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

[SouthFayetteFan]

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.

So to your question of whether crowds will still be low at that point, that why I suggested weekdays. Fri/Sat or our trip, we reached a point where we didn't even want to be in the park anymore shortly after lunch. And we probably went during one of the slowest weeks of the year based on what I've seen leading up to our trip and since we returned. I'd imagine April will be busier, BUT I think the weekend factor is going to continue to have a huge affect.

I think April 25-27 or 28

above - if you can make that one day in MK a Mon or even Tues, it might make for the best day!

 

[lsutigers03]

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.

Would buying Rapid Reward points from Southwest code as travel and be eligible for the credit? I know it may not be the best use of the credit. I'm just asking in case I can't do something else with the second credit I would receive this time next year and I need to use it quick so I can PC the card to a CFF or something.

 

[elgerber]

So to your question of whether crowds will still be low at that point, that why I suggested weekdays. Fri/Sat or our trip, we reached a point where we didn't even want to be in the park anymore shortly after lunch. And we probably went during one of the slowest weeks of the year based on what I've seen leading up to our trip and since we returned. I'd imagine April will be busier, BUT I think the weekend factor is going to continue to have a huge affect.

But do you agree crowds in general will increase as the year goes on, even in what would normally be slower times later in the year, because of more and more vaccines given?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

But do you agree crowds in general will increase as the year goes on, even in what would normally be slower times later in the year, because of more and more vaccines given?

Oh definitely agree with you there. I think we are on a slow climb as far as crowd levels go. You have more people feeling safer, you have more people that are just over it, and I think bringing those two groups together is what makes for great DIS threads

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Would buying Rapid Reward points from Southwest code as travel and be eligible for the credit? I know it may not be the best use of the credit. I'm just asking in case I can't do something else with the second credit I would receive this time next year and I need to use it quick so I can PC the card to a CFF or something.

That wouldn't be my go to strategy personally. I do not know if buying points codes as travel... but maybe buying a Gift Card does and that would be better. But again, not my arena necessarily...

 

[elgerber]

Oh definitely agree with you there. I think we are on a slow climb as far as crowd levels go. You have more people feeling safer, you have more people that are just over it, and I think bringing those two groups together is what makes for great DIS threads

thanks!! Sadly I fear my 25 yr old dd is NOT in the feeling safer camp :-(. Not sure I am either LOL, maybe if we didn't have variants. But I wanted to have my thoughts and opinions together before I discuss with her.

 

[IFlossU]

We will definitely use the grill for cooking! Do they provide the charcoal and something to light it with?

We plan to bring the pack n play for ds to sleep in but might request a crib if there isn’t already one in there. Do you know if they have cribs in there already?

I don’t remember there being a pack n play in the closet, but maybe one can be requested? Also would recommend bringing your own charcoal etc. as the “disney” price is probably shocking

 

[Judique]

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.

Sorry you have to deal with that. Good that you still have some power at least.

Not sure you have UR's you want to use, but isn't there a PYB at home improvement stores?

 

[Alexle2007]

Coincidentally, we are in Hawaii right now. 🏝

Aloha!

What a beautiful view! Enjoy your visit home!

 

[georgina]

Any chance to get any nights at all this week to rent pts for a dvc studio? We’re not members so would rent, but access to washer and dryer would be nice. Is Last minute even possible? Usually I know answer is no but not sure right now.

Bummer. I had 5 nights in a studio at Saratoga Springs rented starting tomorrow that a few weeks ago I decided to let go. It was originally a May 2020 BCV stay, then postponed to October, then moved to this week but I still didn't feel comfortable flying and just let it go (they expired at the end of March).

 

[mfly]

Bummer. I had 5 nights in a studio at Saratoga Springs rented starting tomorrow that a few weeks ago I decided to let go. It was originally a May 2020 BCV stay, then postponed to October, then moved to this week but I still didn't feel comfortable flying and just let it go (they expired at the end of March).

Can you still cancel even any of the nights? I would rent the points from you for a stay in March!

 

[snugglebug]

Sorry you have to deal with that. Good that you still have some power at least.

Not sure you have UR's you want to use, but isn't there a PYB at home improvement stores?

I used PYB against some restaurant charges to cover my AF that just hit. I'll take that budgeted AF money to pay the Bonvoy card so in a way I kind of did Will combine that with some GCs I already have and his veteran discount. Creative money flow.

In Maine/Maryland the roads would have been plowed before I even looked outside each morning, trash would have been collected, etc. Everything here has come to a grinding halt and while I know the "why" (this is a historical storm for this area that doesn't get this kind of weather mostly, but other governmental failings as well) it doesn't make it mentally any easier to handle. I'm so done. I have trash/recycling piling up in my dining room while we make space in the garage.

DH just popped in to say he doesn't think our vehicles can even attempt our street, in other words, going no where.

 

[Hoosier John]

I think this article by creditcards.com agrees with what we have been saying all along about the taxability of cc rewards:
In summary:

• Most credit card rewards are considered rebates, making them nontaxable.
• Awards and sign-up bonuses that require no spending are taxable.
• Business credit card holders should deduct the value of credit card rewards from their business expenses.

 

[Judique]

I used PYB against some restaurant charges to cover my AF that just hit. I'll take that budgeted AF money to pay the Bonvoy card so in a way I kind of did Will combine that with some GCs I already have and his veteran discount. Creative money flow.

In Maine/Maryland the roads would have been plowed before I even looked outside each morning, trash would have been collected, etc. Everything here has come to a grinding halt and while I know the "why" (this is a historical storm for this area that doesn't get this kind of weather mostly, but other governmental failings as well) it doesn't make it mentally any easier to handle. I'm so done. I have trash/recycling piling up in my dining room while we make space in the garage.

DH just popped in to say he doesn't think our vehicles can even attempt our street, in other words, going no where.

Having spent 4 long years in Texas, I can understand your situation. Today we were somewhere in the 40ties and it's going to drop to 23 tonight with snow coming in the next couple of days but we are somewhat equipped for it. Not quite to the same extent as the state of Maine, but way beyond Texas.

Looks like if you can make it through the next few days you will be back up in the 60ties and 70ties. Hope your power stays on! I can't wait until we get to March and then April and then I'll be complaining about the heat until October.

 

[Albort]

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.

you are best off if u transfer them to your Schwab account with 25% bonus if u do so with a Amex Schwab platinum card. then just use cash on whatever u need.

I think this article by creditcards.com agrees with what we have been saying all along about the taxability of cc rewards:
In summary:

• Most credit card rewards are considered rebates, making them nontaxable.
• Awards and sign-up bonuses that require no spending are taxable.
• Business credit card holders should deduct the value of credit card rewards from their business expenses.

last one could be pretty ymmv, would suggest consulting with a CPA for that one.

 

[trenty]

you are best off if u transfer them to your Schwab account with 25% bonus if u do so with a Amex Schwab platinum card. then just use cash on whatever u need.



last one could be pretty ymmv, would suggest consulting with a CPA for that one.

Thanks. Don’t have a platinum or a Schwab acct.

 

[miztressuz]

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.

While going directly to RiteAid at .7 cpp is probably easier, are you willing to do a little creative accounting to get better value?

I wouldn't get a HD GC to flip into a Disney GC (mostly because I don't think that would work) but is there something you would buy from HD anyway, with cash? For me, for as long as AmEx keeps HD GCs at 1 cpp redemption, I value my MRs at least that because there is always something I buy there.

In that case, say I'm planning to spend $300 cash at Home Depot. I redeem my 30k MR for $300 worth of HD GCs. Now I have $300 cash in the bank I can spend on Disney GC. In the end it evens out cash wise, but I've only spent 30k MR instead of ~42k using the pay with points.

AmEx has reduced the amount of GCs they had but there's still many that work out as 1 cpp, like Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, Staples, Old Navy, etc

In my mind, this really only works if you were going to spend this cash anyway. I wouldn't invent something to buy, or think it'd be nice to do, if that makes sense. But I try to make my points go further if I can do it simply. This is simple enough for me.

 

[trstno1]

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.

Can I complicate this further for you? Or maybe it's a simplification - I'm not sure.

If you are traveling before May, you can charge your Disney Dining purchases directly to your Sapphire card. You should then have a few months to use pay yourself back for those purchases.

Either way, you should earn 2x points for your purchase (or 3x for CSR). Either way, you should be able to pay yourself back at 1.25% per UR (or 1.5% for CSR). It would save committing the money to a Disney gift card.

 

[trenty]

While going directly to RiteAid at .7 cpp is probably easier, are you willing to do a little creative accounting to get better value?

I wouldn't get a HD GC to flip into a Disney GC (mostly because I don't think that would work) but is there something you would buy from HD anyway, with cash? For me, for as long as AmEx keeps HD GCs at 1 cpp redemption, I value my MRs at least that because there is always something I buy there.

In that case, say I'm planning to spend $300 cash at Home Depot. I redeem my 30k MR for $300 worth of HD GCs. Now I have $300 cash in the bank I can spend on Disney GC. In the end it evens out cash wise, but I've only spent 30k MR instead of ~42k using the pay with points.

AmEx has reduced the amount of GCs they had but there's still many that work out as 1 cpp, like Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, Staples, Old Navy, etc

In my mind, this really only works if you were going to spend this cash anyway. I wouldn't invent something to buy, or think it'd be nice to do, if that makes sense. But I try to make my points go further if I can do it simply. This is simple enough for me.

Thanks. I have considered this.

 

[trenty]

Can I complicate this further for you? Or maybe it's a simplification - I'm not sure.

If you are traveling before May, you can charge your Disney Dining purchases directly to your Sapphire card. You should then have a few months to use pay yourself back for those purchases.

Either way, you should earn 2x points for your purchase (or 3x for CSR). Either way, you should be able to pay yourself back at 1.25% per UR (or 1.5% for CSR). It would save committing the money to a Disney gift card.

Not going for quite a few months - later summer. But thanks. That will work if PYB continues.