can always get a pickup game of football or tennis or basketball. I think the boat trip to MK and the hotel loop is one of my favorite rides in all of Disney. We will be there early April for Easter.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

We’re thinking about staying at the fort wilderness cabins for ds’s first birthday in April. We’ve literally gone nowhere since last March lol. So this would be a big deal. We figured we’d be in our own cabin, can bring food from home to cook, can bring our bikes and bike trailer to pull him around, rent a golf cart, use the splash pad, and see the horses. I’m super excited. We haven’t booked yet because sometimes the Florida resident rates go down the closer you get and we aren’t completely set on dates yet.

Has anyone stayed in the cabins? Advice or tips?

What dates are you looking at?

 

[trenty]

Thanks for the catch - updated (with credit), lol!


If you get the math, I would highly advise you consider the PC. It is better in every way shape or form. The only downside is fronting $250 vs. $95 (an additional $155) that you'll get back that and then some in 13 months via the year 2 travel credit.

How many URs are you planning to use with PYB? Perhaps that would help your decision as well...

Thanks. You’re not going to convince me. Lol. No decision to make. Keeping things as is. May not make sense to you, but I am content with whatever I can get from my CSP.

 

[wanderlust7]

Another questions on using CC points to buy Disney GCs. If I want to use MRs, what is the most cost-effective way? Is there a better way than just using the MRs to pay that portion of my Amex bill? I have the Everyday card and not interested in changing it to another card.

Paying your bill, you only get 0.6 cent per point (so $60 for every 10,000 points). If you do Pay with Points at Best Buy or Walmart and buy Disney GC, it's a little better at 0.7 cpp.

Redeeming for other gift cards, you can get 1 cpp on some, more with a promotion. Home Depot is a popular one. You can also transfer to airline or hotel partners. Unlike Chase, you don't need a premium card to do that.

 

[Judique]

Oh, if you go to MK, don't forget about baby's first haircut at the barber shop near the fire station, if the timing (hair length) works out right.

I've had my hair cut there.

 

[trenty]

Paying your bill, you only get 0.6 cent per point (so $60 for every 10,000 points). If you do Pay with Points at Best Buy or Walmart and buy Disney GC, it's a little better at 0.7 cpp.

Redeeming for other gift cards, you can get 1 cpp on some, more with a promotion. Home Depot is a popular one. You can also transfer to airline or hotel partners. Unlike Chase, you don't need a premium card to do that.

Thanks. If I transfer to United and buy GC through United will that be better than .6 or .7?

 

[lsutigers03]

Thanks for the catch - updated (with credit), lol!


If you get the math, I would highly advise you consider the PC. It is better in every way shape or form. The only downside is fronting $250 vs. $95 (an additional $155) that you'll get back that and then some in 13 months via the year 2 travel credit.

How many URs are you planning to use with PYB? Perhaps that would help your decision as well...

Is using the travel credit for groceries (truthfully gift cards from grocery stores) something that will always be available or is it special for now? Last year my AF on my CSP hit on April 1. So i need to decide between PCing to CFF or CSR or keeping for another year and getting the $150 for referring my wife. She's at 5/24 until after my next AF would post.

 

[wanderlust7]

Thanks. If I transfer to United and buy GC through United will that be better than .6 or .7?

MRs don't transfer to United.

 

[elgerber]

Question for all with a crystal ball, especially @SouthFayetteFan with all of your analytical skills. We are scheduled for Apr 24 in Disney. This of course, may get cancelled, like our other three trips. But one thing I am thinking is that crowds will still be pretty low at that point? It's a couple weeks after Easter and before kids get out for summer. I figure after that, as more people get vaccines, the more the crowds are going to increase the rest of the year. Thoughts?

 

[Haley R]

Oh, if you go to MK, don't forget about baby's first haircut at the barber shop near the fire station, if the timing (hair length) works out right.

He actually just got his second haircut today. It’s too hot to let it be long. I thought the barber shop was closed though? I wanted to take him there for his first one but it didn’t work out

 

[snugglebug]

I hope our other Texas friends are faring well.

We still have power, thankfully, and haven't been hit by a rolling blackout. The county has no propane, there are natural gas shortages and rumors of water being cut off some time soon. HEB has no power, little to nothing on the shelves I hear and long lines. We went out Sat to grab a few groceries and things were quite depleted at that point. I just told my daughter we have beans and granola bars at least lol

Our gas oven has decided to start coming on randomly which seems to indicate a temperature sensor needing replaced, however it seems hard to find. Hadn't planned to replace it yet. I have a CIC on the way, not that I could physically get it any time soon because the community mailboxes are frozen shut, I'm not sure mail is even being delivered. I may end up using the 10% back at Lowes on my Bonvoy Biz for a new oven. Thankfully Lowes, if open, isn't too far.

I'm really wishing I was somewhere warmer, Texas is neither built nor equipped for this mess.

 

[trenty]

MRs don't transfer to United.

Ok. Thanks. I think I knew that.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Is using the travel credit for groceries (truthfully gift cards from grocery stores) something that will always be available or is it special for now? Last year my AF on my CSP hit on April 1. So i need to decide between PCing to CFF or CSR or keeping for another year and getting the $150 for referring my wife. She's at 5/24 until after my next AF would post.

That is good through June of 2021. After that, and assuming things continue to get more "normal" I'd bet it will resume being just a travel credit. BUT there are ways to take advantage of that too pretty easily.

Question for all with a crystal ball, especially @SouthFayetteFan with all of your analytical skills. We are scheduled for Apr 24 in Disney. This of course, may get cancelled, like our other three trips. But one thing I am thinking is that crowds will still be pretty low at that point? It's a couple weeks after Easter and before kids get out for summer. I figure after that, as more people get vaccines, the more the crowds are going to increase the rest of the year. Thoughts?

Are you able to structure your park days primarily around Mon-Thurs? My guess is you'll have a MUCH better park experience if you avoid Fri-Sun.

 

[Haley R]

The Fort is our happy place, the best place on Disney property . There is no where to eat inside at the Fort at this time, it's all takeout (with a few tables inside if you want but very few) so you can mobile order and just pick up if you don't feel like cooking - and the food is pretty good. They don't provide charcoal but they have it at the store. They have several playgrounds, the splash pad is perfect for a little one, and looping around on a bike or a golf cart can take up a whole afternoon. My kids love it as a destination, even the older ones because there are always kids of all ages and they can always get a pickup game of football or tennis or basketball. I think the boat trip to MK and the hotel loop is one of my favorite rides in all of Disney. We will be there early April for Easter.

I’m not sure we’ll take the boats but we will most likely ride our bikes or something over there so he can at least see them. Ds loves being outside so I think he’ll really like it.

 

[elgerber]

That is good through June of 2021. After that, and assuming things continue to get more "normal" I'd bet it will resume being just a travel credit. BUT there are ways to take advantage of that too pretty easily.


Are you able to structure your park days primarily around Mon-Thurs? My guess is you'll have a MUCH better park experience if you avoid Fri-Sun.

We would go every single day, no matter the crowds. My thoughts are, if we push off, again...it would have to be early December, and that pretty much everything will be busy all the time as so many more people will be travelling.

 

[Haley R]

What dates are you looking at?

I think April 25-27 or 28

 

[trenty]

Paying your bill, you only get 0.6 cent per point (so $60 for every 10,000 points). If you do Pay with Points at Best Buy or Walmart and buy Disney GC, it's a little better at 0.7 cpp.

Redeeming for other gift cards, you can get 1 cpp on some, more with a promotion. Home Depot is a popular one. You can also transfer to airline or hotel partners. Unlike Chase, you don't need a premium card to do that.

Looks like I can pay with points at rite aid and get the .7 cpp. I may do that. Thanks again.
I don't want to get another gc like HD and then find out that they won't let me buy a Disney GC with a GC since that seems to be so iffy lately.

 

[TarraLee]

Question for all with a crystal ball, especially @SouthFayetteFan with all of your analytical skills. We are scheduled for Apr 24 in Disney. This of course, may get cancelled, like our other three trips. But one thing I am thinking is that crowds will still be pretty low at that point? It's a couple weeks after Easter and before kids get out for summer. I figure after that, as more people get vaccines, the more the crowds are going to increase the rest of the year. Thoughts?

Check the ESPN dates, this is smack in the middle of cheer and dance month, which is even more packed together this year after being moved back due to NBA at WW.