I love credit cards so much!

[eeyoresmom]

After seeing your posts I tried checking the UR portal for any kind of rate drops for our trip in early October. Sadly, there are NO rooms showing up at all for our dates, but I'm not really surprised as there was very little to choose from when we first booked anyway. I definitely want to read up more on this "half board" stuff. I'll be booking a third WDW trip through the Chase portal in the next few months and I've never seen this term when searching.

Half board is a Disneyland Paris option. ....thats really strange that it popped up for WDW. I wonder if it's an error ?

 

[wendow]

After seeing your posts I tried checking the UR portal for any kind of rate drops for our trip in early October. Sadly, there are NO rooms showing up at all for our dates, but I'm not really surprised as there was very little to choose from when we first booked anyway. I definitely want to read up more on this "half board" stuff. I'll be booking a third WDW trip through the Chase portal in the next few months and I've never seen this term when searching.

Definitely keep checking, even for your October trip. The inventory I was seeing really fluctuated from day to day. There were times I'd see one resort available and other times, I'd see almost all of the WDW ones. Getting closer has made more show up. BLT never showed up for me until about 2 weeks out. The Poly is the only one I can think of that has never showed up at all for our dates. But with the agency discount this time of year, the Poly is always almost fully booked so that makes sense.

 

[wendow]

Half board is a Disneyland Paris option. ....thats really strange that it popped up for WDW. I wonder if it's an error ?

It is showing up on Orbitz too and apparently someone posted here on the Dis that they called Disney wholesale and asked about it and they said it was legit. As I posted earlier, the AoA with half-board is a great deal.

 

[Lain]

but how are places suppose to swipe when the internet goes down!

Guess that won't be a problem after all.

 

[belle1986]

It is showing up on Orbitz too and apparently someone posted here on the Dis that they called Disney wholesale and asked about it and they said it was legit. As I posted earlier, the AoA with half-board is a great deal.

I wonder if calling and adding the other person would still work for the half board option?

 

[wendow]

I wonder if calling and adding the other person would still work for the half board option?

I dunno...wondered the same

The half-board is only available for the values. We don't do values because the of the double beds. We considered Pop but we were concerned we would not get the refurbed rooms and then we'd be miserable trying to sleep lol. If we'd been brave enough to try Pop, I was going to try just booking the half-board with one adult and add the kids when calling. If you try it, please let us know!

 

[mhartman09]

I dunno...wondered the same

The half-board is only available for the values. We don't do values because the of the double beds. We considered Pop but we were concerned we would not get the refurbed rooms and then we'd be miserable trying to sleep lol. If we'd been brave enough to try Pop, I was going to try just booking the half-board with one adult and add the kids when calling. If you try it, please let us know!

Thanks! I'll definitely keep checking. We are actually booked at Pop for the October trip because there were so few options when we booked. I wanted POR again, but it was only available for 2 of our 6 nights, and ultimately we decided against doing a split stay. It would be great to find a lower rate and/or be able to get the dining option for this trip!

 

[Alexle2007]

I did my first booking via Chase UR portal this evening since DS and I decided to go to DC tomorrow and Tues last minute. The darn thing kept crashing just as I was about complete my transaction. The price was a steal for a downtown D.C. Hotel. Since I working on my Ink MS, I just decided to pay for the room.

 

[Dugette]

There's so much good advice on this thread that my head is swimming and I can't decide what's next for us...so feel free to toss ideas my way!

Our goals: We're going to France in June 2018. Hotels, flights, rental car should all be covered by existing/planned points. Anticipate paying out of pocket for dining, sightseeing, misc - so, maybe a cash back card or something for that?? (Or maybe use Arrival+ or CSR to get points towards future travels). But I don't anticipate a whole lot more that we can do with points/rewards for France. Our next goal is to follow that trip up about 2 months later w/the 7-night Alaskan cruise on the Disney Wonder. We did book this at release-day pricing and use our onboard booking discount, so that helps. And we always buy discounted Disney gift cards to pay things to Disney, so there's at least 5% off. But, beyond that, I'm not sure how else to reduce costs. Maybe get some new cards and pay chunks of the cost on each to get rewards? (again, full payment not due until April and deposit paid already). We anticipate using free anniversary nights (probably Hilton, maybe Hyatt) for the Vancouver hotel. Though I could be swayed to pick up some other hotel card if there is a bonus that would be good for Vancouver (only hotel cards we have are Hilton Surpass and Chase Hyatt - we each have them). Third goal for 2018 is southern California for a cousin's wedding in October and hopefully returning to Disneyland - however, we have virtually no dedicated funds left for travel just two months after the cruise and France before it. So, we'd really need to pull out every trick to make this work: free flights, free hotel, free rental car, and any Disneyland discounts possible (I know, not much exists). So, this is where I'm really thinking we need to pick up some new cards. For what it's worth, our preferred hotel would be the Best Western Park Place Inn, which we stayed at last time.

But, here's the catch. We are both now at 5/24. I get out of that this December, though, so thinking I should refrain from getting a new card until then (and get the CSP then to send my points to DH's CSR). DH won't get out until mid-2018, so I'm thinking we should just pile on the cards for him now. I don't want to waste time where we could be earning bonuses. We are currently finishing up spend on his Barclay Arrival + and just finished spend on his CSR (we can usually put about $2K of expenses on cards per month, total between the two of us). Oh, and both credit scores are still over 800.

So, what do we get now to make our goals happen? Here's what we have:
Chase Hyatt - both
Hilton Surpass - both (we also tend to stay in Hilton properties often when traveling in the US)
Barclay Arrival + - DH only (with plan for me to get early 2018, after CSP)
CSR - DH only (with plan for me to get CSP in Dec.)
Those are the recent ones, but we have some older ones we could still spend on, if it will benefit us:
US Bank Flexperks Visa - both (we had AmEx too for bonus, but just cancelled - that got us our France flights)
Delta Gold AmEx - both (haven't used for a while, but we are in a Delta hub - would have interest in getting Delta Platinum if good sign-up offer comes up again)
I have a super old Discover I used for the BJ's deal on Disney Gift Cards recently
Cash back card from my credit union (I think it pays 1.5% back on everything - I only used it for the intro bonus)
and various other old ones we don't use at all

What would be good to add and when (and who)?

Also, I've taken to opening checking accounts for cash too. I can't believe I've done this, but it's so easy! We both got $200 from US Bank (all online), we have a mailer from TCF for $250, so I'll have to go in branch or call to do that soon, and I decided to do the BMO Harris $200 offer too - just got DH signed up and will do mine after I do the TCF one (I think it's only 1 per household on TCF). US Bank allowed a $500 opening deposit via credit card (coded as purchase), so that helped move along some minimum spends. And BMO Harris allowed $1000 opening deposit with credit card...once that posts on DH's CSR, we're done with that spend - yay! Once I open the BMO Harris, we should have another card we want to hit spend on for me to put that $1000 on (but need to figure out which one). Seems that I could also do $1000 for the TCF account, but need to do that soon and no current minimums spends to hit...hmmm.

Anyway, sorry for the rambling post as I think this through. Any suggestions on what to get next would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Lain]

@Dugette, nothing specific to your travel goals but I noticed you say you're 5/24 until December so you'll refrain from applying for any new cards until then, and your husband is 5/24 until mid-2018 so you'll pile on with him.

Have you considered applying for business credit cards in the meantime instead, while some of the cards from the last 24 months drops off your credit report? I don't see any business cards in your current wallet. Generally, business cards are not reported on your personal credit report and will not count against your 5/24 status with Chase if you're trying to get back under 5/24 by December or mid-2018.

You can qualify for a business card even if you don't own or run a formal business entity, as long as you have a plausible claim to making some money selling goods or services on the side, or even just plans for it.

Amex has some very lucrative signup bonuses for their business cards and they're known to be very lenient on who and what qualifies as a "business." I like Amex cards because Membership Rewards points are similar to Chase's Ultimate Rewards in that they're quite flexible and have a lot of transfer partners. Amex also offers transfer bonuses to select partners about once a year which can stretch the value of your points. But since Amex signup bonuses are generally once per lifetime, make sure you find out what the best historic offers are to see if the current offers are a good deal, and try to get targeted and sign up for the best offer you can.

 

[belle1986]

I dunno...wondered the same

The half-board is only available for the values. We don't do values because the of the double beds. We considered Pop but we were concerned we would not get the refurbed rooms and then we'd be miserable trying to sleep lol. If we'd been brave enough to try Pop, I was going to try just booking the half-board with one adult and add the kids when calling. If you try it, please let us know!

I totally understand that! It's just me and ds this trip so space isn't an issue. I just need to quit looking and start packing. Lol

 

[eeyoresmom]

It is showing up on Orbitz too and apparently someone posted here on the Dis that they called Disney wholesale and asked about it and they said it was legit. As I posted earlier, the AoA with half-board is a great deal.

Huh, I'm confused...half board is dinner at your hotel and a counter service breakfast. Is this what they are giving you at WDW or are they giving you the QSDDP instead? I know you may not know @wendow but maybe someone else....

 

[hsmamato2]

what is half board? any more explanation,or has anyone booked this and know for sure what it is at WDW?

 

[Moneypenny]

It is showing up on Orbitz too and apparently someone posted here on the Dis that they called Disney wholesale and asked about it and they said it was legit. As I posted earlier, the AoA with half-board is a great deal.

I'm the one who called about this. Half-board on Orbitz is the QSDP (2 QS meals, 2 snacks, 1 mug). I booked AoA with half-board on Orbitz, linked the reservation in MDE and it shows as QSDP in MDE. I then called Disney Wholesale to confirm and the CM indicated that they had just started including the dining plan on some of these sites and it could be confusing because the other sites don't describe it the same way Disney does.

 

[wendow]

I'm the one who called about this. Half-board on Orbitz is the QSDP (2 QS meals, 2 snacks, 1 mug). I booked AoA with half-board on Orbitz, linked the reservation in MDE and it shows as QSDP in MDE. I then called Disney Wholesale to confirm and the CM indicated that they had just started including the dining plan on some of these sites and it could be confusing because the other sites don't describe it the same way Disney does.

Thank you!! I knew I read that someone had called about it but couldn't remember where.

 

[hsmamato2]

I'm the one who called about this. Half-board on Orbitz is the QSDP (2 QS meals, 2 snacks, 1 mug). I booked AoA with half-board on Orbitz, linked the reservation in MDE and it shows as QSDP in MDE. I then called Disney Wholesale to confirm and the CM indicated that they had just started including the dining plan on some of these sites and it could be confusing because the other sites don't describe it the same way Disney does.

this is so cool! I found it on the site with random dates...too bad I can't go then! I saw Pop in Mid September for 2A 2 kids for 150 per night with half board.....what a deal!

 

[pinkxray]

I know this has been discussed before but I'm not sure where in the thread.

I'm thinking of changing our 2018 WDW trip to a 4 night DCL cruise on the dream with a night before and after at WDW.

How would you approach paying for this? I have the CSR with maybe 60000 UR. Can I book with Chase and throw that chunk at it? Is there a better alternative?

Our flights are paid for from old SW points. Will also need a car, a 2 one night stays on Disney property.

 

[pinkxray]

Ok I'm 2/24 with chase. I have the Chase unlimited freedom and currently working on the spend for the CSR. I would like to get the CSP and the Ink preferred eventually. End game downgrade one of the Saphhires to the regular freedom and the ink after the first year. Does it matter which one I go for next?

For the ink I want to apply using our rental house. I know I can use my regular income plus the income from the rent. 2 questions though
1. Do I include the whole amount we get from the renter or just the difference from the mortgage/payment?
2. Can I put how long we have owned the house or just how long we have been renting it?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Big Chase Change: You can no longer get the sign up bonus on two Sapphire Cards with Chase if you've received a Sapphire bonus in the last 24 months. Existing card holders are not affected. Going forward new card holders will only be allowed to hold only 1 Sapphire of any type and may product change but not get an additional bonus. More info from Doc: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/chas...pphire-card-e-g-csp-cardholders-cant-get-csr/

 

[Albort]

Ok I'm 2/24 with chase. I have the Chase unlimited freedom and currently working on the spend for the CSR. I would like to get the CSP and the Ink preferred eventually. End game downgrade one of the Saphhires to the regular freedom and the ink after the first year. Does it matter which one I go for next?

For the ink I want to apply using our rental house. I know I can use my regular income plus the income from the rent. 2 questions though
1. Do I include the whole amount we get from the renter or just the difference from the mortgage/payment?
2. Can I put how long we have owned the house or just how long we have been renting it?

hate to say it... but DoC is reporting that Chase is now allowing 1 Sapphire Card per acount... your CSP plan just sunk...