I love credit cards so much!

[DisneyMandC]

CIP is here! Moving all my recurring payments to the card now. Won't raise any red flags if I go request an employee card online immediately, right? DH's card, but probably need to get one for myself to help with the MSR.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

AMEX BLUE BUSINESS PLUS - NEW OFFER (and potentially even better offer)...

The AMEX Blue Business Plus card is now offering 10,000 MRs through referral links for $3k minimum spend. I'm not sure who all has this card but I added my link to DISchurners and I'd suggest if anybody else has it they do so too!

For those considering an application...If you aren't aware of what MRs are worth I'd suggest you research that before considering this card. AMEX MRs are a great next step for those of you ready to progress past Chase. Also AMEX hands cards out like candy!!

Pros of this card:

• Amex Business card - won't affect your 5/24 status or report to your personal credit report
• Since it's a biz card you can add an AU card
• Once you have the card you can refer others (including a player 2) and earn 10k pts per referral
• If you had recent Amex apps they MAY not even do a hard inquiry
• Earns 2X MRs on the first $50k in purchases annually
• NO annual fee
• Great card to keep your MRs active due to the no fee

Cons of this card:

• Counts towards your 4 card (or 5 card) limit with AMEX. This is ONLY on Credit Cards and doesn't include charge cards like Plat, PRG, Green, Gold, BGR, etc.)
• The signup bonus isn't necessarily phenomenal...BUT the 2x MRs on all purchases is very nice

BEFORE YOU APPLY USING A DISchurner link...
Keep in mind that by calling in you may be able to get a 20,000 MRs for $3k min spend offer. That can be done doing the following:

• You call AMEX at 1-866-690-6736. This is their number for targeted offers.
• They will ask you for an RSVP code - tell them a friend gave you the number as they had recently applied for the blue biz + 20k for $3k offer and you were wondering if they could check and see if that offer is available to you. You may need to repeat yourself/be firm.
• They should take your name, address, a little other info and then look up what offers are available to you
• You may also find other offers for Biz Platinum or Biz Gold Rewards (BGR) available as well
• IF you find an offer you like (I wanted the 20k MR for $3k on the Biz Blue+) you can apply over the phone
• If they don't have the offer you like you can always HUCA
• The application likely may go pending and if it does you have to wait 24-48 hours to check your status online - it won't appear immediately.

If you don't like the idea of putting in a biz card app over the phone (keep in mind this can take 30 minutes or more and they will ask you questions about your business - same ones you'd answer on the online app) - then maybe consider the referral offer.

 

[wendow]

AMEX BLUE BUSINESS PLUS - NEW OFFER (and potentially even better offer)...

The AMEX Blue Business Plus card is now offering 10,000 MRs through referral links for $3k minimum spend. I'm not sure who all has this card but I added my link to DISchurners and I'd suggest if anybody else has it they do so too!

For those considering an application...If you aren't aware of what MRs are worth I'd suggest you research that before considering this card. AMEX MRs are a great next step for those of you ready to progress past Chase. Also AMEX hands cards out like candy!!

Pros of this card:

• Amex Business card - won't affect your 5/24 status or report to your personal credit report
• Since it's a biz card you can add an AU card
• Once you have the card you can refer others (including a player 2) and earn 10k pts per referral
• If you had recent Amex apps they MAY not even do a hard inquiry
• Earns 2X MRs on the first $50k in purchases annually
• NO annual fee
• Great card to keep your MRs active due to the no fee

Cons of this card:

• Counts towards your 4 card (or 5 card) limit with AMEX. This is ONLY on Credit Cards and doesn't include charge cards like Plat, PRG, Green, Gold, BGR, etc.)
• The signup bonus isn't necessarily phenomenal...BUT the 2x MRs on all purchases is very nice

BEFORE YOU APPLY USING A DISchurner link...
Keep in mind that by calling in you may be able to get a 20,000 MRs for $3k min spend offer. That can be done doing the following:

• You call AMEX at 1-866-690-6736. This is their number for targeted offers.
• They will ask you for an RSVP code - tell them a friend gave you the number as they had recently applied for the blue biz + 20k for $3k offer and you were wondering if they could check and see if that offer is available to you. You may need to repeat yourself/be firm.
• They should take your name, address, a little other info and then look up what offers are available to you
• You may also find other offers for Biz Platinum or Biz Gold Rewards (BGR) available as well
• IF you find an offer you like (I wanted the 20k MR for $3k on the Biz Blue+) you can apply over the phone
• If they don't have the offer you like you can always HUCA
• The application likely may go pending and if it does you have to wait 24-48 hours to check your status online - it won't appear immediately.

If you don't like the idea of putting in a biz card app over the phone (keep in mind this can take 30 minutes or more and they will ask you questions about your business - same ones you'd answer on the online app) - then maybe consider the referral offer.

I saw this new offer earlier today. I plan on grabbing this card sometime in the next several months as a place to park my MR's once I close the BGR. No way am I calling for a biz app lol! I'll be using a link from DISchurners

 

[Lain]

Posting the following because sometimes we get so focused on saving money on vacations and travel hacking via credit cards that we may fail to think outside that box. It happened to me. A few months ago I was trying to figure out the best way to mitigate our hotel costs at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Shanghai Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland resort and Hotel MiraCosta at Tokyo Disney Sea this summer. I was toying with a combination of a number of cash back credit cards and some MS with a few bank bonuses thrown in for good measure. Going into 2 player mode it would be do-able and I've done it before. At some point I recalled that HKDL resort was able to be booked with DVC points and that would be easy to do. Well, I've been calling everyday since December to see if HKDL was available for booking for our dates but they haven't released anything past March 31 Beyond frustrating!

So I posted on the DVC thread to ask if anyone knew when HKDL released their dates for reservations through DVC. One of the posters suggested I rent my points out and use the money to pay the room in cash. For the same number of points, I'd be able to cover the room and have plenty left over. You can see where this is going. So I got to wondering how many more points would I need to rent out in order to cover the other hotel rooms too Lo and behold, I had enough to rent out and still keep a stash for any last minute getaways. On Sunday I sent in the form to David's DVC rentals. Today I received the request for 389 of the 400 points I was offering up. I made the reservations and already received 70% of the money, I'll get the other 30% once the guests check in to their reservations. That was easy!

You have no idea how stupid I feel for not thinking of this myself. So, moral of the story is, sometimes there are other avenues to saving on a vacation besides credit cards. I will be very happy now to use these upcoming hotel stays to either earn 3x on my CSR or make the bonus spend on a new credit card with no FTF.

On the theme of thinking outside the box...

I've been stalking the UR portal for hotel accommodations near Disneyland for DD's spring break, but I've been generally unhappy with the options where we usually stay because the rates (and thus, points) are more than I want to pay (e.g., cheapest room at the Hilton Anaheim is for a pool view, which I would never choose if I was booking direct and paying with HH points and/or cash because as HH Gold we usually get upgraded from the cheapest rooms anyway); no status and accompanying benefits (Gold with SPG, Marriott, and Hilton through Amex Platinum) when booking through a third-party travel site (although I've read some success with Hilton); and no earned points or nights from the stay.

So I've been toying with the idea of booking the cheapest rate at the neighboring Sheraton Park Anaheim, paying with my SPG Biz to earn 5x Starpoints for the stay (2x on the card, 3x as SPG Gold), get a welcome gift, late checkout, access the Sheraton lounge for refreshments and snacks, and hopefully an upgraded room. Then cashing out UR points I would've spent anyway to cover the cost of the stay. I'm at about ~55,000 UR points to stay at the Hilton through Chase UR vs. ~$612 (61,200 UR) for the Sheraton Park, but I'd get to use my SPG Biz and Gold benefits and earn ~3,000 SPG points for the stay. Decisions...

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I saw this new offer earlier today. I plan on grabbing this card sometime in the next several months as a place to park my MR's once I close the BGR. No way am I calling for a biz app lol! I'll be using a link from DISchurners

The card initially came out with the 20k for $3k offer publicly but that disappeared a LONG time ago (maybe 9+ months) and only has reappeared through the phone method. I recently did the phone method myself and it wasn't TERRIBLE but...I can understand wanting to avoid a 30 minute+ phone call about your "business" especially when you don't have a targeted offer and you're just fishing haha!

 

[gottalovepluto]

On the theme of thinking outside the box...

I've been stalking the UR portal for hotel accommodations near Disneyland for DD's spring break, but I've been generally unhappy with the options where we usually stay because the rates (and thus, points) are more than I want to pay (e.g., cheapest room at the Hilton Anaheim is for a pool view, which I would never choose if I was booking direct and paying with HH points and/or cash because as HH Gold we usually get upgraded from the cheapest rooms anyway); no status and accompanying benefits (Gold with SPG, Marriott, and Hilton through Amex Platinum) when booking through a third-party travel site (although I've read some success with Hilton); and no earned points or nights from the stay.

So I've been toying with the idea of booking the cheapest rate at the neighboring Sheraton Park Anaheim, paying with my SPG Biz to earn 5x Starpoints for the stay (2x on the card, 3x as SPG Gold), get a welcome gift, late checkout, access the Sheraton lounge for refreshments and snacks, and hopefully an upgraded room. Then cashing out UR points I would've spent anyway to cover the cost of the stay. I'm at about ~55,000 UR points to stay at the Hilton through Chase UR vs. ~$612 (61,200 UR) for the Sheraton Park, but I'd get to use my SPG Biz and Gold benefits and earn ~3,000 SPG points for the stay. Decisions...

Tough call! Any idea if you might enjoy one over the other?

Are you going to be there for food and wine? Yes, totally off topic but we're going in a couple weeks for food and wine and I am ABSOLUTELY STOKED and just geeking out with excitement right now. (And frustration: HEY DISNEY! WE WANTS THE MENUS! for anyone who thinks wdw is slow to release F&W menus CA's festival starts Friday. true story.)

 

[Alexle2007]

Saw on reddit that State Farm has an app that takes Apple Pay! Made my day, huge state farm bill coming up and this never even occurred to me, 3x mobile payment on my Altitude Reserve here I come! (I don't currently have Freedom for that sweet 5x.) Someone else mentioned the Comcast app also takes Apple Pay.

Too bad our homeowner’s insurance isn’t due until August.

 

[trenty]

So with the talk of Chase freezing accounts -

I have

• Disney Visa (no fee) - opened 08/2009
• Sapphire Preferred - opened 3/2016
• Freedom - opened 07/2016
• SW ($69 fee) opened 2/2017 (now closed)
• SW ($99 fee)- opened 9/2017 (will close 9/18)

Also recently applied for and got approved for the Discover Card.

My plans -

• Freedom Unlimited after I have had the Discover Card for a year and no longer can earn the double cash bonus - Jan/Feb 2019 as long as I am under 5/24 which I believe I will be.
• Both SW cards early in 2021. (plan to have DH get them in 2019 for the CP in 2019/20)

Should I be worried? Any chance of a shut down?

 

[gottalovepluto]

I have taken my first foray into Expert Flyer. I'm trying to get saver business seats using my american miles for my trip to new orleans this june, a possibly impossible task but I'm ever hopeful. Seats are actually available at those prices right now but at awful times/routing, I like that it tells you what the options are and lets you pick what segments to watch. I hope something with better times/routings gets released but am really not sure how award releasing works. I'm doing the 5 day free test for now but am ready to throw $9.99 down to keep it searching for another month. (Also, sheesh- I can't imagine doing this for more than 1 person, that looks basically impossible by the inventory I see!)

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So with the talk of Chase freezing accounts -

I have

• Disney Visa (no fee) - opened 08/2009
• Sapphire Preferred - opened 3/2016
• Freedom - opened 07/2016
• SW ($69 fee) opened 2/2017 (now closed)
• SW ($99 fee)- opened 9/2017 (will close 9/18)

Also recently applied for and got approved for the Discover Card.

My plans -

• Freedom Unlimited after I have had the Discover Card for a year and no longer can earn the double cash bonus - Jan/Feb 2019 as long as I am under 5/24 which I believe I will be.
• Both SW cards early in 2021. (plan to have DH get them in 2019 for the CP in 2019/20)

Should I be worried? Any chance of a shut down?

So if I understand you correctly, your next card application will be in 2019? If true...I would have NO worries at all. I'd be more worried about the rules of the game changing in 12 months

 

[gottalovepluto]

Soooo update here. This person was actually at 20/24!! They said they were "estimating" 10 but "re-looked" at a credit report. So basically they were dumb...20/24...don't even consider a Chase Card at that point. Still obviously a cautionary tale though...

Proof positive some people do not belong in this game! SHEESH!

 

[trenty]

So if I understand you correcrly, your next card application will be in 2019? If true...I would have NO worries at all. I'd be more worried about the rules of the game changing in 12 months

Yes. I probably won't apply for another card myself until early 2019.

I always worry about the rules changing! (unless they change for the better!!)

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yes. I probably won't apply for another card myself until early 2019.

I always worry about the rules changing! (unless they change for the better!!)

I wouldn't worry about being shutdown either!... rarely do they change for the better.

 

[Albort]

I have taken my first foray into Expert Flyer. I'm trying to get saver business seats using my american miles for my trip to new orleans this june, a possibly impossible task but I'm ever hopeful. Seats are actually available at those prices right now but at awful times/routing, I like that it tells you what the options are and lets you pick what segments to watch. I hope something with better times/routings gets released but am really not sure how award releasing works. I'm doing the 5 day free test for now but am ready to throw $9.99 down to keep it searching for another month. (Also, sheesh- I can't imagine doing this for more than 1 person, that looks basically impossible by the inventory I see!)

i thought about getting subscription as well. i keep bothering a friend of mine to look things up for me, i think its time i get it. haha.

 

[wendow]

So with the talk of Chase freezing accounts -

I have

• Disney Visa (no fee) - opened 08/2009
• Sapphire Preferred - opened 3/2016
• Freedom - opened 07/2016
• SW ($69 fee) opened 2/2017 (now closed)
• SW ($99 fee)- opened 9/2017 (will close 9/18)

Also recently applied for and got approved for the Discover Card.

My plans -

• Freedom Unlimited after I have had the Discover Card for a year and no longer can earn the double cash bonus - Jan/Feb 2019 as long as I am under 5/24 which I believe I will be.
• Both SW cards early in 2021. (plan to have DH get them in 2019 for the CP in 2019/20)

Should I be worried? Any chance of a shut down?

Your previous and upcoming apps are well-spaced. I think you are fine!

 

[jhoannam]

Who transferred their Disney reservation to UR? Can you give me the contact information for UR CSR you used? I'm going to transfer my reservation over since we are going to add the dinning package and I want to use URs to pay for it.

 

[Lain]

Tough call! Any idea if you might enjoy one over the other?

Are you going to be there for food and wine? Yes, totally off topic but we're going in a couple weeks for food and wine and I am ABSOLUTELY STOKED and just geeking out with excitement right now. (And frustration: HEY DISNEY! WE WANTS THE MENUS! for anyone who thinks wdw is slow to release F&W menus CA's festival starts Friday. true story.)

Huh. I guess we will be there while F&W is still going on! It's totally an afterthought for us, but we did enjoy the Festival of Holidays last November and ended up buying a tasting pass. I think we'll do it again this time around! When are you going?

As for the hotel choices. We like the Hilton, but I just can't bring myself to spend the amount of points they're asking for right now. Meanwhile, DW is pushing me to finalize trip details since we'll be there next month!

 

[Lain]

Who transferred their Disney reservation to UR? Can you give me the contact information for UR CSR you used? I'm going to transfer my reservation over since we are going to add the dinning package and I want to use URs to pay for it.

I recall @DaveL did.

 

[trenty]

I wouldn't worry about being shutdown either!... rarely do they change for the better.

Yeah, I know, but one can always hope!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Huh. I guess we will be there while F&W is still going on! It's totally an afterthought for us, but we did enjoy the Festival of Holidays last November and ended up buying a tasting pass. I think we'll do it again this time around! When are you going?

As for the hotel choices. We like the Hilton, but I just can't bring myself to spend the amount of points they're asking for right now. Meanwhile, DW is pushing me to finalize trip details since we'll be there next month!

You need Hilton to run a sale! Fingers crossed you might get one!
Mid-March, two weeks from today my biggest concern (God willing!) will be balancing Fast Pass times and wait times and showtimes while trying not to die of sheer exhaustion . Daylight savings is Sun right before our trip and the park hours starting that week are totally maxed out: DL 8am - midnight and DCA 8am - 10pm, 7 days a week. I thought they only did that summer & xmas!