I love credit cards so much! v7.0 - 2025 (see first page for add'l details)

[disneylover81]

I’m trying to figure out the best way to do transportation for this trip. DH and I arrive Thursday, 4/30/26 on SWA at MCO at 8:15 pm. We need to get to Port Canaveral for a 3 day Carnival cruise departing Friday, 5/1. Currently, we have a room booked at Holiday Inn Express, Cape Canaveral for that one night, since it’s right across the street from the ship, we can walk over at boarding time. We return from our cruise on Monday, 5/4 and will be heading from there to WDW staying at VGF until Saturday, 5/9. So we will also need transportation from Port Canaveral to VGF.

Originally, we just planned on booking a ride on the Lyft app when we arrive at MCO to drive us to the Holiday Inn Express and then booking again from the cruise terminal to VGF. I’m figuring $100+ each way for this option. Also, it’s over an hour drive if I remember correctly, so we’d be riding for a long time with someone that we don’t know late at night. Is there another more efficient way to do this? I also thought about booking a rental car and letting it sit at the hotel while we were on our cruise and dropping it off at the Disney rental car center and then getting a shuttle to VGF. We definitely don’t want to keep a rental car for the entire trip picking up and dropping off at MCO.

Last time we cruised from there, we stayed at Hyatt MCO and took the Carnival shuttle the next morning, which was fine, but since we aren’t going right back to MCO after the cruise this time, I’m not sure that’s the best option or what we should do to get to VGF.

We don’t usually travel having multiple pieces to a trip like this to have to plan, and I figured someone here would have the best advice on tackling this.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Thanks for the response and suggestions. When I got the Aspire card and knew I would be getting FNCs and points, my goal was the WA in Cabo. At the time, standard rooms were very hard to find. Now, they are easier to find, but in the span of one year the points cost for a standard room has shot up from 140k to 190k to (now) 250k/night...crazy. WA in NYC is another I've been eyeing, but it's almost impossible to find 2+ night standard room availability right now...and none in the winter/spring. I briefly checked out Monarch Beach and BH, but wasn't sure it was worth flying across the country for a few days at those two.

If you are willing to make the trek to Cabo, then I'd def use the expiring 2 x FNCs there. If you want additional nights, you can always try to snag a room at the brand new PH Cabo for a few nights (45k pts / night, transfer URs --> Hyatt) to make the trip more worthwhile.

 

[Sheree]

decided to apply for bonvoy with 5 free nights. already have use for 2 that have availability less than 50k points. got the we have to look into things message. bu this am, got email with approval. and only 3k spend.
then used chase travel and the edit to book precruise for San Juan in November. with a point boost!
good day!

 

[Sheree]

Anyone have the old BILT credit card (WF)?

I signed my Dad up a while ago and he has so far accumulated 88k Bilt points after already redeeming some 18 months ago on flights from Taipei to Kyoto for 2. Haven't decided what to do yet until after the official announcements come out about the new system.

I only make the one monthly payment with it and I linked his card to the mobile app game that I play and I but micro stuff of 99cents on the game to make sure to meet the 5 required charges a month to get BILT rewards each month.

In the meantime, we have an investment property in NY that changed management companies starting 1/1/2026 and now the only way to pay the condo fees online is through BILT!

So, I had to create a new BILT rewards account (not credit card) and I used my name to open the account in order to pay the Jan 2026 condo charges.

I linked the bank account and paid the condo fees as an ACH because I didn't want to pay the 3% credit card fee. I earned 250 BILT reward points just by paying the condo fees electronically. Honestly, I don't know how any of this works anymore...

250 BILT points a month for making the payment is 3000 a year for doing something I was doing already. I wonder if I can pay multiple condo fees, HOA, or rent (electronically) through my BILT and get 250 points for each? Or is it limited to the one payment limit previously. The limit of one per month perviously was for the credit card fee waiver though.

I feel like when I haven't been to the Disney Parks in a while (I haven't) and everything has changed and I don't have the energy or time or brain cells to figure out all the changes! Lol.

I figure that I will spend the time researching AFTER the official announcement comes out. It is extra confusing because the BILT rewards account is technically separate from the BILT credit card that earns BILT rewards. Well, just like airline loyalty accounts and the credit cards that earns miles, I guess...

dh has BILT. we were using it to pay MIL rent on a/l which was great. when she passed in JUne I transferred all the points to an airline account. we still have card and not sure what to do. we have a smallish mortgage so depending on what we'd have to charge so as not to pay the 3% will determine what we do with it.

 

[ahself]

My mom came to me and wanted to do a $425 bank bonus for depositing $3k, Wells Fargo, this past Oct. Bonus just posted. How long do you all usually keep "bank bonus" accounts open? I checked and there's no early termination fee. I'll keep it open probably 6 months maybe, but I hate to have her money all over the place indefinitely.

6 months should be plenty. Some close the account right after receiving the bonus, but others suggest keeping it open for a few months after, especially if you think you (she) will want to take advantage of the promotion again in the future.

Many more comments here.

 

[ahself]

If you are willing to make the trek to Cabo, then I'd def use the expiring 2 x FNCs there. If you want additional nights, you can always try to snag a room at the brand new PH Cabo for a few nights (45k pts / night, transfer URs --> Hyatt) to make the trip more worthwhile.

Thanks for the suggestion. I also have a Cat 1-7 cert with Hyatt and might consider The Cape if I don't want to fork over the 45k for the PH.

 

[reliev]

Marriot made it offical half nights credits
Per OMMAT
At City Express, Four Points Flex, Protea Hotels, and Series by Marriott, Members will be awarded half of one (0.5) Elite Night Credit for each Qualifying Night stayed.

 

[djmeredith]

If you use AT&T for your cell phones, check your Chase offers for a $50 Fiber credit. It will work if you use it on your phone bill, but read the offer carefully. Mine required a minimum $75 payment. I had it on two cards, so I tried it on both and both credited.

 

[wanderlust7]

I’m trying to figure out the best way to do transportation for this trip. DH and I arrive Thursday, 4/30/26 on SWA at MCO at 8:15 pm. We need to get to Port Canaveral for a 3 day Carnival cruise departing Friday, 5/1. Currently, we have a room booked at Holiday Inn Express, Cape Canaveral for that one night, since it’s right across the street from the ship, we can walk over at boarding time. We return from our cruise on Monday, 5/4 and will be heading from there to WDW staying at VGF until Saturday, 5/9. So we will also need transportation from Port Canaveral to VGF.

Originally, we just planned on booking a ride on the Lyft app when we arrive at MCO to drive us to the Holiday Inn Express and then booking again from the cruise terminal to VGF. I’m figuring $100+ each way for this option. Also, it’s over an hour drive if I remember correctly, so we’d be riding for a long time with someone that we don’t know late at night. Is there another more efficient way to do this? I also thought about booking a rental car and letting it sit at the hotel while we were on our cruise and dropping it off at the Disney rental car center and then getting a shuttle to VGF. We definitely don’t want to keep a rental car for the entire trip picking up and dropping off at MCO.

Last time we cruised from there, we stayed at Hyatt MCO and took the Carnival shuttle the next morning, which was fine, but since we aren’t going right back to MCO after the cruise this time, I’m not sure that’s the best option or what we should do to get to VGF.

We don’t usually travel having multiple pieces to a trip like this to have to plan, and I figured someone here would have the best advice on tackling this.

We used this company a few years ago. Link I found it on these boards, along with other ones people like, but this was the cheapest when I compared. We only used it for Port Canaveral to Disney since we were 6 people and I didn't know how easy it would be to find rideshare.

With a late flight, my preference would be to stay at the Hyatt MCO and rideshare over the next day.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Thanks to everyone who helped with River Cruise suggestions, got together with our friends last night and booked a Viking Rhine cruise 10/27-11/3 on The Rolf since they wanted a Veranda suite. It’s later in the season than I wanted but going with the flow.
booked with Chase travel for the 8x points on the Reserve. It was also $1,200 less than the Viking website.
If anyone is familiar with these suites we have a choice between cabin 304 or 324. Not sure if one is quieter than the other cabin 304 seems to have an empty space next to it..unsure what it is.